71 super??

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Well I have found a 71 super for sale for $1200. It has basicaly has no rust anywear especialy rust free pans. I see alot of ads for fenders and stuff that say from 1958 to 1971 Will these parts fit a 71 super? I was under the impresion that supers were wider and just plain bigger than pre 71 supers. Did supers get bigger?? What is enterchangable as far as body parts?? Was there two types of Beetles in 71?? Last thing with OEM fenders and OEM ride highth with 16in 944 porche wheels that are 50 series how wide can I go?? If you can awnser all this you are a bad man.

[Jeff H]

Hi;
First of all, the Super Beetles "began" in 1971, and looked remarkably like the regular beetles. The main difference is MacPherson struts in the front - making the front end a few inches longer, though I don't think it's wider.
Regular Beetle front fenders do not fit a Super Beetle.
I'm going to guess (though I've not personally tried) that you're not going to be able to put much larger than a 185 or 195 50 series tire on your bug. However, you can buy "wider than stock" fenders.
That's my 2 cents worth.

Jeff

[Aussiebug]

As Jeff says, superbugs started in 1971, but standard bugs were still being made too.

71 and 72 superbugs (called 1302 models in some countries) have flat windscreens - same as the standard bug, but from 73 the superbugs (model 1303) got curved windscreens.

The front fenders of standard and super bugs are not interchangable. Front bumpers are the same, but the hoods are not.

The back end of the cars is vitually the same - most parts will interchange from 68 up (suspensions and engine lids for example, and rear fenders though the tail light shape changes).

VW made prgressive changes from year to year (averaging about 2000 changes every year!) but you can still mix-n-match many of the components.

Have a look at this for the significant changes year to year.

http://www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970/years.html

I'm not going to answer the wide wheels question - I'm a "stock" person myself.

Regards,
Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970

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Well thanks for the help guys,
I have a 71 Ghia now thats pretty much beyond help "rust". I plann on using as much mechanical stuff from the Ghia as I can on the super like the motor/trans, can I use my Ghia's front disc's on the super?? Also will hoods enterchange from any year super?? I found a cheap fiberglass one.

[keifernet]

Front hood is 71-72 Super only...

Trans and engine CV's and shafts and rear brakes will all change over...

Unless the front brake parts are in excellent shape you should just buy an all new Super front disc kit.... You probably would have a hard time finding just the front spindle adaptors sold seperately.... But I could be wrong on that, someone may be selling just those pieces... I've not seen them myself just the whole 'Kit'

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Someone tell Jeff I had a 66 with p205-75r15's on the stock rims and they didnt rub. The car handled like it was on rails too! Dew