Kamei Front Spoilers

[Meiang]

I have bought myself some Kamei front spoilers for both the standard Beetle post 1968 and the Super Beetle (2 Types). All of them have a plain "smooth" front outer surface.

Did Kamei ever produce the spoiler with a "grained" outer front surface finish ?

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

I don't recall ever seeing a 'grained' surface Kamei available while I was searching for one a few months ago. I think they all are smooth surfaced.
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1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor

[flat4olsen]

I vaguely remember my fathers Kamei front spoiler in the 70´ had a fine grained surface.
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Type 1 1968, Lotosweiss. 2109 oxyboxer engine
Early Bay 1970, Montana Red. Under construction

[hitest]

[hopkin]

Here's a the Kamei spoiler on the front of my car. You can see the slight grain in this photo:

My spoiler has 'Kamei' stamped in the material, also the faded white sticker in the next photo is the Kamei logo:

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1971 Super Beetle (past)
1971 Super Beetle (past)
1974 SunBug (past)
1972 914 (past)
1991 Honda Civic (Original Owner)
1996 'Open Air' Mexican Beetle (current)
2015 Golf (current)
2017 Dune Edition (daughter's car)

[hitest]

I keep saying "grain" but the description I really wanted to use is simply "texture."
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[Gerrelt]

Mine is smooth, but I bought it second hand, and it was allready painted. So maybe the previous owner smoothed it.
But the backside is smooth too.

See:
http://www.gerrelt.nl/section-aerodynamics/modifications-kamei

Maybe you could order it black "textured" and smooth for painting?
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homepage
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[Meiang]

I seem to remember that the Kamei spoiler I put on my 1972 Superbug back in 1980 had a grained/textured surface on the outside surface and the inside suface was plain/smooth.

The six spoilers that I have recently purchased are all smooth on the outside.
They were bought form bothe sides of the Atlantic, not just one location.

They all appear to be made of ABS plastic and are embossed in the plastic with the name Kamei and the part number.
They all come with:
- Kamei sticker.
- Plastic bag with instructions and fixing parts.
- Kamei labels taped to the spoiler
- Manufacturing date stamp on a sticker. One indicates 29.03.17 -HMM!

Two scenarios here:
1) Some one has the original molds and is making new spoilers.
2) Fakes are being made of the original spoiler.

I think I have bought 6 very expensive fake spoilers. Buyer beware.

[hopkin]

I'm pretty sure the spoiler on my car is original, the oldest picture I have of my car is from 1998 (it's a '96) and it has the spoiler in the photo:

I also have the manuals (for both versions of the spoiler [standard and super Beetle]) and a plastic holder for the manuals:

_________________
1971 Super Beetle (past)
1971 Super Beetle (past)
1974 SunBug (past)
1972 914 (past)
1991 Honda Civic (Original Owner)
1996 'Open Air' Mexican Beetle (current)
2015 Golf (current)
2017 Dune Edition (daughter's car)

[hitest]

Due to an overwhelming amount of evidence, this court concludes your air dam to be original.
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[Rome]

Meiang, do any of your 6 spoilers have this data box molded into the surface like on hopkin's photos? That data was essential on the original German part, to comply with German traffic agency requirements. Knock-off copies would not need that if sold outside of Germany.

It's hard to tell in the photo, but the number at the lower right of the data box is the same number in the lower center of the hopkin's document, the "ABE"- 35003. That's the specific "permit" number which the German agency issued to Kamei for the general usage of the spoiler. Hopkin's other document has a similar number 35004 for the other VW model. The difference in spoilers was due to the different front apron/fender shape of Std vs Super Beetles. Vehicle owners were to keep the document in the car to present to vehicle authorities upon request, to prove that the document was official and that it matched the part installed on the car. The aftermarket parts approval and installation process was very, very strict in Germany compared to the USA.

[Meiang]

Photographs of my spoilers marking, sticker, paperwork.

[Rome]

Thanks, Meiang. Spoiler markings, though simplified from the earlier-produced ones shown by hopkin, and the paperwork all look genuine to me.

[DesignBuild]

Do the spoilers improve handling at highway speeds?

Are the spoilers still available?

[Bama Dave]

[Tim Donahoe]

You’ll notice that almost every modern car—and some trucks—have a front end design with a built-in spoiler. There are good reasons for that. Improved gas mileage, and better stability in windy conditions.

I don’t have a spoiler on my Bug, but I have friends that do, and they tell me that their cars don’t wander in the wind, like a non-spoiler bug does. I have no reason to doubt their word.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[RailBoy]

There are after mkt. companies that are making them.. You can get an effective one shipped for $150, international.. And what is funny, is before the Covid 19 within 10 Days... lol.. RB

p.s. By the way, tracking is severely improved!
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[quote="smitty24"]"HELP, I ported my own heads and now have fire coming out my ass" .[/quote]

[Meiang]

The spoilers make a significant difference in stability, especially from side winds.

[kangaboy]

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

For additional reading, if you wish:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=713372&highlight=


I have a Kamei and it was worth every penny to me.
_________________
1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor