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Thu Jun 28, 2018 8:29 am

You might also search this engine finder thread and post there as well.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=597414&highlight=engine+finder

JMO,but to make things easier just look for a 1- case. I mean if you find a month correct great, but at first glance you say it's a 55 and all I know is the case should start 1- its not like I have the months series memorized.

Thu Jun 28, 2018 2:09 pm

up to 3/55, even USA versions are my favorites as they have semaphores. After that with only Euro models having semaphores - April 55's begin the 1956 look... slowly, but surely.
Happy to say, my 3 ovals are what I call, the early ovals, with last-of-the-split features -
here's my 2 '55s

Thu Jun 28, 2018 8:58 pm

I'm going to piece and collect parts so that I can build a reasonably passable '55 engine for my car.

I'm on the hunt for 5L parts as we speak. (May '55)

Any help on what a good solid German roof rack is worth? It has the stamp, all there, original clamps, wing nuts, decal still hanging in there.

Mon Jul 02, 2018 9:36 pm

Tue Jul 03, 2018 5:18 am

Keith wrote: ZENVWDRIVER wrote: .....April 55's begin the 1956 look...

You know already I’m sure, but April ‘55 did just begin the ‘56 look, it began the ‘56 model year.

I have an American spec bullet ‘55.

No it didn't. The 1956 model year began August 4, 1956. The April-July period while North American bugs got bullet fenders they still had batwings, straight shifters and ribbed doors earlier seats and H pattern upholstery, no cutout and single tip exhaust. 8-4, all that changed including the sunroof.

Tue Jul 03, 2018 6:05 am

That is true that early 55's share some of the same characteristics with a 56'. But I think every 55' owner agrees, that a TRUE 55' body style ended when the tail lights/ fenders/ semaphores ended. I have both an early 55' and a late 55. They are totally different cars.
Sitting side by side, it's really cool to see all the differences.

Tue Jul 03, 2018 6:25 am

*Darren wrote: Keith wrote: ZENVWDRIVER wrote: .....April 55's begin the 1956 look...

You know already I’m sure, but April ‘55 did just begin the ‘56 look, it began the ‘56 model year.

I have an American spec bullet ‘55.

No it didn't. The 1956 model year began August 4, 1956. The April-July period while North American bugs got bullet fenders they still had batwings, straight shifters and ribbed doors earlier seats and H pattern upholstery, no cutout and single tip exhaust. 8-4, all that changed including the sunroof.

Yeah, I read that quick last night and thought is said Aug, LOL! I know all that, that’s why I also commented about having an American spec bullet ‘55.

Now I see what his comment was actually about.

Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:44 am

*Darren wrote: Keith wrote: ZENVWDRIVER wrote: .....April 55's begin the 1956 look...

You know already I’m sure, but April ‘55 did just begin the ‘56 look, it began the ‘56 model year.

I have an American spec bullet ‘55.

No it didn't. The 1956 model year began August 4, 1956. The April-July period while North American bugs got bullet fenders they still had batwings, straight shifters and ribbed doors earlier seats and H pattern upholstery, no cutout and single tip exhaust. 8-4, all that changed including the sunroof.

Darren, guess it all depends on what "begins the 1956 look" means to you... the date, you gave of August 4th for the 1956 model is 100% correct, right on.
To me, beginning in April 1955 VW slowly Quote: began making the switch-over to fifty six features with the demise of semaphores and the intro of bullets... by and by other '56 features appeared on later, after April '55s... this is how Mr Zen organizes 1955s and is not necessarily the general view.
In my narrow view, post semaphore '55's are a hodge-podge of 55 and 56 parts and then, as you stated, true '56s began in August...
Again, in my narrow view, I have little interest in 4/55 to 57 Ovals, because
of the lack of semaphores and the intro of bullets... just me. I can't stand bullet fenders... of coarse, most view bullets as a later '55 part, whereas I view them as 1956 parts - i'm not telling anyone how to think, just how I do...

Tue Jul 03, 2018 6:32 pm

I'm on the same page as ZEN. I'm a firm believer that if it's got snowflake tail lights...it's a 56. Vw no doubt just used up their stock of seats, steering wheels, and other "55" items until Aug 4th. When the ALL new 56 was introduced. I think May 55' cars through Aug 4th are just as cool as early 55's.
Look how many very original late 55s have parts that they shouldn't have, even though Progressive Refinements specifies the date that the part was replaced.

Wed Jul 04, 2018 8:49 am

So, my late (May '55) sedan is not in fact a '55 car?

Thu Jul 05, 2018 9:44 am

Larmo63 wrote: So, my late (May '55) sedan is not in fact a '55 car?

Jan 1st ‘55 to July 31st ’55 was the ‘55 model year. Aug 1st started the ‘56 model year and was the first year VW started the common Aug previous year to end of July current year for model years so an Aug ‘55 bug is a ‘56.

Your ‘55 should have ribbed doors, no exhaust cutouts on the rear apron, “H” patterned seats, ribbed window winders and interior door handles, straight shifter, heater knob behind the parking brake, “round” heater outlets on the floor, batwing steering wheel, big mouth gas tank, no rear kick panels under the rear seat, floor grommets/buttons for the floor mats, roller pedal, etc.

Thu Jul 05, 2018 8:44 pm

Keith wrote: Larmo63 wrote: So, my late (May '55) sedan is not in fact a '55 car?

Jan 1st ‘55 to July 31st ’55 was the ‘55 model year. Aug 1st started the ‘56 model year and was the first year VW started the common Aug previous year to end of July current year for model years so an Aug ‘55 bug is a ‘56.

Your ‘55 should have ribbed doors, no exhaust cutouts on the rear apron, “H” patterned seats, ribbed window winders and interior door handles, straight shifter, heater knob behind the parking brake, “round” heater outlets on the floor, batwing steering wheel, big mouth gas tank, no rear kick panels under the rear seat, floor grommets/buttons for the floor mats, roller pedal, etc.

My car has ALL of these attributes, but I'm being told it is considered a '56 model.

Fri Jul 06, 2018 9:11 am

Larmo63 wrote: Keith wrote: Larmo63 wrote: So, my late (May '55) sedan is not in fact a '55 car?

Jan 1st ‘55 to July 31st ’55 was the ‘55 model year. Aug 1st started the ‘56 model year and was the first year VW started the common Aug previous year to end of July current year for model years so an Aug ‘55 bug is a ‘56.

Your ‘55 should have ribbed doors, no exhaust cutouts on the rear apron, “H” patterned seats, ribbed window winders and interior door handles, straight shifter, heater knob behind the parking brake, “round” heater outlets on the floor, batwing steering wheel, big mouth gas tank, no rear kick panels under the rear seat, floor grommets/buttons for the floor mats, roller pedal, etc.

My car has ALL of these attributes, but I'm being told it is considered a '56 model.

I don’t know by who, they are wrong. It is a ‘55. Last year for all that. ‘56 started the change. ‘55 was a change over year in many ways with the introduction of bullet turn signals and towel rail bumpers as standard, snow flake tail lights (mounted higher up to clear the new bumpers) a few months in for the American spec cars (all were carried over into the ‘56 model year), but it is a ‘55.

Also, because ‘54 and down were Jan to Dec production and ‘56 and up were Aug 1st ‘55 to ‘July 31st ‘56 which we’re full year productions for those models it makes ‘55 a short run being from Jan ‘55 to July 31st ‘55 and within those months there were the early ‘55’s that still had semaphores, heart tail lights or egg tail lights and euro bumpers and then late U.S spec ‘55’s that had the American spec features previously mentioned. ‘55 and down have the square 3 fold ragtop, ‘56 and up have the rounded 2-fold with the exception of early ‘56 that had a square/round 2 fold.

Mon Jul 16, 2018 4:34 pm

Larmo63 wrote: My car is a late May car (May 26th?) and is #1-0888630-. Body and pan #s match.

Ribbed doors, heater knob between seats, bullets, snowflakes...I'm going to go check my speedometer too, is this stamped or inked?

My question is; what does the number below the ID plates in the front trunk?

It appears #1 - 791958. Does this stamping have any significance?

... that's the body number - what body number do you have?
My Reed green, '55 is 733265 - 2/55
My Strato Silver is 747 714 - 3/55
both have semaphores, eggs, single exhaust, euro bumpers, heater behind the emergency brake, ribbed doors and inside handles - "early" 1955 with no
"later" '55/56 parts.
... has a wiper motor that does not auto-park. Is that normal> My 1950 was the same.

Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:43 am

motofly196 wrote: I'm on the same page as ZEN. I'm a firm believer that if it's got snowflake tail lights...it's a 56. Vw no doubt just used up their stock of seats, steering wheels, and other "55" items until Aug 4th. When the ALL new 56 was introduced. I think May 55' cars through Aug 4th are just as cool as early 55's.
Look how many very original late 55s have parts that they shouldn't have, even though Progressive Refinements specifies the date that the part was replaced.

That's absurd logic! Your personal preferences or beliefs have no authority about what model year a car is. According to Volkswagen, (the ultimate authority here), the 1955 model year ended when the 1956 model year started on Aug 4th, 1955. Quit mis-informing folks with your "opinions". The 1955 model year includes both early and late 1955 cars, not solely your personal favorites. You have a right to your "opinions", but not to try to impose them as the new model year rule.

Bill Bowman

Fri Jul 20, 2018 11:18 am

BulliBill wrote: motofly196 wrote: I'm on the same page as ZEN. I'm a firm believer that if it's got snowflake tail lights...it's a 56. Vw no doubt just used up their stock of seats, steering wheels, and other "55" items until Aug 4th. When the ALL new 56 was introduced. I think May 55' cars through Aug 4th are just as cool as early 55's.
Look how many very original late 55s have parts that they shouldn't have, even though Progressive Refinements specifies the date that the part was replaced.

That's absurd logic! Your personal preferences or beliefs have no authority about what model year a car is. According to Volkswagen, (the ultimate authority here), the 1955 model year ended when the 1956 model year started on Aug 4th, 1955. Quit mis-informing folks with your "opinions". The 1955 model year includes both early and late 1955 cars, not solely your personal favorites. You have a right to your "opinions", but not to try to impose them as the new model year rule.

Bill Bowman

... gee Bill, usually appreciate your opinions - pretty harsh this time... appreciate Motofly196's opinions also - all opinions welcome, by me.

Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:58 pm

Vw1200DeLuxe wrote: vwclap wrote: bdub475 wrote: Depends on what month in 55 it was made. A late 55 shares all the same parts as a 56.
Late 55 from August are 56 model... :)

ohh...my car was made in july of 1955...i think i have to buy "some" new parts because my all parts good for the later oval bug :cry:

7/55 - to be fair, while this is STILL A GENUINE '55, it really has a mixture of 1955 and 1956 type parts... we all should go over them and you'll see an interesting mix, this late in the 1955-game.
i can look in my copy of Car of the Century for more exactness - i saw a copy of volume one in the classifieds. for a C-note... is worth close in my opinion.

Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:23 pm

Here is what I know about the difference between a late 1955 and a fresh 1956. 8) In re-reading the original thread, I have just not seen a complete list of the differences. Well here it is!

1. Heater channels/heater vent location and type (louvered)
2. Dome light switches and mounting hole in A-pillar
3. Doors and handles and panels, regulator, wing window and latches
4. Door check rods
5. B-pillar shape (no wedges) and door latch.
6. Inner metal panels at rear seat left and right, and interior trim panel, seat support.
7. Lower part of luggage bay at rear seat (sloped).
8. Shifter
9. Heater control
10. E-brake handle and cables, cover plate @ front.
11. Floor pans and seat rails
12. Hood
13. Deck lid inside stamp shape/wire route
14. Wiring harness
15. Fuse box location
16. Hood release tube route
17. All Seats
18. Steering wheel
19. Spare tire well/wiring tabs
20. Fuel tank and tap
21. Rear apron
22. Jack retaining clip added
23. Sunroof design
24. Trunk wiring cover tabs/wing nuts
25. Engine differences (oil fill, muffler, air filter, fuel pump, generator pulley & nut, etc)
26. Rear wheel well pressings at the seat.

Note US bullet version, June 1955: Tail light position is the same as 1956.

I am sure I am missing some items but this is a big list and in my opinion clearly and significantly highlights model year revisions. I am 99.9% certain of these items as I have a late 1955.

If I discover other differences, I can include them here! The Progressive Refinements does not even have this much detail.

Fri Jan 06, 2023 10:05 pm

I think the hood prop is the same through 57

Sat Jan 07, 2023 4:29 am

Dan22 wrote: Here is what I know about the difference between a late 1955 and a fresh 1956. 8) In re-reading the original thread, I have just not seen a complete list of the differences. Well here it is!

1. Heater channels/heater vent location and type (louvered)
2. Dome light switches and mounting hole in A-pillar
3. Doors and handles and panels, regulator, wing window and latches
4. Door check rods
5. B-pillar shape (no wedges) and door latch.
6. Inner metal panels at rear seat left and right, and interior trim panel, seat support.
7. Lower part of luggage bay at rear seat (sloped).
8. Shifter
9. Heater control
10. E-brake handle and cables, cover plate @ front.
11. Floor pans and seat rails
12. Hood
13. Deck lid inside stamp shape/wire route
14. Wiring harness
15. Fuse box location
16. Hood release tube route
17. All Seats
18. Steering wheel
19. Spare tire well/wiring tabs
20. Fuel tank and tap
21. Rear apron
22. Jack retaining clip added
23. Sunroof design
24. Trunk wiring cover tabs/wing nuts
25. Engine differences (oil fill, muffler, air filter, fuel pump, generator pulley & nut, etc)

Note US bullet version, June 1955: Tail light position is the same as 1956.

I am sure I am missing some items but this is a big list and in my opinion clearly and significantly highlights model year revisions. I am 99.9% certain of these items as I have a late 1955.

If I discover other differences, I can include them here! The Progressive Refinements does not even have this much detail.

The 56 YM got a "new" body, for faster production & because all the old pressings/dyes where worn out. They reduced the production time from 180 hours to 100 hours /car :)