TheSamba.com :: View topic - BBT Front Wings/Fenders For Pre Oct 52 Beetles/Bugs

Fri Jan 01, 2021 12:55 pm

I've suddenly become aware in other posts, that BBT are now manufacturing front wings/fenders for pre Oct 52 for Beetles/Bugs, but other than the talk about the details surrounding the horn grille vents, I've not come across any other comments.

Coolair VW Parts here in the UK, say on their website that these items were due to be available to purchase from June 2020, but when you click on their page to buy them, they said phone for a delivery date, so pressumably none in stock: https://www.coolairvw.co.uk/product/111821021bbt1/

Has anybody managed to buy any of these from somewhere, and if so, what is the quality like? How close to the originals are they? On the face of it, an answer to a prayer, but are they?

Fri Jan 01, 2021 1:17 pm

Look at BBT's website, and as of 1st Jan 2021, it seems that they have sold out of left hand export wings/folders, or still not made, as it says Not Available: https://www.bbt4vw.com/en/catalogue/1-exterior/3-w...-tq-10-52/

For the right side it says Available? https://www.bbt4vw.com/en/catalogue/1-exterior/3-w...-tq-10-52/ so not a great deal of help.

Both of the standard wings also simply say Available?, and so who knows what the reality of the situation is? I would guess that Covid plays a part in this situation somehow.

Fri Jan 01, 2021 1:47 pm

CIP in California has them in stock, at least according to their website. I know that doesn't really help you though.

They appear to have punched a complete horn grill hole on the right side fenders rather than the four slots.

Fri Jan 01, 2021 9:57 pm

BBT has advertised the Split front fenders with and without horn grill, currently on page 18 of their Blog: https://blog.bbt4vw.com/page/18/

Fender front left, with horn grill TQ - https://www.bbt4vw.com/en/catalogue/1-exterior/3-w...-tq-10-52/
Fender front right, with horn grill TQ - https://www.bbt4vw.com/en/catalogue/1-exterior/3-w...-tq-10-52/
Fender front left, without horn grill TQ - https://www.bbt4vw.com/en/catalogue/1-exterior/3-w...-tq-10-52/
Fender front right, without horn grill TQ - https://www.bbt4vw.com/en/catalogue/1-exterior/3-w...-10-52%20/

Test report of the new front fender can be found here: https://www.bbt4vw.com/highlights/Fenders/

Sat Jan 02, 2021 12:13 am

The full view fenders in the BBT blog look like CAD images, so they may not accurately represent the actual production item.

The quality of the BBT fenders is better than anything else currently out there, except original German VW. I have never seen a real, live KlassicFab fender, so I cannot pass judgment on them and I believe they are NLA, anyway.

If you are looking at hours of metalwork to repair an original fender, or you have a pre-'60 with either later or repro fenders, I would definitely consider the BBT product. Very little prep work is required. Even though the horn grill cutout is in the correct location, I would still buy them in pairs.

The only difference I've noticed is that the second mounting hole from the front is the same size as the rest, so it might take a little longer to hang and align the fender to the car, assuming the inner fender is original and undamaged.

Sat Jan 02, 2021 2:18 am

Picts of BBT front wings fitted on a split body. Fitting was no problem; all bolts lined up, Only the tube for the wireloom was a bit of center. Flanges have a bit of wrinkling due to pressing. I am a happy client.

I fitted them on a 50 body. The front apron is not a reference as it was a wrong repro welde in by previous owner due to rust and I need to change it . Car has no accident traces in the front.

Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:18 am

Issue 2 of Volksauto Magazine has an article about them. They sound pretty good.

www.volksauto.co.uk

Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:06 pm

Even though I'm trying to save my original and sad front fenders, between the pics I've seen, plus the article, I went ahead and purchased a set from CIP1!

Will post pics when I receive them.

Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:30 pm

peter schepens wrote: Picts of BBT front wings fitted on a split body. Fitting was no problem; all bolts lined up, Only the tube for the wireloom was a bit of center. Flanges have a bit of wrinkling due to pressing. I am a happy client.

I fitted them on a 50 body. The front apron is not a reference as it was a wrong repro welde in by previous owner due to rust and I need to change it . Car has no accident traces in the front.

They look very nice. So did the passenger side have four slots or a hole for the horn grill?

Sun Jan 03, 2021 2:05 am

splitjunkie wrote: They look very nice. So did the passenger side have four slots or a hole for the horn grill?

Mine had the same hole as horn side.. But I do not mind. I have one of the first batch. I think you can chose now. Have to ask Bob from BBT.

Sun Jan 03, 2021 10:00 am

peter schepens wrote: splitjunkie wrote: They look very nice. So did the passenger side have four slots or a hole for the horn grill?

Mine had the same hole as horn side.. But I do not mind. I have one of the first batch. I think you can chose now. Have to ask Bob from BBT.

It's weird that they made such a glaring mistake. You would think that Bob of anyone would have known this. Glad they made them though. I am thinking of snagging a pair. I will buy one deluxe driver's and one standard passenger's and cut my own slots.

Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:40 am

splitjunkie wrote: peter schepens wrote: splitjunkie wrote: They look very nice. So did the passenger side have four slots or a hole for the horn grill?

Mine had the same hole as horn side.. But I do not mind. I have one of the first batch. I think you can chose now. Have to ask Bob from BBT.

It's weird that they made such a glaring mistake. You would think that Bob of anyone would have known this. Glad they made them though. I am thinking of snagging a pair. I will buy one deluxe driver's and one standard passenger's and cut my own slots.

… guess, i'm very fortunate as my '55 has a (real nice) pair of round-horn-grill split fenders on it - i'm saving that car anyway - so the original-metal will be nice to have, if we ever need it...

Is weird, but my Zwitter had a super set of round-horn-grill fenders (wings) as did our '54, when we bought it - i'm glad, because i'd probably never buy the new-repops and would rather have a (re-worked) original, in okay condition... I'd say, we're set-for-life on early deluxe wings (fenders)...

i'm thinkin' Bob may not have made the final decision - I say, nice of him to keep everyone supplied in new-parts and thank everyone else, for used ones. Continue having fun in '21 - z

Ha, ha - tried to fool us with '55 horn grills, on a nice set of round horn-grill fenders - you'd think, they were a-dine-a-dozen (to use 'um as replacements for a '55 - HELL-O!

Sun Jan 03, 2021 12:03 pm

peter schepens wrote: splitjunkie wrote: They look very nice. So did the passenger side have four slots or a hole for the horn grill?

Mine had the same hole as horn side.. But I do not mind. I have one of the first batch. I think you can chose now. Have to ask Bob from BBT.

Peter, I like, your attitude - good for you! - z

Sun Jan 03, 2021 12:10 pm

Martin Southwell wrote: Has anybody managed to buy any of these from somewhere, and if so, what is the quality like? How close to the originals are they? On the face of it, an answer to a prayer, but are they?

Mecatechnic in France appear to stock BBT's silver weld through panels inc split beetle wings. E.g. https://www.mecatechnic.com/en-GB/aile-avant-droit...W%20Beetle

I've bought stuff from them in the past for my single cab if I couldn't get the part in the UK. They're France's VW Classic Parts agent and they have, or had, some NOS stock.

I follow BBT's blog because I bought my Single Cab from them. I remember them posting this info when they released the wings. https://www.bbt4vw.com/highlights/Fenders/ There's a note on page 20 in which they acknowledge the issue with the wire tube and said that it'll be fixed in subsequent production runs.

Sun Jan 03, 2021 8:52 pm

Looks like Kaefer-Nostalgie has them as well.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2406966

Mon Jan 04, 2021 3:12 am

Seems that the wings/fenders have the later square style captive nut for retaining the headlight screw. Shame, but not the end of the world.

Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:32 pm

Martin Southwell wrote: Seems that the wings/fenders have the later square style captive nut for retaining the headlight screw. Shame, but not the end of the world.

Saw this in the pics, and will probably be pulling these off and replacing with the correct headlight screw nuts. Should not be a big deal.

Mon Jan 04, 2021 2:31 pm

splitjunkie wrote: peter schepens wrote: splitjunkie wrote: They look very nice. So did the passenger side have four slots or a hole for the horn grill?

Mine had the same hole as horn side.. But I do not mind. I have one of the first batch. I think you can chose now. Have to ask Bob from BBT.

It's weird that they made such a glaring mistake. You would think that Bob of anyone would have known this. Glad they made them though. I am thinking of snagging a pair. I will buy one deluxe driver's and one standard passenger's and cut my own slots.

Always amazes me, that mosta' you guys, just don't buy, collect and save (hoard), old VW parts - good to buy a set of these wings/fenders as spares - good start - z

somma' our stash

Mon Jan 04, 2021 4:38 pm

somma' our stash

Looks like our spare bedroom, and every garage I own, usually with a vehicle in the middle of, or underneath it all!

Mon Jan 04, 2021 5:25 pm

ZENVWDRIVER wrote: splitjunkie wrote: peter schepens wrote: splitjunkie wrote: They look very nice. So did the passenger side have four slots or a hole for the horn grill?

Mine had the same hole as horn side.. But I do not mind. I have one of the first batch. I think you can chose now. Have to ask Bob from BBT.

It's weird that they made such a glaring mistake. You would think that Bob of anyone would have known this. Glad they made them though. I am thinking of snagging a pair. I will buy one deluxe driver's and one standard passenger's and cut my own slots.

Always amazes me, that mosta' you guys, just don't buy, collect and save (hoard), old VW parts - good to buy a set of these wings/fenders as spares - good start - z

somma' our stash

Got a good set of early Oval fenders laying around? I'd gladly buy a pair for my 53. I have hoards of parts too, just not too many early fenders