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Tue May 02, 2023 3:22 am

Apologies if this has been asked before but my searches have so far proved fruitless.....

I'm aware that from 1955 the following year models were produced from August of 1955 as stated in the VIN/chassis section. Is it feasible that a car produced in Jan of 1955 (by chassis number) is actually a 1954 model? If so, are there any obvious differences between the 54/54 years for European cars?

Thanks! :)

Tue May 02, 2023 6:24 am

No. The model year concept didn’t start until Aug 55 which would have been a 56 model.

I have a 1/7/55 which has all the characteristics and parts of my November 54 as well as date stamps on a lot of parts including the Speedo that are 12/54. However, it is technically a 55 model.

Tue May 02, 2023 6:37 am

what month does the body number indicate?

Tue May 02, 2023 7:29 am

finster wrote: what month does the body number indicate?

Curious why that would make a difference? All of my cars have body numbers from 5 to 15 days before delivery. The 58 I sold was 30 days. From my records, the higher the production number, the further behind the body number was. Should have no bearing on the year of delivery which on the early cars, would be the model year. For reference, my 55 body number would be around Dec 31 54.

Thu May 04, 2023 1:41 am

finster wrote: what month does the body number indicate?

The body number suggests early Jan 1955 assuming a constant production rate...

Thu May 04, 2023 8:18 am

It would have been sold as a 55'. But if it was produced in January it would be more or less identical to a 54' model.
If there was any differences it would just be the bumper overriders. I don't think the first bullet blinkers showed up that early in 55', although there are a few cars made before the model change that supposedly had them.

Fri May 05, 2023 7:27 am

Bub wrote: It would have been sold as a 55'. But if it was produced in January it would be more or less identical to a 54' model.
If there was any differences it would just be the bumper overriders. I don't think the first bullet blinkers showed up that early in 55', although there are a few cars made before the model change that supposedly had them.

Makes sense to me....it is semaphores only and registered in the UK as a 1954 model. It has bumper overriders fitted but i'm not sure if they're original of not.

I'll have to do some reading to see what else it has/hasn't got that may shed some more light on the subject when I pick it up next week.

Thanks. :-)

Fri May 05, 2023 7:38 am

Bub wrote: It would have been sold as a 55'. But if it was produced in January it would be more or less identical to a 54' model.
If there was any differences it would just be the bumper overriders. I don't think the first bullet blinkers showed up that early in 55', although there are a few cars made before the model change that supposedly had them.

Bumper overriders were available as an option as early as 1953 and were pretty much standard on U.S. market cars by late 1954.

The only differences between 1954 and 1955 VWs are the change from a door hinge oiling hole to a oiling slot and reducing the number of screws holding the cylinder tins to the shoeboxes. The bus-type speedometers were exclusive to Oct-Dec '54 cars.

Fri May 05, 2023 7:44 am

janerick3 wrote: Bub wrote: It would have been sold as a 55'. But if it was produced in January it would be more or less identical to a 54' model.
If there was any differences it would just be the bumper overriders. I don't think the first bullet blinkers showed up that early in 55', although there are a few cars made before the model change that supposedly had them.

Bumper overriders were available as an option as early as 1953 and were pretty much standard on U.S. market cars by late 1954.

The only differences between 1954 and 1955 VWs are the change from a door hinge oiling hole to a oiling slot and reducing the number of screws holding the cylinder tins to the shoeboxes. The bus-type speedometers were exclusive to Oct-Dec '54 cars.

Great, thanks! I'll post some pictures soon....

Fri May 05, 2023 7:51 am

janerick3 wrote: Bub wrote: It would have been sold as a 55'. But if it was produced in January it would be more or less identical to a 54' model.
If there was any differences it would just be the bumper overriders. I don't think the first bullet blinkers showed up that early in 55', although there are a few cars made before the model change that supposedly had them.

Bumper overriders were available as an option as early as 1953 and were pretty much standard on U.S. market cars by late 1954.

The only differences between 1954 and 1955 VWs are the change from a door hinge oiling hole to a oiling slot and reducing the number of screws holding the cylinder tins to the shoeboxes. The bus-type speedometers were exclusive to Oct-Dec '54 cars.

I always appreciate your input and knowledge, but some of this is incorrect. Overriders didn’t become standard until sometime in early/mid 55. They could be ordered as an option in late 54. Would love to see a 53 with overriders. I have never seen one and was not aware VW had them as an option until mid/late 54. Always learning but you may have pulled the years back by a year.

Fri May 05, 2023 8:16 am

These pictures and text from the October 1954 issue of Consumer Reports show that overriders were widely available in 1954. Given publication lead times, this article was probably started in July or August. The implication is that by then, they were already well-known in the US market. The June 1954 I owned up until recently had originally been fitted with overriders.

Fri May 05, 2023 8:25 am

René R. wrote: These pictures and text from the October 1954 issue of Consumer Reports show that overriders were widely available in 1954. Given publication lead times, this article was probably started in July or August. The implication is that by then, they were already well-known in the US market. The June 1954 I owned up until recently had originally been fitted with overriders.

June would be Mid 54… still not seeing 53. Also, not standard. I have a Nov 54 with no overriders.

Thanks for posting that. Pretty cool to see early literature.

Fri May 05, 2023 8:31 am

janerick3 wrote: The bus-type speedometers were exclusive to Oct-Dec '54 cars.

What does this mean? I'm not aware of this difference myself and would like to know.

Fri May 05, 2023 8:53 am

EverettB wrote: janerick3 wrote: The bus-type speedometers were exclusive to Oct-Dec '54 cars.

What does this mean? I'm not aware of this difference myself and would like to know.

He is referring to the difference in where the turn signal indicator is. This is a 10/54 speedo. I believe it was only for one month.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...+54+speedo

Fri May 05, 2023 8:55 am

EverettB wrote: janerick3 wrote: The bus-type speedometers were exclusive to Oct-Dec '54 cars.

What does this mean? I'm not aware of this difference myself and would like to know.

It was just that 2 month oddball speedo with the blue high beam light at the bottom and signal light at the top.
There's probably one or two in the classifieds.

But yeah, 'maybe' that *late 54'* came with over riders, but other than that you'd have to be looking at miniscule details to determine any difference. And even then, someone is always going to say "I saw a car once with XXX built before that" .

Fri May 05, 2023 4:40 pm

Thanks guys, I suspect it was some lighting difference and not an actual Bus speedo that was used but wanted to be sure and know the exact difference for the future.

Sat May 06, 2023 7:50 am

lardawge wrote: René R. wrote: These pictures and text from the October 1954 issue of Consumer Reports show that overriders were widely available in 1954. Given publication lead times, this article was probably started in July or August. The implication is that by then, they were already well-known in the US market. The June 1954 I owned up until recently had originally been fitted with overriders.

June would be Mid 54… still not seeing 53. Also, not standard. I have a Nov 54 with no overriders.

Thanks for posting that. Pretty cool to see early literature.

Until the early 2000s, the common belief, perpetuated by the mass-market magazines and incorrect "official" VWoA literature was that any overriders on pre-1956 model year VWs were either aftermarket or dealer-installed.

That being said, it was general practice to install Euro bumpers on '54s and '55s being restored in the 1970s-90s. If the spare tire tray was not replaced during restoration, Ram Protection-equipped VWs will have a steel plate tacked in above the tray that raises the spare tire so it doesn't get wedged between the overrider brackets. Birth Certificates will also usually confirm factory installation.

In my opinion, Ram Protection was a "mandatory" extra-cost option, just like leatherette interiors, from sometime in mid-1954 through the end of the 1955 model year. Before that point, they were either special order, or installed on cars delivered to states where the extra protection was mandated. Of course, there were exceptions.

In addition, there were a large number of gray-market VWs brought over by returning Servicemen and tourists that had cloth interiors, heart taillights, Euro bumpers, bulb headlights, tempered windshields, and kph speedos.

Sat May 06, 2023 8:05 am

janerick3 wrote: lardawge wrote: René R. wrote: These pictures and text from the October 1954 issue of Consumer Reports show that overriders were widely available in 1954. Given publication lead times, this article was probably started in July or August. The implication is that by then, they were already well-known in the US market. The June 1954 I owned up until recently had originally been fitted with overriders.

June would be Mid 54… still not seeing 53. Also, not standard. I have a Nov 54 with no overriders.

Thanks for posting that. Pretty cool to see early literature.

Until the early 2000s, the common belief, perpetuated by the mass-market magazines and incorrect "official" VWoA literature was that any overriders on pre-1956 model year VWs were either aftermarket or dealer-installed.

That being said, it was general practice to install Euro bumpers on '54s and '55s being restored in the 1970s-90s. If the spare tire tray was not replaced during restoration, Ram Protection-equipped VWs will have a steel plate tacked in above the tray that raises the spare tire so it doesn't get wedged between the overrider brackets. Birth Certificates will also usually confirm factory installation.

In my opinion, Ram Protection was a "mandatory" extra-cost option, just like leatherette interiors, from sometime in mid-1954 through the end of the 1955 model year. Before that point, they were either special order, or installed on cars delivered to states where the extra protection was mandated. Of course, there were exceptions.

In addition, there were a large number of gray-market VWs brought over by returning Servicemen and tourists that had cloth interiors, heart taillights, Euro bumpers, bulb headlights, tempered windshields, and kph speedos.

100% correct on the cars having a ramp installed to stop the spare tire from getting jammed between the overrider support being a giveaway. I also agree that there is always pushback from folks who see a 54/55 with overriders claiming they were added. Usually if the car semaphores..

My 55 came with overriders and I chose to remove them. The main reason is that the tiny taillights are invisible behind them which makes an already dangerous situation, more dangerous. I also removed that ramp.

Sat May 06, 2023 3:02 pm

lardawge wrote: ...
My 55 came with overriders and I chose to remove them. The main reason is that the tiny taillights are invisible behind them which makes an already dangerous situation, more dangerous. I also removed that ramp.

So true about the taillights--I was pulled over by a state trooper setting up for a DUI roadblock for that very reason. I had to explain to him that was the factory setup for about six months.

In that same vein, how many '54s and '55s had their original, two-clip Mann air cleaners tossed because they were told by the experts that only Knecht air cleaners w/the strap were original.

Tue May 09, 2023 5:17 am

Yeah, I can confirm that my 1955 original paint Sunroof Beetle (Nile Beige) was produced on Jun 22nd, 1955 and has the small "ramp" for the spare in the bottom of the spare tire well and the front and rear over-rider bars and taller bumper guards. Her name is "Martha", and she is still sporting her original factory engine with its original 2-clip Mann air cleaner too.

Bill Bowman