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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... ?id=158601

It's actually a 412 sedan rear panel of course-I don't really have the money I suppose, but I couldn't pass it up! And I was complaining before about the $300 411 panel before... and here, I almost paid as much. When will one see another one, though?

Umm, 70 through 72 dont fit 73 and 74, I dont think,

Right, the age old sedan taillight debate. I'm confident this is for '73-'74 412 sedans. All the 412 sedans I own, have seen, and seen pictures of have the "high" taillight position like this panel, and the lights all look to be the same size. All the 411 sedan pictures I have seen (haven't seen one in real life) have the "low" taillight position on the panel, like that other NOS rear panel available awhile back. Anyway, he has it listed as a front apron, so getting mixed up on the years a relatively minor mistake.

My friend has a 73 sedan with the low position taillights. He bought the car from the original owner in 1981. So far, this is the only sedan with the low rear taillights I have ever seen. The rear logo says vw 411, the front is a vw 412. The car is accident free
Jos

caxambas wrote:My friend has a 73 sedan with the low position taillights. He bought the car from the original owner in 1981. So far, this is the only sedan with the low rear taillights I have ever seen. The rear logo says vw 411, the front is a vw 412. The car is accident free
Jos

No kidding! I believe Ray was mentioning this possiblity before of the low taillights on a early 412 sedan, but the 411 badge is puzzling. Is your friend's car a 4 door?

I really dont believe VW would let that out of the factory like that. Somewhere somehow that car has had some repair work done.

It is a 2 door sedan. I agree that it is strange, but that's the way it is. All seams are original and car has not been repainted.

caxambas wrote:It is a 2 door sedan. I agree that it is strange, but that's the way it is. All seams are original and car has not been repainted.

Since the car is not with the original owner I sort of doubt the originality. I had a 1976 Ford Granada with a Mercury Monarch rear end, you could not tell that car had body work done to it, but never the less it was not original. How do you know for sure the car has not had body work done, have you had all the paint removed and looked?

caxambas wrote:It is a 2 door sedan. I agree that it is strange, but that's the way it is. All seams are original and car has not been repainted.

Oh, I believe the possiblity that the body is original since Ray has mentioned the existence of "low light" 412 sedans before, but I am skeptical about the 411 badge being there originally, as they are easily interchanged. The 411/412 sedan decklids are identical also, of course. But, hey, you never know.

ubercrap wrote:

caxambas wrote:It is a 2 door sedan. I agree that it is strange, but that's the way it is. All seams are original and car has not been repainted.

Oh, I believe the possiblity that the body is original since Ray has mentioned the existence of "low light" 412 sedans before, but I am skeptical about the 411 badge being there originally, as they are easily interchanged. The 411/412 sedan decklids are identical also, of course. But, hey, you never know.

Yes, ok i can see the swap of the emblem. The reason i doubt it left the factory as a 411 with a 412 front end was the fact that VW was trying to "update" the Type 4 since it was such a sales disaster and they were trying to change it's image.

That is a 411 or a 412 tail section. The 411 used the same tail light assemblies as the 412. Until....1974. Then the 412 got the thinner taillight I beleieve. But, those 412's sedans that started in august of 1972...and went through about mid year...1973...possibly to the next model year change, had the same taillight and location as the 411. Now the wagons....all had lower taillights. But the 411 wagon and the 412 wagon used the same assembly...both lower than the sedan...until 1974 model..then it got skinny.
That panel is identical to what on my november of 1972 412.

Of course..this is just from looking at a lot of them. I have seen no part numbers listing that can tell me one way or another.

Ah, I just thought of this, it looks like there are holes instead of slots for the bumper mounts? If this is the case, it must be for a '74. This is most likely going to be used on the infamous wrecked Gold '74. I've got a decklid, fender, and soon a rear panel. Then I just need glass, and another coupe won't necessarily have to die to save this one, voila! If I don't use it there, one of the other ones has some rust-through on the rear panel.