Pope Nose

[Campmobile Chris74]

I have both the light housing for a W decklid ( it has the notch at the top to fit flush on the W ) and a semi-W decklid (57-63).

Are ALL decklid light housings shaped like a beak called "pope noses" ?

what are the differences between early W decklids and later W decklids where the light housing attaches? From the underside of the deckid, I notice that some W's have a different shape cutout for the light housing.
Thanks.

[IndianaVWKid]

Early Bugs (i.e. splits) used the Popes Nose(Looks like a nose, round all over, etc.)...later ones used the thing you call a "beak"(looks like one) were used from the early ovals up to '63-'64 something like that.
W decklids were only used till '57, the one with the "semi-W" design were used till '66-ish, and the license plate light and handles changed through out all the years.

[Trayle D. the real oggfk]

There are actually a few different W deck lids. In 1949 the Deck lid had an indention for the license plate and used the "Popes Nose" light. This was discontinued in July 1949. But the light stayed the same until early 1952, last year for double glove box split window. In late 1952 (Zwitter, oval dash split window) the light was changed to the "Beak" style light, which was used on oval windows until 1957. The deck lid how ever didnt stay the same though those years. Pre 55 decklids had a different spring mount shaped like a V and used a bigger sprinng. 1956-1957 "W" decklids used a spring and mount that looked like the spring and mount on a 1958-1959 decklid.

I hope this was the information you were looking for.

[Campmobile Chris74]

I must have an early W decklid because it has the V shaped spring mount.

The hole in the decklid where the pope nose attaches to is shaped like a wide mushroom. I've seen others that were a narrow mushroom shape and I thought these were earlier than the wider ones. Does the shape of the hole in the decklid for the pope nose determine age? Thanks

[Trayle D. the real oggfk]

If the hole for the license light is shaped like a mushroom with a stem, then it take a "Popes Nose". If the hole is just shaped like the head of a mushroom then it take a later style "W" beak. Not all "W" decklids us a "Popes Nose" license lights, only split window deck lids.

[vw113]

There is also a different on the "beaks" from 52-63. On the zwitters and ovals there is a big lens over the light from the edges and on the big windows semi-W decklid there only is a little lens around the light.

[Trayle D. the real oggfk]

You are correct but I didnt want confuse anyone with too much info. I though we were talking about "W" decklids.? Pre 1957. Maybe I was wrong about the question but I dont think so.