TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:38 pm

here are some pics i took of one in the mid 90's. if it was real or not i have no idea. this was the only time i ever saw the car. these are the only pics i have. does anyone know of this car and if so ?

Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:51 pm

Matt, nice pic. The ashtray is hiding :D. However steering wheel immediately creates some doubt in my mind 8) Who knows, maybe you found it???? :wink:

Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:24 am

just going off of memory i believe the ashtray was correct. i had my 53 at the show and he was trying to buy my 383 distributor off of my car, he offered me $300 for it back then. i of course told him no :D . at the time i ASSUMED it to be original and correct, but i would like to see it again to give it a closer look and yeah that steering wheel definately is not.

Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:19 pm

This is such an interesting discussion that I have to wiegh in. I have seen so many contradictions to common knowledge over the years of being around, working on, and owning VWs. Ive seen brazilian barndoors with crazy sheet metal, southafrican baywindows with corner windows, 74 beetles with 64 sheet metal, Ive own a 64 non pushbutton dash notch with an original early horngrill front apron. Ive seen and owned 55 beetles in ever way shape and form with grooved doors and without, with semiphores and without, with heart eggshells and baby taillights. I have seen 59 beetles with original pushbutton doors. Late model beetles with factory installed golde sunroofs. Matt howard had a 51 standard with a factory or dealer installed sunroof(three fold). I have even seen and worked on an orginal 1961 flat tank semiphore car, no shit, not supposed to exist and Ive never seen another one. I cant imagine VW never made a RHD sunroof switter. They have made every veriation of everyother car. Including RHD ragtop double glovebox splits. Whether or not an example STILL exists in probably more of a valid question. Im inclined to view VW make and model year rules like the english language, "There are exceptions to every rule". And anyone whos really been around these cars probalby feels the same way.

The fact that this car has the wrong steering wheel to me actually makes me believe its an all original sheet metal car. Whats the chances that someone would go to the trouble of finding a 52/53 only RHD dash section or go to the trouble to make the dash section look original IE; install the starter button in the correct location and not stay on track and find the correct wheel? I would say that the dash is original and the car had its steering wheel replaced at some point. The ragtop even seems original if you use this logic. Would have been easier to find a 2 fold section for sure. Anyway, these are just theories, who really know for sure.

Anyone else notice the molding sticking up on the hood or the front bumper gaurds in the inner bolts instead of outter. LOL. Attention to detail.

Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:44 pm

You missed the fake '49 hubcaps. :wink: Are those "smooth" semaphores?
What's with the arm rest on the driver's side?..........This car is a HACK.
:D

Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:55 pm

53 0val wrote: You missed the fake '49 hubcaps. :wink: Are those "smooth" semaphores?

Fuck bob, for an old man you have good eyes...

Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:03 pm

The driver's side arm rest is as stupid as the steering wheel........IMO.

Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:25 pm

53 0val wrote: You missed the fake '49 hubcaps. :wink: Are those "smooth" semaphores?
What's with the arm rest on the driver's side?..........This car is a HACK.
:D

bob. got the number for your eye doctor handy. I could use it.

Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:25 pm

Look like Dr. Delete Post was at it again. Would have loved to have seen the rebuttal....

Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:28 pm

Yep, lets keep it civil please.

55rs thinks there weren't any, someone posts a pic of one, and the collective expertise says its a hack (I agree). Everyone with an opinion seems to have expressed it already, so we'll leave it at that.

Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:36 pm

Wiggy wrote: Look like Dr. Delete Post was at it again. Would have loved to have seen the rebuttal....

Nothing was deleted.............I called up the post to add the information about the armrest and Trayle posted before I re-posted. :roll: You need to take a chill pill Kevin. :wink:

Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:42 pm

Wiggy wrote: Look like Dr. Delete Post was at it again. Would have loved to have seen the rebuttal....

I now "see" what you mean. Forget the chill pill..................let's get ugly in here. :evil: :wink:

Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:43 pm

Ya, Bob aint fuckn with me, he knows......... Im not tryin to get beat up by an old man.... LOL...

Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:07 pm

johnshenry wrote: Yep, lets keep it civil please.

Hmmmmm.....I've seen you throw a few down already John........

Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:08 pm

Wiggy wrote: johnshenry wrote: Yep, lets keep it civil please.

Hmmmmm.....I've seen you throw a few down already John........

x2 8)

Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:14 pm

Rich's 50 wrote: Wiggy wrote: johnshenry wrote: Yep, lets keep it civil please.

Hmmmmm.....I've seen you throw a few down already John........

x2 8)

Yes, I know, I'm guilty too. Something about a pot and a kettle... :wink: . but I've been "spoken too" and try to look at all of these discussions (including those I am involved in) objectively now, and keep them on topic and keep a lid on the bickering.

Although personal opinion-type debate can be civil and work without the "dumbass" kind of remarks (and I enjoy it as well), in light of this thread, and this topic, it seemed best to keep it out....

Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:16 pm

O.K.,

I'll throw out an apology. Just because believe it or not, I'm really a nice guy. But on that topic, I didn't delete any posts in here. And based on Kevins post above, I'm lead to believe I missed out on something interesting. You're more than welcome to PM me with those type of comments in the future.

Look. I'm not saying they don't exist. If I knew that, I wouldn't have started the thread. I am genuinely interested in the topic. I jumped the gun when I didn't get any positive feedback about it.

I have to agree that it's more likely that they DID exist. After all, my RHD 55 was orange from the showroom floor. I'm not arguing the idea of factory inconsistancies.

What got me going was the "prove it didn't exist" mentality, when to me it would much easier to just get someone to post up some pics of one and some verification of authenticity, rather than argue the "statistical" possibility based on production numbers etc. I just think it's odd that so many people with so many years in the hobby have never come across one that they can verify as authentic. Therefore it would seem to me that it might be one of the more attractive vehicles to search for....

After all this, if I told you I had one in the garage and I could prove it was real (obviously I don't), what would the demand be for the car? I might be speaking just for myself, but I would be willing to dump 10k for a total bucket at this point. (if it was real of course)

Anyway. Totally derailed topic. Kind of.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:42 pm

I'll also state for the record that I was warned by this one really old guy about this thread and its possible climate escalation.

That's what I get for not learning from my elders. lol.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:46 pm

What!? Now you're raggin' on old dudes? Sheesh, guy!! Have you no shame??!! :wink:

Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:48 pm

Splitdog wrote: Sheesh, guy!! Have you no shame??!! :wink:

You already know that answer!
:D