I was choosing a License Plate Bracket for a customer’s 1967 Beetle. Not having focused particularly upon this part, I first examined the Bracket on my own ’67 Beetle.
I did so upon the premise that my car’s equipment is original and correct. So, I performed my examination. Then, I went to my storage and selected the bracket box where I found several—some identical to my own Bracket and some a bit distinctive.
I choose one which was in the best condition. It is of aluminum and had the least bends in it due to years of usage.
I also discovered that it is stamped with a manufacturer’s name and a part number.
The name is in all capital letters: FULWELL with 86691 stamped directly beneath it.
I looked at my car’s Bracket—identical. I checked with Eric Shoemaker—his, too, was identical to mine.
The manufacturer’s name sparked something in my brain and caused me to call one of my chief consultants: David Brown of Pennsylvania. As you may recall from past articles, Dave was trained by VWoA in their parts business.
When he answered and I had explained the reason for my call, Dave laughed. He told me that he had not thought of Fullwell for many years and then told me that my brain-alert was correct.
The ’67 and other models (perhaps all models at least following ’67) came to dealerships sans License Plate Bracket. Dave told me that he recalled two notable dealers of parts which frequented dealerships, hawking their parts to accommodate the needs of the make-ready department, for one, to prepare the new cars for the customers.
Dave said that salesmen came to the dealerships carrying their valises which, when opened, revealed catalogs of parts they were offering. Dave recalled Fullwell and Curtis as being two of these providers of such necessaries as the Brackets.
This said, it is possible that there were different Brackets from different suppliers here in the USA. If your 1967 Beetle has a Bracket unlike the one which I describe, do not become alarmed. There may not be a right or wrong Bracket.
While we are at it, let’s discuss for a moment the 1967 License Plate Light Housing itself. There were two manufacturers of this Housing: Hella and Hassia. By far, Hella apparently manufactured most of these Housings. Although Hassia installs the attaching studs a bit differently, both Housings function identically and affix to the decklid identically. All hardware is identical. The basic design of this Housing began in 1967 with VW Part Number 111-941-023A. A difference occurred in the mid-to-late ‘70s with either a metal or plastic Housing with ridges on the center-top of the Housing. The Housing for 1967 should be smooth metal with no ridges.
Hardware Descriptions:
- License Plate Bracket:
- Washer-headed 1/4th inch screws for flat-bladed screw driver with 5/8ths inches of thread.
Square nuts, Rubber buffer washers: approximately 15/16th” OD X 5/16th” ID - License Plate Light Housing:
- Studs for the License Plate Light Housing Housing: 5mm X .8 threads
Stud Nuts for the License Plate Light Housing: 8mm X 5mm threads. Each Nut is stamped 8 and F
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I will check mine, I knot is original and report later. I have had it off a few times in the past 43 years, not sure the screws were reused. Hope so, I usually tape things together so I dont lose little parts like this.
Hello, Todd…Yes…check and let us know what you discover. I suspect that we are going to find a variety of Brackets when the smoke clears. I look forward to your input! jay
For reference…my 67 is 117 303 470, built Oct 66 I believe.
My license plate light housing is Hassia 658 SAE L 66
My light lens is Hella.
And my plate bracket mounts using the same holes/hardware as the light housing itself. It does not look like the Fullwell bracket in the photos above.
Good information, Ryan! I believe that I have a Bracket identical or similar to the one which you describe. It is marked (by me in years past) as having been removed from a ’67 Beetle. Does your Bracket has any manufacturer information? jay
Jay, mine may have some stampings/markings under the backside that is currently not visible. I’ll have to remove it to see…
Probably not important enough to unfasten the housing, Ryan. But, one day when you have it off for another reason, maybe you can post what you find. jay
I’ve seen many original paint cars, from the ’60’s up to my own ’79 and can confirm what the author states, most, if no all of these cars came without brackets so there are a few different styles available. From the one shown above that is drilled and mounted directly on the lid to those that are fitted under the light housing. My ’67 that I bought in ’76 [original paint], had one mounted under the housing as well as the original paint ’69 I bought in 2010, and my ’79 vert that I bought in ’83 [also original] has the plate mounted directly on the lid without any bracket! I guess the dealer wasn’t to fussy about it.
Ha! Maybe the dealer was counting pennies–the Bracket would have cost him a buck, so he saves by fastening directly to the decklid. We’ll never know how these things went! Apparently there was some “leeway”. jay
Wow. I can’t even join in, on this topic. I don’t even have the license plate bracket. Never did have one on either of the cars ? Ops, I never knew they had one. Wow
Not to worry, Richard–from what Jeffrey (above) says, make-ready departments at dealerships didn’t necessarily install a Bracket. Hummm. And, all of this time I thought that someone prob. had removed the Bracket down the line. The learning curve is bumpy from lack of uniform information. I am told that VWoA had pretty strict standards–but perhaps it wasn’t as strict regarding “add-ons” as we want to think. jay
I’ll have to check mine, as it’s OG to the car. Jay, you seem to unlock all of the mysteries.
Hi, Eric…I think that anytime anyone examines a particular part, he’s going to find a nice little mystery to solve. jay
As I said to Jay earlier on the phone, I feel like I’m a ’67 “expert.” However, everyday I realize I don’t know that much. I’m just the web guy behind the scenes.
Checking mine in the AM… I’ll let y’all know what I find. I love the VW trivia! Keeps me on my toes,Jay
LOL…Sam, it keeps an old man busy! If we knew the complete story about these cars, we’d not be in love with them anymore, would we–with nothing more to learn. Let us know what you discover. jay
I think in California they liked to mount the plate directly to the deck lid, that’s what mine has, wouldn’t I have 2 holes inset if they had a bracket at one time?
I thought I was missing a bracket that would hold the plate lower below the light housingm ( cause you can’t read the plate frame holder logos on top very well.
Hello, Ken…Well…you could have the two holes just drilled through the decklid, like on my Bug, or you could have the Bracket which mounts beneath the license plate light housing–using the 2 housing studs. Or…now more apparently than ever–just mounted straight to the decklid itself! Mounted directly to the decklid would make it a little difficult to install a plate frame, I guess. I wonder how that worked for the dealers and their advertising program? The plate and plate frame would eat up the paint. jay
if they had a bracket to attach to the light frame, mine probably got taken of and someone decided lets just mount it to the deck lid..doubt the dealer would do that, cause you have to shim it out a little or it will scratch the paint!
To throw everyone for even more a loop, look at this early ’67 Beetle press photo.
I wonder if they just air-brushed the license plate onto the photo–I cannot see fasteners of any kind! ??? jay
How do we post photos in the comments?
Ryan,
You have to know basic HTML. It’s just an embed tag.
My bracket is attached directly to my deck lid. My original dealer tag frame attached to that
(Mine looks like the pic Eric posted) the bracket itself has no mfr stamp any where, but identical in shape & size. My tag light housing is Hella, several #’s, but none matching the numbers you posted. Either way, a great way to learn more about this wonderful vehicle. Thanks guys for the leadership.
Hello, Sam…thanks for checking your vehicle! All input is enlightening. I have some of these same brackets with no manufacturer’s stamp on them and some have the holes differently spaced or situated. I chose a Bracket which was identical to the one on my ’67. It is abundantly apparent that these Brackets and their placement varied–or, no Bracket at all! We are too far down the road from other ’67s that I once owned. I cannot recall which Brackets they had. Who gave a thought back then? LOL jay
I checked my lp bracket, and it does not look anything like the one pictured here originally. Mine is actually fastened to the deck lid at the points where the license light housing mounts to the lid. The offset is longitudinal along the bracket rather than like the one pictured. Totally different. It looks very specific for the Beetle application.
Hello, Todd…I bet that I know which one you have. I have one in my Bracket Box which is marked as having come from a ’67 Bug. I’ll see about a photo of it for the comments section. Ryan(above) also has a photo to be posted. Eric…?
Yes Jay. It seems that there are a few here described something like I did. I did not remove mine because the light housing on the lid comes off too. I bit too much work, and dont want to disturb any paint either. Would like to know if there is a name or part number on it though. I will look for your photo.
I love that this article is getting such great interest, etc. Go, Jay!