Comprehensive Fender Guide

[spectre6000]

The following is an attempt at creating a comprehensive guide to fender changes year by year for Beetles from '58-'67.

Contributions are requested and encouraged. The only requirement is that the fenders pictured must be KNOWN ORIGINALS to a car with a known production date (month year is probably fine). Fenders didn't necessarily change with the model year, so I'll try to keep a tab of when the actual changes occurred by month.

There are a few angles and a measurement that seem to pretty much cover the differences between the fenders, and they'll be pretty obvious below. The measurement of interest is across the width of the fender. In order to keep things on the same page, measure from the top-most bolt hole 90 degrees across the top of the fender along the curve to the bottom of the curve at the outside of the of the fender. Not where the metal ends, the bottom of where the metal is curved over at the outside of the fender.

As people post photos, I'll put them up here in the first post in chronological order.

'58-'59 (same)
300mm

July '58

These photos show the flare where the fender meets the running board (far more pronounced than later years).
July '58

July '58

July '58

This photo is also of interest as it shows the wire tube special to '58-'59 fenders.
June '59

June '59

The fender flare is gone by this point.
June '59

June '59

Other '58-'59 photos just in case some of the above left any questions:

'60
December '59

December '59

December '59

January '60

January '60

January '60

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Jason Hopper

-'58 German Market Deluxe Beetle (in progress)
-'84 M1009 CUCV
-'81 K10
"Buy the best, cry once." -Gene Berg
"A cheap man will always buy the cheapest thing available, and then buys another one hoping for a better result, and then spends the rest of his life in misery complaining about it. A thrifty man will buy a good part once and never think about it again." -RockCrusher
"Don't feed the Shitty Parts Monster!" -Me

[booch]

[spectre6000]

Agreed. Done.
_________________
Jason Hopper

-'58 German Market Deluxe Beetle (in progress)
-'84 M1009 CUCV
-'81 K10
"Buy the best, cry once." -Gene Berg
"A cheap man will always buy the cheapest thing available, and then buys another one hoping for a better result, and then spends the rest of his life in misery complaining about it. A thrifty man will buy a good part once and never think about it again." -RockCrusher
"Don't feed the Shitty Parts Monster!" -Me

[old_n_slo]

Something to consider...

While many of us wont know if our fenders are OG or not, let alone the year of mfgr, we still will want to know more about them.

Would you want posts on this topic such as, help me identify the year or year range of this fender? (pic attached of course). Or should those be separate posts left to drift into kaferspace when replies stop.

Helping identify WHAT makes a fender OG, or year specific and why is most helpful.

Great post!

Jeff

[spectre6000]

If you have a car that you know the fender and the car haven't been separated/replaced it is appropriate for this discussion. Otherwise there's no way to know exactly what month/year the fenders are appropriate to. There are enough of those cars out there, and the people that have them know. I'm just hoping they're willing to take photos/measurements for the cause.
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Jason Hopper

-'58 German Market Deluxe Beetle (in progress)
-'84 M1009 CUCV
-'81 K10
"Buy the best, cry once." -Gene Berg
"A cheap man will always buy the cheapest thing available, and then buys another one hoping for a better result, and then spends the rest of his life in misery complaining about it. A thrifty man will buy a good part once and never think about it again." -RockCrusher
"Don't feed the Shitty Parts Monster!" -Me

[spectre6000]

I'm honestly surprised there isn't more interest in this...
_________________
Jason Hopper

-'58 German Market Deluxe Beetle (in progress)
-'84 M1009 CUCV
-'81 K10
"Buy the best, cry once." -Gene Berg
"A cheap man will always buy the cheapest thing available, and then buys another one hoping for a better result, and then spends the rest of his life in misery complaining about it. A thrifty man will buy a good part once and never think about it again." -RockCrusher
"Don't feed the Shitty Parts Monster!" -Me

[mario_0609]

I'm interested. I simply have nothing to contribute... I could make some pictures of original '84 fenders if they are interesting

This overview is good in terms of 58 - 60 fenders, but 60 onwards is lacking. So everybody with a "young" one share your pictures!

... And I'd say we should get the split and oval guys on board ...
_________________
cheers, Mario

* 22 Oct. '58 export bug
* 27 June 72 Westfalia Camper

[spectre6000]

I would love to go from '49 to '03, but I figured I would have a bit of difficulty getting anything after '59.
_________________
Jason Hopper

-'58 German Market Deluxe Beetle (in progress)
-'84 M1009 CUCV
-'81 K10
"Buy the best, cry once." -Gene Berg
"A cheap man will always buy the cheapest thing available, and then buys another one hoping for a better result, and then spends the rest of his life in misery complaining about it. A thrifty man will buy a good part once and never think about it again." -RockCrusher
"Don't feed the Shitty Parts Monster!" -Me

[RareAir]

[spectre6000]

They are everywhere. That makes it all the more difficult to choose. I have no doubt there are people out there with post-'60 bugs that would like to correctly restore their cars.
_________________
Jason Hopper

-'58 German Market Deluxe Beetle (in progress)
-'84 M1009 CUCV
-'81 K10
"Buy the best, cry once." -Gene Berg
"A cheap man will always buy the cheapest thing available, and then buys another one hoping for a better result, and then spends the rest of his life in misery complaining about it. A thrifty man will buy a good part once and never think about it again." -RockCrusher
"Don't feed the Shitty Parts Monster!" -Me

[Temo]

Can this be a "sticky"?????

There's the Engine Guide...
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Temo.

2021 Tiguan R
2017 Tiguan
2015 Passat TDI

'72 Convertible Under Construction

[RareAir]

I've got a set (2 fronts, 2 rears) of NOS German VW fenders. Here's a few details to identify them.
Fronts:

Rears:

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1947 Typ 11a
1954 Typ 117
1956 Typ 151
1959 Typ 117
1959 Typ 265
1961 356B
1966 Typ 151
1966 Typ 241

[spectre6000]

I guess if they're from VW they're probably the original pressings. What year are they though?
_________________
Jason Hopper

-'58 German Market Deluxe Beetle (in progress)
-'84 M1009 CUCV
-'81 K10
"Buy the best, cry once." -Gene Berg
"A cheap man will always buy the cheapest thing available, and then buys another one hoping for a better result, and then spends the rest of his life in misery complaining about it. A thrifty man will buy a good part once and never think about it again." -RockCrusher
"Don't feed the Shitty Parts Monster!" -Me

[Roamingwesty]

[Spridle]

I'm almost positive neither of my rears are oe. The right rear has a taller wheel opening than the left. I like the lower opening on the left, but I have no real idea of what I need to look for. I got locked out of my photobucket acct. but I will try to post some reference pics real soon.

[Spridle]

It's about a 3/4" difference. Measuring from the top bolt hole to the top of the arch about 9 1/4-1/2" on the right. About 10 1/4-1/2" on the left. Both have filled overrider holes.

[madoski]

Trying to resurrect this thread. I need a replacement fender for my '61. I thought I had one in my garage, but come to find out, the turn signal holes are placed way too far back from the front edge of the headlight bucket, so it doesn't match the original still on the car. It seems from what I've learned so far, that this dimension may have changed in the '63-'65 timeframe? '62?? Anyone have any ideas on this? I'm thinking mine from '61 is pretty close to a '59 or '60.

[zerotofifty]

The fenders with the " made in germany " decal are from post germany east west unification. prior to that time the decal should indicate made in west germany. circa 1990 on up

[zerotofifty]

By 1965 the turn lamp housing was larger than in 1961, my sources indicate this change happened in 1964 model year however.

[AlteWagen]

The pressing is the same from late 59 thru 66, the only difference is the location of the turn signal which moved closer to the body in 11/63.


https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=448426
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