OK. I know My body is a fine specimen from 1985 but i don't know what year my Dub's body is. It was sold to me as a 65, and on the license it says 65, but a friend has said "no-way'. Help would be good because it sounds like I am stupid when peaople ask what year it is and I say that I am not too sure.

Specs:
-Ball-joint front suspension with factory(I am quite sure) disk brakes.
-Swing-axle rear suspension with a factory camber-limiter(so I am told).
-Fuel tank has a factory side-filler, but the tank itself and spare-wheel compartment are the early type with the spare-wheel being upright.
and finally;
-Air vents behind rear-side windows like those found on super bugs.

I am very confident that there is an expert here who can help -whether they want to help is another matter.

Input or comments would be great.

Cheers
Jamie

I can say it ain't a 65, and definitely later than my 68. Maybe somewhere around a 70?

Whats the number on the plates for the body? Is it on the original pan?

What is the body number? - that should narrow it down a bit. You will find it under the back seat on the centre hump near an is=nspection plate or on the plate at the front of the car (unless some twit has removed it!)
As Wes says it sounds 68-71ish probabally more 70-71 ish is it has the air vents.
The upright wheel means it is a standard and not a super so it probabally aint a 72 onwards as they were "mainly" supers.
The side fill means it was post 67.
Then again people can do lots of things in 40 years.

Its NOT a 65 model, maybe a 1972... I recently bought one... it had flow thru ventilation,swing rear axle with compensator,ball joint front end...flap on the side..lockable.. BUT.. DRUM brakes on the front!!... Large flat plastic steering wheel centre... Large Glass... Large black knobs on vent windows... as early model doors do fit later models etc vice versa..
Do You have vents in the engine cover...?
and crescent shaped vents just past the rear side windows.... Flat Hubcaps.. wheels with 4 bolts... narrow chrome trim.. flat headlamps... tail lamps flat on the bottom.. square type bumpers...
fuel gauge inside the speedo....
and the spare tyre sits upright, Is the Jack in a clamp on the LHS of the spare wheel? What type of switch do You have for the Wipers... 2 speed...
If You ALL of the above (disc brakes may have been added] its 1971 or after...
What is the chassis Number? located under the rear seat in front of a circular black plate.. stamped into the [centre] chassis.. Do You know what engine is in it?
:o:o

The air vents started in 1971 models- that's the chassis number under the rear seat... I believe they are very rare- Most were supers from 1971 > on.. I believe the chassis is 1968-on and the body Definately 1971> on... but they did make some Standard torsion bar beetles at the same time as the Supers with 1300cc engines... but they ARE Rare... Very Rare...
regardless of what anyone says.... If They are NOT Rare.... How many have You seen?

Right. I am very sorry, but it is a baja, so it has been fairly well modified. But, the pan was the original -apparently. I have a ton of stuff in the back at the moment, but tomorrow I will post the chassis #. I am also sad to say that the engine is a Type 3. SO there goes any useful clues from that quarter.

Thanks heaps all the same, and I'll get back to you with the number.

At least we are getting somewhere! :thumb

Well my baja has a 1964 Floor Pan and a 68 body. I think baja generally are like this due to there modifactions, and in WA VW get registered on the chassis number and therefor that determines the year. Hmmm makes you think doesnt it.

Hmmm I have a standard. 100% original except for some damage I fixed myself.

1970 1300 4 wheel drums, ball joint front, swing axle rear, no vents in engine lid, upright spare, no cresent vents, no aluminium moulds in rear quarter windows only rear & front, no chrome on dash, no armrests, no radio, no cig lighter, nothing

Great reliable VW and as much as I cane it and thrash it, it will not die. The thing will do a 360 degree handbrake turn and take off again witout missing a beat.

All those purists not into thrashing, please cover your ears.

Hi

I think it must be a 1300 as has already been said, if it has a steel dash it would be a 72 or early 73, the later ones made until 75 had a padded dash cover like the 76. There are two of these bugs in my suburb, one a 72 the other a 74, so im not sure if you would call them rare. They had either a AB or AC engine number.

1302Steve

I am guessing a 69 ish as well. If it came with the discs and you are sure they were not retro fitted then it ain't a 1300. Dunno how you can be sure though. Either way it makes no difference to anything as all the parts from athe ball joint / swimg axle beetles are the same. It should have pull trigger doors, 12 v wiper motor, inside door handles held on with screws not pins, pull inside handles not turn etc etc

Hi

The disc brakes are a pretty easy swap but the vents in rear behind the windows are post 71. Does it have a the wiper switch on the dash or on the column, they went to the column in 72.

1302Steve

Quote:

Originally posted by Jamox OK. I know My body is a fine specimen from 1985 but i don't know what year my Dub's body is. It was sold to me as a 65, and on the license it says 65, but a friend has said "no-way'. Help would be good because it sounds like I am stupid when peaople ask what year it is and I say that I am not too sure. Specs: -Ball-joint front suspension with factory(I am quite sure) disk brakes. -Swing-axle rear suspension with a factory camber-limiter(so I am told).

quote:
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-Air vents behind rear-side windows like those found on super bugs.
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The eyebrow vents started in 72.
these vents started in 71 not 72.
the beetle u describe here is not a super bug but a 1300 based around the 68 to 70 1500 body and chassis

Jamox - yours is exactly the same as mine other than the fact you have discs on the front and a type 3 mill pushing you. Everything you have described is the same as mine and it's a 71. Brow vents, flat dash, ball and swing sus, side filler, spare upright, and wipers on the dash.

I can tell the 72 after mine as it has reverse lights where as mine / ours didn't. The supers have the padded dash as mentioned above and a 'lay flat' spare postion.

Ya never know, they may have been side by side on the boat together. :o

Thanks heaps!

Right, I got the chassis number: *119982511
but, like Derro said, on my license the year is 65 so if it is licenced by chassis year my licence must be wrong?

Also mine has a steering lock.

Bronze! It sounds about right! Has yours got the internal release for the fuel flap? Mine doesn't have reversing lights either (damnation). Wipers on dash, pull trigger doors, flat dash, wipers on dash too.

I checked out the site that quotes the changes for each year, and my guess is the 1971 model. So Bronze, I think you qualify as an expert because you confidently gave me the right year.

Thanks guys.
Jamie

I think 119 xxx xxx numbers are 1969. Just to add to your confusion. Floor pan swaps are easy done. Maybe you have a 71 on a 69 pan. Or perhaps I am wrong. I dunno much beetle stuff.

Yes a 119 xxx xxx chassis number is a 1969 chassis - the third digit always indicates the year. But the body sounds newer, probably 1971 or 1972 1300.

Have a look at the back of your speedo... there is always a date stamp on them. Assuming yours is original, of course.

But whatever, your VW is NOT a 1965. The previous owner and the RTA are both wrong.