beetle rear fender question

[wolfswest]

Hi Guys,

I was wondering...  Is it possible to modify rear fenders, let's say 1965's for example to fit a late looker?

-Is it sufficient enough to make the holes for the bumpers larger or are these placed lower on an earlier model fender?
-What about the tail lights?  Can you mount the bigger "chapel" lights, do they cover the holes of the smaller tail lights? Is the height correct?
-Is the shape the same?

Thx,

[Nico86]

Something more important to check first I think, is how the early fender fits with the different rear valance of late cars with short rear bonnet. I am not sure, but they might be different on that point. Also with the bigger bumpers lights are placed higher on the fender. The bumper backets on the inner fender on the late cars are certainly placed higher, and they might also be placed on a different position horizontally.

[Nico86]

I think it would be much easier for you to get a genuine late model fender, these are very easy to find (an used one if you want to keep vw steel).

[wolfswest]

I think it would be much easier for you to get a genuine late model fender, these are very easy to find (an used one if you want to keep vw steel).

Yeah, probably.  But I have access to these fenders in the right colour so I was wondering if it can be done without a repaint. 

[leec]

I think it would be much easier for you to get a genuine late model fender, these are very easy to find (an used one if you want to keep vw steel).

From personal experience finding genuine late beetle rear wings is much harder than finding early alternatives

[Nico86]

I think it would be much easier for you to get a genuine late model fender, these are very easy to find (an used one if you want to keep vw steel).

From personal experience finding genuine late beetle rear wings is much harder than finding early alternatives

I don't know, over here there are plenty of them both on online ads and scrapyards/vw parts retailers who also stock used parts.

[Andy]

I had a quick look at some wings.
On the car with europa bumpers the underside of the bumper bracket to the bottom edge of the wing was about 100mm on the early blade bumper it is about 70mm.
Looking back at the repro wings , they came pre drilled with bolt holes for 1200 style lights and tombstone lights, either light would cover the others unused holes.
As for early wings fitting a late car, they fit fine, I have a '71 1200 that had early rear wings from the factory. Back in the late eighties and early nineties, in the uk at least, a lot of late models were fitted with early wings.

So the only difficulty I can see is that the slot for the bumper bracket will be too low, if you open it up for the late bracket. 

[wolfswest]

I had a quick look at some wings.
On the car with europa bumpers the underside of the bumper bracket to the bottom edge of the wing was about 100mm on the early blade bumper it is about 70mm.
Looking back at the repro wings , they came pre drilled with bolt holes for 1200 style lights and tombstone lights, either light would cover the others unused holes.
As for early wings fitting a late car, they fit fine, I have a '71 1200 that had early rear wings from the factory. Back in the late eighties and early nineties, in the uk at least, a lot of late models were fitted with early wings.

So the only difficulty I can see is that the slot for the bumper bracket will be too low, if you open it up for the late bracket. 

Thx Andy!!
Damn, that means I need other wings or welding needs to be done on the slots for the bumper brackes and unfortunately a repaint...