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hazetguy
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2001
Posts: 10773
Location: iT StiNgeD iTseLf tO dEAd
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 Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:58 am Post subject: Hella vs. Hassia Front Turn Signal Lenses 73-79 |
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after i posted these pics in another thread, a few people asked me what was so special and/or different about Hassia lenses.
| hazetguy wrote: |
after a search that took over a year, i finally pieced together a very nice pair of original Hassia lenses for my 1974 Westfalia. Put them on today. 
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i often wondered that myself, but was never really sure. i know the ones that originally came on my '74 Westfalia were Hassia brand, and they were super thrashed. i thought finding very nice replacements would be easy, since NOS Hella lenses and new aftermarket ones are pretty readily available. that was not the case. it took me well over a year of active looking, constant emailing people through the classifieds, and digging through boxes at swap meets to find a nice pair, left and right, of Hassia lenses.
I have seen Hassia lenses mostly on 1974 busses, and this is somewhat validated by busdaddy:
| busdaddy wrote: |
| Most late lenses are Hella brand, Hassias are an alternate brand that is usually found on 74's and not much else. |
One other thing about Hassia turn signals: the housings are also marked Hassia, and not Hella. I don't have any Hella housings laying around to compare to Hassia for any differences.
anyone have any further info about Hassia vs. Hella front turn signal assemblies?
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keifernet
Samba Search & Rescue
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 19395
Location: Samba Center for Behavioral Science
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:13 am Post subject: |
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Hella if I know but if I Hassia anything I'll let you know!  |
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mattcuddy
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2003
Posts: 2036
Location: Philly, PA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:40 am Post subject: |
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How about some Hella/Hassia side by side pics?
Here is my wild ass guess, and it is nothing more than that.
Around early 74 or so a bunch of safety regulations went into effect in the US (bumper height for example) which caused a lot of cars to be reworked body wise. As such there might have been a sudden demand/rush for new shaped lenses caused by the new designs. Hella, being a major supplier for various autos, maybe got behind in production so VW went with Hassia until Hella got back on their feet. |
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:52 am Post subject: |
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| mattcuddy wrote: |
| Around early 74 or so a bunch of safety regulations went into effect in the US (bumper height for example) which caused a lot of cars to be reworked body wise. As such there might have been a sudden demand/rush for new shaped lenses caused by the new designs. Hella, being a major supplier for various autos, maybe got behind in production so VW went with Hassia until Hella got back on their feet. |
But the lenses didn't change at all from 1973 to 1974....so why would they get behind?
I had a set of Hassia lenses, I just thought they were some shitty aftermarket crap so I replaced em with a set of Hella's. They're still out there somewhere on one of the Buses I sold. |
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mattcuddy
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2003
Posts: 2036
Location: Philly, PA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: |
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| VDubTech wrote: |
But the lenses didn't change at all from 1973 to 1974....so why would they get behind? |
Meaning Hella got behind on VW lenses because they were too busy cranking out new lenses for some other auto manufacturer. Or they knew they were going to get behind so they or VW subbed out to Hassia in some way. Just a theory. |
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:00 am Post subject: |
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| mattcuddy wrote: |
| VDubTech wrote: |
But the lenses didn't change at all from 1973 to 1974....so why would they get behind? |
Meaning Hella got behind on VW lenses because they were too busy cranking out new lenses for some other auto manufacturer. Or they knew they were going to get behind so they or VW subbed out to Hassia in some way. Just a theory. |
Oh I gotcha. You're implying Hella made lenses for things other than VW's.  |
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mattcuddy
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2003
Posts: 2036
Location: Philly, PA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Yes, I find it hard to believe too, but I've heard there are actually other cars out there besides air cooled buses.  |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51148
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:29 am Post subject: |
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I've seen Hassia tail lightlenses for 62-63ish bugs too, another case of shortly after a new part launch, hmmmm.... maybe you are onto something here.
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calebmelvin
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Joined: July 19, 2006
Posts: 3140
Location: Seattle, WA
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theizzardking
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2008
Posts: 2097
Location: seattle
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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are your guys sure it's not some 70's FLAPS replacement piece? like how i can go into wall mart and buy turn signal lenses for a f-250? you know what i'm saying
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'71 westie "the wanderer" |
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notchboy
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Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22461
Location: Escondido CA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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Just got around to looking at my front turn signals on the 74 resto. I knew they wernt Hella but I thought they were SWF. Nope they are these HASSIA ones. So I cleaned them up and had a good look over them and the buckets. These are all in pretty good shape. They have some scuff and are starting to get the cracks from age - but if I had no choice Id run them on a newly painted bus. 
But I do have a choice cuz I scored some NOS HELLA's
I took close ups of the bucket rubber because they look awesome and are supple and pliable  Not bad for 40 year old rubber!
Took a pic of the markings on the bucket too.
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| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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rustbus
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Joined: June 18, 2009
Posts: 2078
Location: alberta
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| Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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ah man you gotta run the OG hassias?! save the hella for a rainy day?
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a.wilson
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Joined: January 11, 2007
Posts: 2033
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 12:29 am Post subject: |
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Neat. They made quite a few types of lenses from 50's-70's ...Turn Signal Lenses & Housings (for Late Beetle). License light lense and early bug Tails. Even fog lights.
Don't know of an exact list of items produced. Figured since they were an OE supplier like Hella, they probably made lights for multiple brands of cars..
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/dic/h.php#Hassia |
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notchboy
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Joined: April 27, 2002
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Location: Escondido CA
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thewalrus
Big Jack
Joined: March 27, 2006
Posts: 3014
Location: Belchertown, MA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:39 am Post subject: |
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I have the same exact Hassia Lenses and buckets on my '73
The bus is completely unmolested so I bet they're original too. M-Code says it was produced in September of 1972 and the VIN indicates it's a Model Year 1973 bus.
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