Wolfsburg West, Volkswagen parts for vw beetle, bus, bug

Name that Speedo, Part II We close this two-part tech series with the Type II speedometer. As we revealed in the Beetle series, VW made many changes through the evolution of the Beetle, and the same can be said for the Bus, as you will soon discover. A special thanks goes out to Charlie Hamill of the Bus Stop in Westminster, CA for his assistance with this month's "Tech Tips" article. Thank you, Charlie!
1. 1950 As we discovered in the Beetle series, the indicator lights on early Beetles is integrated within the dash pod. The same is true for the early Bus models. Nothing fancy, just an odometer, red marks for permissible speeds in individual gears and a rate of travel needle. A red mark at the 75-kilometer mark (47 miles per hour) indicated the recommended maximum speed. The speedometer depicted measures the rate of travel in kilometers per hour. For countries measuring in units of miles per hour, 0-50 miles per hour can be measured.
2. 1951-1953 Ah, yes, starting to get a little fancy! With the introduction of the Deluxe Micro Bus models on June 27, 1951, VW adds a little flair with the addition a chrome bezel. The Kombi and standard Micro Bus models sported a brown bezel as did the single cab models (single cab production started on August 25, 1952). The face was spruced-up a bit with a brown face with white areas between the rate of travel gradients. The red mark for the recommended maximum speed remained the same. The speedometer depicted measures the rate of travel in miles per hour. For countries measuring in units of kilometers per hour, 0-80 kilometers per hour can be measured.
3. 1954-Feb'55 VW changes the face again, which will more or less remain unchanged through the 1967 model year. The idle position of the rate of travel indicator needle now rests at the 7 o'clock position. 1954 Buses are now equipped with a 36 h.p. engine, which changed the shifting locations slightly and increased the recommended maximum speed to 80 kilometers per hour (48 miles per hour). Both kilometers per hour and miles per hour versions are depicted.

4. Mar'55-May'59 VW omits the dash pod, and incorporates the directional indicator light, high headlight beam, oil pressure and generator warning lights within the speedometer. The directional indicator light is located at the uppermost part of the speedometer, at the 12 o'clock position and illuminates red when activated, while the oil pressure (green), high headlamp beam (blue), and generator warning light (red) are located at the bottom, positioned from left to right respectively. A clear rate of travel indicator needle replaces the former, solid white needle. The red mark for the recommended maximum speed remained the same. Both Kilometers per hour and miles per hour versions are depicted.
As above but in kph
5. June'59-May'60 VW introduces the "bastard" 40 h.p. engine and decides to omit the recommended maximum speed indicator mark. All other features remain unchanged from the previous year. The speed ometer depicted measures the rate of travel in miles per hour. For countries measuring in units of kilometers per hour, 0-100 kilometers per hour can be measured.
6. June'60-July'60 VW omits the gearshift indication markings, it was now up to the pilot to decide when to change gears!! The directional indicator light was now divided into 2 halves, but did not illuminate independently. The maximum measurable speed was increased slightly. The speedometer depicted measures the rate of travel in miles per hour. For countries measuring in units of kilometers per hour, 0-120 kilometers per hour can be measured.
7. Aug'60-Sep'64 (Buses equipped with 40 h.p. Engine) VW omits the clear rate of travel indicator needle, and replaces this with a solid white unit. Starting in May 1961, all European destined Buses are equipped with a red line inscribed onto the 50 kilometer per hour mark, which served as a reminder for European local speed limits. This mark will remain on all speedometers measuring in kilo- meters per hour through 1979. Starting in July 1961, the directional indicator light illuminated green when activated, which was previously red. The speedometer depicted measures the rate of travel in miles per hour. For countries measuring in units of kilometers per hour, 0-120 kilometers per hour can be measured.
8. Jan'63-July'67 (Buses equipped with 1500 c.c. engine) This speedometer is the same as above, however VW brings back the shifting marks for speedometers measuring in miles per hour, only. Both Kilometers per hour and miles per hour versions are depicted.
As above in kph
9. 1968-1974 Bye, bye split window, hello bay window!! VW totally redesigns the Bus and you guessed it, tosses in a new speedometer for good measure. Unlike the early encapsulated units, the late speedometers lacked a housing and was pos- itioned inside of an instrument panel. The face is painted silver, and the numbering is much taller. The indicator and warning lights are removed and integrated within the instrument panel. The rate of travel indicator needle is changed in favor of a longer, thinner design. In January 1969, a 10th's digit was added to both miles per hour and kilometers per hour speedometers. Both Kilometers per hour and miles per hour versions are depicted.
As above in kph and with optional trip recorder.
10. 1975-1979 The face is now painted black and a shorter, wider rate of travel indicator needle is installed. The speedometer depicted measures the rate of travel in miles per hour. For countries measuring in units of kilometers per hour, 0-140 kilometers per hour can be measured.