TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1960 October Single Cab

Fri May 03, 2024 8:24 pm

Greetings!!
I'm interested in a particular single Cab made on October 21st, 1960 (10-21-1960), although it's registered in the USA as a 1961 model year. I've heard there are unique qualities to buses of 1961 model year compared to those from the 1960. Given the manufacturing date of the bus in question, would it possess features characteristic of 1961 or 1960?
Thank you!!

Fri May 03, 2024 10:56 pm

There are a multitude of small changes during those years and a few major ones. You’ve already found the forums. Try using the search tab by entering 1960 Bus and 1961 Bus. There are pages of forums topics to learn from, more than you ever thought you could learn. Enjoy.

Sat May 04, 2024 5:30 am

That bus is a 1961 model year, but it has the features you would normally associate with a '60 bus. Most of the unique '61 features start showing up in December 1960. '61 was a transitional year with a lot of mid year changes. The model year is just a marketing thing which started on August first 1955 for the '56 model year and commenced every year thereafter on August first. VW really started holding back a lot of the visual changes starting with the '62 model year, so prior to that, they mostly changed stuff whenever they felt like it.

Sat May 04, 2024 12:23 pm

You can look up the various changes on the factory floor day by day, week by week in the original VW dealer eyes only manual "Progressive Refinements" and a lot more need to know VW info here:

http://www.oacdp.org/

Mon May 06, 2024 1:01 pm

chamilka wrote: Greetings!!
I'm interested in a particular single Cab made on October 21st, 1960 (10-21-1960), although it's registered in the USA as a 1961 model year. I've heard there are unique qualities to buses of 1961 model year compared to those from the 1960. Given the manufacturing date of the bus in question, would it possess features characteristic of 1961 or 1960?
Thank you!!

Generally if it has the later fuse box ( eight fuses, push on wire connectors) I consider it a 1961 model.

I would call it a 1961 SC. You can always call it buildt October 1960.
There are a number of changes in late 1960 calendar year/ early 1961 calendar year, that happened not a "model year change". such as

high or low hinges on cargo doors/ front door handle area,
front seat changed
interior colour change for microbus
parcel tray change

etc, that you sometimes have to specify when buying parts.

progressive refinements has some dates listed in the back for model year change.

fuse box used through early 1960 calendar year:

all the wires have these little screws to attach them!

mid 1960 fuse box, still uses screw, but now 8 fuses:

this fuse box was used from late 1960 through 1967. If your 1960 buildt bus has this fuse box, I consider it a 1961 model year bus.
The wires have push on connectors, easier!

( the bus in pic is a late 1963, same fuse box though)

Mon May 13, 2024 10:00 pm

Thank you all for your inputs, really appreciate it!