TheSamba.com :: View topic - What's Best Source to Research all Original Specs for Restor

Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:16 am

Hello All...

I am in the process of restoring my '57 Oval sedan. My goal is to keep is as 100% original as possible - interior and exterior.

What are the best resources to find out what accessories, interior and exterior specs came with the '57s? I have and continue to search pics (including those on the Samba) of people's '57s on the net, but is there an official source? Should I buy a sales brochure from that year?

So far, I have the original stock 36 hp engine and am waiting for my Beetle's birth certificate for original color, interior, shipping port, etc.

There are sooo many accessories out there, but I want to find out what was all original back then to get my car as if it were driven off the lot.

Example questions I have about '57s are the following:
-Did the tires have white walls or not?
-was the headliner vinyl or cloth?
-did the seats have piping around them, etc?
-were the tire rims two-toned?
-on the left side of my speedo, there is an old clock installed - was that an accessory that came with the car?
**Things of the above nature

I know that we can all customize are gems to however we like, but I'd really like to keep mine all original, at least as much as possible.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:21 am

nichelob wrote: What are the best resources to find out what accessories, interior and exterior specs came with the '57s? Is there an official source? Should I buy a sales brochure from that year?

Collecting a sales brochure might help, but it won't have too much information. The definitive source is Progressive Refinements. It was published by VW for VW. But copies have leaked to the VW community for enthusiasts looking to get their cars as exacting as possible

Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:25 am

nichelob wrote:
Example questions I have about '57s are the following:
-Did the tires have white walls or not?
-was the headliner vinyl or cloth?
-did the seats have piping around them, etc?
-were the tire rims two-toned?
-on the left side of my speedo, there is an old clock installed - was that an accessory that came with the car?

Birth Certificates ordered a few years ago would have a listing of accessories equipped on your Beetle. Unfortunetly, the certificates being issued today have much less info printed on them. If you're lucky, your certificate will list some options, but I highly doubt it will list them all

Headliners were all cloth till the end of 1962.

Yes, seat upholstery would have had piping

Yes on the 2-toned wheels

Clocks were probably added by a previous owner at a later date. It might be era correct, but added after purchase. Post a pic of it.

Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:26 am

The book 'The Car Of The Century" , by JT Garwood, which is no longer in print, was a good book for all little details on the car and when things changed. Includes comprehensive color charts for every year. He lists many accessories too. It was a "home made" book, with no pictures, just text and occasional line drawings. The book was planned to be made into an e-book but that's been delayed. Some color chart information is available on Wolfsburg West's website. http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/colors/bug57.htm

There are some scans of old sales brochures archived on theSamba, by the way. There's a listing of them here:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/type1.php

And accessories brochures here, including a large one from 1957:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/accessories.php

There are also owner's manuals archived, but no 1957. There is a 1958, but several items changed between those two years.

To answer your questions:

Whitewalls were optional, blackwalls were stock.

Headliner was cloth, only option.

Seats did have piping.

Tire rims were two tone, in 1957 all models had their center hubs painted L87 Pearl White and the outer part of the rim was a color that matched or complimented the body color.

Clocks were available accessory and aftermarket. Some were sold to fit into the grill in the center of the dash, some sold to be put left of the spedometer, as shown in this earlier accessory brochure page:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/54-55accessories/2.jpg
What brand is yours?

Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:26 am

Dittoe J.T. Garwood The Car if the Century, Vol,#1