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Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:13 am

Hi, I want to replace the exterior trim on my 1976 bay window, which was imported from Australia. It is the style that runs in line with the door handles. I have attached a pic. This seems very hard to find, none of the usual UK dealers do it. I would be very grateful if someone could help.

Malcolm

Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:33 am

I've got the same trim strip.

I'm pretty sure it was a dealer add on at the time. I'm not sure where you could find new stuff. I think I saw some used trim like this on ebay once.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:51 am

Correct, not a VW part but instead supplied by local/reigonal stripe and trim companies. The same trim could be found on hundereds of different cars in the mid 70's to early 80's, usually came as a pre cut kit with ends, inserts and pop rivets, the kits for 240Z's even had the 1/4 panel section prebent where it met the rear flare. JC Whitney probably sold it too, *Instantly adds a sporty flair (some drilling required)*.

If it's a single piece or 2 the wreckers is your best bet, find a car with a long chunk and cut it down. If not you'll likely have to change to the stick on stuff.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:05 am

busdaddy wrote: Correct, not a VW part but instead supplied by local/reigonal stripe and trim companies. The same trim could be found on hundereds of different cars in the mid 70's to early 80's, usually came as a pre cut kit with ends, inserts and pop rivets, the kits for 240Z's even had the 1/4 panel section prebent where it met the rear flare. JC Whitney probably sold it too, *Instantly adds a sporty flair (some drilling required)*.

If it's a single piece or 2 the wreckers is your best bet, find a car with a long chunk and cut it down. If not you'll likely have to change to the stick on stuff.

This is not pop riveted on. It has the proper pegs things on the back which fit into plastic or rubber bungs in the panels.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 12:29 pm

the2ems wrote:
This is not pop riveted on. It has the proper pegs things on the back which fit into plastic or rubber bungs in the panels.

I still think it's aftermarket. They made them with varying specs and install methods. It's for looks but also helps prevent door dings. In your case, if you want to have it prevent door dings, I would move it lower on the body.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:00 pm

BUSBOSS wrote: the2ems wrote:
This is not pop riveted on. It has the proper pegs things on the back which fit into plastic or rubber bungs in the panels.

I still think it's aftermarket. They made them with varying specs and install methods. It's for looks but also helps prevent door dings. In your case, if you want to have it prevent door dings, I would move it lower on the body.

If it were aftermarket, would all these Australian vans have the same, http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/attachment.php?attachmentid=11363&d=1264450710 and if I moved it down I would have a row of holes down each side.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:05 pm

BUSBOSS wrote: [I still think it's aftermarket.

i don't think it is aftermarket either. a dealer-installed item perhaps, but i don't even think this is true. it was on all the VW "silverfish" special model for one thing - every silverfish i have seen has this trim - so i believe it was a VW item.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:07 pm

the2ems wrote:
If it were aftermarket, would all these Australian vans have the same, http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/attachment.php?attachmentid=11363&d=1264450710 and if I moved it down I would have a row of holes down each side.

Actually, yes they would. Another example would be something like the Riviera pop top. It is an aftermarket addition, but there are an awful lot of them out there. Just because it's not a VW accessory doesn't make it bad. It just means a replacement has to be sourced from somewhere else.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:10 pm

elstrom wrote: Just because it's not a VW accessory doesn't make it bad. It just means a replacement has to be sourced from somewhere else.

it wasn't sourced from somewhere else. it was put on at the VW factory, i am pretty sure.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:16 pm

germansupplyscott wrote: [
it wasn't sourced from somewhere else. it was put on at the VW factory, i am pretty sure.

That's interesting, you're right about the Silverfish all having that same trim. Other than that, what points to it being a VW addition?

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:20 pm

elstrom wrote: That's interesting, you're right about the Silverfish all having that same trim. Other than that, what points to it being a VW addition?

to me that's the one specific thing that points to it being VW and not aftermarket. the silverfish was a special, like the champagne edition, and it was built at a VW factory.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:40 pm

It is genuine VW chrome strip, made in Germany.

1968-73: chrome strips on belt line around bus, 50mm below the windows, which was available in the USA.

1974-79: chrome strips on rubber strip left and right side of bus, fixed at the height of the cabin door handles - European and Australian markets only - not available to the US market, which is where I think the confusion has arisen.

Mine is a 1976 Australian CKD, genuine VW strip and factory punched holes to clip it in, old pic here when I first got the van:

This is all detailed in the following book: VW Transporter and Microbus
Specification Guide 1967-1979
by Vincent Molenaar & Alexander Prinz

http://www.t2-specification-guide.com/

There is a picture on that book's cover of a European Deluxe Microbus with that option:

Also standard on the Silverfish: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=396382&highlight=silverfish

Sorry, after all that I don't know where you can get it from, just keep checking the forums, although you won't get much joy in the Samba classifieds as it was not a US option and most ads are US based, try www.kombiclub.com or the German forums.

And if my trim get's nicked, I'll know where to look......... :lol:

Edit Just now been reading the spec book. On page 116 it says: "This chrome striping was never used on any bus for USA or Canadian market."

Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:07 pm

Well GAWLEEE! You learn something every day.

Still would like to see it listed in a parts book :wink:

Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:11 pm

busdaddy wrote: till would like to see it listed in a parts book

there IS no arts book for the MY when this trim was used, which explains part of that.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:16 pm

germansupplyscott wrote: busdaddy wrote: till would like to see it listed in a parts book

there IS no arts book for the MY when this trim was used, which explains part of that.

Maybe no parts books, but there is the microfiche from that time period.; and its not in those either. Also not in any of the accessories brochures, at least for the US. Its just a non US piece.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:24 pm

Eisparts.com carries the trim, I do believe.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:51 pm

germansupplyscott wrote: elstrom wrote: That's interesting, you're right about the Silverfish all having that same trim. Other than that, what points to it being a VW addition?

to me that's the one specific thing that points to it being VW and not aftermarket. the silverfish was a special, like the champagne edition, and it was built at a VW factory.

Good deductive reasoning, Scott. You were right.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:35 pm

chimneyfish wrote: Edit Just now been reading the spec book. On page 116 it says: "This chrome striping was never used on any bus for USA or Canadian market."

Sorry - I didn't notice that the OP was from across the pond. Definitely not a US item as previously mentioned.

Anybody know why they installed that as a delaer add on so high up? I can understand the US dealer add on being lower on the door (even though I think it takes away from the body appearance) to prevent door knicks but the higher placment seems even more useless.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:16 am

Forest Ape wrote: Eisparts.com carries the trim, I do believe.

I can only find the waist line trim on that site!

Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:11 am

Check your private messages. I have sent you a link to a used set for sale.