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Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:44 am

Could you please post up some pics of your barndoor reflectors please. I'm just curious to see what you're running.

Due to the fact there are so many different styles around I'm not sure I've ever seen a 'genuine' small diamond reflector.

I also think it would be good for reference.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:31 am

From the Gallery, a Frese K1282:

Barndoors have large diamond reflectors, is that what you wanted?

More info:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=105588

Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:37 am

Well some of the people I have spoken to about barndoor reflectors are adamant that early barndoors have small diamonds (different to 55-57 US buses) and then other people are adamant that all barndoors have big diamond frese reflectors. Who am I to believe? I figured that if everyone posts pictures of what they are running I might get a clearer picture.

Due to the high level of replacement reflectors there are floating about, who can actually prove what type of reflector each year barndoor should run?

The only thing I know for sure is that 54-55 barndoors run the frese reflectors.

Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:36 am

No one else got any BD reflector pics?

Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:55 am

I only have large diamond photos and 55-57 USA reflector photos.

Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:23 am

Do you have any proof of early barndoors running big diamond reflectors Everett?

Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:46 am

Scotty wrote: Do you have any proof of early barndoors running big diamond reflectors Everett?

There are at least 3(THREE) different Barndoor Reflectors....the big Diamond frese's are ONLY for 54-55....

My Original 53 Deluxe has a Big diamond but different then the frese's
I am sure if I got all the reflectors out and took pics, you would see the differences..but thats too much work :-(

50 is even different then the one's I have mentioned

Mark

Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:52 am

merz356 wrote:
I am sure if I got all the reflectors out and took pics, you would see the differences..but thats too much work :-(

Well if you get the chance in the near future to take some pics I would really appreciate it.

Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:54 am

will do....
there actually at least 2 variations of 55-57 as well,some with writing on the lens and some with writing on the bezel

Mark

Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:00 pm

I think one of the problems is that most of the Barndoors out there could have had the reflectors swapped out at some point so unless you have a low mileage 50-52 that you know is all-original, it would be hard to be sure.

Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:56 pm

I believe that the nice og ex-horny 52 dlx at hammills place has small diamond. I also had an og reflector pulled off a late 1950 that was small diamond. It was DEFINATELY original to the car and rusted on. The pattern on the 50 reflector was slightly different than the 52 dlx reflector, as was the side script, but they were definately small diamond. I pretty sure that the big diamond started in 53, they are the late model BD reflectors.

Thu Oct 06, 2005 5:57 pm

Watch it !

Mark

Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:33 pm

Dam now Im going to have to go dig out that og one from my early 52.

Fri Oct 07, 2005 12:36 am

Well I'm trying to figure out what a 52 should have, so any pics of 52 reflectors will be gratefully recieved!

Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:14 am

Anyone take any pics over the weekend??

Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:31 am

I only saw a '54 Panel (restored) and a '53 Kombi (project) at OCTO.

The '53 had no reflectors on it.

Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:18 am

Thanks anyway Everett.

No one else care to share a few pics of their reflectors?

Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:04 am

My June 53 type 221 had american plastic reflectors when I got it.
Now it has German plastic reflectors about 20 years newer than the bus.

I have several glass diamond ones, not sure what to install.

Have heard people muttering about barndoor big diamonds for years, and NEVER once was given a good reason why they thought they had them.

Glad to be of help :wink:

Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:12 am

Clara,
My ~55K mile '54 Truck had cracked Frese K1282 big diamonds on it when I bought it. It still had the original taillights and pretty much every other original part.

I am 100% sure they are correct, at least for a USA-delivered '54 Bus.

I had an original reflector and original paint corner that was cut out of a '54 Ambulance from England (don't know if it was an English Bus), it had the same reflector.

Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:31 pm

My '54 RHD Deluxe that was delivered to New Zealand back in '54 has Frese K1282 reflectors on it,both lenses were smashed however I was lucky enough to get some NOS reflector lenses off Duncan at Euro Box.
All the ''54 and later Barndoors I have seen have had the Frese reflectors...I think the jury is still out on what the earlier ones have,after all there is really only one 'true' reference point that everyone refers to and that is a certain '52 Deluxe....