TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:32 am

ok Ive heard this term but have yet to determine exactly what this means... I am not long into the oval thing so Im still learning. What give?
does someone have a photo the shows what this is...

Wed Jan 05, 2005 12:14 pm

If you look at the lip of the fender that bolts to the body you will see a raised section between the bolt holes. It looks like a staped elongated oval in the metal. In other words the metal between the bolt holes is not flat...it is dimpled?

Hopefully someone will have a picture if this doesen't make sense.

John

Wed Jan 05, 2005 12:32 pm

makes sense. The funny thing is that I was compairing the fenders that came on my 57 and the bullets I bought, and they are really simular. I believe both have these dimples, but the ones that were on the car don't have bullets. I hear that the curves of a bullet are a little different. truth or fiction? this is a learnng process for me so please be patient...

I will most likely be wanting to get rid of the other early fenders, a trade may be in order for other oval parts... who knows...

Wed Jan 05, 2005 1:30 pm

It also means the indentation in the rear fender underneath the taillight that was used on split windows. An original rear split window fenders is known as a dimpled fender. The taillight kinda mounts in the dimple.

Wed Jan 05, 2005 5:01 pm

MJMarkham wrote: makes sense. The funny thing is that I was compairing the fenders that came on my 57 and the bullets I bought, and they are really simular. I believe both have these dimples, but the ones that were on the car don't have bullets. I hear that the curves of a bullet are a little different. truth or fiction? this is a learnng process for me so please be patient...

I will most likely be wanting to get rid of the other early fenders, a trade may be in order for other oval parts... who knows... Do all4 fenders have the head light wire tube on them? If so those non bullet fenders are for a car that had semiphores. Or maybe just og fenders from not sure on the year it could be 59 and down had the tube. Im sure someone has the answer.

Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:39 pm

If we're talking about 1953-57 cars, the rear frender are the ones dimpled. The front fenders were never dimpled.

Yes, the Pre 57 front fenders have more of a bulbous shape to them comparted to 1958-later fenders.

Only Pre '59 front fenders had the metal wire tubes for the headlight wires.

Thu Jan 06, 2005 6:17 am

The most noticable difference with the front bullets is the lip for the running board to connect to.

Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:28 am

MJMarkham wrote: makes sense. The funny thing is that I was compairing the fenders that came on my 57 and the bullets I bought, and they are really simular. I believe both have these dimples, but the ones that were on the car don't have bullets. I hear that the curves of a bullet are a little different. truth or fiction? this is a learnng process for me so please be patient...

I will most likely be wanting to get rid of the other early fenders, a trade may be in order for other oval parts... who knows... Do I have to explain ribbed doors to you too? :wink: :lol: Sell the 2fold traing bra car and step it up to a 3 fold adult car. :roll:

Thu Jan 06, 2005 4:03 pm

Correction- front fenders with the steel conduit for the h/light wires went until the end of '61, when they modified the front panels at the same time. The aprons, the spare tire well rear panel, and the front bumper mounting area, where the conduit bolted up, were all changed.
Early aftermarket replacement fenders, front and rear, had reinforcement ribs between the bolt holes. I still have one.

Thu Jan 06, 2005 6:09 pm

1960 was the last of the headlight wire tubes , I have a 61 and had three others , no tubes , but they still have dimpled flange fenders on the rear . TROY

Thu Jan 06, 2005 9:39 pm

joemac wrote: Correction- front fenders with the steel conduit for the h/light wires went until the end of '61, when they modified the front panels at the same time. The aprons, the spare tire well rear panel, and the front bumper mounting area, where the conduit bolted up, were all changed.
Early aftermarket replacement fenders, front and rear, had reinforcement ribs between the bolt holes. I still have one.

61's didnt have wire tubes and I have never seen 60's with them either only up to 59. The 60 still has the early front clip with the flat spot for the wire tubes but the factory never put them on after 59.

as for the early aftermarket fronts with ribs, can you post a pic?

Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:59 am

Well, I guess being old and trying to go by memory has its' downside. :cry:
I thought the conduit was deleted at the same time the front panels changed. It's been a loong time since I've worked on any '58-61 Bugs. Out here, they just don't exist any longer.
The fenders are all buried in the barn. I'm slowly pulling stuff out and putting it up on eBay, so eventually, I'll be getting to the fenders. I'm not sure if what I have for a dimpled fender is a front or a rear. When I locate it, I'll post it.

Fri Jan 07, 2005 1:17 pm

thebucket wrote: MJMarkham wrote: makes sense. The funny thing is that I was compairing the fenders that came on my 57 and the bullets I bought, and they are really simular. I believe both have these dimples, but the ones that were on the car don't have bullets. I hear that the curves of a bullet are a little different. truth or fiction? this is a learnng process for me so please be patient...

I will most likely be wanting to get rid of the other early fenders, a trade may be in order for other oval parts... who knows... Do I have to explain ribbed doors to you too? :wink: :lol: Sell the 2fold traing bra car and step it up to a 3 fold adult car. :roll:

I know of a three fold that is sitting in a storage building just waiting for me to liberate it. This car is a rusty POS but it could be saved under the right skilled hands :D :D :D

Fri Jan 07, 2005 3:05 pm

59 was the last year of the wire tube fenders. And not all 59s, late 59s had the later style 60 "only" front clip so they didn't have wire tubes either. The front clip on a 59 is just like the 60 only clip except that the holes for the wire tube on the 60 aren't punched out. I love these topics. There is a lot to be learned. But we should all remember that misinformation is not good. So if you aren't sure about something its best to not post. Some people how don't know will read the wrong thing and that's how discrepancies get started. That my take anyway.

Fri Jan 07, 2005 4:20 pm

Trayle is right, also the '58 & '59 front fenders were the same width as the oval fenders and had TWO drain holes in the headlight bucket. The rear fenders should also be dimpled on the '58 & '59 up to very early1960 models (I'm guessing leftovers).

Fri Jan 07, 2005 5:48 pm

Hey I said all that already. But I got no props. Haters.....

Sat Jan 08, 2005 1:34 pm

No misimformation , my 61 had the OG fenders on it when I got it and the rears are dimpled . I did miss the wire tubes by one year sorry ! :) TROY

Sat Jan 08, 2005 8:31 pm

Teeroy wrote: No misimformation , my 61 had the OG fenders on it when I got it and the rears are dimpled . TROY

Then you must have had a very early 61 with an early front clip to match and a rear H apron more resembling a 60.
I have had OG paint 61's even an OG paint 61 vert and none of my 61's have ever had rear dimple fenders but hey thats just me. Thats like when people try to tell me 61 euro cars had semaphores.

Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:15 pm

Had to be carry over parts ? ,deffintly a 61 , new non H apron , flat tank , full syncro , 40 hp , push on wire connectors , dimpled fenders . It had been painted once but all the sheetmetal was OG underneath . TROY

Tue Jan 11, 2005 9:19 pm

There is no way to know if a car has original fenders on it, after forty-something years. Dimpled fenders were available for years after they stopped making them, sitting in parts departments, body supply warehouses, etc.
My sister had a '65 convertible with semiphores.
There were a lot of what we consider oddball cars produced, depending on where they were shipped to when they rolled out of the plant and onto the train.
Never say never.