Who would have thought?? a new 60's beetle owner that has no idea how to read his chassis number?? like you guys have never heard that before!!

I have never posted in the Bug Forum as I have been building a Type 3 Notch, but I have just bought a beetle for my eldest son to do up and need to confirm what year it is if possible.

I know this has been done to death because I actually searched the topic (crazy eh?)

My chassis number starts 195xxxxxx. Reading from other posts on the subject, the 9 indicates Australia, and I assume the 5 indicates 1965....but from what I have already read, it appears this style of numbering started in 1966....??? Is this correct or am I right to assume that my bug is a 1965?

The other thing that seems wierd about this bug is that there is no headliner....(not like it has no headliner because someone has ripped it out)....but it has no headliner AT ALL and appears to have no provision to actually install one. The interior roof looks like panels of steel, like a second skin to the turret skin....is this a wierd mod that someone has done...or is it a factory pov pack or something?

Thanks in advance!

Scarab (aka: Paul)

is there a fuel gauge and glovebox lid?

thanks for the reply Pod!

it has a glovebox lid with a chrome strip, but the guage panel has been hacked around with, so unable to tell if there was ever a fuel guage in the proper location. There does appear to be a fuel tap in the firewall though (it doesnt appear to be connected to anything) but it just gets curiouser and curiouser!

I also had a closer look at the inner roof panel and its not metal afterall, it looks to be wooden slats....I guess it just might be a previous owner hack??

will try and get around to loading some photos soon....you'll have a good laugh at the guarge 'cluster'

Scarab (aka: Paul)

Congrats sounds like you and the young bloke are owners of a 65 standard, so yes pov pak
no full headliner and reserve tap were part of the package

The only had a very center section of the headliner, but these sometimes get ripped out when respraying

65 was the first year of the new vin numbering

I actually think i saw that one like tha on ebay is it a pale green?

Quote:

Originally posted by Scarab Who would have thought?? a new 60's beetle owner that has no idea how to read his chassis number?? like you guys have never heard that before!! I have never posted in the Bug Forum as I have been building a Type 3 Notch, but I have just bought a beetle for my eldest son to do up and need to confirm what year it is if possible. I know this has been done to death because I actually searched the topic (crazy eh?) My chassis number starts 195xxxxxx. Reading from other posts on the subject, the 9 indicates Australia, and I assume the 5 indicates 1965....but from what I have already read, it appears this style of numbering started in 1966....??? Is this correct or am I right to assume that my bug is a 1965? The other thing that seems wierd about this bug is that there is no headliner....(not like it has no headliner because someone has ripped it out)....but it has no headliner AT ALL and appears to have no provision to actually install one. The interior roof looks like panels of steel, like a second skin to the turret skin....is this a wierd mod that someone has done...or is it a factory pov pack or something? Thanks in advance! Scarab (aka: Paul)

the 19 started in 64 so you have chasis starting with 194....

and as pewr above u havea 65 standard bug

They started putting glovebox lids and interior lights in standards from late 65/early 66

okay...so it has a glovebox, but also has all the chrome trim etc.....well holes for it anyway

someone actaully suggested it was a Custom....what was involved with that model?

sorry Joel, must be a different one....mine is white....well, what is left of the paint anyway (someone had a half hearted attempt at stripping the paint back) i removed a couple of guards today and one running board....the inner fenders and heater channel are immaculate!...there is one spot of rust, about the size of a 20c piece in the RHF inner fender area....not bad for 45 years!

is there anyway of telling what month the car might have been made and even the original colour? There is a tag near the brake res. that says S11598....would this give any clues??

I will try to upload a few photos later on. Thanks again for your input guys!

Cheers

Scarab (aka: Paul)

I have a standard to,and want to know what they did with the hole in the fuel tank for the sender,or did they not have a hole???

they didnt have a hole blank tank very rare

Thanks dave, mine has had a fuel gauge fitted at some stage and i want to go back to not having one,i might just make a blanking of plate???

NO get a panel off a 68 or later there the same size as they had NO gauge

Or else u may make me look in to my stash n find an origional

I no i have one its just a matter of finding the bloody thing

I bougt a standard to get a front clip and keept all the good bits

I have the original dash plates from a standard for no fuel gauge, i mean make a plate for the fuel tank,let me know what other parts you have for a standard???
thanks shane.

Sorry for hijacking your thread paul

Quote:

Originally posted by Scarab okay...so it has a glovebox, but also has all the chrome trim etc.....well holes for it anyway someone actaully suggested it was a Custom....what was involved with that model? sorry Joel, must be a different one....mine is white....well, what is left of the paint anyway (someone had a half hearted attempt at stripping the paint back) i removed a couple of guards today and one running board....the inner fenders and heater channel are immaculate!...there is one spot of rust, about the size of a 20c piece in the RHF inner fender area....not bad for 45 years! is there anyway of telling what month the car might have been made and even the original colour? There is a tag near the brake res. that says S11598....would this give any clues?? I will try to upload a few photos later on. Thanks again for your input guys! Cheers Scarab (aka: Paul)

There was a nice unmolested 67 custom around here but its been atleast 10 years since ive seen it.

outside it was just like a deluxe but has smoothy bumpers and no hood strip, everything was still chrome though

where as inside it was like a standard, center section headliner, no fuel gauge, no dash chrome strip and the upholstry was the single colour smooth coles cafeteria stuff did have a glovebox lid though.


I remember a few years back someone on here found a barnfind 67 custom that was really unmolested that had heaps of pics

no worries shane....Im happy to learn as much as I can too mate....so hijack away!!

Im totally interested to know what goes into making my car what it is.

By the way, I noticed that despite having been built in 1965....it appears to be the same as a 1964....smaller side windows, engine lid etc. Is this due to Oz being so far away that we were 12 months behind the rest of the world with model updates?

Cheers!

Scarab (aka: Paul)

Seeing as you don't mind hi-jacks

heres the thread i was thinking off, was kroozn's old bug
A good example of what a 67 custom should look like

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=69337 

Paul, aus was building our own bugs during the mid 60s so they didnt bother retooling for the big window bodys, thats why they stayed with small window bodys till fatchicks started in 68

My standard has the bonnet strip,and has painted flipper windows not chrome.

aaahhhhh!!!!....now I get it, thanks Joel. I can understand why there was no body change now, cheers!

Scarab (aka: Paul)

It sounds like everyone else has already answered all your questions!

Yes the Australian 'Standard' was the stripped-down 'poverty pack' version of the normal Deluxe model. It was first introduced in August 1962, and was sold alongside the Deluxe as a cheaper alternative. The Standard sold for around 800 pounds, and the Deluxe was around 900. It was not as popular in the marketplace as people preferred to pay a bit extra for the Deluxe's goodies. I suppose it's the same today - the GTI is the biggest selling version of the Golf in Australia.

As others have noted, the Standard gradually gained some of the Deluxe fittings. In 1966 the Deluxe went up to 1300cc, but the Standard remained 1200.

In 1967 the Standard also got the 1300 engine and mechanicals, and the trim and fittings improved further - it was almost as good as the Deluxe by this stage. VW Australia renamed it the 'Custom'. It was sold alongside the Deluxe in 1967, and survived until mid-'68 while the Melbourne factory was converted to CKD assembly of the German '68. Yes Australian 1958-67 Beetles all used the same body shell - we didn't get the Euro body shell until the '68 model as Joel has said.

Read the Australian VW history here: http://www.clubvw.org.au/Australian%20VW%20history.htm 

Thanks heaps for that info! very comprehensive...and thanks for the link too....I will definitely be making a visit to the site.

Thanks agains everyone, appreciate your help!

Scarab (aka: Paul)