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Sun Jul 10, 2005 5:16 pm

Hello, I thought I had seen a pair if these not too long ago on here but a search turned up nothing.. Anyone know where they came from or where they were used? They're plastic and still have the separate darker plastic lens behind them like a regular snowflake lens uses..

Sun Jul 10, 2005 6:25 pm

Hi Alan,
Never seen those. Are they the flat lense type? Definitely we would never use those! Anybody with bright headlights would only see the reflection of thier headlights, and not bug the signals!
Since thay have the red shades they are for USA. For some reason USA authorities found VW 1956-61 taillights to be too bright, and so those shades were added for N. America. Bugs for Europe market they were not installed. So we take them out and enjoy nice bright taillights.
We found a dealer circular letter from VOA from about 1959, on the Hasia taillight lenses required due to Penn State regulations.
Eric&Barb

Sun Jul 10, 2005 6:31 pm

Hi, These are the flat style, from 56-61 I guess. I would tend to remove those dark plastic lenses, too! A 6 volt tail light can never be TOO bright as far as I'm concerned! They have another wierd feature, the 'bucket' they sit in is or was a very bright chrome finish, maybe to make up for the wierd lens design, I dont know. Thanks for the reply!

Sun Jul 10, 2005 8:47 pm

Those are Nordic-style taillights used only for the Swedish market. My 56 convertible came standard with theose taillights.

Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:16 am

Ah, so they're original then? I didnt see and Hella or even Hassia markings on them, odd! Thanks for the info! Now I can put them on my car..for no good reason!

Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:11 am

Taillight lens on the left is your typical glass "snowflake". Lens on the right is made of plastic and was used on Swedish-market cars. These were known as the "Nordic" style.

Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:31 am

Even heard our authorities reqired lenses to be of the 'modern' plastic type for some years in the middle/late 60:ies...

Some cars had the glass lenses replaced by these, some had the later 62 and on style, some had additional reflexes attached to bumpers. Probably thats why surviving 'old' taillights in sweden are so scares.

Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:07 pm

i have seen those before on a 58 from sweden. shit i just read what l227 wrote. its been years since i have seen those. are they yours?

Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:56 pm

Eric&Barb wrote:
We found a dealer circular letter from VOA from about 1959, on the Hasia taillight lenses required due to Penn State regulations.
Eric&Barb
Do you have more info on this? I have 2 friends with Hassia lenses (hearts & 56-61s), and with the exception of the name, they are identical in every way to the more common Hella.

Mon Jul 11, 2005 2:06 pm

how many versions do they have for the "snowflake" lens? i have 2 pair of snowflakes and 3 lens are the same and one all the writing is different. it says hella but it says group2 on the bottom of the glass. the coloring looks the same but the writing is the only thing different.

Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:10 pm

CALI47 wrote: how many versions do they have for the "snowflake" lens?

I've seen atleast 7 variations. 1956 used a unique dimpling design on the backside of the lens. 1957-later lens used a Horizontal lines-style on the backside. Then of course as you noted, the lettering on the front changes quite a bit. Some have a Red plastic defuser, some without.
But overall, I've seen 5 styles of designs. Besides the typical snowflake & the Nordic (both shown above) There have been some that resemble a Chevron logo, a Diamond & multiple arrows. Here's a pic of the Diamond version:

Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:14 pm

CALI47 wrote: i have seen those before on a 58 from sweden. shit i just read what l227 wrote. its been years since i have seen those. are they yours?

Yes, I do have a couple more pairs in my small colection. Are you looking for a set? I can be persuaded to sell

Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:52 pm

RareAir wrote: Taillight lens on the left is your typical glass "snowflake". Lens on the right is made of plastic and was used on Swedish-market cars. These were known as the "Nordic" style.

Just for your information... "Portugal market too"

I got a '57 (exported to Portugal - by the birth certificate).. and came with these lenses.. also in the birth certificate says: M 018 - Larger reflector in brake.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:12 pm

I think it's because swedish bugs still had semaphores in '58 while US bugs already had the turn signals in the tail lights.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:32 pm

More info

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=360387

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=354891

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=194361