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David
Samba Member
Joined: June 29, 2004
Posts: 2027
Location: Raleigh, NC
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 Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 8:07 am Post subject: Re: IDK about that..... |
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| farnhamassoc wrote: |
Hey I have an all original restoration project going right now built Oct or nov 54....It has override holes in it. american spec with all original fenders but one rear. egg tail lights all original paint present (totally gone though) Even one of the headlights is original (black. with elaborate adjusters) Car was stored in the 80s
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Dude I have been in VWs my whole life and I get schooled all the time. But IDK why or how on this one. All I can say Factory option? mandatory on 56 YM. but optional at some point in 54 IDK....the mysteries of VW....
I do have a question for you is mine considered 54 or 55 Technical says 54. But my Retired VW parts guy says 55 built Oct or Nov 54 cant remember. one of the 2...thinking Nov.... |
1 - Oct, Nov, Dec Beetles also have a very unique speedometer. Here's info on this:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=154204
2 - From Wolfsburg West:
| WolfsburgWest wrote: |
Here is a condensed breakdown of how to determine which taillight is correct for your car:
**All 1954-1955 European Beetles were outfited with "heart" taillights.
**All Oct'54 (chassis # 1-0722915) - Mar'55 U.S., Guam, and Canadian market cars used the red convex plastic lens taillights. All of these cars had semaphore directional indicators.
**April'55 - May 2, 1955 (chassis # 1-0871206) U.S., Guam, and Canadian market cars, there are two possibilities. Your car could have the red convex plastic lens taillights and semaphores, or it could have the optional flashing turn signal package with the larger glass taillights and "bullet" style front flashing directional indicators.
**May 3, 1955 (chassis # 1-0871207) - July'55 (chassis # 1-0929746) U.S., Guam, and Canadian market cars were equipped with the flashing indicator package as standard equipment. So, this car would have the larger glass taillights and "bullet" style front directional indicators. |
3 - 1954 is a Year of Manufacture build, Jan - July 1955 is a 1955 YoM. As of Aug 1955, VW switched to Model Year, so those built Aug 1955 - July 1956 were 1956 Model Years.
| splitjunkie wrote: |
This has been posted elsewhere but it is the October '54 Consumer Reports showing a Beetle with RAM bumpers. Given the lead times required to get a magazine put together and when it would have actually been printed, these pictures could have been taken at least a month or two beforehand.
The car has semaphores and hearts. |
Which would align with my early Oct '54 beetle having RAM protection as noted on the BC:
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Cheers,
Dave
*October '54 Ragtop
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farnhamassoc
Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2010
Posts: 122
Location: Riverside ca
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| Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2021 6:23 pm Post subject: TOWEL BAR BUMPERs RAM protection |
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| El Guero wrote: |
| so i guess on my birth certificate vw is wrong by listing option #107 ram protection, Trayle do you know what that option #107 is then thanks for any help |
The more I investigate the Ram protection bumper thing. the more I notice that Us cars were mostly send out with ram protection bumpers or towel bar bumpers. There are Photos dated 1954 with all the cars on the lot with those bumpers. They were crudely made unlike the later model ones. I also Have a friend that has a fully documented 54 with papers from the salesman when purchased. The car was mostly stored for its life and is all original. Everything in the car is original and only 1 repaint of strato silver because you know how that color goes. 3rd owner. and they are original on the car Not put on at the dealer. Sent from the factory with them.
Us mandated them in late 1955 according to documentation but Pictures and hard evidence has different info. 1955s are a mistery just saw a 3 fold on a late 55 with no semaphores.
_________________
Owned Countless VWs over the last 35 years.
Restored near 100 vws.
80 Rabbit diesel 1.9 TDI turbo 45mpg
06 Jetta TDI 45mpg
Restored several 11 window kombi and standard
Current inventory 66 delux hard top, so23
60 ragtop and 61 hard top bugs 54 hardtop bug
67 tin top so42 62 SO10 ruthmann bucket truck |
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splitjunkie
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006
Posts: 4092
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| Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:16 am Post subject: Re: TOWEL BAR BUMPERs RAM protection |
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| farnhamassoc wrote: |
| El Guero wrote: |
| so i guess on my birth certificate vw is wrong by listing option #107 ram protection, Trayle do you know what that option #107 is then thanks for any help |
The more I investigate the Ram protection bumper thing. the more I notice that Us cars were mostly send out with ram protection bumpers or towel bar bumpers. There are Photos dated 1954 with all the cars on the lot with those bumpers. They were crudely made unlike the later model ones. I also Have a friend that has a fully documented 54 with papers from the salesman when purchased. The car was mostly stored for its life and is all original. Everything in the car is original and only 1 repaint of strato silver because you know how that color goes. 3rd owner. and they are original on the car Not put on at the dealer. Sent from the factory with them.
Us mandated them in late 1955 according to documentation but Pictures and hard evidence has different info. 1955s are a mistery just saw a 3 fold on a late 55 with no semaphores. |
I would love to see the pictures that you mentioned.
My split had one of these monstrosities on it when I bought it and assumed it was some backyard hack.
But then TheLadyBug posted pictures of what came on her '54 which were very similar.
Do these look like they ones you have seen in pictures?
This is the entire October '54 article. There is one side photo that appears to show hearts with the the US spec towel rail bumpers.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/magazines...201954.pdf
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Chris
You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld |
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janerick3
Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006
Posts: 1879
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: For inquiring minds. Bubble, egg taillights, 55 facts & |
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I do not believe these are factory, but some type of aftermarket kit.
It probably would not be hard to find this kit advertised in period magazines.
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Thanks,
Jan K. |
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splitjunkie
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006
Posts: 4092
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| Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 3:22 am Post subject: Re: For inquiring minds. Bubble, egg taillights, 55 facts & |
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| janerick3 wrote: |
I do not believe these are factory, but some type of aftermarket kit.
It probably would not be hard to find this kit advertised in period magazines. |
That is my belief as well but farnhamassoc said he has seen pictures of Beetles on a dealer lot with what sounds like these. Still doesn't necessarily mean they were factory, but it could mean that at least some dealers were installing them en masse on the early Beetles they were selling.
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Chris
You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld |
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Ted2
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2004
Posts: 245
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 5:13 am Post subject: Re: For inquiring minds. Bubble, egg taillights, 55 facts & |
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So, are all of the Heart light lenses the same for '54-'55?
My car was a March '55 car with semaphores. Delivered to the US. |
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my56samba
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2017
Posts: 100
Location: victoria b.c.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 7:55 am Post subject: Re: For inquiring minds. Bubble, egg taillights, 55 facts & |
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If your car was originally delivered in the U.S. in March 55 it would have had egg taillights. all U.S. Guam, and Canadian delivered cars from Oct. 54 through April 55 had eggs if the car had Semaphores. April cars could be ordered without semaphores and came with snowflakes and bullets, and then all of them got snowflakes and bullets for the May through July 55's as semaphores were outlawed in North America.
All other market cars had hearts from the 1952 Zwitters through July of 55 and then changed to snowflakes and semaphores for the new Aug 55, 1956 models.
On your question, there were two different colors of heart lenses with most being the dark Red but some are an Orange or Amber red color. I haven't seen or read anything definitive for where they were used though.
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Dec 54 Ragtop Beetle
April 56 Baja Bug
June 56 23 Window Samba |
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aa390392
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2007
Posts: 3602
Location: So.Cal
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 8:33 am Post subject: Re: For inquiring minds. Bubble, egg taillights, 55 facts & |
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I believe above statement is his belief.
And
Not a statement of fact.
Thomas
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getting grumpy & less tolerant!
55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet |
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my56samba
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2017
Posts: 100
Location: victoria b.c.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: For inquiring minds. Bubble, egg taillights, 55 facts & |
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My info is from Progressive Refinements in the Electrical section available to see in the Technical section on this site. combined with many cars that I have witnessed both in person and classified sales largely from this site. As with all vintage VW's there are no guarantees. The car might have been a European spec. car,brought over by a serviceman or tourist delivery or such. Otherwise unless the car is still original paint with matching tail light housing patina that would lead someone to believe otherwise, I would restore it with eggs to be a U.S.A. delivered March 55. Thomas, enlighten me if you have different credible information? Please, I am open to learning, and learn more about these incredible cars all of the time.
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Dec 54 Ragtop Beetle
April 56 Baja Bug
June 56 23 Window Samba |
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aa390392
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2007
Posts: 3602
Location: So.Cal
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: For inquiring minds. Bubble, egg taillights, 55 facts & |
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This discussion has been discussed over and over again..and now it’s been parroted..for the Entith time…
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getting grumpy & less tolerant!
55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet |
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BulliBill
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004
Posts: 4572
Location: St Charles, MO
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| Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 11:28 am Post subject: Re: For inquiring minds. Bubble, egg taillights, 55 facts & |
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As a data point:
My unrestored, original paint 66 year old model year 1955 Deluxe Oval Sunroof Beetle, produced in USA spec at Wolfsburg, Germany on June 22, 1955.
Ribbed doors, straight stick shift, 3-fold all four "square-cornered" sunroof,
straight apron, single-tip muffler, snowflake taillights, no semaphores, "bullet turn signals" on the front fenders, over-rider bumpers, "square" fuel tank, etc, etc.
Parked in front of the original main factory building at VWAG in Wolfsburg, Germany while on tour in 1999
Bill
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton
Thanks for any help! |
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