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| MODEL YEAR |
August 1959 through the end of July 1960 |
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Chassis #2528668 to #3192506 |
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| LITERATURE |
1960 owner's manual  [2] |
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| COLORS |
Sedan |
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 L41 Black
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 L225 Jupiter Grey (Standard only)
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 L346 Mango Green
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 L349 Jade Green
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 L363 Arctic
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 L419 Ceramic Green
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 L436 Indigo Blue |
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 L440 Flint Grey |
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 L451 Indian Red |
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Cabriolet |
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L 41 Black
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 L264 Rock Grey |
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 L349 Jade Green
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 L361 Slate Blue
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 L445 Sargasso Green
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 L452 Paprika Red
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 L473 Alabaster
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 L10009 Yukon Yellow |
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 L10017 Alaska White |
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 L10018 Brunswick Blue |
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| TRANSAXLE |
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| 1960 only - |
Nose cone mount is one piece and fastened over studs on the torsion tube. |
| 1960 only - |
Nose cone, hockey stick, and shift rods |
| 1960 only - |
Frame horns droop about 1/8 inch (two degrees) lower, tipping the engine and transaxle towards the rear. This was an effort to reduce positive camber which caused oversteer.[2] |
| last year for - |
Split-case "crashbox" transaxle with 1st gear not synchronized |
| new for 1960 - |
Shift rod bushing without tension ring introduced during July 1960 at chassis #3140046. The tension ring was added August 1960 for the 1961 model year[2] |
| note - |
I upgraded to a 1963 synchro transmission. Save yourself the hassle of welding in a custom mount. Instead use the mount already found on your 1960 . Photos of this process can be found in the Photos section of this site. Use this bus nosecone #211-301-205-H , this hockey stick #113-311-541 , and this new gasket kit . I also advocate either bracing the frame horns with a Käfer Cup-style Brace, transmission straps, mid-mount trans brace, and/or a traction bar.
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| SUSPENSION |
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| new for 1960 - |
Needle-bearings instead of bushings in front torsion bars |
| new for 1960 - |
8 shims for wheel camber adjustment on each steering knuckle |
| new for 1960 - |
Steering dampner added March 1960[2] |
| new for 1960 - |
Rear torsion bars thinner and shorter |
| new for 1960 - |
Rear torsion bar covers smaller[1] |
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| ENGINE |
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| 1960 only - |
Original factory muffler redesigned in a teardrop shape to have the tailpipes also at a two degree tilt preventing rattling against the apron. (Good luck finding one!)[2] |
| 1960 only - |
Oil dipstick painted red at chassis #2528668/engine #3072320. The full mark was set 40mm from the end, rather than the previous 44mm. The add mark was not changed. Part #111-115-611-A[2] |
| 1960 only - |
Spark plug wires fastened to the fan shroud using rubber "cookies" that held two wires[2] |
| last year for - |
36hp engine with 28 PCI carburetor and manual choke |
| new for 1960 - |
Generator output increased to 180 watts[1] |
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| EXTERIOR |
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| 1960 only - |
Door handle key slot is vertical |
| 1960 only - |
Front fender walls redesigned for compatibility between the hump gas tank and New headlight tubes[1] |
| new for 1960 - |
Rubber headlight wiring tubes |
| new for 1960 - |
Door handles with rectangular pushbutton |
| new for 1960 - |
Wolfsburg hood crest redesigned (red, blue, black) |
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| INTERIOR |
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| 1960 only - |
Dashboard chrome trim is cast and sharp |
| last year for - |
Aluminum trim on the carpet around the heater outlets and fuel tap |
| last year for - |
Gas tank with hump from the oval-window-era (61's were flat) |
| new for 1960 - |
Steering wheel dished inwards for safety, with chrome half horn ring |
| new for 1960 - |
Rearview mirror redesigned[2] |
| new for 1960 - |
Sunvisors are padded textured vinyl |
| new for 1960 - |
Door panels redesigned with lack of trim[1] |
| new for 1960 - |
Door armrest redesigned[1] |
| new for 1960 - |
Front seat backs reshaped[2] |
| new for 1960 - |
Seat pleats are now heat-sealed rather than stitched together[1] |
| new for 1960 - |
Passenger footrest |
| new for 1960 - |
Rear seat kick panels without heat duct outlets and have dimples and little pull tabs for removal[2] |
| confirm? - |
Body number plate size reduced at some early point in the model year. A friend's early 60 has a big plate, yet mine has a small plate. |
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| ELECTRICAL |
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| 1960 only - |
Six-wire turn signal switch that matches the contour of the new steering wheel |
| 1960 only - |
Ignition switch with three screw terminals |
| last year for - |
Screw terminals on most electrical items |
| last year for - |
80mph clear needle speedometer. July through October 1959 have two light sockets; November 1959 begins one light socket[2] |
| new for 1960 - |
Complicated horn wiring change for 1960-1961. Read about it here: TheBugShop.org. There are three spring-loaded pins under the horn ring. They put the springiness in the horn ring/button and connect the horn circuit. Trying to get the horn to work with an aftermarket steering wheel (such as my EMPI GTV wheel) did not work for me. |
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| 1960 IMPORTS |
| Changes were made to bring imported/gray-marketed Beetles up to USDOT specifications, but it's not guaranteed that the car was completely changed. You might find the following on your car: |
| note - |
May have only one sunvisor if from Europe.
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| note - |
The car may still wear single-blade bumpers, although they could be ordered with US-style overriders for added protection.
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| note - |
The windshield may not have USDOT-spec safety glass.
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| note - |
Headlight lenses may be fluted; Clear lenses are USA-spec.
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| note - |
Look at the door pillars . There may be evidence of semaphore turn signals. Sometimes the semaphores remained in working order , sometimes the wires were simply cut, sometimes they were completely removed and the holes welded shut (#1 , #2 ), and possibly the weirdest move of all was sometimes the semaphores were left in, and the holes were sealed shut! Hand-drilled holes had to be made for the turn signals that were now placed on top of the fenders. Those with a sharp eye may notice inaccurate placement of the fender signals.
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