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Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:20 pm

The PO of my '67 bug (4-stud) gave me these rims.

I've only got three, but would like to find another two, perhaps to fit my bus...

Any idea what it's from?

Thanks, N.

Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:43 am

those look precisely like the stock vented wheels from a 65-66-67 bug. There should be quite a few of those for sale on here, at a reasonable price.

Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:54 am

Simon uk wrote: those look precisely like the stock vented wheels from a 65-66-67 bug. There should be quite a few of those for sale on here, at a reasonable price.

Thanks, Simon.

My bug is an import - it's LHD - and is 4x130.

When I bought it, it had a 4x disc conversion on it. Stock '67 up front, and custom at the rear.

The front brakes appear new, although it is a stock setup. The backing plate still had a barcode on it for machine7.co.uk

I've never been able to work out if my bug was originally a 1200 (5x205) or a 1500 (4x130).

I suppose I can now safely assume my bug was a 1200 originally...

I'll see if I can find two more locally before resorting to importing. :)

Thanks, Nic

Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:30 am

Hi bud, I couldnt be sure, as all sorts of strange things were happening on 67 bugs, and the fact that this is an import, but as I am sure you know, machine7 is an aftermarket parts supplier here in the uk, selling, amongst other things, disc brake kits. Given that you have discs on all 4 wheels, then the rears will have been switched at some point and the fronts are also replacements, and as the P/O had those wide 5 wheels which he gave to you, it seems highly likely to me that it was originally a wide 5 car.

Si.

Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:40 am

Simon uk wrote: Hi bud, I couldnt be sure, as all sorts of strange things were happening on 67 bugs, and the fact that this is an import, but as I am sure you know, machine7 is an aftermarket parts supplier here in the uk, selling, amongst other things, disc brake kits. Given that you have discs on all 4 wheels, then the rears will have been switched at some point and the fronts are also replacements, and as the P/O had those wide 5 wheels which he gave to you, it seems highly likely to me that it was originally a wide 5 car.

Si.

Yep, I'd agree.

I now have no doubts that my bug was originally a 1200.

It's a metal sunroof bug.

To the best of my knowledge, it's a German import.

I've come across info' before that said European bugs kept ragtops up to and including '67, on the base models ('Standards'), and that Deluxes got the metal sunroof option.

I always thought the 1200 was the base model and the 'Deluxe' was the 1500.

...can you - or someone else here - tell me what the differences were between the EU 1200s, 1500s, 'Standards', and 'Deluxes', please?

...besides the obvious engine size differences, and disc brakes on the 1500s.

Thanks Simon.

Cheers, Nic

Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:09 am

someone can probably confirm this better than I can, but I would imagine, lack of chrome trim in the window rubbers, lack of chrome on bumpers, indicators on the wings, dash board trims, chrome body trims, and possibly a different steering wheel than stock might be differences. It might also be the case that the ragtop may not be original, as a dealer option it would have been quite expensive, and it is possibly unlikely that someone will have ordered a base model car then gone to the expense of requesting a sun roof!

My car is a 66 beetle, by the way, so we are looking at similar (ish) cars!

Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:55 pm

All U.S. spec '67 beetles were 1500 cc w/ 5 x 205 drums. (Karmann-Ghias did, however, get front discs and 4 x 130 beginning with model year '67.) The switch to 4 x 130 for beetles occurred in model year '68, but four-wheel drums were retained through the end of the model run in '79. I'd be surprised if European beetles got front discs.

Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:09 pm

I am quite certain that euro spec 67s did have front discs, and went 4 lug at that time. In this case, it kinda depends where it was imported from - if it was europe, then then it could have had discs, but if it was the us, then it would have been drums. If this one has an aftermarket brake kit, it would appear that this may have swapped over from wide 5.

Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:53 pm

Thanks guys.

I'm surprised that the USA didn't get discs in '67. With all the safety action over there around that time...

South Africa only got discs on the 1500 '67 bugs - which were all imported.

The rest of the bugs had drums until the end - and all 5x205.

We also never got IRS in our cars. Only privately-imported bugs.

I really like the 'Standard' headliners...like the Canadian bugs. Just the 'square' was covered.

Cheers, Nic