Just looking at my buggy project and trying to decided what needs to be changed. At the moment it has a standard beetle steering column from what I believe to be a 1968 beetle. The ignition switch and barrel needs to be replaced and am unsure if the indicator and lights stalks are working correctly so wondering if to change the lot. What are the thought on this or is there a common system used by others ?  I am new to the buggy scene so any advise is welcome.

I think generally VW did a great job of designing the steering column and its innards... 

I use a '72 column and it all works very well, for me anyway, the ignition barrel is contained in it as
is the indicator stalk and dip switch, which is actioned through the indicator stalk in a sequential style,
ie pull, pull, pull, the dip/main beams just switching from one to the other.

I spray WD40 inside now and again and so far its all worked perfectly. Its simple and effective with
no annoyances so you forget all about it really, until you need to use it. I really like
the sequential and very light pressure it needs to toggle the headlights up and down.

There are probably loads of other ways to do this and others will pipe up, but VW nailed it in one as far as I am concerned 

Peter

Anything can be fitted with fabrication and perhaps a welder, I have one with a beetle inner lower section and a mini top section fitted with LDV switches and another with a  complete rover 114 column others use mk4 golf parts.

Thanks for the feedback Peter and snoopy.

I have a few months till I start the rebuild so may keep my options open for the moment and have a closer look at what I have. The previous owner lost the ignition key and made a mess of taking the ignition out which resulted with most of it being wrecked.  Getting replacement parts would be easier as all the electrical connections are complete.  Hey, these are the issues think about.  Thanks guys.

As Snoopy says, anything is possible. Mines from a Seat/VW polo

I retained the VW steering column, but welded on a few brackets at the top to accept Ford XR3i cowlings and switchgear

I used a staandard 73 ish column, kept the single stalk and used its functions, but removed ignition barrel and lock but re fitted the key Escutcheon as a dummy and have an ignition key/ switch on the dash , and seperate battery cut off behinf seats, so pretty good security. Switches on column works well and is easy as links to your standard speedo warning and indicator lights, of course, this would have been very tricky for a non electrical person such as me without much brilliant input from chad, snoops shaggy , dve dnd and numerous others 👍

MX5 column/keys and electronics. I removed the rhs stalk as I don't have wipers. Everything has to run through relays though .
The old key and column bits are in the Hospital charity sale thread (I think the key is in it, if not it is around somewhere). The ignition has been reduced to the essentials but the barrel works.

Thanks again guys for the feedback. I have a dash mounted ignition switch that I was thinking of using if i can not find the right parts for my steering column (and providing all the ancillaries work) - but at least i know i have options if i need to replace the complete column