I've got an idea for my 70 bug which I hope to turn into a Cal-look bug. The early cal-lookers used to replace their front indicators with round, flat Lucas indicator fittings over the horn grilles on their earlier beetles so I thought on my later beetle without horn grilles to use the late Mexican bumpers with the built in indicators. Does anyone know if these are available in Aust? Also let me know what you think. Paint prep is going slowly but I'm about to start on the bolt on panels and have to decide if I weld the indicator holes up. Cheers

Not sure if you are looking for authenticity (if you are doing a cal look probably not too worried) but why not look around at wreckers (if you want to go used) or auto supply shops/ebay etc for new/used suitably sized indicators that you can retrofit into your front bar. Stock 70's front bars would be pretty cheap and easy to find so if you did muck it up, easily fixed. Cut the hole out and fit a universal style rectangular indicator of the correct size into the bar. A good jigsaw with fine steel blade should suffice. You can get the rectangular type that are fitted into 4x4 front bumpers etc or go wrecker shopping for something off an early pulsar, corolla etc with the square shape front as these all have similar type indicators.

Or go led inside the headlight which seems to be another cal look thing. I've also seen people fit led ones into the rim of the headlight by drilling a row of holes in the front most edge of the headlight rim and mounting the leds inside the rim, I recall seeing a few done this way at car shows. Not sure about the road legality of such things but as long as they are bright and visible from 45 degrees it should be ok in most states.

If you want the retro cal look style maybe look at some 70's chrome motorcycle indicators (old round honda ones on stalks from the smaller road bikes) which is another thing I've seen used, great retro look and can be fitted above or below the front bumper.

You can get the bumpers new and the correct indicators to fit the holes are available, they are curved to fit the shape of the bar, be aware that the chrome on the bumpers rust in the packet, if you intend to paint them, take them along to the chrome platers and have them stripped, this will make them easy to paint with the chrome removed.

From memory 1990's ford fiesta front gaurd side indicators are a neat fit in the beetle horn grill if you cut the bars off the grill leaving a chrome surround for the light. Ford laser from the same era may be the same.

There's probably lots of other jap car lenses that would fit.

Regards,

Matt.

Thanks guys. I'll look into some of those ideas.
Clayton