TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1961 One-Year-Onlies...

Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:46 am

Mannaxman. I have an all original Feb 61 that has the 2-rib front apron, so a March of 61 would have the same one. I also have 2 early 61's that have the 3-rib apron, they are both Aug 60 production. I am researching when VW changed from the 3-rib to the 2-rib and so far it looks like Sept 60 still had the 3-rib apron. The bug you are looking at may of had a front clip replacement, a used front apron replacement or has an aftermarket apron installed. The aftermarket front aprons are 3-rib but the stamping itself is not as "crisp" as an original, and it will also have a "teardropped" shaped hole for the hood cable guide to pass through, where as an original 3-rib will have an oval shaped slot. Aftermarket aprons also have 3-bolt holes for the latch. Original 3-ribs have 4. Hope this helps.

Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:49 pm

Thanks for the info, potentvw. I don't think I ever would have noticed that hood cable hole difference. So in the pics below, the first 2 aprons are OG 3-rib aprons and the third is an aftermarket replacement, correct? (Yes, I know these are 1960 Bugs, not 1961's)

I don't think the front clip has been replaced, as the body and chassis #'s match, unless a PO took the time to remove the VIN plate and transfer it to the new clip. But I do think it's been hit before, based on what the seller told me. So a replacement apron, whether OG or aftermarket, is very likely.

Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:11 pm

Correct. The first 2 aprons are original, late 60 and early 61. The third is aftermarket with that "teardropped" hole. Those two 60's look like good cars. :wink:

Sat Sep 12, 2009 5:48 pm

potentvw wrote: Mannaxman. I have an all original Feb 61 that has the 2-rib front apron, so a March of 61 would have the same one. I also have 2 early 61's that have the 3-rib apron, they are both Aug 60 production. I am researching when VW changed from the 3-rib to the 2-rib and so far it looks like Sept 60 still had the 3-rib apron. The bug you are looking at may of had a front clip replacement, a used front apron replacement or has an aftermarket apron installed. The aftermarket front aprons are 3-rib but the stamping itself is not as "crisp" as an original, and it will also have a "teardropped" shaped hole for the hood cable guide to pass through, where as an original 3-rib will have an oval shaped slot. Aftermarket aprons also have 3-bolt holes for the latch. Original 3-ribs have 4. Hope this helps.

potentvw, any luck on finding out when they switched from the 3-rib apron to the 2-rib? I am currently looking at a Jan. '61 ragtop (VIN 3 594 XXX). It's had some work done up front. It's done very well, but I want to know if it's correct or not. It has a 2-rib apron and the hood latch has 3 bolts. The car is semi-apart, and the hood latch is off of the car. There are 6 holes where the latch mounts.

Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:56 pm

Mannaxman, I am waiting to hear back from some sources and hope to have some info. in the next few days. I will let you know. :wink:

Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:47 am

potentvw, I PMed Boom about his '61. He said it's a Nov. '60 car with a 2-finger apron. So it looks like, based on what you posted earlier, somewhere between Sept. and Nov. 1960 they switched from the 3-finger apron to the 2-finger apron. I'm still uncertain on how many mounting holes there should be for the hood latch though. I've seen ads in the classifieds for NOS (supposedly) aprons with 3 mounting holes and front clips with aprons that have 6 mounting holes.

EDIT: Boom said his front apron has only 3 mounting holes for the hood latch, similar to this one.

Re: the '61 I'm considering (it's a different '61 than the one I originally posted about, Jan. instead of Mar.), I may take another closer look at it today after work. I know it has had a rear clip replacement, and I suspect the apron has been replaced. But it wouldn't surprise me if the front clip has been replaced.

Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:47 pm

Mannaxman, does Boom know for sure if his apron is original to his bug from new. The apron in your picture is a later 2 rib, like a 65 would have. It is the same as a later 61 would have, but slightly different. Look at where the hood cable guide tube passes through. See how the stamping around the large area of the teardropped opening has a small raised area above, and a small recessed area below the opening, compared to the right side hole.
On a later 61 with the 2 rib apron, this area should be flat, exactly like the right side. Everything else looks the same. This should be another way of checking to see if a later 61 has its original front apron.

Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:55 pm

Here is one of the pics Boom sent me.

I did notice that area is not flat on a pic of a 65 front clip I saw in the forums. Can't tell in this pic, but in another pic he provided (wasn't able to post it), Boom's looks like it's flat where the cable comes through.

Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:17 pm

Yup, that looks correct. If it is original from new to his car, then it looks like either Nov. 60 for sure, or maybe Oct 60 was the change because we know Sept 60 still had the 3 rib. Pretty cool! Do you know if Booms bug has the original hood? I am very curious if it is a 4-tab or a 3-pin flat emblem hood.

Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:07 pm

potentvw wrote: Yup, that looks correct. If it is original from new to his car, then it looks like either Nov. 60 for sure, or maybe Oct 60 was the change because we know Sept 60 still had the 3 rib. Pretty cool! Do you know if Booms bug has the original hood? I am very curious if it is a 4-tab or a 3-pin flat emblem hood.

Boom did not indicate if he has the original hood. But, according to this post from Page 1 of this thread, the change from the 4-tab hood to the 3-tab hood took place in Jan. '61.

glutamodo wrote: What is the chassis number? The front hood went from 4-tab to the early 3-post midway through the year, at chassis number 3 551 045.

Sun Dec 04, 2011 5:37 pm

Does anybody know when the rubber bungs on the Beetles door hinges went from two bungs to just one? I'm talking about where the screws attach the door to the body of the car on the pillar there are little plastic plugs to plug the holes. Which is correct for a pastel blue 1961 Bug, one bung or two?

Sun Dec 04, 2011 5:54 pm

I have the original hood and its a four tab.
the two holes ended in 61 I think, my buddies 62 has only one.

Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:27 pm

Boom wrote:
the two holes ended in 61 I think, my buddies 62 has only one.

My '62 Euro has 2.

Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:17 pm

That change for the hinge screws happened at chassis number 4671926 - April 28 1962

Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:27 pm

glutamodo wrote: That change for the hinge screws happened at chassis number 4671926 - April 28 1962

That would explain mine. It's a January baby.

Sun Dec 04, 2011 10:56 pm

Yeah, yours and mine both! I can't remember now, I know somone here has one very close to my serial number, was it yours?

Mon Dec 05, 2011 6:27 am

I don't recall ever posting it. I'll dig it up and do so.

Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:23 pm

bugragtop wrote: glutamodo wrote: I vaguely remember my first VW, a 61, having that teardrop shaped nozzle on it. Looking around the classifieds I found this one for sale, this is how I remember mine looking like, look at this listing:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=232144

and I think I've seen one or two like this one before, in chrome

my '62 beryl green ragtop has this nozzle, so also on a '62. Furthermore it has; a color matching gearlever, handbrake lever but an ivory colored steering wheel with lock. I know, it's not 61, but is this an original feature? The horn ring also has notches (so not only 61)

(testfitting my recently restored Akkord Autotransistor)

What's the switch left of the ash tray???

Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:45 am

I have a 61 l380 sedan with the colored steering wheel gear shifter and grab handle. Where would i find how many of these were made and wonder how many have servived.

Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:01 pm

I may be getting this 1961, and looking to rescue it. Pretty rough but a cool year to rescue.