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DSVW
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 246
Location: Maryland
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 Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 9:10 pm Post subject: Tail Light Lenses |
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| Hi, I am looking for a set of tail light lenses for my 1974 Thing. Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks. |
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Semper_Dad
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 3510
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 3:20 am Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| DSVW wrote: |
| Hi, I am looking for a set of tail light lenses for my 1974 Thing. Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks. |
The tail lights are the same found on 73-79 Beetles. Affectionately referred to as "Elephant feet". Stock or repro, they pretty much look the same outside. The insides can be quite different and are probably not interchangeable between manufacturers. Lens shades can also vary between manufacturers. I suggest buying a matching pair at the same time.
Depends on what you want to do. Original stock tail lights were side specific. Had to do with the side reflectors I believe. Check both theSamba's Thing and Type 1/Bug - 1968-up classifieds.
Plenty of aftermarket sources with varying levels of quality. There are the 4 bulb styles and there are the 3 bulb styles where two of the circuits are combined into a dual bulb. Some of today's repos are no longer side specific. Hella has the reputation of being the better of them all. Some aftermarkets have a problem where lens fade or prematurely crack.
I ended up purchasing a set of 4 bulb, side specific lights from CIP. It's an all plastic model that includes the wiring. CIP calls it their "good quality" version.
There was a time when a flat or dome version (low profile) was being produced. Looks nice if you are going for a cleaner look. I don't haven't seen them advertised for a while. I mark it down as a passing fad. Many suppliers discontinued tham due to customer complaints.
Example of flat tail light (Stolen from G.I. Joe's Photobucket)
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Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492 |
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wbailey2112
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2015
Posts: 483
Location: Grove City, OH
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:45 am Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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The low-profile or flat elephant foot style tail light assembly looks cool and is certainly more sleek however when you replace the original elephant foot style with the flat you completely lose the side marker functionality that the original style provides since it protrudes from the rear so much.
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'74 Thing
'83 Westfalia |
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DSVW
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 246
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| Thanks. I am looking for the lenses only. So I can buy 73-79 Super Beetle lenses and they should fit right on? |
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Semper_Dad
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 3510
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| DSVW wrote: |
| Thanks. I am looking for the lenses only. So I can buy 73-79 Super Beetle lenses and they should fit right on? |
Yes, but....some lenses may require a little modification to fit. I notice a disclaimer on some of them that the lens deflectors need to be trimmed or removed to fit the stock 1973 & 1974 tail light bases.
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DSVW
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 246
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| OK Thanks. |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76949
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| Semper_Dad wrote: |
There was a time when a flat or dome version (low profile) was being produced. Looks nice if you are going for a cleaner look. I don't haven't seen them advertised for a while. I mark it down as a passing fad. Many suppliers discontinued tham due to customer complaints.
Example of flat tail light (Stolen from G.I. Joe's Photobucket)
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They filled with with water and were not as visible a stock.
If you only need the lenses and still have the original bases... these are used and cheap.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1925065
These are complete.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2388033
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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obus
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2001
Posts: 11071
Location: just off Garden State Parkway Exit 81
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76949
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 5:54 am Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| obus wrote: |
| it sucks trying to find good used original us style elephant ear tail lights |
NOS... even better 
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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obus
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2001
Posts: 11071
Location: just off Garden State Parkway Exit 81
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DSVW
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 246
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| Is the lens deflector that needs to be trimmed or removed part of the actual lens or is it part of the other component that holds the bulbs. I see 2 fins that look aluminum that are attached to the socket side (non lens side). The tail light lens actually slides over them almost like a guide. Is that the part that needs to be trimmed? I would rather not have to cut anything but if it is my only option than so be it. |
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Thing68
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2019
Posts: 71
Location: California
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 7:51 am Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| I just installed some new after market lenses and had to trim the tin work that is on the lens. After trimming they fit great. |
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DSVW
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 246
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 9:26 am Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| Thing68, Did you have to trim much off? Also, were did you pick up your lenses? Thanks. |
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Thing68
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2019
Posts: 71
Location: California
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 10:15 am Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| I got them from SoCal auto parts. I just snipped of a little at a time until they fit. I took off about a 1/2 inch, maybe a little less. |
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heimlich
VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016
Posts: 6622
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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Hella was making Universal Elephant lenses a while back in Mexico. I haven't heard that they stopped yet. You can get the usual color or smoke lenses. They are all available in the classifieds.
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jakokombi
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 779
Location: Milwaukee
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2020 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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I got these:
http://vwparts.aircooled.net/Euro-Flat-Tail-Light-Assembly-Clear-1973-Type-1-p/euro-flat-clear.htm
I sanded the edge of the lenses on a piece of flat glass to help them seal better, also I removed the silver paint around the frame with paint thinner.
I then painted the upper clear portion yellow on the inside with Krylon Stained Glass paint, the outside got a UV protective coating.
This winter I may coat the red portion too, as they seem a little pink to me when lit.
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70 Sunroof Kombi
85 Motherfukinvanagon
73 Thing
72 Baja |
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kenj06
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2011
Posts: 198
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2023 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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Recently ran across the last post with the Krylon stained glass spray paint and decided to give it a try on my heavily faded lenses.
I should have taken before pictures but take my word for it, the lenses only had a little orange left in them on the edges.
I washed the lenses down with soap and water and let them dry for a few hours and taped up any areas I didn't want to spray. I must have put around 12 light coats on them, letting each coat dry anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, I kept checking the outside of the lenses to check the coverage and color. I let them dry fully and reinstalled.
Turn signal shows well through the paint and its actually orange again instead of white. Made a huge difference in the looks as I stop to admire them each time I walk past. |
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Bruce
Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17290
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| kenj06 wrote: |
Recently ran across the last post with the Krylon stained glass spray paint and decided to give it a try
Turn signal shows well through the paint and its actually orange again instead of white. Made a huge difference in the looks as I stop to admire them each time I walk past. |
Thanks for bringing this post up. Going to try the stained glass paint.
You can improve the orangeness of your turn signals by replacing the bulb with an orange one. Or, paint your existing bulbs with your orange stained glass paint!
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| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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kenj06
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2011
Posts: 198
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Tail Light Lenses |
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| Bruce wrote: |
Thanks for bringing this post up. Going to try the stained glass paint.
You can improve the orangeness of your turn signals by replacing the bulb with an orange one. Or, paint your existing bulbs with your orange stained glass paint! |
Thanks for the idea on the orange bulb. I think I have one in the bulb bin I can try out or plenty of paint left to try it out also.
Good luck with the project. |
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