TheSamba.com :: View topic - Should I cut in a 56 rag top clip onto my hard top? Opinion?

Sat May 03, 2008 8:11 pm

Hello everyone, this is my first post on THESAMBA and my first VW purchase.
I recently picked up a 1956 hard top oval window. Overall, the car is in pretty good shape with minimal rust and most interior pieces are intact, but in need of restoration. It even has the original seats and door panels. All numbers appear to match, including original motor, pan and shell.
The unfortunate issue is that this bug was converted into a Baja back in the 1970's. All 4 original fenders have been cut back and the rear apron that surrounds the motor has been cut back entirely to the fire wall, exposing the motor.
My plan is to restore it back to its original state, or as it would have come off the assembly line.
My question is that I would like to cut in a 56 rag top clip, but I've been told that the 1956 model came with it's own unique rag top that was only made for that particular year- sort of a cross between the 1955 and 1957 rag top parts.
Can anyone please confirm this. If so, would anyone be nice enough to email me some photos of what the correct rag top mechanism should look like for a 1956 model?
I'm also looking for a rear motor hood w/tail light housing, rear motor apron, 4- fenders and marker lights and bumpers.
call me crazy, but I hope someone in the Southern California area can hook me up with the missing pieces.
Thanks
Mark

Sat May 03, 2008 8:16 pm

it had 2 square corners and two round corners, but is basically the same sunroof as a 57-63. All you would have to fake is the rear. I would rather have a whole in the roof.

Sat May 03, 2008 8:20 pm

55 and back 3-fold 56 and up 2-fold good luck on finding a complte 3-foild assembly stick with org, 2-fold

Sat May 03, 2008 8:27 pm

If you want a ragtop buy a ragtop. I feel that one should not do anything to any car that is not reversible. If your car is what you say it is you may be able to trade it for a ragtop. But in the end it is your car and you should do with it what you want. But you asked our opinion and my is no leave it a hard top. The hard top model is the best. The best replacement parts are at bfy in orange.

Sat May 03, 2008 11:08 pm

If the car had never been cut before I would think twice about putting in a sunroof, BUT since it has butchered already is missing alot of its original sheetmetal then Id do it.

Sun May 04, 2008 12:25 am

Mark,
If you want to cut the roof then it is your car, go right ahead - but I would suggest you get all the bits together before you start. While you are looking for the bits, keep you eyes open for a real ragtop - you never know your luck.
Cut cleanly and you can always weld the hard top back in. A recent VWMA article had a car that had been unragtopped.
I may be a bit biased as I am contemplating doing the exact same thing with my 57.

Welcome aboard. There is a huge amount of info available on TheSamba, and some around here have an astonishing amount of knowledge about these cars.

Simon

Sun May 04, 2008 7:16 am

Volumex wrote: Mark,
If you want to cut the roof then it is your car, go right ahead - but I would suggest you get all the bits together before you start. While you are looking for the bits, keep you eyes open for a real ragtop - you never know your luck.
Cut cleanly and you can always weld the hard top back in. A recent VWMA article had a car that had been unragtopped.
I may be a bit biased as I am contemplating doing the exact same thing with my 57.

Welcome aboard. There is a huge amount of info available on TheSamba, and some around here have an astonishing amount of knowledge about these cars.

Simon

I very much appreciate all the comments, suggestions and opinions. I'm really on the fence about this decision. As Simon pointed out, my car has already been butchered and cut, so I tend to be leaning towards cutting in the rag top although I know this goes against any purist belief. I live in Southern California and fortunately there are many talented metal fabricators who I know can do a clean job of cutting in the sun roof.
But before I attack the ragtag, my first concern is to locate the rear motor apron and fenders.
Thanks,
Mark

Sun May 04, 2008 7:21 am

Steve Moore wrote: 55 and back 3-fold 56 and up 2-fold good luck on finding a complte 3-foild assembly stick with org, 2-fold

Steve, thank you for the insight and the information. Is there any truth to what I have heard? Does the 56 ragtop come with its own unique design with rounded corners on one side and square on the other?
Thanks
Mark

Sun May 04, 2008 4:32 pm

markulves wrote: Steve Moore wrote: 55 and back 3-fold 56 and up 2-fold good luck on finding a complte 3-foild assembly stick with org, 2-fold

Steve, thank you for the insight and the information. Is there any truth to what I have heard? Does the 56 ragtop come with its own unique design with rounded corners on one side and square on the other?
Thanks
Mark

Hi,

To answer your question,
Yes, the 56 had a unique ragtop, well actually two unique ragtops and a common ragtop.
It was the changeover year beginning in AUgust 1955 with a 2 fold 2 rear square corners, progressing mid production to a changed 2 fold 2 rear square corners and then at the end of production and through the end of USA ragtop in 1963, the common 4 rounded corner ragtop.
Post your chassis number from under the back seat and we'll see what your should have.
Sounds like a lot of work to put this back to OG. I wish you well with that project but I guess better adding some metal back on instead of the East Coast rust repair regime.

Educate yourself about original fenders / bumpers and other parts before you go plunking down good money on crummy stuff.

If you are going to graft in a ragtop, take the time, do it correctly so that the bastard roof really doesn't LOOK like a bastard. Do your research, educate yourself on the procedures, there are different schools of thought on how to graft in a top. Some undo the rail rails, some cut the pillars, some just cut the hole and install the assembly from the bottom and weld it in place. Know what you are doing and the risk of each method as well as the benefits. Of course I have my preferred method.......

Dave