55 front clip

[parker007]

is a 58 bug front clip same as a 55? i need to replace and see there is a 58 for sale here. any help apreciated

[catahoula lou]

Apparently, they're different. I had a local shop replace the front clip of my 59 ragtop with a front clip that a guy said was for my car.

A friend of mine from Wolfsburg West took a look at the work and said that the front clip on my car is for a 55, I think because it has an extra strip of metal in the center that supports the spare tire, whereas I think the 58/59 does not.

Can post a photo of my front clip within next couple of days if that helps...

Best,
Thom
_________________
1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")

Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734).

[txoval]

They are not exactly the same, like stated above. The stamping of the panel where the VIN plate is installed is slightly different.

99% of people would never notice this. The shape/size is the same, just an additional horizontal rib (pressing) in that area

[parker007]

thanks for info

[Jonnyla]

Small detail... the wire loom retainers in the spare tire well differ as well.
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'55 3 fold sedan, stock with lower stance (project)
'57 sedan, future old speed outlaw style (project)

[ZENVWDRIVER]

... only a trained eye can see the tiny differences... they are 99%, the same.
_________________
5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON

All super-heroes, wear a MASK

[splitjunkie]

The main differences are the spare tire floor and the front mount area where the VIN plate goes. Wolf makes a really nice repro of the floor and you can transfer the VIN plate front mount area and that will cover about 98% of the noticeable differences.
_________________
Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[davetaylor]

Also the fender nuts (or whatever they're called) could be different because there are three different kinds on the early cars. All later ones were the same but I don't what year they started the final style, although it was fairly early from what I understand.
_________________
1954 3-fold ragtop Beetle project
1969 Porsche 912 (sold)
1979 Beetle triple white German Look convertible
1980 Porsche 911 SC Targa (sold)