Baffles behind front grille - what are they for?

[Pootle]

The baffles shown below are behind the front grille. They've finally fallen off their fixings. I can't believe they've lasted this long (20 years) since they only seem to be made out of thick hardboard.

VAGCAT doesn't even show them: http://www.vagcat.com/epc/cat/vw/T2/1989/78/56/888348

What are they for? Should I replace them? Can I buy replacements?

[dink]

As far as i know they are purely to keep the wind out
twin headlap grills never had them
when i pulled my grill off, they were both barely hanging on, so I pulled them off and glued them on with plastic pipe adhesive
they were both firmly stuck on, the next time I had to take the grill off

[Mocki]

they are there to shovel the air into the centre, nothing more.
mine went in the bin years ago, and were replaced by parts of a corrigated plastic for sale sign from up the road, painted black.

[Ian Hulley]

And when I refurbed my front grill I refixed mine using zip-clips Onkel VW clearly put them there for some reason best known to himsen

Ian.

[Pootle]

And when I refurbed my front grill I refixed mine using zip-clips Onkel VW clearly put them there for some reason best known to himsen

Yep so did I, you can't see the cable ties from the front.