Bumper date

Here's the place to come to post when you have questions relating to technical issues or mechanical questions on the 1966 model year.

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Seibert66
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Bumper date

Post by Seibert66 »

The engraved date on the bumper shows 2 numbers...I was wondering if the first digit is the month, and second digit the year? For example, in the picture here...would it be March '66?
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Digger89L
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Post by Digger89L »

Yes....your assumption is correct. The stamp indicated the month (March) and year (1966) of the bumper's manufacture ...not necessarily the month and year of the car model. For example, 1966 model cars were first put on the market in August, 1965. It would not be unusual for VW to stockpile bumpers for later installation. The stamp is a good way to identify OG (original German) bumpers ...but sometimes the stamps (supposed to be on the inner lower lip of the bumper blade) are VERY difficult to find ....if they can be found at all.
"If you can't fix it with zip ties and duct tape, or hold it together with velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken."
Seibert66
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Post by Seibert66 »

Thanks, I don't have any visible date on the front bumper...only the back...therefore I thought the front one was a reproduction but from your words that could be an original one without a visible date...any other distinguishing factors that could separate a German one from reproductions?
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Digger89L
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Post by Digger89L »

Repro bumpers, and uprights, will always be of lighter guage metal, and will usually have plastic spacers where the towel bars meet the bumper blades. They do this to mask the poor fit. They are more prone to rust, as well. Somehow, VW wasn't really carefully about stamping the dates on the bumpers ....you have to look REALLY close to find them sometimes. Someone once suggested you might have to use that equipment that the police use to read filed-off serial numbers on guns!!
"If you can't fix it with zip ties and duct tape, or hold it together with velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken."
Seibert66
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Post by Seibert66 »

Great information! Thanks! I see spacers on my front bumper...now I know for sure is a repro!
Seibert66
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Post by Seibert66 »

I finally found an original German front bumper to match the one in the back! Thanks to all the members of this forum that provided tips and proper advice to find the right one!
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Digger89L
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Post by Digger89L »

Good find!! And, in great shape, too. It's amazing how many times you'll find an 'almost' decent bumper, where only some part of it is damaged making it 'not good' as a whole bumper, but maybe good enough to use for parts to try to put a decent whole bumper together. AND ...its amazing how stupid some people were back in the day, trying to tow or pull a beetle by the bumper!!!
"If you can't fix it with zip ties and duct tape, or hold it together with velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken."
Seibert66
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Post by Seibert66 »

Yeah, they are really hard to find in decent shape and the engraved stamp on the inner lip was important to me...that made the search even more difficult...I was fortunate to find this one in Los Angeles, originally manufactured in the spring of 1965. I believe Volkswagen used some bumpers from '65 for the early 1966 models...
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