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posted on June 19th, 2011 at 09:22 PM
Original 63 Aussie bug here in the UK
Hi Everyone I'm new to this forum!
Was just wondering if someone could be kind enough to answer a few questions regarding my Aussie bug.
Over here in the UK, it's a tad hard to source the correct info on aussie bugs and information from thesamba is also tricky as it only lists specs
for German and US built cars.
Ok a biref history...Shes a 1963 ruby red deluxe model, shipped over from Oz to the UK in 2008. All original, and 1 owner from new and totally rust
free (as your'd imagine).
Here are a few pics..
Original plate..
Basically what I would like to know, is a list of Aussie only specs that differed from the German built 63 Bugs. Im looking into eventually restoring
her to former glory so need as much accurate info as possible.
Some things I've notcied that differ from the 63 models over here is that Ive got a wolfsburg crest, which was dropped for German 63 models, an
electrical fuel guage as opposed to mechanical. My bumpers also have seals inbetween them, haven't seen that around over here on other bugs. A puller
operateted washer pump, door cards seem thicker, headling also different. Square weave carpet in the engine bay. These are only a small list.
Also regarding the correct paint code and upholstery, is Ruby red L456 used on for Aussie cars too? What about the carpet, mine is square weave and
looks browny with a beige border.
Lastly, bit cheeky but I've got the orignal address where this bug lived all it's life, as when it was shipped over I found the original owners
driving lisence in the glove box... werid! I have no idea if hes still alive and kickin. Just wondered if anyone rememberd seeing this bug about? Wont
give out the exact address but it was along virgina street in Geelong.
Any help is greatly appreciated
Thanks
Karl.
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posted on June 19th, 2011 at 10:31 PM
love that ruby red. its the one that ive got on my bug, its not the original colour on mine.
cant help with the rest of the items though
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posted on June 20th, 2011 at 04:15 AM
It might be what is known as the '62 1/2' model. It was a bit of a unique catch-up model in Oz.
First one with towel-rail bumpers, fuel gauge, spring-loaded bonnet and from memory seat-belt anchors. Last with the bonnet badge, smaller popes
light type rear licence light, small tear-drop front indicators and I think usually a stale-air 40HP motor. Is that the original engine in it? - the
original number will be on the warranty card.
I had one many moons ago. The head-lining is unique to Oz cars of that era, good luck finding any more of that!
Looks like a nice car, they were built in Melbourne so it hasn't strayed far going to Geelong. Geelong is good preparation for English winters .
There are a few people on this forum who are far more knowledgable than I on the specific details of local production. There's also an excellent
book 'Knowing Australian Volkswagens' (or similar) which was a limited run. You may still be able to get this, they were advertising in the
Australian VW magazine - I'll have a look if you are keen to get one. I have a copy, excellent read if you are into that sort of thing.
Angus
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posted on June 20th, 2011 at 08:01 AM
Thanks cant send u PM as I need more than 5 posts!! lol Im very interested in getting hold of that book, I have heard of it, would be a pleasure to
read up on. If you can get one for me, that would be great!
Regarding the 62 and a half model year, i'm aware of this model, but i have a vw birth certificate from Germany. My car left the factory on 2nd
February 1963, and said it was destined for Figi??? States it was a CKD, so must of been assembled in Aussie..Clayton facitily?? so with that in mind,
it has to be the 63 model...the engine is original yes, engine number 7456034, all stamped in the warrenty info. So why i've got the bonnet badge Im
not sure, early 63 thing? When was it actually discontiuned in Australlia?
Any more help on this and the other things anyone??
Thanks
Joel
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Interesting that the engine is still original yet has the fresh air heater system.
Most 63s here still had the stale air with a shroud that is the later shape like this but with no heater outlets instead of the older 36hp shape
shroud.
It may have been upgraded to the fresh air heater system at some point in its life, most people got jack of the stale air setup after the first few
hundred miles
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posted on June 20th, 2011 at 06:08 PM
send it back so we can have a real good look for ya
aussie63
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posted on June 20th, 2011 at 07:12 PM
Quote:
Originally
posted by Joel
Interesting that the engine is still original yet has the fresh air heater system.
Most 63s here still had the stale air with a shroud that is the later shape like this but with no heater outlets instead of the older 36hp shape
shroud.
It may have been upgraded to the fresh air heater system at some point in its life, most people got jack of the stale air setup after the first few
hundred miles
Yes, but I found on the samba that my chassis and engine numbers are from January 1963. In the January 1963 edition of the vw car owners manual the
engine is the fresh air heating one, so it must have been upgraded around early january, so my engine most likely came complete from Germany like
this.
I could be wrong however, only way to know if there is another 63 bug from the same time on here that I could compare it with.
Another interesting thing, My 6V electrical fuel guage says made in Germany, I thought they were locally manufactured over in OZ? as 63 cars over here
certinally don't have them! they are all mechanical.
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posted on June 20th, 2011 at 07:16 PM
Quote:
Originally
posted by robb
send it back so we can have a real good look for ya
lol...now why didn't i think of that? IT WILL return to Oz one day...
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posted on June 20th, 2011 at 09:56 PM
You can't use the Samba info too much for Aussie-built cars.
I can't quite read the chassis number, but the aussie cars usually started with 19, and the third digit was the year of manufacture. eg mine is a
'67 model, it's chassis is 197xxxx. Not sure when they started that though. The 'Figi' is probably Fiji at a guess. If you look at the door
handles or window winders, rear-view mirror etc the VW symbol will have kangaroos either side if it was built in Australia. Gauges on the sixties era
cars were made by VDO Australia.
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The aussie chassis numbering was only 65-67 but as above you can't go on Samba info, Aus stuff is way different including engine and chassis
numbers.
Our factory was well behind the German one, so the numbers are alot later here.
Our 63s here were still stale air heaters.
the engines were assembled here from memory, Phil will know for sure.
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posted on June 20th, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Hi,
My cousin and myself bought VW's last year. He got a Ruby Red 1963 model just like yours. I got a 1964 model that was Bahama Blue but was repainted a
sort of Ruby Red. The Australian VW's didn't change much from 1961 to 1967. You'll find a lot of information about Australian VWs from Rod Davies
and Lloyd Davies' excellent book, "Volkswagen In Australia: The Forgotten Story". You can get a copy from
here...http://www.automotobookshop.com.au/volkswagen-australia-forgotten-story-volkswagen-parts-slip-case-p-3570.html
Enjoy your VW!
Regards,
Donald
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posted on June 20th, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Thanks for all your help so far guys, it seems there is still an uncertancy of infomation regarding dates.
But in relation to what was said above, My chassis number is 5316171 and matches what is displayed on the samba for January 1963 German cars.
My car definatley has the fresh air heating and is the orginal, the number 7456034 also matches with a january 63 german built engine. So I am
assuming the engine and chassis came complete from Germany. Yes, Fiji is said where it was destined for on the birth certificate.
I got aussie stamped parts all over the car, however the VDO 6v electric fuel guage definatley is stamped made in Germany. The rear view mirror and
winders as was asked are australian stamped yes.
Im guessing my car is just a mish-mash of German and Aussie parts. I Guess they were all slightly different...
I will definatley try and get hold of that book, 'The forgotten story' it will proberbly answer most of my questions.
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posted on June 21st, 2011 at 12:59 PM
I wrote most of the book 'Knowing Australian Volkswagens' published in 1994 - really it's pretty crap book by today's standards. The Davies' book
is much better than mine! Rather than try to put out a new edition, I put together the on-line Australian history instead:
As a background, the Australian factory began assembling German CKD kits from June 1954. Local content was added over the years, starting with
batteries and tyres, paint, glass, trim etc. By 1957 over 50% was locally made, and from 1959 the first metal panels were stamped in Melbourne. In
1964 VW Australia started building a foundry to make engine and gearbox parts. The aim was 95% but they never reached that - local content topped out
at about 80% for the '67 model. The whole thing was canned in '68 and the factory went back to assembling German kits - all the presses and body
jigs were sold off.
The Aussie '63 is still pretty close to the the German version, with only detail differences as you have found. Really it's only the Aussie
'65-'66'67s that are radically different (ie older) than German Beetles.
My data says that the 1963 chassis number block ended with 5677118 but so that does seem to place yours some time at the start of 1963. However the
way it worked here was that the Australian factory was assigned a 'block' of numbers to use that did not conflict with Wolfsburg's run. While the
Samba assigns your number to January 1963, and Wolfsburg's certificate to February 1963, that doesn't mean that that's when it was stamped in
Melbourne. I would think two or three months later, perhaps as many as six months later, is more like it. In fact your warranty book says it was
bought in October 1963, probably not long after it was made. VWs were in big demand in 1963 (sales peaked in 1964) so they didn't sit in dealer yards
long. After '65, however, sales slumped and cars could often sit in yards for six months after they were built. To get a better idea of when your VW
was made, look for some factory date stamps. Have a look at the back of the speedo. Look at the wheel centres of all five wheels. Unscrew the chrome
front blinker covers and look underneath.
The 'block' of chassis numbers assigned to the Australian factory is the reason why official 'certificates' for Australian cars are not accurate.
Aussie VWs were not sent to Fiji; it's only that Wofsburg's archives today have no record of what numbers were used in Melbourne, so they default to
'export Fiji' for whatever reason. And with no details of paint/trim colours. As far as I know, Australian production records no longer exist, they
were thrown out years ago, perhaps as long ago as 1968 when production ended. And certainly there was a cleanout/throw-out when Nissan bought the
factory in 1976.
We all know that Wolfsburg uses the August-July model year build, but as Joel says that doesn't apply to Australian cars. Generally the 'updated'
model appeared the following February or March down here.
Yes the '63s were not supposed to have a Wolfsburg crest, but the Australian factory would have used up their stock of old parts first. Likewise
there are many Aussie '64s that still have the narrow rear number plate light. It simply took longer to change down here.
VDO did set up an Australian factory (in Melbourne) to supply the VW factory, and I would think your speedo would say 'VDO Australia'. The fuel
gauge is made to Australian specs but imported from Germany. Later ones were made here.
Joel I'm pretty sure that the Melbourne engine assembly shop didn't come on line until 1965 or 1966. Even then most of the parts still came from
Germany. Early exchange engines were shipped out complete from Kassel (with old Aussie motors shipped back there) and only the later 1300 motors were
assembled here. After 1968 all motors came from Germany.
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posted on June 21st, 2011 at 01:10 PM
BTW, the Ruby Red paint code for Australian 1963 VWs was 1.2.303 (VWA) or 4286 (Dulux). This was changed in 1964 to 1.3.303 (VWA) or 4754 (Dulux).
The Australian factory did use a THIRD Ruby Red colour - L456 (VW) or 5265 (Dulux) but only on the 1500 Type 3. It's a slightly more brownish red - I
know this from experience because I bought some to repair my '64 back in the '80s and it didn't match.
If you are lucky there will be a Dulux/Balm paint sticker near the spare tyre; but if not it will probably be 1.2.303.
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posted on June 21st, 2011 at 05:52 PM
Quote:
Originally
posted by Phil74Camper
I wrote most of the book 'Knowing Australian Volkswagens' published in 1994 - really it's pretty crap book by today's standards. The Davies' book
is much better than mine! Rather than try to put out a new edition, I put together the on-line Australian history instead:
As a background, the Australian factory began assembling German CKD kits from June 1954. Local content was added over the years, starting with
batteries and tyres, paint, glass, trim etc. By 1957 over 50% was locally made, and from 1959 the first metal panels were stamped in Melbourne. In
1964 VW Australia started building a foundry to make engine and gearbox parts. The aim was 95% but they never reached that - local content topped out
at about 80% for the '67 model. The whole thing was canned in '68 and the factory went back to assembling German kits - all the presses and body
jigs were sold off.
The Aussie '63 is still pretty close to the the German version, with only detail differences as you have found. Really it's only the Aussie
'65-'66'67s that are radically different (ie older) than German Beetles.
My data says that the 1963 chassis number block ended with 5677118 but so that does seem to place yours some time at the start of 1963. However the
way it worked here was that the Australian factory was assigned a 'block' of numbers to use that did not conflict with Wolfsburg's run. While the
Samba assigns your number to January 1963, and Wolfsburg's certificate to February 1963, that doesn't mean that that's when it was stamped in
Melbourne. I would think two or three months later, perhaps as many as six months later, is more like it. In fact your warranty book says it was
bought in October 1963, probably not long after it was made. VWs were in big demand in 1963 (sales peaked in 1964) so they didn't sit in dealer yards
long. After '65, however, sales slumped and cars could often sit in yards for six months after they were built. To get a better idea of when your VW
was made, look for some factory date stamps. Have a look at the back of the speedo. Look at the wheel centres of all five wheels. Unscrew the chrome
front blinker covers and look underneath.
The 'block' of chassis numbers assigned to the Australian factory is the reason why official 'certificates' for Australian cars are not accurate.
Aussie VWs were not sent to Fiji; it's only that Wofsburg's archives today have no record of what numbers were used in Melbourne, so they default to
'export Fiji' for whatever reason. And with no details of paint/trim colours. As far as I know, Australian production records no longer exist, they
were thrown out years ago, perhaps as long ago as 1968 when production ended. And certainly there was a cleanout/throw-out when Nissan bought the
factory in 1976.
We all know that Wolfsburg uses the August-July model year build, but as Joel says that doesn't apply to Australian cars. Generally the 'updated'
model appeared the following February or March down here.
Yes the '63s were not supposed to have a Wolfsburg crest, but the Australian factory would have used up their stock of old parts first. Likewise
there are many Aussie '64s that still have the narrow rear number plate light. It simply took longer to change down here.
VDO did set up an Australian factory (in Melbourne) to supply the VW factory, and I would think your speedo would say 'VDO Australia'. The fuel
gauge is made to Australian specs but imported from Germany. Later ones were made here.
Joel I'm pretty sure that the Melbourne engine assembly shop didn't come on line until 1965 or 1966. Even then most of the parts still came from
Germany. Early exchange engines were shipped out complete from Kassel (with old Aussie motors shipped back there) and only the later 1300 motors were
assembled here. After 1968 all motors came from Germany.
Wow, thanks so much for taking the time to write that. It's got so much info there, which basically answers all my questions. It's very interesting
knowing about all these changes. Up until know my knowledge has been restricted to German and US models, but the Aussie cars certinally have quite an
unsual and more ambiguos history.
Interesting you mentioned about when it was really prodcued and left the factory. My inspection ticket from the service book states it was carried out
on the 18.9.63 at spencer motors at just 4 miles. Does this help me estimate a production date?
But everything you have said, makes perfect sense. Also Regarding dates, I have found, under the front blinkers, they are marked April 1963, and the
fuel guage again April 63 however although the speedo in indeed marked VDO Australia is dated 6.63.
So basically its proberbly worth throwing my birth certificate from Wolfsburg away? As it seems it's totally inaccurate. Your right in the fact that
it does not mention paint code or manufactured date either, it also lists 2 extras/options that cannont be indentifed.
Regarding last question about the paint code apart from the metal chassis number plate i've also got a small plate attached near the brake fluid
bottle Its stamped, S 26316 is this a paint code?
Many thanks for all your input and help. Its always so fanscinating knowing the history of your bug.
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posted on June 22nd, 2011 at 08:19 AM
No worries. Basically you should be OK to order any pretty much any restoration parts for a Euro/US '63 and they will fit yours - the Aussie fuel
gauge excepted! '64s are much the same too - Aussie '64s still have the '63 horn ring and the pull-washer, not the button that the Euro '64s do.
They really diverge from '65 on and we Aussies have to be aware of it when we buy parts from Europe/US.
Yes the Wolfsburg certificate is basically worthless for Aussie cars, although they are nice to have anyway. They do show that Australian production
records of the '60s don't exist anymore. One of our Club members here in Sydney visited the Wolfsburg archives a few years ago and deliberately
researched what Australian records they had. Not much! You can read what he found in the November 2009 issue of our club magazine (Zeitschrift). Go
here and download November (PDF):
There you go, some parts made in April '63 and the speedo in June '63. Your car was first serviced in September '63, so that narrows your car's
production date to June/July/August '63. And that's not bad after 48 years! Also shows that parts sat around in the Melbourne factory for a couple
of months (or more) before being used. No 'just in time' production in those days!
No, S26316 is not a paint code; the Dulux/Balm codes of the '60s were only 4 digits (as above). I think it is just the 'body' number, and it means
nothing. The paint code was printed on an adhesive sticker; most of them are long gone by now. Mine was originally stuck on the front skirting panel,
right next to the bonnet latch. Even if the code is long gone, and your local body shop can't create Dulux 4286 or VW 1.2.303, they can still
computer match it nowadays from a good sample. The inside of the glove box lid is usually a good spot.
I'm from Sydney so I'm not too familar with Melbourne's Spencer Motors, but there are a few period photos of some of their agencies in the State
Library of Victoria. Such as:
Spencer Motors went out of business years ago, although that building still exists and is a Spotlight haberdashery store today (have a look on Google
Street View, cnr Cecil & Market Sts South Melbourne)
. 
