Help.

Just got a 74 beetle and trying to get it ready for roadworthy. Never had anything this late model before and all my previous ones were old bajas (never had a boot release).

I've got a cable attached to the latch and attached to a lever at the other end. The cable currently runs through a hole just to the rear of the fuse box but there are no mounting holes there that match the plate to which the lever is attached.

I've seen them in the glove box on other beetles of this vintage but there is not such hole in this one.

Any suggestions?

BTW it's a 74 1300. (That's another point. How do I find out what year it is other than what the previous owner told me?)

Thanks.

When you open the hood there "should" be a compliance plate with a date on it.
You can also trace to body number under the back seat. Also "if" the windscreen is original you can count the dot above "armourfloat" If it is above o it is a 74 - more a trivea point that one than a reliable one


If it is a 74 -1300 then i think it is a "standard" and not a "super". My guess is the old cable broke and the PO replaced it with an after market release mechanism
I have a 74L and it is in the glove box - bitch of a position. The outer cable has broken and needs to be replaced. It is riveted in place and a bitch to get out. I have seen a few where you just mount it on the A pillar in the passenger foot well.

may be possible that the old cable destroyed the glove box and POwner replaced glove box./
Does it look newish ?

Just a thought - does anybody know if the type 3 bonnet pull works in a Beetle?

Thanks for the input.

The "original cable died and replaced by aftermarket" sounds like most possible. The glove box is none too flash but may still be a replacement. I think I'll just mount this one and be done with it. The position seems useful and the mechanism is OK.

Regarding the age, the windscreen has been replaced, couldn't see a compliance plate under the hood but I do have the chasis number. Where do I find lists to check ages?

Thanks again for the help.

Your chassis number is stamped onto the central tunnel under your back seat. Lift up the seat bottom and look at the central tunnel. It starts to widen as it goes to the rear. At the back there is an oval inspection plate for the shifting mechanism, but just before that you should see a number stamped in the metal. It may or may not have cork insulation around it.

The THIRD digit from the left will give you the year - nn4 nnnn nnnn for example is a 1974 model.

You can also look at the wheels, under the hubcaps - there is a small date marker stamped into the rims. Speedos sometimes have a date stamp on the rear of them too.