http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Taking-to-the-road-in-the-old-VW-bus-5129653.php#photo-5171804

This was posted on thesamba in the bus section. Thought the photos were cooler than the article. There is a discrepancy with the year description in one of the photos; can you find it?

Photo #3 is from "1965" but clearly shows a 68 or later Bug and a bay window Bus . . . 

Nope . . . I would "guess" it's a 74 or 75.  But without a doubt, it's later than a 72.

Several things give it away . . . Like Nick said, the top hinges from the rear, that is 74 and later.   Headrest started in 73 (I think).  It also has the larger fresh air intake vents that started with the Type 4 engines in 72.  Also, the bumpers and turn signals are 73 and later style, but it still has a large logo on the nose . . . the later years were a smaller logo.  I'm not sure when that changed.  If I had to guess, my best guess would be that it's a '74.

Westies never had spare tires on the nose, they were always kept inside the bus. A lot of people removed the emblems to put spare tire mounts though. I am certain that emblem is larger than any stock VW emblem ever put on a bay window, it does look about the size of a split emblem but those are curved so they wouldn't mount to the front of a bay without some flattening. I'll bring the calendar to the meeting tomorrow night and we can look at it closer maybe.

I've been working on a spreadsheet containing all the minor changes to bay windows over the years, for reference. Someone posted something similar on The Samba once and I've been adding to it.