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Mon Jul 15, 2002 10:11 pm

I have a '57 and am searching for a W decklid. What are the differences between '57 decklids and the W lids from earlier models? Will an earlier W lid fit my beetle?

Mon Jul 15, 2002 10:44 pm

1956 and 1957 deck lids use a small spring and 1955 and earlier use a big spring. Have you ever heard of a w deck lid referred to as a big spring deck lid. Thats 1953-1955. You can tell the difference without the spring, the mounting for the spring on the earlier one is shapped like a V.

Tue Jul 16, 2002 10:51 pm

Don't forget price. A 56-57 decklid is worth about $100-$200. Whereas an earlier version fetches quite a bit more around $350-$500

Tue Jul 16, 2002 11:02 pm

But if you are crafty you can make the later into the early. Not that hard at all, but then you still need the spring.

Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:42 pm

Will the "new" W deck lid made by KS Reproduction be correct for a 1954 sedan? Or will modification be necessary to make it look correct?

Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:54 pm

kdfwagon wrote: Will the "new" W deck lid made by KS Reproduction be correct for a 1954 sedan? Or will modification be necessary to make it look correct?

The difference between 1953-55 vs 1956/57 decklids is the shape of the spring perch. That's it.

Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:13 pm

RareAir wrote: Don't forget price. A 56-57 decklid is worth about $100-$200. Whereas an earlier version fetches quite a bit more around $350-$500

So is this out of line then? What would you expect to pay for one like this?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=673702

(Kind of a shameless plug..kinda..)

Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:22 am

Germanpride wrote: RareAir wrote: Don't forget price. A 56-57 decklid is worth about $100-$200. Whereas an earlier version fetches quite a bit more around $350-$500

So is this out of line then? What would you expect to pay for one like this?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=673702

(Kind of a shameless plug..kinda..)
Dude think the prices have changed a little in the seven years since that was posted

Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:21 pm

And I was very happy with the price, from WCM.with tax 300.00
the quality I feel is very good, its a finished product, no rough or sharp edges, I havent mounted it as of yet, but it is at this moment bedroom art! I recommend them.

Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:40 pm

I have talked to a few people that have purchased these repro lids and they say you cannot get them to fit right, that the body lines will line up but the "curve" that would match the curve of the vent area is a bit off. Anyone else have these problems or is it just old decklid hangers?

Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:15 am

Im premounting tomorrow, I'll keep ya aposted

Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:41 am

There was a change in 57, from 1. of February 57 ( 1 423 927)the W-decklid housing got round bulb in it , and was placed higher on the lid.

Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:55 pm

I have a late 55....I think May and it came with an original decklid, underside still has the strato paint....but someone did a repair job where the spring hooks....instead of having the "V" shape there is the later rectangular piece....I'm just wondering if the change started in the 56 production year or is there a chance that late in 55 they switched over? Just wanted to check before I correct what is present. thanks

Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:09 am

According to progressive refinements the lid spring mount changed 3 May 1955 to a reinforced mofied socked. My 20 May 55 has a rectangle mount with big spring. The old VW service manual also indicates a change to an increased height air cleaner, due to "new shape of engine compartment hood" although it looks and fits the same to me!

Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:35 am

Also early split W deck lids had a different tag light that also housed the brake light. The hole for the light is different then the oval lids and an oval tag light will not work.

So if you are luckey enough to find a split W lid, you need the tag light too.

Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:52 am

RareAir wrote: kdfwagon wrote: Will the "new" W deck lid made by KS Reproduction be correct for a 1954 sedan? Or will modification be necessary to make it look correct?

The difference between 1953-55 vs 1956/57 decklids is the shape of the spring perch. That's it.

The hinges are also different . Most people wouldn't know but some of the frequent visitors here will . :wink:

Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:36 pm

yeah, I think the hinges had different size tabs that let the lid open up farther (too far) on the earlier ones and they often banged the crease of the lid on the vent area of the body if you let it swing up to hard, I think the '56-'57 lid hinges had taller stop tabs in the hinges so the crease wouldnt hit the center of the body, another difference on the earlier ones was that the wire tabs were seperate pieces of sheet metal spot welded to the lid where the wire was attatched, on the '56-'57 ones the lid itself had extra areas stamped into it where the wire needed to be held down, like at the hole where the license light was the '56-'57 lid had like a T shaped section that was bent up and around the wiring

*************** Oh Hey! I rechecked this and actually the EARLY lids had the tall stop tabs and the LATER ones had the short ones, so you actually see a lot of the '56-'57 lids with the dinged up center top crease a few inches down from the top, seems kind of dumb to take something that worked fine and change it, maybe someone felt that the lid needed to open up a few more degrees for some reason, I checked my split and early '55 big spring hinges and both were the same, '56 lid has the SHORT hinge stop tabs *******************************************************

Fri Jan 15, 2010 8:30 am

I have a lid that has a noticable peak like this ^ on the center rib of the lid. I thought that made it 53 to 54/54 or so. What year would that be?
I thought 1956 and 1957 had a smoother more rounded rib in the center.

Mike

RareAir wrote: kdfwagon wrote: Will the "new" W deck lid made by KS Reproduction be correct for a 1954 sedan? Or will modification be necessary to make it look correct?

The difference between 1953-55 vs 1956/57 decklids is the shape of the spring perch. That's it.

Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:20 am

hi
i have photos
http://picasaweb.google.hu/lh/photo/lOdO4RjyzgOQKIeGTke56g?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.hu/lh/photo/xs3twacpkJB6PQHmZQc71g?feat=directlink
the earlier For SALE

Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:41 pm

So it looks to me like the:

http://picasaweb.google.hu/lh/photo/xs3twacpkJB6PQHmZQc71g?feat=directlink

Is the earlier lid yes?