Rear Parcel Shelf

Can anyone tell me how the rear parcel shelf originally fixed to the back of the rear seats?

I've currently got 2 GTi's - 1 doesn't have it's parcel shelf fixed at all so is free swinging and the other had the flap of material screwed to the back of the rear seat with a strip of metal.

I'm lucky enough to have a brand new unused rear parcel shelf which I've just put in and as I'm trying to keep the car as original as possible I'd like to fix it corectly.

Can anyone help?

The screws and strip of metal sounds like the factory solution 8O

Now that's what I call a quick reply!  

I guess it could be, it's just that the strip of metal looked like one of those strips that you use to hold down house carpet, which wouldn't surprise me as the previous owner was not one for keeping things original!

It would be interesting to hear from others on this.

Same as mate - its def the metal strip - there is also some elastic pieces on the end that go into some special plastic holders that fit over the metal strip

The strip of metal does look a bit odd but it does the job. Actually this metal strip was added a couple of years into production to cure a problem - originally the shelf material was screwed directly to the seat back but after a while the screw/washer would tear though the material. The metal strip spreads the load and solved the problem.

Thanks guys, appreciate the quick response.

I'll be screwing that metal strip back on again tonight!
 

The elastic already mentioned is usually missing. There is a piece at each end attached to the black plastic corners of the shelf and take up the slack in the material 'hinge' and stop the shelf moving around when in position.

Unfortunately I don't seem to have that.

Does anyone know if it's possible to still get these or does someone have one they're willing to sell? Even a photo of one installed would be useful as I could make one up.

Ive got a pair of the black plastic corners

HAve a look at the way we tackle it Down Under!
http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/vwforum/viewtopic.php?t=154

I have just bought a new parcel shelf and I have the same issue.  The original was screwed to the back seats through a metal strip - I though that this was a botch job by the original owner but from what I read, this is correct?

If this is how it is supposed to fit, how do you put the rear seats down - the parcel shelf must get in the way?

Are the ones you guys have bought original or reproductions?

 

IanRBrown said

I have just bought a new parcel shelf and I have the same issue.  The original was screwed to the back seats through a metal strip - I though that this was a botch job by the original owner but from what I read, this is correct?

If this is how it is supposed to fit, how do you put the rear seats down - the parcel shelf must get in the way?

After unhooking the plastic hangers, the shelf just lays on the rear portion of the seat.

On my 81, the shelf was screw-clamped to the rear of the back seat.  So that when you un-hooked the rubber supports, and folded the seats the parcel shelf folded down with the back, and if you undid the latches on the sides of the bottom seat pivots, the seat would fold up against the seat back and you have more cargo area.