I'm wondering if I can fit all the bolt off panels from an early beetle on my german built '68 1500?

I'm pretty sure guards won't be a problem, but what about the decklid or bonnet?

The decklid and front lid definitely will NOT fit - a different profile around the lip all together - the early lid have rounded ends and the later (68+) have flattened ends. It MIGHT be possible if you also replace the front and rear clips (valances) too - can anyone comment on that?

The guards - I forget if they'll bolt right up (certainly can't use superbug guards on an early bug) but the bumper mount holes will be all wrong, even if the 68s will bolt up.

The bumper holes won't be a problem, as I will be using a custom "nudge" style bar.
The things I really want to change are the front guards and the rear decklid, if this means replacing the rear valance then that's OK.
I would prefer getting a whole body from an early bug, but I'm yet to find one as rustfree as my '68.

If you are interested i think Thorburns(?) still have some "new" bodies for sale.
Saw one on a bug at V Force a couple months ago......what a difference. Not a dent/ripple/blemish.

It shouldn't be difficult to find a nice straight engine lid from a '68 and later Beetle at a VW swapmeet or show. At Boris' picnic day there must have been a dozen or more of them for sale. There are several VW workshops and wreckers in Sydney with scores of them in stock.

'68 and '69 lids did not have cooling louvres stamped into the lid (if this is the look you want), but after 1970 they did. The arrangement and number of louvres was changed several times. Your engine will run slightly cooler if you use a post '70 lid with louvres. And it will bolt straight on without you having to stuff around with the valence panels etc.

Late (post '68) Beetles look a bit silly with earlier guards and headlights on them. Yes they will fit. But the later upright headlights are more efficient, give better light and are easier to find parts for. They also look 'proper' on your late 'big window' body. Especially if you leave the rear guards and '68 taillights in place.

Maybe, do you have more info?, I guess they would be pretty expensive though.

Phil, it's already got a decent decklid, I was just wondering how close I could make my beetle look like an earlier one by fitting the early decklid.

I don't personally see the point, but each to their own.

In regards to the decklids without louvres.
Mine is a 1300 'economy' 1970 and has none.

I agree with a lot of the others. The big window body and the later headlights etc all form part of a 'balanced' look.
I would think that may only be formed due to the fact that this is the way we always see them.

For interests sake, does anyone have pics of a late body with early panels attached, or an early body with late guards?

Peter

Pat I can see what you thinking of doing to your car and I have also thought about it myself. The reason I want to change a 1500 beetle into an early beetle is it gives the 64 to 66 eurospec and US spec beetle look. These beetles had the same parts as early beetles but had the big windows and some other bits on them that Australia didn't see until 1968 on the 1500s. Its all possible to bolt on new guards but you will need an early bug front section not just the apron and the same for the rear as well. The reason being is that 1500s had the bumper brackets going through the guards in the front unlike early beetles that went though the apron. And the rear bumper brackets won't accept early brackets.
I know of a guy in Ireland who has changed a later beetle into a ealry bug and he has done alot of work. Good luck with it mate. I want to this if you do it.

This is what the car will look something like aftre its done.

have u got any other pics as its the same colour as my car

do u know the name of the colour?