1968 VW Beetle - differences between US and German cars

[@kiwijohn01]

Just about to buy a US model 68 here 8n New Zealand. Left hand vs right hand drive is biggest difference, so this video is priceless info!. Thanks very much.

[@76629online]

My first car was a 1968 beetle. Mine was a 1500 but it did also have a swingaxle style transmission and low back seats. The car was 100% original when it was acquired by my family in the early 1970s. I cannot remember if it had functional back up lights or not. The beetle for 1968 was available with either a swingaxle or irs style transmission. All of the swingaxle cars that I ever saw also had low back seats. Also, the 1968 beetle was the only one offered with four lug wheels and a swingaxle style transmission.

[@craigkearns6425]

The rear lights are US spec, European lights for ‘68 did not have reverse lights but did not have the lenses either and the turn signals would be amber not red on a European market car. Padded dashes were standard from ‘74 and optional from ‘70 in Europe.

[@derekobidowski3301]

Whats new for the US spec beetles in 1968 is the optional 3 speed Automatic Stick shift transmission with independant rear suspension still retained the 1500 engine but a modivied intake manifold with the vacuum port for the control valve, connects to a vacuum tank under the left fender and to the clutch servo on the transmission. as it uses a non lockup torque converter as the ATF circuit the tank is under the right rear fender, as the filler is in the engine compartment. a special two part oil pump on the engine that pumps it from the tank to the torque converter then from the torque converter back to the tank. the shifter has contacts in it that makes or breaks the contacts to the solenoid on the control valve as that disengages the clutch when you let go of the shifter the contacts open and the clutch re engages. but its not the best compared to the 4 speed manual as the 68 automatic stickshift its ordered from the factory and its then built. as it has the irs rear suspension as the 4 speed manual for 1968 still retained the swingaxle rear suspension as the irs was standardized on the 4 speed manual on the 1969 models. for 69 the heater channels changes, the front hood release was moved to inside the glove box, a day night rear view mirror, bakelite heater channel connections, the air cleaner on the engine changed to a right hand single snout which went to 1970. a 30 pict-2 carburetor was added, and the speedometer numerals position changed and the odometer on US models recorded tenths of a mile as for 1968 the 68 only speedometer for the automatic stick shift will have a atf temperature warning lightas for 1968 to 1970 automatic stick shift models instead of the Volkswagen script on the rear decklid on US models it will say Automatic Stickshift. the 1300cc engine for the beetle was in 1966 was a one year only for the US beetle and says 1300 on the rear lid. 1967 is when the bug changed in the US is when the 1500 was added and the script says Volkswagen, the headlights changed for the required US Spec sealed beam had the one year only fenders rear decklid, and the reverse lights on the bumper. and 1967 was the first year for 12 volt on the US beetles. as 1968 for the US spec beetles was the safety standard for the US spec beetles the sticker on the drivers doorjamb will say We certify to the dealer that this vehicle meets the safety standards of time of Manufacture Volkswagenwerk AG.

[@olaledin1806]

My european 68 is a 1500 ccm, and has got a padded dash board, hazard lights, high rised front seats and a heated rear window. It has also got an Eberspraecher compartment heater.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Interesting...almost sounds like a US spec Beetle

[@Antarath]

and my german 69 (made in september 68) hasn't got all that and it has a metal dash.

[@vistable6006]

Is this Mustie1’s VW Beetle? Just thought I’d ask because of the tape marks on the driver side look similar

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Possibly :)

[@vistable6006]

I thought it looked familiar. If you don’t mind me asking, what all have you done to that Beetle since you’ve acquired it?

[@olaledin1806]

Even in Europe it's a difference between the 1300 and the 1500 ccm when it comes to equipment. 12 volt became standard in 1967 except for the 1200 ccm witch kept the 6 volt system until 1972.

[@billmitchell7785]

Very interesting video. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnteill_]

I've been thinking about taking off my dashboard pad but one thing kills me.....the glove box has a very wide gap without the pad to cover it.....is it's just me or is it something that you notice constantly

[@derekobidowski3301]

i was reading on the european bugs some were a 1200cc with 6 volt electrics the 1200 had no fuel guage still the reserve tap under the dash as im not sure if its speedometer has a blanking plate over the fuel guage. as my 68 is a us market model built in Emden Germany. as US cars the engine is a 1500 single port as the 1300 was a one year engine for the US market only on the 1966 model.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Correct...in 1968 Europeans had the option of a very stripped out VW1200, the VW1300 I have, and the VW1500. IIRC the 1300/1500 only differed in the engine size and the 1500 having front disc brakes. US models had several differences from their European counterparts (many of which I covered in the video), a number of which were due to new US regulations.

[@dw-bn5ex]

My 68 Canadian has the dash vents.

[@RodderFiles]

Hey thats Darrens VW very nice

[@StephenHartleyBrundrett]

I've been wondering why I don't have reverse lights 😭 sake mines UK 73 same as yours but I have 5vent slots on dash & front bonnet/hood vent

[@derekobidowski3301]

the speedometer is a 1968 only speedometer as someone must installed the US spec speedometer that reads in MPH not in KPH like europe, germany, and Canada. I think the european 1968 with the 1300cc single port still had the 6 volt electrical system in some areas. i have a 68 bug its a us spec lot of parts are not correct the rear decklid, which is vented, the engine is a later 1600 dual port but im searching for a HO code 1500 single port this car came with. as mine has the black padded dash. as 1968 has the front hood release like the early bug, but a spring loaded round knob, with the correct 1968 only latch. as my model has the reverse lights installed. as i rewired them put the fuse under the back seat. was to originally have the 68 only dual snout aircleaner with the big preheat hose. as it has still the 1300 air cleaner on it when i got it. as my bug 1968 is the US spec still retains the swing axle but im missing the z bar for it. as for my bug i need the correct non vented deck lid, the 1500cc single port engine, and the Z bar.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

The 1968 Beetle with the 1200cc engine that was sold in Europe as the base model was still 6V...the higher end 1300 and 1500 were 12V. My Beetle came from the factory with a MPH speedo per the birth certificate I ordered from VW. Car was originally purchased by an American missionary living in Germany and presumably he ordered the car from the factory with the intention of shipping it back to the US later...which he did.

[@derekobidowski3301]

i see my 68 bug i got came from California was hacked from parts and body from a 70 bug. as im trying to get it back to 1968 specs. the car came from Canfield Ohio to where im at now Butler Pa. the car was found on the website thesamba.com the parts im missing is the zbar, the Ho code 1500 single port the dual snout air cleaner and the correct nonvented rear decklid. the decklid venting didn't start on the sedans till the 1970 model year as i believe the wheels on all 1968-1969 were the two tone color my bug being a us spec has the brake warning light. as lot of people remove that and bolt on a mount for a Autometer Monster tachometer to read engine RPMs. but so far the dash is correct. the car is driven regularly. but the typical rust im dealing with the floorpans and heater channel bottoms.

[@mikey3816]

I have a German or Australian ensemble 72 super beetle steal dash

[@lairsito]

Could you check if doors have a bar reinforcement?, not in mexican beetle

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

My '68 does not have a door reinforcement bar...no room in the door to add one!

[@dlvh007]

Your Left and Right Dash Vents (both are the same), are part # 113819719. They can be found at various places, just do a Google Search for that part number.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Thanks for the reply. I actually found the part number some time ago on a UK VW parts site...they're common over there but unavailable here in the US.

[@dlvh007]

@@chrisfreemesser5707 , I thought I spotted them on JBugs and Cip1 website earlier. They are sold as a pair here: www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C16-113-719A-LR

[@MP-hx8fs]

@@dlvh007 those are for the padded dash.

[@xforce300]

Was there any issue registering it? Since you're not using it as a daily driver, did you register it as a show car or is New York different?

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

All passenger cars are registered the same way here in NY, though you can pay extra for "historic" license plates if you're so inclined.

[@xforce300]

@@chrisfreemesser5707 Ahh, okay. I know out here if you register a vehicle as a classic or show car, you can only drive it x amount of miles a year. Don't really know the laws. Car looks great though!

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

@@xforce300 It looks like if register it as a historical car to get the plates with "HISTORICAL" on them, the car can only be a collector's item or a museum piece and your insurance must match this status. You don't HAVE to register an old car as historical though.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Oh, and insurance is what really dictates how and when you can drive a classic car, not registration. The restrictions can be...appreciable

[@shawnbrownstein151]

I love VW bug where in NY do you live

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Rochester

[@shawnbrownstein151]

@@chrisfreemesser5707 okay great you drive it everyday

[@drohos]

Nice content! Greek cars also has some differences even with German vw's

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Check my other vids if the bug

[@abdelazizmoudou9090]

Changer les feus rouge gauche droit et droit gauche

[@johneastman1905]

If your beetle runs, why not move it outside for this filming...? Not in clutter....!

[@jamesbehrje4279]

A scion tc??? Lol I guess the old owner wasn't trying to hard to keep it original. . . original manufacturer lmfao

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

I'm not 100% sure of the circumstances surrounding this but from what I was told the gentleman who installed them may have been on the large side and needed larger seats and more space to fit in the car. The seat tracks he installed gave the seat more rearward travel than the originals. The seats weren't horrible to be honest, but I couldn't get rid of them fast enough when a pair of '68 VW seats fell into my hands :)