Late fenders on a '73

[H2OSB]

Has anyone ever tried to install bumpers on the rear of a '73 Super that has '74 fenders? I'm curious what brackets were invented to do this.

It's a long-ish story why I have the incorrect fenders, but I will say I was the one who installed them. I didn't think installing bumper brackets would be as difficult as it has been. I recently tried finding original fenders but either the seller was difficult, or I wasn't happy with the fenders I came upon. A grizzled old VW guy suggested I just cut the slots for the correct brackets and leave the others as a vent. I'm not opposed to this idea, but I'm curious if anyone has dealt with this issue and what they did.

I did begin to try fabbing custom brackets, but I"ll be the first to admit I'm no fabricator, and immediately encountered issues that would have produced hideous brackets.

H2OSB

[andk5591]

I have changed over various fenders to work with different brackets. Assuming you have 73 bumpers. I would fill the holes and cut out new slots for the 73 brackets. Would be handy having a rear fender that you could use to make a template for your cutout.
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D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[H2OSB]

That's pretty much where I'm heading. Unfortunately I don't have a fender for a template, but I can get one. I have brackets and rear bumper from a '73. I swapped out the '73 fenders that were on the car because the P.O. had frenched in the taillights and I didn't like the look. I had '74 fenders on hand so used those. I sold the '73 fenders to a friend (who lives reasonably far away) before I thought to take measurements.

H2OSB

[beetlenut]

I did something similar. I converted my hideous 74 super shock absorber bumper brackets over to the solid 73 brackets by filling the hole and cutting the correct size 73 slot. The fronts were easy. The rears were more work.
I could take some measurements of the rear slots for you if you like.

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scrapyards are for quitters
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[H2OSB]

I would definitely appreciate some measurements.

I did something similar on the front since I also have '74 fenders there too. I simply bought a pair of those triangular fender grommets that have a slot instead of a round hole.

Thanks!
H2OSB

[beetlenut]

Yea the rear hole is a diamond and doesn't line up with anything. You have to fill it and cut a new hole. These are the measurements on the rear slot on mine.

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scrapyards are for quitters
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[H2OSB]

Thank you SO much!!

Btw, I bet your rear brackets were a pita, and not just for fender hole. The '74 has a sorta pillar for the shock absorber to bolt to where the '73 bracket hugs the body. Did you change the weld in bracket mounts?

P.S. What is the overall length of the hole from top to bottom? Ah well, I guess it doesn't matter if I know where start top and bottom.

H2OSB

[beetlenut]

Yes, I changed all four corners on my car to the 73 bumper bracket mounts. The 74 mounts on my car were rusted to shit, and at the time, no one made any repair panels for them. Since I hated the way the shock mounts spaced the bumper far out from the body, I was able to fix all four corners and move the bumpers in close to the body. If you look forward of the new 73 bumper bracket below, you can see what was left of the old 74 bracket tube which I capped off. I can measure the hole tomorrow.

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scrapyards are for quitters
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