Thinking through some things this morning, and have 2 questions in my mind:

1. Does anyone know if you can fit a padded dash from an S or 72 onwards FLAT SCREEN bug into a 68-70 bug ???

2. Are new padded dashes (dash pads ?) available ???

Need to make a few changes in the dash and guage dept in Jezebel, and thinking putting a dash pad over my existing flat steel dash may be my simplest option....

AFAIK no one makes new RHD pads, but i think they were working on it in somewhere in Europe.

The 73-76 ones will fit but there are some minor differences, the dash is slightly different between the speedo and steering column but it the pad usually takes up the difference.

Also the defrost outlets above the speedo and glovebox lid are longer in the 71 onwards cars so you would have a gap there.

I had a really good nick unmolested dash pad from one of my 1300 bugs I was gonna install in my 70 rotary beetle but too much work.

Most people want to remove them rather than add them.

Best bet is find a donor car as theres lots of specialised parts you need to go with them, knobs, ash tray, speaker grilles, glove box lid and retainer ring, defroster vents etc.

Right, Ok - thanks for the info Joel.

Sounds like should go with the other option (ally plate), and the idea of putting a padded dash should be thrown into the too much "stuffing around" basket !!!