I am getting organised to work on my '60 bug next year, and one of the things I have noticed is that the bonnet has been bent in the past, presumably its been put up and 'propped' with the manual prop (which I assume was standard for this model - in the bay, towards the rear, passenger side - kind of like a folding scissor action setup?). I reckon that people have tried to push the bonnet down without unlocking the prop and kinked the bonnet towards the passenger side. As a result, there is a gap (when the bonnet is down) on the passenger side, and from memory the bonnet catch doesn't meet with whatever it meets with to lock down (technical talk).

The bonnets flexes a bit and I'm hoping to be able to bend it back into shape to make it fit again. What I'd like to know is how I should do that. Just bend it while its fitted to the car? Remove it and flex it? Can it be (say) fitted to another bonnet and flexed to the same shape?

Ideas? Thanks......there will be more questions as I get ready to work the '60....

if you can get it back to shape try welding in some round bar along the inside of the lip to give it some strength to stop it flexing,my 61 has had the later bonnet springs put in to

yeah you should be able to bend it back, pretty easy to do. I say keep the old style latch because I like them. and dont let any idiots try to close the hood!

I got same problem with my 1500 bug. What about bending it while bolted to the side it doesn't site well. Never tried, worried of further damage.