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Sat Jul 02, 2011 6:36 am

hello , could somebody clarify more exact measurements for rear lights position ?
I have October 1960 european combi and looks like there were smaller taillights than combined ones used later .. original wiring compatible with pre 1960 one bulb light, holes for newer taillights look home made
what is unclear to me is exact position ..
we made template on friends 1959 US car and small mole doesnt fit to my bigger holes ..I mean it looks that my small holes were lower ..

does anybody knows if US cars had same taillights little bit upper than Europe cars ? or was it changed between 1959 and 1960 generally by moving lights lower ?
could somebody create some diagram with measurements for 1960 car ?
simmilar to one in first picture but with more accurate point to measure from ?
thanks a lot for clarification

Moderator note:
Shop manual diagram from later in this thread

Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:04 am

Hello, can someone measure these X and Y dimensions in millimeters, for my 1960 Euro bus? ( i suck at US/euro conversions, plus this will be useful for future)

i know the measurements have been posted, but i can't tell for sure if the corners on my bus were worked over in time, so this is in fact for me the simplest and most accurate template for placing them the right way. i only want to cut once...

Thank you!

Thu Mar 14, 2013 3:22 pm

thats what i am after for same reasons mines a 58 but if you get your answer i can work mine out from this

Thu Mar 14, 2013 3:41 pm

Clara wrote:
According to Progressive Refinements it was on 18 Dec 1958
http://www.oacdp.org/progref4061/e010.jpg

According to PR, the DEC 18th VIN was 421 020. Yet, the VIN chart on thesamba says the last VIN in Dec was 416 082. And January was 433 713

This is interesting as I have an OG paint 59 Mango with High tail lights with
VIN 416 461. So the VIN matches the PR VIN cutoff, but not the date. I should order a Birth cert to see the build date of this bus...

Sat Mar 16, 2013 5:45 pm

This is what I have for measurement and should be very close. I did the measurement before cutting both of the corners out to replace them with new metal on the Jan. 59 panel.

X in your picture is (21 5/8 from the bottom of the beltline) to the top edge of the circle.

Y in your picture is 2 3/16 to the edge of the circle.

Sun Mar 17, 2013 2:38 am

\:D/
i am doing the happy dance right now. and i am sure i'm not the only one...

Tue Apr 16, 2013 3:21 am

Worked it out, cheers.

Thu Nov 21, 2013 9:50 am

Thanks for his thread, I get a lot of people wondering where and how to repair their sliced up Bus tail lights. I sell the water jet cut tail light holes for different years. I'll refer them to this thread. Thanks!

Sun Sep 11, 2016 1:34 pm

Can some one confirm measurements in picture? It is kind of from 1960 kombi, but I need someone to confirm.

I can not uses those reverse measurements posted above (from book), cause I have not precise corner bottoms. Although the corner is too much damaged to see correct a) measures.

Sun Jan 13, 2019 2:51 am

hi

i have the same problem
because i am not sure about the corners i can not cut from that information from book
can any one measure that from his car??
i need A and B distance from edge of deck lid to the center of tail light
if some one can tell me exactly the A and B in centimeter which i mentioned in this picture i really appreciate it

Sun Jan 13, 2019 5:13 am

The location information is already on this page.
Well, different vertical datum... but I imagine you don’t have an issue using the bottom of belt line.

Distance down from bottom of beltline to top of circle + radius of hole = center of hole vertically = 21-5/8” + (62.5/2) = 580.525 mm
Distance from deck lid opening to edge of circle + radius of circle = center of hole horizontally = 2-3/16” + (62.5/2) = 86.812 mm

Somebody give me a sanity check on my math, I’m burning the midnight whiske... uh, oil.

Sun Jan 13, 2019 9:04 am

thaks a lot for your reply dear
i got the dimension from your help
i have a question:

are these measures correct for 61 split ?

Sun Jan 13, 2019 9:12 am

Uuudis wrote: Can some one confirm measurements in picture? It is kind of from 1960 kombi, but I need someone to confirm.

I can not uses those reverse measurements posted above (from book), cause I have not precise corner bottoms. Although the corner is too much damaged to see correct a) measures.

AND IS THIS 9 3/4 TOTALLY WRONG??

Sun Jan 13, 2019 1:03 pm

mojtaba_golpesar wrote:
are these measures correct for 61 split ? The measurements are for early 1959 - 1961.
In general, if the numbers members provided are correct... I don't know.

The horizontal measurement from the deck lid:
One member provided a measurement to the edge of the hole... then add radius.
This came out to 87 mm to center.

Another member said 3.5 inches, this comes out to 89 mm to center.

Maybe someone will make another measurement for this thread?... or, you can pick one to use.

Without more data, I'd suggest using the average (88 mm) to center distance.
Then, you can only be 1 mm off (not noticeable).
mojtaba_golpesar wrote:
And is this 9-3/4” totally wrong? Different datum... bottom of belt line vs. top of deck lid opening.
Use the horizontal datum you like better.

Sun Jan 13, 2019 5:18 pm

mojtaba_golpesar wrote: hi

i have the same problem
because i am not sure about the corners i can not cut from that information from book
can any one measure that from his car??
i need A and B distance from edge of deck lid to the center of tail light
if some one can tell me exactly the A and B in centimeter which i mentioned in this picture i really appreciate it

This is probably not a perfect measurement but on my '61 Double Cab:
A = 115mm
B = 257mm

Poor camera angle but 115mm:

Sun Jan 13, 2019 5:19 pm

mojtaba_golpesar wrote: Uuudis wrote: Can some one confirm measurements in picture? It is kind of from 1960 kombi, but I need someone to confirm.

I can not uses those reverse measurements posted above (from book), cause I have not precise corner bottoms. Although the corner is too much damaged to see correct a) measures.

AND IS THIS 9 3/4 TOTALLY WRONG??
These both look wrong based on what I posted above but I'm wondering if Trucks are different for some reason.

In mm:
3 1/2" = 89mm
9 3/4" = 247mm

Tue Jan 15, 2019 1:22 am

EverettB wrote: mojtaba_golpesar wrote: hi

i have the same problem
because i am not sure about the corners i can not cut from that information from book
can any one measure that from his car??
i need A and B distance from edge of deck lid to the center of tail light
if some one can tell me exactly the A and B in centimeter which i mentioned in this picture i really appreciate it

This is probably not a perfect measurement but on my '61 Double Cab:
A = 115mm
B = 257mm

Poor camera angle but 115mm:

thanks for you reply
i am so confused for my measurement
yours shows a = 115 and b=257
other friend says 87-89 and 580mm
actually i dont know that what is the belt line and where is it
can any one tell me where the belt line is?
is that the thick line in the middle of the back door?(the line which separetes the twin color of the car??)

Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:35 am

mojtaba_golpesar wrote: actually i dont know that what is the belt line and where is it
can any one tell me where the belt line is?
is that the thick line in the middle of the back door?(the line which separetes the twin color of the car??)
Yes, the belt line measurement should be from the paint color change up higher on the Bus.

I assume they measured from right above the taillight area to get this measurement.

I used a photo from up above to add an arrow:

Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:41 am

EverettB wrote: mojtaba_golpesar wrote: actually i dont know that what is the belt line and where is it
can any one tell me where the belt line is?
is that the thick line in the middle of the back door?(the line which separetes the twin color of the car??)
Yes, the belt line measurement should be from the paint color change up higher on the Bus.

I assume they measured from right above the taillight area to get this measurement.

I used a photo from up above to add an arrow:

got it dear
thanks
so what should i do ultimately?
does any other one can measure from his car?
the measurements are varies and i am not sure what should i do

Thu Feb 20, 2025 6:22 pm

Well so far this thread has provided more ambiguity than clarity :lol:
Surely there's a single, correct answer (excluding the page taken from the manual which would have been fine when all the corners were factory and straight but today is less helpful...)?
I'm faced with installing fresh tail light holes in blank repro corners, specifically in a truck (so no beltline), so <bump> for better data pls? :D
I see figures of 88 mm or 115 mm for Y and 257 mm or 248 mm (9.75") for X. Any other bids?