Anyone know what this hole in the rear wheel well is for?

[Mr67]

I don't recall removing anything when I disassembled the car. But it seems as though it should at least have a plug?

[viiking]

I have the same holes in my '68.

I think it is just an open hole. It might have been a hole for an assembly jig (maybe for the rear apron). There will be corresponding one on the opposite side.
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1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[daven]

No year is identified but could be sway bar mounting holes?

[viiking]

Not a sway bar location.
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1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[splitjunkie]

It is for the Z bar which was an camber compensator type of sway bar. They were introduced in '67 for the US market. The US '67 and '68 non autostick cars would have had them. They may have used them in different markets but they were definitely present for the US market. The Z bar was no longer needed once they introduced the IRS rear suspension in '69.

Since they still made swing axle cars for other markets and to keep the part backwards compatible, they kept the mounting hole and studs intact.
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Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[KTPhil]

[mukluk]

That's the location of the tail light wiring harness holes on earlier cars. The harness hole location shown used in the picture didn't exist until roughly 1964.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[pastellgreen]

[Mr67]

Found my answer. When going back through the photos I noticed what appears to be a clip kn that hole. And indeed, I had two clips left over in my stash after reassembling the car. They're there to hold the black wire for the reverse lights before it gets fished through the bumper bracket slot. In the picture you can make out the clip buried under the undercoating. Yep, that's the same car in my first post.