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Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:53 pm

I'm going to look at a 68 Auto Stick tomorrow. I tried to find out what type of badge should be on the decklid.

This 68 says "VW Automatic" but I have seen some that have the "Auto Stick Shift" script. Is there a clear ruling on what is correct?

Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:14 pm

Found this picture on another thread. This 68 has the same VW Automatic badge. Maybe it was used too?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1...p;start=20

Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:32 pm

does it really matter? It doesnt affect the function of the car does it? Ive seen them both and am not sure which is original, they probably both are. If you dont like one, go buy another and slap it on.

Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:34 pm

This what you seen? Pretty sure this is what CAME with the car.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:19 am

TjdTaylor wrote: This what you seen? Pretty sure this is what CAME with the car.

Thanks, it only matters that it helps me determine how original the car is, was it modified or restored. It is described as having about 74K miles, two owner. the more things that are original helps me understand if it was ever reworked.

While not a big fan of the Auto Stick, I had one before and it performed well except on the ice. With the rear wheels pushing, if you forget to put it in neutral, it is always pushing.

I'm going to look at the car this morning and see how it looks. The script you show looks a little more vintage. Maybe both were used.

I found it interesting that the 68s were set up for IRS due to having the auto stick where the rest were the wide swing axle. Big change for that year.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:39 am

Don't know the specifics personally but here is a factory photo of a '69 Autostick.

-jeffrey

Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:47 am

It depends on the market the car was made for.

I think the "stickshift" name and badging was a North American deal.
They were known as Semi-automatics in other markets like here and most of Europe and had the VW Automatic script as per the first photo from when they started in 68 to when they finished in 74.

Some original 1972 super beetle documentation I've got somewhere just shows an American semi-auto Super Beetle brand new with the stock Volkswagen decklid script. :?

Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:05 am

Joel wrote: It depends on the market the car was made for.

I think the "stickshift" name and badging was a North American deal.
They were known as Semi-automatics in other markets like here and most of Europe and had the VW Automatic script as per the first photo from when they started in 68 to when they finished in 74.

Some original 1972 super beetle documentation I've got somewhere just shows an American semi-auto Super Beetle brand new with the stock Volkswagen decklid script. :?

That's a very good point. Could have been a Canada car..... they said it is a two owner so it should be a local car. I will post back once I see it. I have several VW books but nothing clearly shows the deck lid script.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:38 am

TjdTaylor wrote: does it really matter? It doesnt affect the function of the car does it? Ive seen them both and am not sure which is original, they probably both are. If you dont like one, go buy another and slap it on.

Also, I can't believe this statement was made on an enthusiasts' forum. Shame on you! Just wait until someone asks about having the correct washer holding down the starter wire... :roll:

Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:44 am

71superAS wrote: TjdTaylor wrote: does it really matter? It doesnt affect the function of the car does it? Ive seen them both and am not sure which is original, they probably both are. If you dont like one, go buy another and slap it on.

Also, I can't believe this statement was made on an enthusiasts' forum. Shame on you! Just wait until someone asks about having the correct washer holding down the starter wire... :roll:

There's a special washer......... :)

Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:51 am

Joel wrote: It depends on the market the car was made for.

I think the "stickshift" name and badging was a North American deal.

I think Joel is right. Most US 68's and 69's I've seen say "Automatic Stickshift" while the European market got the "VW Automatic" badge. When they were first launched in '68 I think the US market was badged "StickShift" because it was a common colloquialism at the time and eventually went with the VW Automatic badge in '70 because of the limited room on the deck due to the new vents.

However this doesn't mean that the car you are looking at isn't otherwise original. The original badge could have been damaged and was replaced with the later badge.

-jeffrey

Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:22 am

JeffL wrote:

There's a special washer......... :)

:wink:

Sat Jul 07, 2012 7:26 am

JeffL wrote: 71superAS wrote: TjdTaylor wrote: does it really matter? It doesnt affect the function of the car does it? Ive seen them both and am not sure which is original, they probably both are. If you dont like one, go buy another and slap it on.

Also, I can't believe this statement was made on an enthusiasts' forum. Shame on you! Just wait until someone asks about having the correct washer holding down the starter wire... :roll:

There's a special washer......... :)

a special washer? Wtf are you talking about :?

Sat Jul 07, 2012 8:12 am

Well, I would say a very nice bug for Ohio but rhe body was worked on the front and the whole car repainted. It still had all of the autostick gear and original engine by looking up the engine code. Could be the original 70K miles. A title search showed it had 66K miles back in 96 so it is possible.

The "VW Automatic" didn't look to be original. There were 3 holes in the decklid and this badge only had two tabs that I could see. It didn't fit real flat either so I'm going with it was not original.

Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:57 pm

That photo of the Zeneth Blue VW Automatic could be my car. It is a '68. It was rumored that the early Automatic Stickshifts left the factory with the Automatic logo as they didn't have the AutomaticStickShift logo ready. And VW wanted to get the cars out to the dealers to sell.

My all original '68 with just 34,000 miles came with the VW Automatic logo. My neighbor lady has a '68 and it has the Automatic StickShift logo. My car came from North Dakota and hers came from Washington DC.