How to tell OEM Ragtop VS aftermarket?

[EastTNHillbilly]

Looking at buying a 71 Super with ragtop but it's 3 hours away. Besides the "Golde" on the handle, is there any other way to tell if it was an original ragtop clip that was grafted in or an aftermarket unit? Here's 2 pictures, he's going to look at the handle tomorrow.

[hitest]

You've got to get a better look at the rails with the thing open- and up close! Your photos only suggest one fact: there's a ragtop there. I can't even tell if it is aftermarket from the interior shot (the black gap is inconclusive). The one thing that hints as an original VW roof clip graft to me is the headliner is stretched over and clipped like a proper rag.

Visit the numerous "ID'ing a grafted ragtop" threads in the '58-'67 beetles forums to tell for sure.
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[EastTNHillbilly]

Ok thanks, I'll ask him to send me pictures of it open and close shots of the rails. Will also look up what you suggested about iding a ragtop later

[57BLITZ]

It IS an aftermarket ragtop.
You don't need a photo . . . you can tell by the length! An original VW ragtop is about 42" long . . . the one on that Super Beetle is around 35".
I wonder why that headliner has a bunch of water stains around the ragtop opening?????
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