Speedometer - what's correct for October 1963?

[Greg Skinner]

I've got an NOS orange needled small diameter bronze centered 90MPH Type 34 speedometer, dated 10/63. I have a rebuildable 100MPH unit, as well. My car was built sometime in 10/63, but I'm not sure what's really correct for my car. 90MPH or 100MPH? Was the 100MPH unit a hard and fast rule for all cars built for '64 and later, equipped with the 'S' engine?

[Lee Hedges]

Yes, 1964 was the introduction of the 100mph/160kph speedometers. So your Oct63 (1964 model year) would definitely have been fitted originally with a 100mph speedo with amber needle & bronze knob.

The 1962-63 models (with single-carb 45hp engine) were all fitted with the 90mph/150ph speedos.

[Miguel Parot]

Ah ! That's quite interesting...
My car was built in April 1963. It is a 1963 model. So it should have been fitted with either a 90 mph (if for export)or a 150 kph.
The VW certificate shows a couple of M codes, but not the M20 code for a mph speedo.

Though, the car is currently fitted with a 100 mph.

So, my guess is that this car was originally fitted with a 150 kph, as it was not originally destined for export.
After the car was sent to the USA by its US owner, the original kph speedo was changed for a mph one. This probably happened in 1964, or later, and for this reason, the speedo in miles available on the US market was a 100.

Does this make sense ?

[Miguel Parot]

Yes it deos make sense, and I now have the evidence !
The couple of pics herebelow show the back plate of the speedo.

Two dark blue ink stamps show the date :
- 12 63 (Dec 1963) + the one in the triangular stamp shows on the top line : 37 (?)and on the bottom line : 12 63






So it is obvious that my car, built in April 1963, could not have been equipped with a speedometer manufactured in Dec. 1963 !

It is very likely that this car was built for the German market, delivered to the Landshut (Bavaria) VW dealer, then sent to the USA by her US owner, who then, sometimes in 1964, changed the km speedo for a miles speedo. As the speedo was built in Germany in Dec 1963 we may assume it was made available from a US store as of Feb. / March 1964.

I am now sending this speedo to a specialised workshop in France, that will restaure it (the needle (hand ?)) is shaking at some speed levels) and they will paint red marks on the glass with the equivalent in km. Very important to remain within speed limits...as police fines tend to increase all the time !

[Miguel Parot]

Just got my speedometer back form the workshop, this morning.
Completely cleaned and restored. A couple of inside parts have been changed (= the shop had to actually manufacture new ones, as not available anymore.

And red marks have been painted to show speed limits in km : 30 / 50 / 70 / 90 / 110.

Just have to check accuracy with the GPS on my smartphone

[Carsten Klein]

i have the correct km/h ones in my stock