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Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:45 pm

I have seen this orange line on a few KPH speedos but not on any MPH ones.

I have pondered what it's for and can't come up with anything, what am I missing?

Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:12 pm

Not sure but there are no shift markings on it either.

Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:18 pm

:D 50 km/h in town or built up area speed limit my golf had that too same as some other cars

Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:31 pm

78 westy wrote: :D 50 km/h in town or built up area speed limit my golf had that too same as some other cars

my guess too.

Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:25 pm

OK, sounds like we have a consensus and Krusher gave me confirmation also.

Now what year did it start :?: :?:

Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:09 pm

Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:18 pm

I think later than that. I've seen post-53 (fat arrow) KPH speedos without the line, though admittedly most of the fat arrow KPH speedos do have it, so I would venture to guess it started no earlier than late-54 / 55 .

It would be interesting to research the history of European speed limits, because the other possibility is that the red line was there in some markets but not others. I know from driving around in Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia, that the current built-up area limits in those countries is almost always 50kph.

Also interesting is the fact that Progressive Refinements is vague and really useless in documenting some speedo changes. There is an almost random selection of speedos from the 60's without gear change markings, and the few vague mentions in PR run contradictory to evidence in some very original cars. One of those little details that may never be fully understood. :(

Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:19 pm

possibly but I'm beginning to think that no two cars from the same year are alike

Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:13 am

i have one kph speedo dated 54 and one dated 56 and neither have the orange /red line

Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:43 am

I have about two dozen earlyKM speedos right now and none of them have that orange line. New to me. :?

Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:51 am

Okay, I just looked through 800 pictures of speedos and here is what I've noticed on the kph ones:

• not a single clear needle speedo has the red/orange line
• every single solid needle speedo has the line.

Except one. And that is a Brazilian market '66 Beetle. So my guess is the line started with the solid needle speedos (1 Aug 1960 iirc), and only for European market.

Here is the Brazilian '66 speedo (blue numbers, 120kph, WTF :? ):

Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:28 am

HerrrKafer wrote: Here is the Brazilian '66 speedo (blue numbers, 120kph, WTF :? ):
Problem? Blue numbers for the Brazilian market is different but not WTF noteworthy. And 120kph is only 75mph, seem about right. Now if it read to 200kph (125mph)... 8)

Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:31 am

denizen224 wrote: HerrrKafer wrote: Here is the Brazilian '66 speedo (blue numbers, 120kph, WTF :? ):
Problem? Blue numbers for the Brazilian market is different but not WTF noteworthy. And 120kph is only 75mph, seem about right. Now if it read to 200kph (125mph)... 8)
No one else agrees there is something very funny about this speedo?

Blue numbers ... agreed ... not WTF-worthy. I had heard of them before, though this was the first example I've seen a pic of.

My main confusion was the 120kph. I've never seen a solid-needle speedo with 120, I thought speedos went from 120 to 140 for the 1961 model year. Now, it would make sense for 61+ Standards that still got the 36hp to retain the 120kph max (would be interested to see pics from anyone who could confirm this ... anyone? anyone? Bueller?).

Anyway, this blue speedo car gots dash trim and a fuel gauge, leading me to believe it is 40-horse. Indeed, the submitter designates it "1200" which typically denotes 40hp. Now, why the hell would they equip some markets with 120 max for 40hp when it was deemed necessary to expand to 140 for others? Same motor, same gearbox, unless I'm missing something.....

I notice now in the description of that photo that the submitter mentions 140 max starts in Brazil for 1967 with the introduction (there) of the 1300. It just seems crazy to me that they would wait that long! Super WTF-worthy, IMHO! 8)

Here's a pic of a 66 Euro 1200A dash. Look carefully to notice three (not two) entries of three digits each. That means its a 140kph.

Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:14 pm

yes, in brazil the 120kph speedo was used until 1967, until 1967 all brazilian beetles had 1200 engine, in 1967 vw do brasil "upgraded" to the 1300 engine and 140kph speedo

Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:00 pm

never say never.

140 SWF Km speedo

dated 7.59 part# 111 957 023

My buddy bought in Philippines.

[/img]

Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:51 am

^ Another very interesting speedo. Looks like the red line is on (most) 140 faces, but still hasn't been seen on a 120 face. Always thought the face changed at the same time as the needle.

In none of my posts have I ruled out anything's existence ... I've only presented my observations, either from the gallery or cars I've seen. 8)

Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:01 am

I could be wrong here (I'm a bit of a novice) but I thought maybe they put the red line on the Speedo to make them compatible for an Autoshift. The red line is when to change from 2nd to 3rd. Just a guess though.