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Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:49 am

Hi Guys

I'm struggling to find a front quarter to repair my 50 with. It had a nasty knock in 66 and has been tucked away in a barn since then.

I wondered if I could use an easily avalible genuine 70's front 1/4 and then chop in the metalwork to make it look like a genuine 50 front 1/4 as the impact was mainly on the wing and its pushed the whole 1/4 in and folded the front up. I know it would be a fair bit of work but my main problem is that becouse the front quarter is in a bad way its hard to know whats different and whats crash.

Are there any repair panels that will suit?

Let me know what you think and whats I'll need to do!

Cheers

Seb

Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:09 am

Seb, I'm going to be repairing my '51 with the front end off a '58. Johnny Abbott at Java was in California somewhere and found a '58 ragtop with the back stoved in - I had the front clip and a mate had the ragtop and doors for his '64. There are some differences in the wheel well area but the general shape is closer than the later quarters.
I can't see your photos (work blocks Photobucket!) but I'd say you'd be better off getting a piece cut out of another car that's closer in shape.

I'm planning on seperating off the scuttle, dash down to the bulkhead and A-posts, and the heater channels, and letting the whole front end in in one go. The '58 quarters will be held together by the bulkhead and wheel well, and will be aligned by the A-posts, beam and bonnet.

Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:32 am

Its only the one quarter I need, the rest is salvagable. I'll give java a shout. I havn't spoken to jon in ages he used to do me some fab deals!

Seb

Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:43 am

beetleseb wrote: Its only the one quarter I need, the rest is salvagable. I'll give java a shout. I havn't spoken to jon in ages he used to do me some fab deals!

Seb

He's a good lad! Not working out of Kingfisher any more - think he's over Stafford/Rugely way. Even if a cut out panel needs repair, it's easy enough to do that while it's in bits and you can get to both sides - having said that, my front from Jon has already had the bumper mount area and the lower flitches done, but I'll re-do those when it's all on the car so that I know it's on square!

Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:29 am

Darn he's not got anything and not back over there till october!

I've had a good look at a heritge panel and its gonna have to be a pre 59 donor.

Right wheres that phone

Seb

Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:14 am

Seb,Your panel is not that bad , A good body worker should be able to repair it without using alot of bondo !
or cantact Bob from BBT Belgium, he bought a set NOS panels from me, maybe he's sels one to you !

Guido

Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:59 pm

Hi Seb,

I bought an NOS front quarter for my 47 from Owen, wasn't cheap though :shock: I agree with Guido yours could be repaired by a good panel beater, mine is worse and I am definitely going to try and save the original metal first before replacing it. I would much prefer original metal even if it does retain a few battle scars, in my cars case caused by a drunk owners encounter with a lamp post back in the 50s :lol:

Cheers
Kev

Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:33 pm

My car came from owen. I think when he got it it had a panel but he sold it on............

So far hes been a real star, I kept ringing him today to ask silly quesions and he keeps finding me bargins

I'll go panel beater hunting asap. I did spend my afternoon by not mending the dents and getting the nasty grey paint off that someone put on it. I found the original brown and its not too bad.

Its gonna take a while to do the whole car though!

Seb

Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:41 pm

sweet. yeah that panel isnt bad at all, some hammer work and youll be fine.
keep us updated as it gets back on the road. sick car, and sweet og paint. :)

Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:59 am

Great finding the og paint and brown is my favourite colour for a split :D hard to tell from the pics but it looks fairly dark, chestnut brown perhaps as opposed to medium brown ?

Be great to see it all back to og paint

Cheers
Kev

Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:01 pm

mightymouse wrote: sweet. yeah that panel isnt bad at all, some hammer work and youll be fine.
keep us updated as it gets back on the road. sick car, and sweet og paint. :)

I'd second that. Find a good panel guy and have it hammered out. Beats cobbling something together from later metal and probably just as easy...

Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:14 pm

Not sure on which paint it is as my vw certificate shows no colour known. Its a june 1950 so if anyone knows then let me! I've got to match the wings to it.

I'm hoping all the paint comes of easily, I did try searching for advice on here as I know its been asked before but couldn't find it. If it does then I don't need to get that 1/4 perfect as it'll show its history a bit! I'd hate to use bondo on her, shes never even been welded yet!

Just gotta find the rest of the interior now!

Seb

Fri Jun 06, 2008 7:23 pm

I think the color could be chestnut brown !
Like this decklid in the ad !
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=591980

Guido

Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:51 am

There's loads of info in this bus thread...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=76072

These should help you determine the colour, Bob Wilsons book states chestnut brown not available until '51 and these confirm.

http://karmannghia.org/paint_chips/start_3.gif

http://karmannghia.org/paint_chips/start_4.gif

could be L72 dark brown - Production begin - oct '52

Regards
Kev

Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:35 pm

Its hard to tell from piccys but the car came via mrsherbie on here so I'll ask her when I see her.

She'll be pleased to see it going og brown but will hate me again as I'm going to lower it and go rhd (I'm in the UK)

Seb