Deck lid Script

[68autobug]

I have the stickshift badge on my Ghia, not sure if its correct for year but I like it.




Airhead

I'm NOT sure with Karmann made cars...
I have seen some late models imported from the US [1973 -74]
and I think they had the Stickshift badge on them...

but, its all for looks..

I would get one, but I have a late model [1976] engine lid with all the vents..

You are lucky You have plenty of room on the back of your car...

Mike,
were the original stickers/decals on the inside??
I think they were...
wouldn't have been easy back then to apply the decal...
I used to have many problems using decals...
I think i gave up in the end..  tooo hard...

I was just reading a book on VWs [from the UK]
and it mentioned that all auto beetles [UK] had the VW Automatic emblem
same as used on type 3s etc..

cheers

Lee

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

Yes, the "Automatic Stick Shift" decals were applied to the inside of the rear window.

I did quite a bit of research when I repopped the decals.  I'm NOT setting myself up as a source authority but I'm not talking outta my hat either.  The pot metal decklid script which read "Automatic Stickshift" was intended for use only on Type 1s equipped with AS during the 1968 production year.  VW did NOT have this pot metal decklid script on hand when production started in August of 1967.  So they grabbed "VW Automatic" script from the Type 3 asembly facilities and stuck that script on the first few AutoSticks to be shipped to the USA.  All subsequent USA bound AutoSticks had the correct decklid script for 1968.

But that wasn't the end of the story.  Seems that Emden had AS decklid script left over after the 68 production year.  The decision NOT to use the decklid script for the 1969 production year had been made midyear 1968.  This (as usual with VW) was a bottom line kinda decision.  The plan was that starting with the 69 models a decal would be applied in the rear window to distinguish AS equipped cars.  The decklid script would revert to the regular "Volkswagen" script.  But VW had the leftover AS script from the 68 production year, so VW decided to use it up on the first 69 AS cars off the production line.  So........early 69s had the "68 only" potmetal decklid script.

If you want to have a technically correct restoration, the potmetal AS decklid script would be correct only on a 68 or early 69 Type 1.  After that it's simply a regular "Volkswagen" decklid script.  And the decal if you want to add that.

[68autobug]

So, was the sticker/decal introduced because it was required in the US?
and was the badge a legal requirement or just "advertising"

I've never seen the decal in Australia
and as i said only one 68 model with the Autostick badge
[owner was told by His local VW shop to take it off His VW as it was very rare]

I know back in the 60s , most Automatic cars in Australia had a badge
like Automatic or hydramatic or fordamatic or Trimatic etc..

I used to think back then, "are these automatic cars dangerous, so they have a badge to tell you, that they can reverse at any time"

Lee

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

There were no legal requirements involved with either the decal or the decklid script in the USA.  Both were simply ways for VW to distinguish the AS equipped cars from the run-of-the-mill Type 1.

[68for500]

Wow, haven't been in a looong time..but picked this thread up, 'cause I've got a '68 with the "VW Automatic" emblem. I thought it was weird since the first 68 I had had the script logo. I had considering finding a script one and replacing the VW Automatic one, but shucks, it turns out it's rare. I actually found the emblem stuffed in the glove box after I bought the car, and I thought it was a thoughtful replacement for the script one, but certainly not correct.....shows what I didn't know!

[Bookwus]

Hiya 68,

While it is certainly possible that the potmetal decklid script you had in the glove compartment was the original on the car, it is not likely.  The 68s with the "VWAutomatic" badge imported into the States at the beginning of the 68 model year were not very many.  You might want to check on the date of manufacture for your 68.  Indeed, if you should have a car manufactured very early in the 68 production year, you may have the rarity. 

[68autobug]

So,

the VW automatic badge may be rare in the USA...

very common in Australia...

but the Autostick badge may be just as rare in Australia...  lol

LEE

[68for500]

Well now this got me wondering...so I hunted over at Samba and here's what I found...
I can't find any T3's with anything but a split emblem, where the word "automatic" is the entire emblem, like this..



But what I have is this..



In fact that one looks like my car, same color, interior etc...

And then, I think this is one on a Super.....



Is that weird? I dunno....it seemed hard to believe that the one I have came from another car, 'cause the contour was nearly perfect without any bending...

Now I'm leaning back to where I was, and replacing it. The script logo just looks nicer I think....

[68autobug]

If You are using a 1968 ventless engine lid
then just about any badge can be used...
as there is plenty of room

but once You go to the 4 vented engine lid
there isn't much room to put a badge..

Lee









[/color]

[68autobug]

I have seen both those badges on type 3s..

In Australia all Beetle autos have the VW Automatic badge...

I have seen the Autostick script badges for sale at swap meets..

I still have my 68 engine lid/cover [in undercoat]

I should have had it painted the same time as the rest of the car..

then I could use it in the winter

and also fit an autostick badge on it...

Lee

[68for500]

How much do the script badges go for at swap meets? I've only ever seen one up for sale on Samba and it was fetching $35.00.
I'm still on the fence about changing it tho...

Since mine was off the car, I don't know how they are actually afixed to the car? Are there supposed to be some sort of retainer for the pins, or is it that gummy stuff that sits there in a blob? Whats the best way to reattach? Please don't say super-glue

[Bookwus]

Hiya 68,

It's not Super Glue.

The rear decklid badges are all made to fit the three holes in the decklid.  They should all have pins which protrude through those three holes.  VW used round rubber and metal compression nuts to secure the three pins on the inside of the decklid.  Those are still available.....look............

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=113853695

The AutoStick metal script badge can be found for around $25 or maore depending on condition and the seller's knowledge of such things.  I'm told that NOS AS script badges are still available in Europe.  If that is so, expect to pay dearly for one.

[68for500]

Thanks Bookwus...how rare, that a small odd-ball kind of a part is still available, and cheap!
I guess it would probobly be best to just stick with the one I have. Like I was saying, I have only seen one up on Sambas classifieds in the last year, so I'm not likely to have alot to choose from. I wouldn't know where to begin looking for NOS stuff in Europe unless someone can clue me in. But you're probobly right about the cost, and I'm not spending a mint on one when I have one that will work just fine.

But darn it....the scripts do look so much cooler....

[Bookwus]

Hiya 68,

Just out of curiosity I went back and traced the source of those AutoStick emblems over in Europe.  During the course of that search I found that the company was asking 28 Euros for the script and a whopping 55 euros (which would total to about $131US) for the shipping.

All for naught! The company (http://shop.volkswarenhaus.de/index.php) now says they no longer have this item in stock.

[68for500]

Jeez....yup, pricey. Sure looks nice-n-shiney tho! Weird that they haven't taken it off the site, since you can click it into your shopping cart....Only in stock for 3 months? Where the heck did they get 'em? And, wowza--19% tax!

Replacement bodies? What a weird site.....
Can they UPS those?