Is there a difference between a bug that has a made in germamy plate behind the spare wheel and an Australian made one.

I've been looking at a couple of 68's and wondering if there is a difference.

Is one better quality than the other.

Lee the 1967 German Beetle was not sold in this country so I'm not sure why you mentioned it. Aussie '67s look just like '65-'66 models.

The '68 Beetle wasn't sold in Australia until March 1968, when it replaced the old 6-volt 1300 Aussie '67 Deluxe. Initially both the manual and semi-auto '68s were fully imported, as it took a few months to prepare the Melbourne factory for its production. All the big presses and foundry equipment had to be removed, and the factory turned from a full-manufacture facility to an 'assembly' line. As well, the ownership changed. Volkswagen Australasia Ltd was wound up, and replaced by a company called 'Motor Producers Ltd.' This was still owned by VW Germany, but they only controlled the Clayton factory. National sales/distribution rights, and spare parts support, was awarded to Sydney's LNC Industries. Motor producers could also subcontract assembly work, so Nissan signed up for its 1600 sedan to be made in the Clayton plant. Volvo sedans and Mercedes trucks were also made in Clayton.

So while this was going on, the Aussie Deluxe '67 was wound up in March, although the Custom (standard) and County Buggy continued on until September '68. Likewise the T1 Kombi was discontinued, and so too the Type 3. they were all replaced with fully imported German models for a few months until CKD assembly could start. Assembly of manual '68 Beetles began at Clayton in June '68, but the semi-auto remained fully imported. Once local assembly of '68 manual Beetles, T2 Kombis and Type 3s started, the factory began sourcing local parts like paint, tyres, batteries, upholstry and glass. Pilkington was the local glass supplier.

Aussie '68s could still have German glass, but it's a good place to start. Also check the manufacturers plate behind the spare wheel. Chassis numbers are no guide, as the '19y' prefix was discontinued when local manufacture ended. Aussie CKD '68s used the normal German '11y' prefix. Otherwise, being German kits, they are pretty much identical with the German models except for the local choices of paint colours and trim.

^^^ Gold

Phil, Thanks for that concise, factual, to-the-point information....without any 'waffle'! It's nice to see things like that, written by someone who knows what he's talking about.

Thanks guys, I'm not on the forum much any more, too busy with the club magazine (lots of Aussie VW history articles). Download all the back issues for free (select the year on the left) at

http://www.clubvw.org.au/zeitschrift/zeitschrift.html 

Of course if you want the latest issues - join the club!

It helps to know the colours; German Beetles for the 68 year are Royal Red, Lotus White, VW Blue, Chinchilla, Black, Delta Green, Savannah Beige and Zenith Blue.

Maybe someone here can correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought all German 68's had their bonnet pull on the LHS of the passenger footwell with a black, hard rubber, screw on ball, whereas Australian assembled Beetles moved the bonnet pull to the inside of the glovebox. That's the quickest way I have found to tell the difference visually, and so far I've never come across an Australian 68 with this feature.