Maybe someone can shed some light- Do you perhaps know why the vw kombi 2000L 1976 came out with different locks on the rear side? The tailgate and engine lid locks look like plastic although the other door handles are metal.
The change was during 1975. As Fig mentioned, obviously cost saving and changing to the times of using more plastics.
Other changes including the badges changing from aluminum to plastic, headlight rings changing from steel chrome to plastic chrome and beading in window seals changed from aluminum to plastic.
