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Thu Jun 13, 2019 9:19 pm

Good afternoon VW world. I just purchased a 1974 super beetle for my father for fathers day. My only question is how can I get a definite answer if this was a sunbug or not. It has most of all the signs but I'm new to the VW Bug world and would love to know. The history on these cars are awesome and I'm loving every minute of it. Please any help would be great.

Thu Jun 13, 2019 9:41 pm

The Lemmerz wheels are missing, as well as the fancy horn button, but, with what you have left, I’d say you own a 1974 Sun Bug.

Tim

Thu Jun 13, 2019 9:45 pm

Welcome to Samba!

nice Bug!

see link below on engine fires and safety wire!

you should get a stock aircleaner, the one you have is not good, no provision for warm up air nor crankcase venting whicj can make your Bug run poor, leak oil.

Again a Big Welcome

Fri Jun 14, 2019 10:20 am

Would this be one of the orginal sport wheels that came with the Sunbug?

Fri Jun 14, 2019 10:58 am

These sites might help:

http://www.sebeetles.com/sun/

https://ranwhenparked.net/2015/11/11/a-look-at-the-limited-edition-1974-volkswagen-sun-bug/

Fri Jun 14, 2019 2:19 pm

It’s a Sun Bug. Believe me.

And yes, that rusty rim is a Lemmerz rim that came on the Sun Bugs.

Someone has simply painted your Sun Bug exterior white.

Tim

Fri Jun 14, 2019 2:24 pm

Think I would believe Tim since he's owned one for quite a while now and can probably spot one quite easily......

Fri Jun 14, 2019 2:38 pm

Wasnt doubting Tim at all. I just thought I would provide additional sites for information for the requestor to view or look at.

Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:47 pm

How can you tell a Sunbury besides rims?

Fri Jun 14, 2019 5:56 pm

Made in 1974 only, Hellas Gold, or Harvest Gold metallic paint job, black info plate at the left door jam, wood grain on the dash face, sun roof (except verts, of course), Lemmerz Sports wheels, horn button is padded and has a two-two tone silver and black center Wolfsburg Crest, may or may not have a cutesy little plastic insect plate, installed by the dealer, may or may not have a special gold crest on top of the shifter (which sells for about $400 dollars today),may or may not have a black tunnel-mounted console.

That’s about all I can think of at the moment.

Tim

Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:14 pm

Thank you I appreciate the info. My father was in tears when we presented it to him. I was curious about getting the Birth Certificate of the vehicle. what are peoples thoughts on that and is it worth it. I thought it would be really cool knowing the history with this car. And can anyone recommend a decent shop that can restore in Southern NJ Philly Area. My father wants to take it and get the floorboards done and some other work. As of now its runs decent and hes had it out on the highway lol. He loves it.

Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:39 pm

Can anyone tell me what "type 1171" means? This was inside the orginial book.

Fri Jun 14, 2019 9:22 pm

117 = Left Hand Drive, 2 DR, Sliding Sunroof-
It's a 3 digit model number and perhaps the dealership added the 1 for internal purposes like a stock number? Or, it's considered an M1-117 model car. The dealership may have had a way with moving digits around for their own reasons- we need to hear from owners of original beetle manuals!

Fri Jun 14, 2019 9:25 pm

I forgot to add that the Sun Bugs came with brown carpeting, and door cards. They also had brown leatherette seats with yellow corduroy inserts.

Below is a little hokey advertising for the Sun Bug in 1974. Notice the subjects are mostly dressed for the 1920’s. Very strange.

Sat Jun 15, 2019 1:21 am

Wow Dick VanDyke drove a sunbug!

Sat Jun 15, 2019 9:10 am

Based on the book "Car of the Century", the model 1171 is:

Sat Jun 15, 2019 11:55 am

Thank you. Jonrich55 what book is that from.

Sat Jun 15, 2019 12:04 pm

The book is called "Volkswagen Beetle The Car of the Century" there were 2 volumes, pre 1960 and 1961-1980. It was written by J.T.. Garwood.

I believe he used the original microfiche to research the information for his books. It has been out of print for many years, I purchased mine over 20yrs ago. It is a great source of information for type 1s.

Sat Jun 15, 2019 12:29 pm

Jerseybug74 wrote: Thank you. Jonrich55 what book is that from.

X2 ! Yes- fantastic help. I recently owned a 1191- so the document explains that car too! Thank you. :)

Sat Jun 15, 2019 1:19 pm

The chart is different for different years, and VW did reuse numbers to signify different things. For instance, the 1191 for the 1973 model year was termed the Sports Bug and had options specific to that special addition.

The 1171 for the 1971 model year is a regular Super Beetle with sunroof and 4spd transmission.

So the Series numbers and model numbers can be very specific to the year, and change meaning the next.