Originally, my car had glue on wing window latches. Numerous glue jobs over the years and I ended up putting on universal wing window clamps (JC Whitney-type). My original side mirror (one) is mounted to the door with a cable control. The mirror is poor, the adjustment doesn’t really work. The universal latches are not optimal. The later model cars have mirror(s) mounted through the wing windows that are fixed. Is it possible to retrofit to the later model wing windows and mirrors?

I got tired of trying to find glue that would keep my vent window locks from falling off. For the vent window lock try using VW beetle vent window locks. Some else on the forum recommended it. Works great, much better than the universal ones. Also no need to worry about the glue. I know a lot of people converted the later model vent window to the earlier models because the vent window is fixed, no vent option. I know my buddies who own 84 and 85.5 converted theirs.



You have to be careful and use a dremel and cut off a small piece of metal trim. Sorry took the pics with my iphone and they could of been better

Thanks, very good input, will look for VW Beetle locks, any year suggestion?

So excited about this fix ordered 68-77 L/R “rolling” type, thanks again!

red107 wrote:I got tired of trying to find glue that would keep my vent window locks from falling off. For the vent window lock try using VW beetle vent window locks. Some else on the forum recommended it. Works great, much better than the universal ones. Also no need to worry about the glue. I know a lot of people converted the later model vent window to the earlier models because the vent window is fixed, no vent option. I know my buddies who own 84 and 85.5 converted theirs.

Can you post pictures of yours? How do they look, and how do they attach to the glass?

I took my Spider to a glass shop and they glued them on, the latches have been on for 10 years now.

Red, it appears the VW latches are riveted to a VW frame. How are the latches attached to the fiat?

Sorry, by “Red” I meant Red107. RedCar I’m too late for your sensible glass shop gluing solution; it’s been decades since I’ve seen the original latches. Red107, smart or not, I bought VW vent window latches for 68-77 bug. Now My reading indicates these are ruveted to a frame. My question is what year bug latches, and how did your buddies attach them. The images in you post are not visible to me. Thanks so very much!

Yeah, you'll probably not be installing VW vent window latches on a Spider,...they are part of the VW vent window frame. I'm looking at my 1972 Superbeetle's vent windows, and I'm not even sure the latches are riveted. They look like a welded portion of the frame,...
I haven't seen alternatives to the Fiat latches. But I'd bet that you can get some NOS ones from someone like Tom at Aspen Auto Imports in Englewood, CO, or via other sources,...
Sorry that you don't have your old latches anymore, because I found "Rapid Fix", here on the forum, and I was able to glue my vent window latches in solidly using that product. Allison's Automotive:
https://allisonsautomotive.com/products ... l_fix_pack
Best of luck with mirror replacements,...I'd like to see what you come up with. I really do not like my '79 Spider's stock outer rear view mirror,...but it's original. Oh, well.
Best of luck with your '81!
Todd.

Thanks Wet will let folks know, in the final analysis my vertical mill may become part of the solution.

The VW latches you need are made by empi 68-77 VW beetle. Don't use the ones for the bus. These are not riveted. They have a channel and slide on. You must cut part of your vent window frame. Do not cut the gasket. The latch just slides on the the gasket. You can glue it if you want. They are really snug.

Is it possible to retrofit to the later model wing windows and mirrors?

Many of the cars produced after 1982 had air conditioning. So not having vent windows that open was not as important as in car without air conditioning. Also the mirrors that pass through the vent windows are very expensive and many of them have physically broken from being hit. They can not be easily repaired as the parts are a white pot metal inside a molded plastic. Welding them is the best repair but is very difficult.
There are lots of after market exterior mirrors that can be adapted to our Spiders. Rodworx.com is a site I got mine. They have a built in signal light arrow.

I ran across VW beetle vent window hardware while looking for other parts for my bug,...red107 is correct, the vent window latches are riveted into the vent window frames and are easily available. The latches have a short channel that 'cups' around the glass, unlike the Spider's, that glues onto the glass. You would have to cut part of the bottom of the Spider's vent window frame to install them,...
Here's a couple of examples:
https://www.mamotorworks.com/VW/product ... eft_303507
https://www.mamotorworks.com/VW/product ... eft-353748
Just FYI.

Thanks, I ordered and am waiting delivery, will advise thanks very much!

Well, I’ve got VW wing window latches in-hand, and I also found the original latches. So, I bought the magic two part expoxy from Allison’s Automotive and will try glue one more time before I take a Dremel to my window frames. But I’m definitely prepared.