TheSamba.com :: View topic - Help Identifying Holes (Dash and Seat Area) 61' Panel

Sun Feb 23, 2025 3:06 pm

Hey all,

Can someone tell me what this hole in my dash is for? Is it factory?

And here next to the heat vent knob there is a button, it's well placed but looks aftermarket to me, two 10 gauge white wires going towards the back of the bus. Marked "1" in red.

And the hole marked "2" looks factory to me, but I dont know what for?

Thanks, happy Sunday!
Or whatever day.

Sun Feb 23, 2025 6:51 pm

The one on the dash was a cigar lighter.

Sun Feb 23, 2025 7:30 pm

…which was not a factory stock item. #1 by the heat knob was for a choke and cable dropped in 1960 The boss in the body may have been blank on your bus and a PO added the button for? #2 obviously added for ? reason.
1960 Bus owners Manual:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/feb60bus/page7.jpg
The knob on the other side of the heat was for a fuel reserve tap dropped in 1962

Sun Feb 23, 2025 8:04 pm

tasb wrote: …which was not a factory stock item. #1 by the heat knob was for a choke and cable dropped in 1960 The boss in the body may have been blank on your bus and a PO added the button for? #2 obviously added for ? reason.
1960 Bus owners Manual:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/feb60bus/page7.jpg
The knob on the other side of the heat was for a fuel reserve tap dropped in 1962

Thanks! My PDF books didnt show that, sounds like both of which in addition to a cig lighter in the dash will not be required anymore. I mean I can stick a cig light in there to stay true and correct, or something silly, or weld it up, I didn't have that on my 65'. New news to me! Thanks guys. Maybe in the dash cig lighter hole I will put a custom NOS switch 8) :lol: 80% kidding....

Mon Feb 24, 2025 8:46 am

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2571084.jpg

Bottom= choke cable
Middle= heat knob
Top= fuel reserve tap

A cigarette lighter somewhere on the dash was a common owner addition. I use the hole in my Single Cab for a lighter socket that I use to charge my cell phone., emergency light, tire inflator.

Mon Feb 24, 2025 11:54 am

if you look closely, the pic tasb posted shows a different angle; the OP image has the fuel knob boss in shadow above the heater knob. Still has cable.

I wonder if someone put in a heater; took out the choke cable (if it had one) and put in the pushbutton to start and the missing part is temp control.

Mon Feb 24, 2025 2:01 pm

tasb wrote: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2571084.jpg

Bottom= choke cable
Middle= heat knob
Top= fuel reserve tap

A cigarette lighter somewhere on the dash was a common owner addition. I use the hole in my Single Cab for a lighter socket that I use to charge my cell phone., emergency light, tire inflator.

All good ideas, optionally weld it up, but I think I may utilize it for something fun or useful.

Mon Feb 24, 2025 2:03 pm

70bus wrote: if you look closely, the pic tasb posted shows a different angle; the OP image has the fuel knob boss in shadow above the heater knob. Still has cable.

I wonder if someone put in a heater; took out the choke cable (if it had one) and put in the pushbutton to start and the missing part is temp control. I just caught that too, interesting. My guess is someone modded some kind of heat setup, the wires are fairly larger gauge 8g or 10g. Interesting little mysteries.