I've had by '71 standard for almost 5 years now and bought it with roadworthy, but just this week I took it in for another roadworthy and one of the (many) things that came up was "reverse lights out" - so thinking it must be a simple wiring fix I took it home to take a look.

Here's what I saw:


Beetle Backup light. by michaelpickard, on Flickr


Now - to me it looks like there's a bulb (and holder?) missing - that spade connector is supposed to go somewhere - right?? So god knows how it passed the original roadworthy! I also can't believe I've been driving it for so long without backup lights!!

So... my question is: am I right? Is there a bulb and holder missing? what needs to be done?

Your bug never had reverse lights, 71 was the last year that didnt.

They started for 72, trouble is the 68-71 lenses without reverse lights were never reproduced so most bugs got the reverse light style if they needed replacements.
Originals would have been the same as this




Tell the mechanic to look up what the ADRs on the compliance plate, it will be missing the one calling for reverse lights.

That stray wire is just the ground wire.
The tab often breaks/rusts off.
The lights still work by the bolts to the body.


You can add them if you wish but you will need to add all the wiring and if the gearbox is original it wont have the switch on the nose cone, just a blank bung screwed in.

Wish we could but it's probably a Commodore bonnet these days.

I totalled that bug back in 1999.

You can buy repro non reversing light 68-71 lenses. I bought some a while ago for my '68. That would be the easiest fix. Just replace the lenses. You can retrofit reversing lights, but you would need a gearbox switch, globe holders and globes plus the wiring.
Cheers........Wayne

Easiest way would be to go to a model toy shop and get a bottle of red tail lamp paint... and paint inside the bottom of both the lenses...
any light from the tail stop lamp bulb will shine thru..

or even acrylic red paint at a cheap shop... or red spray paint..?

cheers

LEE

PS: this is an ongoing problem with these lenses on 68-71 cars

No, the reflectors are in the bottom of the middle section.






VWheritage in the UK are now selling German ones but they are $80 each

Lee's option is the easiest.