Started to restore my first beetle, and as in earlier posts had a vin of 197 (aus made 67) as a couple of people replied.

Someone maybe able to work this out/and let me know what the go is.

I thought I would buy two new front fenders, but when delivered, I checked against the car etc, current headlights I have, two big, and new fenders light holes two small?

So i figure the following, not being experienced in VW's like many on this site:

1. Aus made fenders (cars) different to overseas models.
2. The car at some point had different fenders installed which are not 67 model (do 67 models have a smaller headlight?)
3. The new fenders are just cheap crap.
4. The vin may read 197, but the shell maybe a different year, but I am sure a 67, no disk brakes, no external petrol filler cap.

If anyone can point out what is wrong please do? As i dont want to order more parts later to find out of a simliar problem e.g. i will need new heater channels and many other new parts to replace rusted areas on the car, or do i manage with what i have and repair them?

Thanks

Post a picture of your car also, and it will answer a lot of questions.

Will take photos tomorrow/friday, if get time, however alot stripped down, but should manage to take photos of the panels, car etc, so that people can have a look. (and laugh at all the work ahead of me).

Yup - Aus cars are slightly different spec to overseas ones.... can make it VERY interesting ordering parts sometimes !!!

Mostly we were usually a year or two behind the US models, but then - we got disk brakes on the front of Beetle's before the US did. To make things tougher, 67 was a special year for US beetles... they had different guards, different wheels (wide 5 but with slots), but still the same basic body shell.... while here a 67 is basically the same as a 65 or a 66.

Like helbus has said - post up some pics and we'll be able to figure it out. Giveaway areas are the spare wheel well, the front and rear heater vents, the gearshift and heater control, the rear apron and deck lid and the door lock handles and mechanisms.... they're all bits that take a bit of effort to change to be from a different year.

Oh and any laughing will be cos we're laughing WITH you, not AT you... a lot of us have been there, done that, and gotten MANY T-shirts !!!

Thanks for all this info, will try to post pictures asap. See some further info below:

The spare wheel well has two inspection holes.
Front apron had two holes each side, one for the bumper bracket, one for the bumper support.
Rear apron has two slots at bottom for the pin :lol size exhaust.
Rear deck lid reads 1300 deluxe
rear bumper feeds through rear fenders and the supports also.
Heater control is on the drivers side.
Gear shift, not sure what your asking here.
Front and rear heater vents, where are they located.
Door locks, will have to take pictures.

Thanks

Yeah we wont laugh at you. I have seen most people here laugh at themselves first.

I'm no early beetle wizz, but Oz made bugs remained virtually unchanged from early to late 60's due to cost of re-tooling and a failing market. They did not get the small updates ohermerkets got. USA usually got the best of updates and options.
Bugs took a big leap forward ~68/69 or there abouts when production stopped and CKD assembly took over. Updates then loosly followed Germany.

Phil74camper is the king on this info.

VW54, will be doing from now on, I wont mention where I brought the parts, but not only the problem which I posted, I got two totally different guards, one had the oval hole for that little chrome bit, and the other had a long narrow hole, i assume for the bumper bracket to bolt through....

Only in America

you guessed it, and they are now boxed up ready to return....great start to my new hobby.

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The German made 1967 beetle is a ONE YEAR only beetle
different doors, quarter windows, door handles etc...
early bumpers but the rear ones are different to the towel rail bumpers We had... because of the late model engine lid.

Beetles in Germany started to be upgraded in 1965 with Larger Glass.. then 66 then the BIG upgrade in 1967.. which was a BIG seller in the USA... then the 1968 beetle We finally received...

so, for parts for a 1967 Aussie beetle You need to order parts for a 1964 beetle...
[You still need to make sure its the same looking part]

there were very few changes in Australia from 1962 to 1967 inclusive apart from the 1300 engine..

No VW beetle sold in the USA [VW of America] ever had DISC BRAKES.... not even in 1978..

but ALL VW Beetles sold in the USA from 1969 had IRS rear suspension....

When buying from the USA... I always remind Myself...
there is NO Warranty or exchange ....
as the cost of air freight prohibits this...

the heater channels will probably be different.. as the heater outlets changed many many times..

best to buy ANY body panels from AUstralian shops ....

I'm sure your 67 beetle is just that... but 197 means nothing in the USA....

1967 beetles in the USA had vertical headlamps..
- same as from 1968 here in Australia.

LEE


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Here a couple of pictures I took before taking apart.

These may help identify, sorry front hard to see, but a quick run down, bumper/and support brackets go through the front apron not the guards.

From reading post, for this car, if aus 67 (197), i need to order 64 parts (but local, learnt this lesson quick).

Yep brought from CIP1 and thats right they are too vertical and small for my current headlights.

CIP1 do quote that if they make the mistake of the wrong items then they cover shipping, I will see how I go and let you know.

pic

pic

WOW
If CIP1 honors that promise....

Usually everything in the US is for the 48 continental USA states ONLY..
which excludes Hawaii and Alaska and pacific islands etc.

cheers

LEE

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=81191 

68 Autobug, they do say to order in pairs, which i did, and i got two different guards, not a matching pair, one with an oval hole and one with a long narrow hole, so therefore their mistake.

I would say that they are accountable for the products they sent and should account for shipping back and refund.

Lee

your missing the point shit happens only in america

not that its a 1 year only

They make the mistake by taking oders in one place, and packing in other place where they have no idea about what VW parts look like, just thrown into a box.

Then we as a paying customer wait for our order and get disappointed.

Will let you know how I go...........oh well, back to stripping the car down.

Ok, If they don't come to the party on returning, would anyone be insterested in these guards, thought I would offer here first, if not going to ebay most likely: (I should know by next Wednesday if there going back or not) so just seeing if anybody would be interested in buying, they are as follows:

2 front fenders, 1 has the horn grill (left side) and the other has a long narrow hole (right side).

You could weld these holes up/or change/modify, and you have two new guards.

From what i gather they will fit a 68 bug onwards, please correct me if i am wrong (these guards have a more vertical/smaller headlight hole).

So if you/or someone is interested let me know and what price you would be willing to pay, you can PM me and I will take your name and number.

Thanks

guessing you have just bought that bug on ebay?

it used to live here in Lismore back when i was in highschool
it was cream back then, got painted that purple colour when i was in year 9 or 10 so your talking 13 years ago which is why its looking pretty scrappy now

the owner back then always said it was a 66 model

i havent seen it in over 10 years, i only recognised it by the number plate, it ended up down in sawtell

The fenders You have are both late models as You said..
1968>

One has no bumper slot but has the horn grill....

the other is a standard 68> front fender..
if no holes on the top for blinker .. then a later model...

LEE

Both new guards have blinker holes, just the front holes are different......like I said open to offers or going to ebay as of next Wednesday if issue not resolved...

Joel, No, you are wrong, did not buy, it was a gift, so I am lucky to start with, no starting out lay on a car purchase.

And the owner was wrong from the post on here as 67 aus, 197 on the car, and that amount of time passing and current age and not being looked after it would look like shit and does, but hey its getting a full rebuild ground up, hopefully will look ok at the end, if i can get parts that fit LOL......local that is lol, all that i can do is laugh.

Happy buggin all, and so far this site is great.