TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:30 am

I have found through some research here that 62 had a clear fried egg turn signal lens not the amber fond on 63 through 67. Can I safely assume that no one makes the clear lens?

Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:49 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

All 62 thru 67 F TS are clear. Only the added inner yellow lense makes it appear yellow.

Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:50 am

My october 62 also has these clear lenses, when was the change?

Sat Mar 13, 2010 12:17 pm

Yes you can just remove the Amber insert if needed.

Sat Mar 13, 2010 12:23 pm

so did 62s just not have the insert or are they really different? A long time ago I heard that 63 cars had to have amber turn signals, is that why they added them for 63? Anyone know when the insert was added. Any listing in PR?

Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:17 pm

From http://oacdp.org

http://oacdp.org/progref6268/e002.jpg

Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:30 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: From http://oacdp.org

http://oacdp.org/progref6268/e002.jpg

I see here that in august of 63 they changed to amber... so 62 would be clear

Sat Mar 13, 2010 6:08 pm

Not to get TOO technical, but wouldn't that make it 62 & 63 model years with clear lens?

Sat Mar 13, 2010 7:20 pm

In USA front blinkers went to amber for the '63 model year. VW just added the lens and left it that way in case USA went to purple or mauve.

Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:19 pm

BarryL wrote: In USA front blinkers went to amber for the '63 model year. VW just added the lens and left it that way in case USA went to purple or mauve.

that's funny :D

Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:28 pm

sventinker wrote: Eric&Barb wrote: From http://oacdp.org

http://oacdp.org/progref6268/e002.jpg

I see here that in august of 63 they changed to amber... so 62 would be clear
That's bit confusing because it refers to European models only.

Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:36 pm

EverettB wrote: sventinker wrote: Eric&Barb wrote: From http://oacdp.org

http://oacdp.org/progref6268/e002.jpg

I see here that in august of 63 they changed to amber... so 62 would be clear
That's bit confusing because it refers to European models only.

lens 10 is the fried egg and 9 is the bullet. I know that Europe models stayed bullet style through 1962 but here on the next page it says that the fried egg lens was changed to amber at vin#1144282 which is very late June 1963

The way I am reading it all the writing after 9 is for item 10 the lines with the dash as we know the fried egg was introduced well before June of 1963? I believe this is referring to the change to amber on fried egg lens. If I am wrong please explain how?

Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:43 pm

I agree it reads that way but I am still doubtful as I've seen many 62s that appeared to have original amber lenses.

If someone told me the dealers would "upgrade" them back in the day, I could accept that.

Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:50 pm

The dealers would upgrade them back in the day to try and help sell left over vehicles, or when customers wanted to freshen up their buses.

Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:52 pm

EverettB wrote: I agree it reads that way but I am still doubtful as I've seen many 62s that appeared to have original amber lenses.

If someone told me the dealers would "upgrade" them back in the day, I could accept that.

maybe as all things with Volkswagen that got upgraded when the lens was changed to amber why produce clear ones any more? if you had to change your lenses it would be to amber. But as you are saying that the new ones have a removable amber piece then it doesn't really matter now. Are the lenses you are talking about the German ones that are $80 a pair?

*edit* but that would mean that with an clear lens that the bulb would be yellow? or did Volkswagen ever use colored bulbs?

Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:40 am

The big problem is that different countries, and states had different requirements. EG bullets were used up into 1964 in Italy, 62-71 Euro taillights were illegal here in USA, even the bullet turn signals came in clear or yellow as early as 1957 oval era.

Here from 1962 sale brochure:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:46 am

Bit of irony; Ronnie and I had this conversation just yesterday at Drag Day.

The old, cracked up turn signals that I got with my Bus (2.62) were clear

Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:36 am

sventinker wrote: EverettB wrote: sventinker wrote: Eric&Barb wrote: From http://oacdp.org

http://oacdp.org/progref6268/e002.jpg

I see here that in august of 63 they changed to amber... so 62 would be clear
That's bit confusing because it refers to European models only.

lens 10 is the fried egg and 9 is the bullet. I know that Europe models stayed bullet style through 1962 but here on the next page it says that the fried egg lens was changed to amber at vin#1144282 which is very late June 1963

The way I am reading it all the writing after 9 is for item 10 the lines with the dash as we know the fried egg was introduced well before June of 1963? I believe this is referring to the change to amber on fried egg lens. If I am wrong please explain how?

The 111 953 161 and 211 953 161 are the pointy turn signal lens, which was used through 1963 as euro spec. Left and rigft are the same.
A euro 63 would have front bullets with orange lenses, and the two tone oval taillights.

The clear fried eggs (211 953 161 A and 211 953 162 A ,for left and right) were used up through end of 63 on usa spec. Also, it says they were used 64 on on Itailian spec buses)
the Yellow fried eggs have the B suffix. Used from 1 144 282 (model year 64)
Interestingly, while the parts list says yellow lense are used from 1 444 303, the parts list says it is from 1 144 282. It is common for them to give a slightly different number.

So yes, it says yolkless fried egg lenses were for 62&63 use spec buses. Clear bulbs.
In the nineties heard someone say that he took the yellow lense out to make his 67 bus look older :D

Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:07 am

I think the US gave slack to imports or let them be retrofitted. A lot of safe things were already on European vehicles before being required in the US. California had requirements before other states in the US, too. It was still considered un-American to buy a foreign car in '62 by the majority of circles, fwiw.

Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:20 am

sventinker wrote: EverettB wrote: I agree it reads that way but I am still doubtful as I've seen many 62s that appeared to have original amber lenses.

If someone told me the dealers would "upgrade" them back in the day, I could accept that.

maybe as all things with Volkswagen that got upgraded when the lens was changed to amber why produce clear ones any more? if you had to change your lenses it would be to amber. But as you are saying that the new ones have a removable amber piece then it doesn't really matter now. Are the lenses you are talking about the German ones that are $80 a pair?
The originals on my '63 are clear. The yellow is a removable insert piece.

The real question is if the 62/early 63 "A" part # lenses are a different casting, meaning can you use the amber inserts on them at all?

I think we need someone with an all-original '62 with the original lenses to answer that. I would guess yes.

This '62 15-Window from user House looks Amber to me and it was sitting since the 70s: