TheSamba.com :: View topic - My '59 Beetle project. Fresh Pics Added Regularly!!

Wed Oct 25, 2006 7:50 pm

Thanks Rich... I appreciate the praise. It is looking better now that I am welding pieces in, instead of cutting them out !!!

More pics tomorrow.. Steve

'59 Beetle

Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:01 pm

I cut out the napoleon hat/front floor frame. I had to modifiy the "new" part extensively to make it fit properly. You can see the gaps by the tunnel and the cuts I made at the top to make it wider. Also I cut out the passenger floor and made a patch for the frame head, left side. Yesterday I removed the drivers door after I was happy with the fit, I welded in a couple more bars for the left "a" pillar. To make sure it doesn't move and so I can replace the lower left "a" pillar. Today I trimmed the driver's floor pan and punched 5/16 holes in it around the perimeter. Check out the pix and the link to more.. Jon my 14 yr old son was in yesterday to help with restoration.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v318/CUSHE63/59%20Beetle%202/

Enjoy, Steve

'59 Beetle

Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:34 pm

Shit i wish you were my Dad, you would save me so much money :D

Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:37 pm

Rich's 50 wrote: Shit i wish you were my Dad, I wouldnt be so damn dark :D

:shock:

Sat Oct 28, 2006 5:58 am

I have roughly 60 hrs in this project so far. I chose the Beetle for the simplicity of construction and ease of finding quality replacement parts. I also happen to have a love for old cars (my dad had many beetles back in the 60's and mid 70's). Restoration is my passion. I do collision work for a living and I get great satisfaction from rebuilding wrecks. But restoration is my favorite. Making pieces fit together with no seams and very little bondo is my specialty. I will be installing the right rocker and floor pan tomorrow. Then I will have to fabricate about 8 pieces that are not available in the aftermarket world. I want to make it look as if they were original, whether they are covered with carpet or anything else. I know they are there. I will keep posting pictures as I make progress with this full body off resto !!

Steve

'59 Beetle

ps Rich,,, I am not looking to adopt. Sorry. 3 kids are enough. More VW's yes..Kids no.

Sat Oct 28, 2006 8:47 am

CUSHE63 wrote:

ps Rich,,, I am not looking to adopt. Sorry. 3 kids are enough. More VW's yes..Kids no.

But i come with alot of VW'S projects :cry: I am just playing i will not bug you anymore POP'S but you do some great work and if you were in Cali i would send you some work for sure........

Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:11 pm

Rich, You can bug me all you want. I enjoy the comments and my boys look forward to them too. That way this post is easy to find.

Also....... you come with many VW projects ? I might have to re-think that adoption thing.. I'm only 43, but another kid might be worth it. I'm already thinking of the next project. But I will enjoy this '59 for right now. I have to say that restoring it has been a savior for my mind. I started this project as a way to keep my mind off the death of my grandfather. And to build something in his memory. And to spend some precious time with my car crazy boys.

He always pushed me to be the best at what I do. He also helped me out when I needed to get tools to start my body career. He was always there with a kind word, and when you needed to hear you were worth a damn. It has worked so far. I named my '59 Eddie in his honor. He hated being called that. But it fits the car.

Steve

'59 Beetle

Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:51 pm

Here are a few pics from today:

1st pic heater channel cut out, next up heater channel set in place, next one heater channel welded in place and lastly passenger floor set in place ready for hole puncher..

Enjoy, Steve

'59 Beetle

Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:55 am

Here I have the floors welded in place. Next up : the "A" pillars and front aprons. I'm getting a parts car for some other metal that isn't available aftermarket. An already stripped shell with rocker and floor rot, but with some nice metal under the hood and inner 1/4's..

Enjoy the pics !!

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v318/CUSHE63/59%20Beetle%202/

Check this link for more close ups and other pics..Thanks, Steve

'59 Beetle project

Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:10 am

Hey! Someone pee'd on your passenger door.

Nice work.

Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:34 am

You really never know how bad the rust is until you actually get it cut apart. It looks as though it has had its share of rotten winters, but the repair work is looking great. It can be very time consuming but rewarding as well, i will continue to follow your progress.

Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:46 pm

javabug wrote: Hey! Someone pee'd on your passenger door.

Nice work.

Thanks Mike....And Real funny !!!! Lol !!!!

Here are a couple more pics for everyone: before:

After:

Enjoy, Steve

'59 Black Beauty Beetle

Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:42 pm

More pix:

Enjoy, Steve

'59 Black Beauty Beetle

Sun Nov 05, 2006 12:35 pm

Hello all. I got some more done this weekend. I purchased a 63 parts car that was listed here at the Samba. Got it friday, cut it up saturday. I retreived the front package shelf, rear lower firewall, left inner 1/4, lower corners of rear package shelf. I have the chassis with transmission and balance of suspension left over to sell. Here are a couple pix to enjoy. If you have any questions or comments, please post them here. This car is alot worse than originally thought. But I am enjoying every minute of the restoration.

Enjoy, Steve

'59 Black Beauty Beetle

Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:20 pm

Great work.

Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:08 pm

Lidpainter wrote: Great work.

It sure is. :wink:

Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:04 pm

Thanks guys !!!! Compliments appreciated. It has taken me 25 yrs of muscle cars to finally wake up and restore a "real" car. As I've said before. I take great pride in the work I perform. I love it when people say "I can't tell where you've spliced it" or " That looks better than factory". I will keep the pics and descriptions coming.

Steve

'59 Black Beauty Beetle

Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:14 pm

I got the right A pillar in yesterday. Today was installation time. I got the inner 1/4's all welded up and the rear package area too. Here are the pix:

Enjoy, Steve

Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:19 pm

A pillar installation:

Tomorrow the wheelhouse gets trimmed and installed.I did install the inner pillar too. The nutplate was rotted also...Steve

Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:07 pm

nice work man . 59s rock! :wink: