Hi,

I was wondering what year did VW first fit a beetle with a column steering lock ?

eg. when you take the key out of the ignition and turn the steering wheel it locks up as a anti theft device !

Is it against ADR's to fit a column without this lock ?
If so what year did the ADR come into play ?
I cant find any info !

Thanks James -

[size=4]Hi james,
I'm not sure when the steering locks came into Beetles sold in Australia. My 68 beetle was made in Germany and doesn't have a steering lock. I owned a 1971 super Beetle in the 70s and it didn't have a steering lock...
I'm told that the steering lock piece is on all steering columns.. You just need the locking ignition switch assembly.
but not sure as yet...

I have just got a 68 beetle for parts and it is a German made car with a steering lock.
Many European cars had steering locks in the 50s>

As far as ADRs go...
You could have problems as it looks like they have a steering lock in the ignition...
so it may depend on who checks your car over...
they may think the steering lock is broken??
I'm guessing that steering locks didn't become standard until 1973 approx.. with the 1303 L beetle...

My car was tested on its reversing lights last year, and they didn't have standard reversing lights on beetles in Australia until about 1973 approx..
so luckily I had working reverse lamps... lol

so, its best to go to a VW shop to get your car tested if possible...

otherwise keep your fingers crossed... lol

LEE

PS: Some one else may have exact years that the ignition locks came in... there was a German beetle on here that had a steering lock - never ever seen one like that - on an early beetle about 1965 - 66 model... very rare... Lee




[/size]

72 they started in beetles in Aus.

The US had them standard since 68 though so like Lee said all the columns since then have all the provisions for it just the actual locking tongue part that locks it isn't installed.

There's 2 different kinds, the 72-73 have the removable housing like the one in Lees picture above but the 74 onwards its apart of the steering coloum housing and cant be removed.

You can fit the 72-73 one in the 68-71 housings but they are a pretty loose fit and wiggle around abit.

type 3's have em from??? hmm no idea? all my type 3's had them though and all worked as well.

Thanks for the info guys.
If you find anything on the subject in ADRS then please let me know !

Do you know a good website that is easy to follow with regards to ADRS and when they are enforced from ?

Cheers James

Hi
I have taken the steering column and shaft out of the 1968 German made beetle and it does have the locking tabs welded onto the shaft..

and it does have a locking ignition switch...

seems they were saving money with cars in Australia..

US beetles had the steering locks and reversing lamps but never had disc brakes... saving money again.... lol


LEE

Ok so let me get this straight,

A beetle manufactured before 1 January 1969 does not have to comply with 2nd Edition ADRS ?

So if it wasn't fitted with a steering lock when the beetle was manufactured prior to 1969 then it won't need one and same goes for collapsable steering column and reversing lights etc !

?????

Answered your own question.
Even if you do need one it's not hard to setup, all 68 steering shafts have the provisions there for it, just need to find a column with the lock.

Cheers Thanks

Hi James,

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/index.aspx 

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/second_edition_adrs.aspx 

Hope these work (general page, & specific for 2nd edition). ALL the info. is here, as far as I can see.
The 2nd edition ADR's applied from 1st Jan. 1969.
Seems that from 1st Jan. 1972, requires the anti-theft lock (ADR 25), ie ignition + anti-theft lock. Some of the PDF docuemnst referenced have slightly confusing definitons of "passenger cars", but the rest seems straightforward.