Confused need help..plz

[Azul]

i am seriously confused, but not totally surprised...

i started a complete rebuild project on a beetle beginning of the year,( with the lock-down its been going slow) witch at the time i thought it was a 1972 standard SA build beetle. Welllll .. now im not so sure anymore.. see the papers say its 72 .. according to TheSamba.com vin identification its a 70s.. BUT .. on 1967beetle.com VW added the "Equalizer Spring or "z bar" only in the 67/68 models and mine definitely have a z bar.

it looks like the body, the engine and the chassis all comes from different years...that means my bug is a rebuild of an rebuild of an rebuild..or it could just mean i know nothing

Can anyone confirm if that was the case wrt the z bar year mode..?? plz

[Dawie]

Be careful about Samba info. USA vehicles had different spec.

SA beetles used the z-bar until the last beetle were made in 1979 in Uitenhage. Many other items were SA-specific.

[Tony Z]

SA bugs are a little different to the rest of the world.
Post some pics and we may be able to help

[fig]

What is your VIN? That is the definitive source of model year. The registration papers can't be trusted.

A 1972 Beetle in SA will have a VIN as follws: 112 2 xxx xxx

[Azul]

Thanks for the info guys..yeah, it would make sense that SA would follow their own rules...lol
I have spent the entire Saturday looking for a chassis number ..no go..nadha..nothing that i could find... i will give it another go when i start with the body work.
i do have some pictures and will post soon...

[Azul]

Found It..!!!!

[Azul]

[Azul]

eish.. just a lil advise .. make sure the rubber boot is set to either 3 or 9 o'clock..( the small bolts on the one side) Not straight up (12 o'clock) cause that is where the movement or bend is and will damage the rubber or just wear it out faster

[Azul]

[Azul]

this is what i have done so-far.. still lots to do

[fig]

Found It..!!!!

The VIN says your Beetle is a 1971, which means it was built between August 1970 and July 1971.

The VIN should also be stamped on the tunnel, just in front of the inspection hatch for the shift linkage, although from about 1973-76, VWSA didn't stamp VINs on the chassis for some unknown reason.

[Tony Z]

If it is a 71, you should also have a engine lid with two sets of vent holes, not 4 sets like the later models. Only 71s has the two sets

[jacquesbotha]

Excuse my ignorance, what is the z-bar?

[Tony Z]

its the bar that goes over the gearbox which is linked to the end of each swing arm

[jacquesbotha]

its the bar that goes over the gearbox which is linked to the end of each swing arm

Thanks Tony, do you have a picture maybe?