TheSamba.com :: View topic - Official 50s-60s Front Fender Thread

Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:53 am

61SNRF wrote: My point Jeffery is that these so called replacement US '67 fenders with spaced out horn grilles are indeed factory originals, but they originally came on brand new '68-'72 Basic Beetles in Europe.

But wouldn't the 68-72 Basic Beetles fender mounted bumpers instead of apron mounted bumpers?

-jeffrey

Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:57 am

61SNRF wrote: Dutch market '67 Sparkafer AKA 1200A fenders...

Hey Bruce, that car looks familiar. Is that the one I got from you almost 30 years ago? Man we're getting old. I think I still have the license plates.

-jeffrey

Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:19 am

jhicken wrote: 61SNRF wrote: My point Jeffery is that these so called replacement US '67 fenders with spaced out horn grilles are indeed factory originals, but they originally came on brand new '68-'72 Basic Beetles in Europe.

But wouldn't the 68-72 Basic Beetles fender mounted bumpers instead of apron mounted bumpers?

-jeffrey

No, they have apron mounted bumpers like these...

Can't imagine why they moved the horn grilles though. It's almost like they planned for slots for bumper brackets.

Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:22 am

jhicken wrote: 61SNRF wrote: Dutch market '67 Sparkafer AKA 1200A

Hey Bruce, that car looks familiar. Is that the one I got from you almost 30 years ago? Man we're getting old. I think I still have the license plates.

-jeffrey

Yep!
I took this picture at the used car lot when it was fresh off the boat and before it got it's quicky make-over and paint job.

Do you still have the plates? All this time I thought I had lost or tossed them!

Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:34 am

61SNRF wrote: jhicken wrote: 61SNRF wrote: My point Jeffery is that these so called replacement US '67 fenders with spaced out horn grilles are indeed factory originals, but they originally came on brand new '68-'72 Basic Beetles in Europe.

But wouldn't the 68-72 Basic Beetles fender mounted bumpers instead of apron mounted bumpers?

-jeffrey

No, they have apron mounted bumpers like these...

Can't imagine why they moved the horn grilles though. It's almost like they planned for slots for bumper brackets.

Got it now, I believe that is the first time I've seen a car like that. Maybe the horn was repositioned so they moved the horn grills to accommodate it.

-jeffrey

Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:35 am

61SNRF wrote: Do you still have the plates? All this time I thought I had lost or tossed them!

Yea, they are buried in a box in my garage somewhere.

-jeffrey

Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:10 pm

never saw this thread before so added it to this one for more info

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=402927

Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:15 pm

AlteWagen wrote: Not a problem, the more info the better. In the 30 years of dubbing here in the states I have only seen one euro 67, the disk breaks were sweet!

I have a 67 Euro but mines the 1300 with drums and mine was missing both fenders but still have OG headlights and they were the older style.

Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:13 am

jhicken wrote: 61SNRF wrote: I have heard and seen evidence that the '67 fenders with the wide spaced horn grilles were not cheap re-pops, but in fact were the genuine VW factory replacement fenders from the '70's on.

You are correct Bruce, Maxicar is an Italian company that was an OE supplier. They still produce the same fenders today. Not the easiest to source but they are a bit heavier than the Chinese/Mexican/Brazilian offerings. Their fenders are as close to original as you can get but the vents ae not the same as the originals. I got a buddy who is in the crash parts business and had a set of OE '67 fenders that he's had in his possession since the '70's. When he was restoring his '67 vert, the difference was pointed out and he ended up restoring his original fenders instead of using the NOS set.

So technically you could have a set of NOS OEM fenders that would >not< be the same as originals.

-jeffrey I have a five year old pair of Maxicar fenders on my bug, and I would never buy them again knowing how cheaply made they are. The wheelwell arch is too high, they tear too easily, and the headlight bucket had a terribly done crimp job nothing like original, with jagged edges all the way around that won't accept a seal without cutting it.

Thu Sep 05, 2013 9:49 am

Wonderful thread..

Wed Mar 04, 2015 10:40 am

Would anyone know the hole specs for a 61 bug front fender turn signal. need to know where the holes need to be drilled on top of the fender. There is no holes there now and I want to add the turn signals on top of the fender.

Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:08 am

Hello All. I have been lurking on the forums for a long time and decide to join the club today. Now i will post and reply daily :)

I bought a 64 with two very similar but different front fender. One was replaced obviously, but I cannot tell which. One turn signal is about an inch from the hood trim, the other is set about 2.5 inches from the hood trim. Both signals are the larger version. I looked at pics online and seem to find both for my year!

I also have found two different deck lid (multiple shapes?) license light for 64's. Mine is a wide light cover.

Looking though this thread, it seems the slight change in the 64 year is not documented. Anyone know the differences between an early and late model 64? Specifically front fender shape, front turn signal size and placement, as well as read deck lid / license plate light holder.

My Beetle VIN claims it to be a March 64. I have gathered a bunch of front and back end pics from 63-66. There are numerous 64 models that claim to be original that have both looks. This is my confusion.

I also noticed that in July of 64 the VINs jump by 110 Million numbers. I wonder if this was also a body tweak change moment.

My 64 - You can see the spacing on the right turn signal light. the left side almost touches the fender beading.

My 64 - Is this a standard 64 deck lid?

OG 64 with bigger turn signals that are closer to molding.

OG 64 with smaller turn signals that are closer to molding. (this may not be a 64 now that i see the bumper. but the page it came from said 64.)

OG 64 with smaller turn signals that are farther away from molding.

Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:22 pm

Oct 63 was the last of the small "peanut" turn signals, in Nov the newer large signals were used further back and closer to the body.

The pic of the white bug is using early signals in the late signal position.

The decklid change was the same month, Nov 63

Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:27 pm

qbnlaz wrote: Would anyone know the hole specs for a 61 bug front fender turn signal. need to know where the holes need to be drilled on top of the fender. There is no holes there now and I want to add the turn signals on top of the fender.

Sorry never saw the reply

Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:51 pm

ok. from what your suggesting...

In Aug 63, the 64 models start to roll off the line. They have smaller bullet/peanut turn signal markers placed a few inches from the trim.

In Nov 63, the 64 model changed to larger turn signals that are placed further back and closer to the molding.

Does this timeline also see the change in fender shape in Nov 63? when did the early 64 fender start. When did the late 64 fender end?

Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:54 pm

Overall fender shape is the same from 59-66 with the turn signal location being the difference (beside the wiring tube in 59).

There were various reproduction fenders made which are different than OE German VW fenders in the bucket, flare, rolled area and running board area not to mention material thickness.

Nov 63 through July 66 are the same

Tue Sep 04, 2018 6:11 pm

Hey guys. I know this is an old thread but I am trying to source fenders for a 59. I have heard conflicting information that the bullet fender is the right one and that the fender 58-64 is the right one with the exception of ts placement. Front and rear in question here. Can anyone confirm the proper one if the above set of pix is right or wrong?

Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:33 pm

Navydave73 wrote: Ill post this on the early fender thread also, but here is the measurement of my sons 1960 bug. I cut these holes based on measurements i thought i had from an aftermarket fender that was significantly farther forward than the one i had. Someone commented on my sons build thread that the turn signal holes were different. I moved the driver side forward to match the passenger.

This is the 1960 Indigo that we just got. Clearly looks like factory fenders, even though i suspect the turn signals were added because of the semaphores. The measurements match my sons almost exactly. 13cm from the headlight bucket edge to the center of the turn signal rivet i can see through the lense.

This fender is an OG fender that my buddy gave me. I think it came off of a 1959, not sure though. He bought it in a set. It clearly measures 11cm for the same dimension.

My measurements are far from super accurate, I’m not building a watch, but.....does anyone have a hard measurement from the headlight bucket to the first turn signal hole? I’m soaking the INdigo turn signal nuts in kroil along with the fender bolts. I intend to remove this weekend, that will let me know if these were added or factory. I suspect that the new fender will need to have it’s turn signal relocated.

I thought the turn signal was in the same place from 58-63?

Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:37 pm

AlteWagen wrote: qbnlaz wrote: Would anyone know the hole specs for a 61 bug front fender turn signal. need to know where the holes need to be drilled on top of the fender. There is no holes there now and I want to add the turn signals on top of the fender.

Sorry never saw the reply

Cool pic, but as i tell my engineers at work.....how do i build that from that print? Dimensions based on a weird spatial relationship to nothing. I have a metric tape measure that i can hook on the empty headlight bucket....what is the length from top of headlight bucket?

Thanks in advan ce

Fri May 15, 2020 5:49 pm

BBT is if full swing on their 53-59 front fenders. Looks great, wonder what the pricing may be. KF were around $1K a pair and thats where the current rear reproduction ribbed fenders are going for.

https://blog.bbt4vw.com/2020/05/15/bbt-news-75/