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Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:14 pm

Hey I was wondering about a mounting bracket for a license plate on a W deck lid. I have searched around in the classifieds and asked a few sellers, but nothing for a W deck lid. My car didn't come with a bracket but instead a pretty mickey mouse system of two brackets that has been attached unevenly (I'd rather replace them than even it up).

I know there are some out there. My 56 had a 'T' shaped one that mounted to the nose light above where the plate goes. Anyone know of where I can find a vintage bracket or have one to sell me? Or, is there a better alternative solution that someone can suggest i.e. a good homemade fabrication?

Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:34 pm

This has been a problem awhile, everything that was available has to be modified to fit, or you just make your own like most do, trouble with that is usually ends up being a mickey mouse thing. I've toyed with making a nice stainless one available, the prototype is actually on my 54 for now, trouble is it has to pay to make them, and they have to be relatively inexpensive to buy (under $20). I keep holding off thinking someone like WW is going to offshore these eventually. I'll have to post a picture of that prototype this week, at least to give folks an idea of how to make a decent one for themselves.

Gary

Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:01 pm

You mean it's not 2 bolts that hold on the plate??

:shock:

Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:12 pm

Brezelwerks wrote: This has been a problem awhile, everything that was available has to be modified to fit, or you just make your own like most do, trouble with that is usually ends up being a mickey mouse thing. I've toyed with making a nice stainless one available, the prototype is actually on my 54 for now, trouble is it has to pay to make them, and they have to be relatively inexpensive to buy (under $20). I keep holding off thinking someone like WW is going to offshore these eventually. I'll have to post a picture of that prototype this week, at least to give folks an idea of how to make a decent one for themselves.

Gary

Well let me know. As noted there isn't anything out there and you'd have a monopoly if you could market your prototype. There is a price point where it becomes too expensive, but I'd be willing to pay more than $20 for a good one. Time is money as they say and who knows how many tries if would take me to get it right…

Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:22 pm

Matt,
I might have one kicking around. I'll check and let you know.

Dave

Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:52 pm

Dave Haviland wrote: Matt,
I might have one kicking around. I'll check and let you know.

Dave Got two by chance?

Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:32 pm

Brezelwerks wrote: This has been a problem awhile, everything that was available has to be modified to fit, or you just make your own like most do, trouble with that is usually ends up being a mickey mouse thing. I've toyed with making a nice stainless one available, the prototype is actually on my 54 for now, trouble is it has to pay to make them, and they have to be relatively inexpensive to buy (under $20). I keep holding off thinking someone like WW is going to offshore these eventually. I'll have to post a picture of that prototype this week, at least to give folks an idea of how to make a decent one for themselves.

Gary Gary, make 'em! We need 'em for the pope's nose w decklid...I'm not about to screw mine directly to the lid. :lol:

Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:55 pm

Sounds like that is three sales already, so please Gary make em!

Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:30 pm

This is what I have on my oval - not even sure if it is correct. The license plate hangs more to one side of the tag light than the other.

[img]http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250649[/img]

[img]http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250648[/img]

[img]http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250647[/img]

[img]http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=250647[/img]

Brad

Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:31 pm

Sorry Guys - for some reason couldn't get the pics to post - just press the gallery button and it will take you there.

Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:20 pm

That is a 'Preacher's nose'. A pope's nose is the early, narrow, thin one. No bracket for those YET. :lol: (Gary.....)

Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:58 pm

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=259641

Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:32 pm

Splitdog wrote: That is a 'Preacher's nose'. A pope's nose is the early, narrow, thin one. No bracket for those YET. :lol: (Gary.....)

Whats the difference if the decklid has a pope's nose or the later preacher's nose? Won't the same braket work for either? they are both W deck lids. (If I'm an idiot, I apologize as I have never had a pope's nose on a car.

Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:51 pm

The W decklid's are actually different. '52 down are small opening with two tabs to hold the screws for nose. The later one has a wider hole with different mounting. The same bracket won't work for both.

Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:06 am

"That is a 'Preacher's nose'. A pope's nose is the early, narrow, thin one. "

I suppose an additional description would be, the light that contains the brake light which is angled upwards more should be properly considered the "pope's nose". The style changed with Zwitters, I think, in Sept. '52 which moved the single center brake lamp into each heart taillight on the fender, so that the resulting lic. plate light assembly has a bottom edge that is parallel to the ground. That "style" light assembly, with some minor changes, stayed with German-build Beetles thru '63.

I have not heard of the phrase "preacher's nose" but we can certainly perpetuate that! "Preacher", because he is less important than the pope, or that he is more "level headed" without having his nose up on everyone?

The dang Germans incorrectly refer to that complete style ('63 and down) as pope's nose :x . Even more frustrating, is that almost nobody even within VW circles knows how to correctly pronounce "Ghia"... :evil:

Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:53 am

The issue usually is where your lid was drilled for holes originally. Mt '50 came from Sweden so it was drilled for the wide, bendable plastic Euro plates. I wasn't about to drill more holes in it, so I made a "bridge" bracket out of strap aluminum. Easy to make, buy it at Home D. ALWAYS use a rubber washer or square between the bracket and lid.

Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:36 pm

Update. I started the CAD drawing last nite, the nudge helped me come up with a trick concept/design borrowed from an old metal furniture piece I did years ago. Basically its a one size fits all bracket, same shape as my first design, but now its instantly configurable by the user to fit either popes nose. A local friend with his Plasma CAM will cut out the prototypes to test out, and then I'll look to have them laser cut and tumbled locally in small volume thereafter. Seems time to create a show quality bracket, price should be attractive with this approach too, so stay tuned.

Gary

Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:46 pm

This is the bracket that came on my 1954 Cabriolet.

Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:43 pm

Right on Gary!

Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:25 pm

look what I just bought :wink: