TAILLIGHTS/REFLECTORS CHANGES
**Click for larger images**
(reflectors at bottom)
These changes applied to all bus, not truck specific

TAILLIGHTS
1952 =>1953 up to 20-070431 (US and Euro) Single filament,  Used as driving light only, almost flat lense **need pic**
1954 =>mid1955 20-070431 to 20-117901(US and Euro) Single filament. Used as
 driving lights only. Lenses say K~1509. Hella/VW typically stamped on ring. Also is a common version seen without the VW/Hella on the ring.		 5455tails.jpg (18461 bytes) 5376.jpg (29882 bytes)
lowreflectors.jpg (2081 bytes) singlefilbk.jpg (7759 bytes)
AMERICAN mid 1955 => mid1957 (~april) - Dual filament. Lense is more 
recessed then earlier years. Used as turn signals and 
driving lights only. (brakelight was on decklid)

There are 2 styles floating around:
Style#1-the most common- Lenses say SBL17 and
HELLA on them (as seen on right). Chrome ring has 
no markings on it. Some people  believe Style#1 was 
an original replacement assembly.

Style#2 - Lenses just say HELLA. Chrome Ring has 
HELLA and  VW symbols punched on them.		 tailightbracketman.jpg (4699 bytes)
bubbleface.jpg (27471 bytes) bubbleside.jpg (22052 bytes)
57rer2.jpg (1667 bytes)
EUROPEAN mid1955 => mid1957 (~april)
Single filament, used as driving lights only. Lense is 
perfectly flat and  Reflective so seperate reflectors 
weren't used.(brakelight on decklid)		 eurolightfront.jpg (32866 bytes) eurolightback1.jpg (17796 bytes)
eurorear.jpg (1273 bytes)
mid 1957=> 1962 (US and Euro)
Screw type connector used until 1960 - then slip-on type until 62.
(below picture is a reproduction set available from ECONO or oldvolks )
"58tails2.jpg (63660 bytes)		 58tailghts.jpg (26041 bytes) 58sliponlights.jpg (14407 bytes) 58screwconnlghts.jpg (16439 bytes)
58rear.jpg (2642 bytes)
1962=>1971 (US and Euro)
2 different  U.S. styles were used (refering only to writing on lense)as well as European had an amber lense top half.		 62taills.jpg (15294 bytes) 62lense.jpg (16737 bytes) yuro62tails.jpg (22362 bytes)

REFLECTORS
52-53 Need more info Big diamond  
1954 => mid1955 big diamond style. Back is painted black. K~1282 stamped on the side ring. BDreflect.jpg (4747 bytes) bdreflekback.jpg (15768 bytes) lowreflectors.jpg (2081 bytes)

mid1955 => mid1957 (apr/may) - *AMERICAN ONLY*  reflectors changed to small diamond style and were moved upwards. Back is no longer painted black(typically).
mid55-mid57 european models had reflective taillights so no use for reflectors. (see above)

 reflectors1.jpg (23153 bytes) 
57rer3.jpg (6967 bytes)
mid 57 => up (US and Euro) no longer used reflectors. New taillights were reflective

BRAKE LIGHT
Mounted in center of decklid. It was the only brakelight up until mid-1957 when VW dropped the center brakelight and incorporated the brakelight into the taillights.
exploded brakelite view is courtesy of www.barndoor.dk
1952=>mid55: License light was a "fuse style"
3rd brake.jpg (53203 bytes)  bd3rdbrk.jpg (21235 bytes)
mid55=>mid57: License light was the standard later type.
brakelight2.jpg (13004 bytes) 3rdbrk.jpg (7453 bytes) pre57deck.jpg (15989 bytes)

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