Deck lid Script

[68for500]

Indeed it is about what you like Brandon, not what the purists tell you...Althought I haven't encountered any such types on THIS forum....over at Samba though...
Might look kinda cool with both on there. I like the fancy script one 'cause it mostly reminds me of my first Bug, and how everyone would see it and say "automatic what?....that doesn't make any sense....."
Sounds like some PO of your car didn't want anyone to know it was an Autostick?    Put em on and post some pics! Good luck!

[68autobug]

Just imagine with both badges

Your beetle may be unique...

and i do believe the 3 holes are the same ones used for all the badges..

go for it....

Lee

[buggerfly]

Hiya Stephanie,

Glad to have you back with us.  I hope that Ike was easy on you and yours.

The decklid business has the potential for getting very confusing.  There were a bunch of different configurations for vents depending on just what you were driving.  In short, that accounts for the differing numbers of vents on the rear decklid.

For example, in 1968 the standard sedan had no vents whatsoever.  The 68 convertible had 2 sets of five vents each.  Generally convertibles sported more vents than their hardtop brothers.  Sedans first gained decklid vents in the 1970 production year with the introduction of the larger 1600 engine.

Your 71 vert should have 4 sets of seven vents each, just as you have described.  However, a standard hardtop in 1971 would have only 2 sets of five vents each.

People who are really into stock appearance can spot mismatched decklids by counting the vents.  Getting to that level does take a little education and experience.

Mike,

You said that the 4 rows of 7s are original for my car, but a friend has a 70 auto stick vert and 4 rows of 6s and 7s, i also saw a deck lid that has 4 rows of 6s and 8s, any clue to what that goes on, never seen it before.

[Bookwus]

Hiya Stephanie,

Well, I told you the issue of decklid venting was a bit complex.  Here's a rundown (the best data on the subject I could find) from 68 through 73

1968:  Sedans  No vents                     Convertibles 10 (2 rows of 5)
1969:  Sedans  No vents                     Convertibles 10 (2 rows of 5)
1970:  Sedans  10 (2 rows of 5)           Convertibles 28 (4 rows of 7)
1971:  Sedans  10 (2 rows of 5)           Convertibles 28 (4 rows of 7)
1972:  Sedans  26 (7-6-6-7)                Convertibles 26 (7-6-6-7)
1973 and on:  as in 1972 (from what I can tell as of the moment)

I have not been able to find any reference to an 8-6-6-8 arrangement.  Perhaps that is a lid from later production for which I have been unable to find any data.

[68for500]

Man, this is the thread that won't go away! 
But, I think, and I could be wrong...but I think that might be a Mexican Ultima? Mayhap? Found some pics, but couldn't find my damn glasses to count the little buggers....Im pretty sure thats 8-6-6-8...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=709959

[buggerfly]

nope, its 7-6-6-7 on that one.

[68automaticFoVay]

I have a 68 and the decklid has the Automatic StickShift in crome erm its getting kinda gray now, chrome is pretty much gone its aluminum or pewter underneath
I have not gotten to the asthetics of the car yet still restoring the drive train and mechanical aspects but I had a feeling that this would be rare. 
Glad I kept it...
Like I would throw it away ... as if.
LOL

[clint]

'68 Ghia also has the script Automatic Stickshift, thats my favorite one on the car.

[CarlIseminger]

I have an early '68 Beetle.  Says it was purchased 4/17/1968.  The engine lid as the "automatic" emblem on it.  Nice to know why it has this and not the Automatic Stickshift emblem.  My neighbor lady has a later 1968 Beetle and hers says "automatic stickshift".

[Bookwus]

Hiya Carl,

Welcome to the forum!

With your purchase date, one makes a couple of assumptions.  Namely that 4/17/68 is when the car was first sold (new car sale) and that it's production date does not precede 4/17 by a great deal.  If both of those assumptions are correct, it's almost a certainty that your car was originally equipped with the "Automatic Stickshift" decklid badge and that that badge has, for some reason, been replaced with a "VW Automatic" badge from a Type 3.

Why?  The date of the sale is actually past mid year as VW production years go.  VW started production on August 1 each year.  So, 68s were starting production on Agust 1, 1967.  Only the first few (read: maybe a couple of hundred) AS cars had the incorrect badging out of the factory.  Anything past that is the work of POs.

By the way, the actual production date of your car may be found on the doorjam sticker (if it is still there).

[CarlIseminger]

For some reason, I have never gotten around to reading the sticker on the door jamb.  At work right now, will go take a look at lunch. 

This car is my daily driver.  And the car IS orignal.  There are only 27,600 documented miles on the car.  No, it hasn't rolled over, only 27,600 miles.  Everything that came with the car from the factory or dealer is still there and works.  It has a South Wind Stewart Warner gas heater and the AM radio (both dealer installed I believe).  The car looks and behaves just like a newer used car.  Almost no rust.  Previous owners either lived in town or on a paved highway, no gravel roads.

I am technically the fourth owner of the car, but two of the owners were father and son.  The first owner bought the car for his daughter to drive to college.  When she was done, she gave it back to daddy.  And he parked it.  Then in 1988 he sold it to one of this "coffee" buddies, who was going to use it to drive to and from the farm for his coffee meetings.  But never really liked to drive it.  So he parked it in a farm building.  His son got it when he passed away in '91 and he just wrapped it in plastic and parked it.  Once or twice a year he would take it out, drive it, wash and wax it and park it again.  He decided to start selling off his car collection and I am the one who bought it.

So I am quite sure that the emblem is original to the car.  I figure being in North Dakota, that maybe the vehicle sat on their lot for some time before it was sold.

Now you have me wanting to go out to the parking lot and look at the door jamb.

[CarlIseminger]

Lets see if I have figured out how to attach a pic of my '68

[CarlIseminger]

Here's one of the deck lid.

[Bookwus]

Hiya Carl,

Very nice looking Bug!

How about a good shot of the engine compartment and the interior?

[CarlIseminger]

Here is one of the engine