Factory Defrost Tube Access Windows

[Busstom]

Which years/models of Beetle had factory access windows in the kick panels, which looks like a forethought to simplify defroster tube replacement at the rocker/heater tube location?

[panicman]

As far as I am aware, bugs only have a very small access hole in the kickpanel area near where the heater channel outlet tube is at the front of the car. The hole is about the size of a nickel I think.
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Plate of shrimp

[Busstom]

Okay, the picture is a little more clear now that I got these photos from my buddy. These are from his 1966 U.S. convertible. So it turns out that only the driver's side has the window (which discounts the defrost tube theory), and it definitely looks factory judging by the rolled edges, original paint and carpet adhesive all around it. What's interesting are what appear to be some sort of tooling holes or something, on both sides of the car, which are symmetrical from side to side.

For comparison, his '68 vert (which used to be mine ) and his '78 vert, don't have these. I seem to recall a post, maybe by Tim Donahoe, that showed one that he had or had seen, maybe even with a pic. But these kick panel openings do seem to be rare.

[panicman]

I didn’t even consider a ‘vert. I haven’t owned or picked through one, and I know they have a different stiffenening structure.
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Plate of shrimp

[mukluk]

With it only being on the driver's side, I'd guess its purpose was more likely to facilitate installation of the wire harness.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[Busstom]

Yeah, I didn't mention in my opening post that my subject vehicle was a convertible.

We were thinking it may have had something to do with the harness too. Be interesting to hear more input.

Thanks.

[KTPhil]

Those 4 round holes don't look factory. Maybe used for a brace during a body R&R on the pan?

[Busstom]

Perhaps...I haven't had my eyes on this car in person. But he's had it a couple decades, and it's largely in original paint, and we have no reason to believe it's ever been rehabbed in any way. I don't know that anybody repairing it would've put effort into placing those holes symmetrically.

[Herrbern]

[glutamodo]

Beats me! However, my experience is with Sedans which only have the small hole down there up there. By the early 70s, both sides gained a larger access hole on both sides though, the early small holes were a joke and not really even usable.

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Andy T.


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[Busstom]

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

You simply cant compare Sedans to Convertibles in that area... they are visually different.

The large rectangular hole on convertibles were for wiring harness facilitating.
..
Topic
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=614699

1964 and older model year the hole is smaller and on the right.
1965 and newer model year the hole is on the left.
(convertibles)


The small round holes on convertibles are believed to be for jigging while welding the inner front quarter support that sedans do not have.

[glutamodo]

[Busstom]

Excellent! Thanks for the link, all those pics confirm my suspicion regarding originality.