Clear indicator lenses, real glass. What year?

[lasslo]

I bought these two indicator bulbs last weekend.
Does anyone know what year(s) its for?
I guess it will fit up to 64, but is it from a specific year?
It's real glass, no plastic

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65 DD klenbus
57 Karmann Ghia

[lasslo]

Come on ghiagurus...
Someone must have info about clear glass front indicators
What year(s)? And where(what contries)?
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65 DD klenbus
57 Karmann Ghia

[John Moxon]

[lasslo]

Thanks for the info John.
You meen that america had clear glass indicators from 59-64, on all ghias?
Then there must be tousands of them in the states?

Not that rare
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65 DD klenbus
57 Karmann Ghia

[djway3474]

I remember reading that VW due to dealer complaints switched to plastic in 61/62 time frame.
Not sure if the clear lense was the same mounting configuration the entire time as 59s switched the holders.

[Karmann Gheezer]

What I see rare are good conditioned turn signal bases for the Ghia years between 59-64. Many times when removing the two thin screws (that holds the chrome ring over the lens), they will get broken off making it a pain to drill and retap. Same when removing the bolts behind the fender that hold the base in place. The stud easily gets broken off again making it difficult to drill and retap for a new stud. Then, if that wasn't bad enough there is the issue with the brass (bulb and wire) connectors. They'll get brittle and break off. Last but not least is finding a nice base that is not pitted or has chrome peeling. Good luck finding a really nice pair of turn signal bases in good useable condition.
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[Loren]

My very original late 59 low light Ghia has the orange plastic lenses. They might have been changed, but I really think they are original to the car.

[lasslo]

Thanks for the help ghiafirends, but it did not get much clearer for me
I'll mount the indicators on my werd 57, I think it will fit perfect there. Nothing else is original on that car anyway
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65 DD klenbus
57 Karmann Ghia

[parmaynu]

Could someone tell me the thread size for the two securing screws?

[PFN]

Here's some info from the parts manual...

But... I bought the correct size screws. They fit like a hotdog down a hallway, as my wife often says, due to years of abuse. I got some similar screws from the local hardware shop and kept going up and up and up in thread diameter until they fit.

If the car could win trophies with the totally wrong mounts for the model year fitted, I feel that I can live with the wrong screws. That's where I end my persuite for pefection at this point.
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1962 1/2 Australian Made Beetle
1961 factory RHD Karmann Ghia

(gone now)
1964 RHD Conversion Karmann Ghia
1956 RHD Beetle
1972 Kombi

[lasslo]

I forgot about this thred.
I think that my clear glass indicators are from 1960, someone told me that 60 was the only year with clear indicators, in Sweden. And both beetle and bus have clear indicators 1960.

I like the look anyway.

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65 DD klenbus
57 Karmann Ghia

[tobiasax]

From what I have seen the Swedish 56-57 ghias had amber front and rear indicators (and also amber brake lights). For 58-59 they swapped to all red tail lights and white front indicators. I base this on color pictures from the 50's. See below for a 58/59 Ghia with clear indicators:

http://lowlightkaizen.blogspot.se/2013/04/karmann-ghia-camping.html
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[tobiasax]

Another period picture. In the upper part you see two promotion pictures from the Swedish VW importer. The left one is a 1956 Ghia (amber turn signals in front) and the right one is a 1958/9 convertible (white turn signals in front)

http://lowlightkaizen.blogspot.se/2013/02/det-gula-bromsljuset-visade-sig-bara.html
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[bluedot]

My 62 has clear glass lenses.

[KGCoupe]

[moogie32]

My 'Aug '62 Ghia originally came with clear turn signals but when I bought it the PO had switched them to amber. I found some clear glass versions and installed them but don't know whether it originally came with glass or plastic lenses. Here's a picture of it back in 1962 when it was new

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RIP HBB (1984-2009)
Du liefst so gut
Du warst so schön
Doch leider musst du von uns gehn

[John Moxon]

[KGCoupe]

[PFN]

Bulbs would have been clear anywhere at the time. Front turn signals in Australia were white in the early 60s. I'd love to assume that we got the clear lenses, but have a look at this piece of Australian publicity from 1961....

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1962 1/2 Australian Made Beetle
1961 factory RHD Karmann Ghia

(gone now)
1964 RHD Conversion Karmann Ghia
1956 RHD Beetle
1972 Kombi

[Craigbro]

Is there any resource for these lenses type/color by year/country?
If not does anyone know the proper lens color for a USA 1964 Ghia Coupe?