SINGLE CAB / DOUBLE CAB BED SLATS
(Vendor info at bottom of page)
These came stock on all trucks unless it was a special model or owner opted for none. They were attached using 4.8mmX16mm screws until approx September of 1960 when VW began riveting them. 
I believe the later years may have changed to a blind (Pop) rivet style , perhaps when they changed the rivet location on the DC's. Anyone have more info???

Since all years were hand done, no 2 beds will have the exact same hole pattern.
The holes were not countersunk, but the screw heads were "set in" flush..
  

Bucked rivet style (61-65?)

Later year Blind rivet style? (66-67?)

Both SC and DC slats were cut off square on the ends on the longer slats as shown below. Only the shorter slats had the taper.  Here is an og shot from a SC-

Parts manual claims that as of April 30th 1957 VIN# 249 220, VW changed the slat material used, to a "hardwood" and then used this "hardwood" until VIN#252 834 which was the middle of may, the following month. That makes no sense.
Hardwood meaning oak, or hardwood meaning stopped using oak?...Anyone know anything about this? I have yet to find a specific call out on what wood was used. Ash and Oak seems to be the most popular answers.

The slats had a "sealing compound" applied to the underside for the first month of production and shortly after at 18th sep 1952 VIN 20-034 096, they went to a 'terostat sealing strip'

SLAT SPECS:

Single Cabs: Slats are 1 1/4" wide by 5/8" thick. There are 15 slats total.
2 different lengths are needed: 5 of them are 8foot 1 1/4". The other 10 are 8foot 5 1/2". They go in every other space on the bed.
Double Cabs: Same as above except the lengths are different. 10 Long ones are 69" and the 5 short ones are 64".

A good stain/clear coat to use is PPG 2021, you'll need about a quart.
(see pics below for all other dimensions)

INSTALLATION using original bed holes.
So you've decided to grin and bear it and use the original factory holes even though it looks like a wobbly drunk man was put in charge of drilling at the factory?? Good for you! Your one step closer to maintaining your truck as it was originally designed! You will notice the holes on the bed do not go straight across the bed, Most of them vary in position to some degree. A good  way to figure out where to pre-drill the holes in your slats, is to lay the slat in the groove that it goes in. (make sure you have the right one, they are different lengths). Then make a mark on the bed at each end of the slat once you have the slat positioned. Now remove the slat and take a measurement from one of your marks to the center of the first hole, and so on etc. Transfer the marks to your slat, drill a hole the size of the screw shank all the way thru, then drill another hole in the same spot - the size of the screw head so it can set in below the surface - but only drill in the depth of the head. Then install the slat with sheet  metal screws as seen in above pic or rivets, per what your year calls out. Don't back out now, pop rivets are the easy way out, but you insisted on using the original holes, so use the correct fasteners as well! =)
The slats go in between every other hump as pictured in photo below.
 

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