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TENNESSEE
Samba Member
Joined: June 08, 2009
Posts: 506
Location: Portland, OR
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 Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 6:49 am Post subject: 65-71 rear window size differences? |
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I've recently bought a 1966 Sea Sand beetle, which at some point back in the 70's-80's was modded into a baja/truck. I suspect a tree or something may have fallen on the back of the roof, warranting the truck conversion.
The mods were done surprisingly nicely and very sparingly, and the rest of the car is still numbers-matching, and fairly original. It's genuinely a nice car, minus the missing chunk of roof, lol. That being said I do want to un-truck it sometime soon.
So, my question is: what year-range has the same size/shape rear side windows/back window as a 1966? I'm thinking any standard beetle from '65-'71-ish would work as a donor for the repair panels?
Did VW change anything else in the upper rear of the shell in those years?
Thanks!
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(0\!/0) 1966 Beetle - daily driver (sold)
(0\!/0) 1966 Beetle - soon to be daily driver |
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67conv
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2005
Posts: 464
Location: Simi Valley, California
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 8:10 am Post subject: Re: 65-71 rear window size differences? |
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| TENNESSEE wrote: |
So, my question is: what year-range has the same size/shape rear side windows/back window as a 1966? I'm thinking any standard beetle from '65-'71-ish would work as a donor for the repair panels?
Did VW change anything else in the upper rear of the shell in those years?
Thanks! |
Correct on rear window year range. '72 and up slightly larger, '58 - '64 smaller.
The only "change" that I'm aware of in that upper rear shell (as you called it) was that for the 1971 model year, VW added those "1/4 moon" crescents behind the rear side windows for flow-through ventilation, and defrost wiring on the back window glass from 1969 up - whereas a '66 would not have that.
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1967 VW Convertible, owned 35 years.
1957 DKW 3=6, owned 21 years.
PREVIOUS: 1972 "Baja Champion SE" Spec. Edition Beetle bought NEW @ Pierce VW in Denver; 1979 Super Beetle Convertible bought NEW @ Downtown LA VW; 1967 type 1 savanna beige; 1967 Porsche 2.0 911S; 1973 Porsche 2.4 911T; 1963 356 T6 B Cabriolet; 1964 356 SC sunroof coupe; 1972 Type-3 Squareback; 1968 + 1969 Type-3 Fastbacks; 1987 Vanagon GL Weekender |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 4200
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 9:54 am Post subject: Re: 65-71 rear window size differences? |
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Nice looking truck. Considering the effort needed to restore it, I think it is best to find a better stock Bug that embark on restoration. As a truck, it is very cool.
You may sell that truck and with the money buy a Bug with stock body, and come out ahead verses doing the restoration of this truck.
The truck "restored" to stock body will never be worth the value of a Bug that was not cut up and welded back together.
But hey, if you want a challenge, go for it. It will be a mist interesting project.
You will need a lot of parts to make it look stock. Roof, rear quarters, front apron, and part of front quarters, hood, decklid, fire wall, rear and rear quarter glass, bumpers, bumper mounts, rear seat, headliner, rear floor matt, rear seat kick panels, fenders, running boards, wheels, chrome trim. holes to fill in door, fender, perhaps other things too, oh and paint job too. That is a huge parts list, and a lot of labor. If you use after market body parts, and bumper, beware that many are of inferior quality, thin metal, poorly shaped. You will end up with a cobbled together Bug, basically like a major collision victim, a dishonest Bug
As a pick up, it is what it is, an honest custom job.
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bnam
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 3544
Location: El Dorado Hills CA/ Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: 65-71 rear window size differences? |
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Interesting front wheels. What are they?
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1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL |
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TENNESSEE
Samba Member
Joined: June 08, 2009
Posts: 506
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: 65-71 rear window size differences? |
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| zerotofifty wrote: |
Nice looking truck. Considering the effort needed to restore it, I think it is best to find a better stock Bug that embark on restoration. As a truck, it is very cool.
You may sell that truck and with the money buy a Bug with stock body, and come out ahead verses doing the restoration of this truck.
The truck "restored" to stock body will never be worth the value of a Bug that was not cut up and welded back together.
But hey, if you want a challenge, go for it. It will be a mist interesting project.
You will need a lot of parts to make it look stock. Roof, rear quarters, front apron, and part of front quarters, hood, decklid, fire wall, rear and rear quarter glass, bumpers, bumper mounts, rear seat, headliner, rear floor matt, rear seat kick panels, fenders, running boards, wheels, chrome trim. holes to fill in door, fender, perhaps other things too, oh and paint job too. That is a huge parts list, and a lot of labor. If you use after market body parts, and bumper, beware that many are of inferior quality, thin metal, poorly shaped. You will end up with a cobbled together Bug, basically like a major collision victim, a dishonest Bug
As a pick up, it is what it is, an honest custom job. |
I mean, there's a '69 shell for sale a few miles south of my house for like $500, I figure I'll just buy something like that and get all the metal at once. That takes care of 90% of the parts list, and the VW-Club locally has more than enough in OEM spare parts.
I could care less about the 'collector' value of the car, and I'd prefer to 'save' this one.
I intend to drive it and enjoy it, as a truck now and as a sensibly restored sedan later 
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(0\!/0) 1966 Beetle - daily driver (sold)
(0\!/0) 1966 Beetle - soon to be daily driver
Last edited by TENNESSEE on Tue Nov 11, 2025 6:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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TENNESSEE
Samba Member
Joined: June 08, 2009
Posts: 506
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 6:41 pm Post subject: Re: 65-71 rear window size differences? |
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| bnam wrote: |
| Interesting front wheels. What are they? |
15" wheels from a split bus I believe!
I think I'm going to opt for a set of stock-look 5.5x15 rims and paint them the OG black/white. Maybe throw some Radial T/A 205/65's on it 
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(0\!/0) 1966 Beetle - daily driver (sold)
(0\!/0) 1966 Beetle - soon to be daily driver |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 4200
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 11:30 pm Post subject: Re: 65-71 rear window size differences? |
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| TENNESSEE wrote: |
| bnam wrote: |
| Interesting front wheels. What are they? |
15" wheels from a split bus I believe!
I think I'm going to opt for a set of stock-look 5.5x15 rims and paint them the OG black/white. Maybe throw some Radial T/A 205/65's on it |
Yes, VW Bus wheels is what they look to be.
Good luck on the project.
You plan to swap the new body on this pan?
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Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 4200
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| Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2025 4:53 am Post subject: Re: 65-71 rear window size differences? |
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There are custom conversions....
And fiberglass kits...
Vintage conversion...
Link to more pick ups...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=202189
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Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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