TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1952 croth cooler ragtop

Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:44 am

I am being offered a May 1952 beetle (based on body number) with 3 fold ragtop. The obvious question is whether or not the ragtop is original (making the car a very nice collectable beetle) or welded in later (not inhterested). I am a bit puzzled about the rails (should they not consist of a long front piece and small end piece?) and the screws on top of the ragtop (2 on each side).

Yes, I know the semaphores are incorrect. :D

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:20 am

i am no expert but i believe a 52 should have 11G stamped somewhere on the VIN plate which means it is an original ragtop. someone who knows more will likely correct me if i am wrong. hope this helps.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:08 am

It seems to have 10/11 G on the VIN plate, but that plate is old and painted over. Seems fairly simple to make a C look like a G too. I hope to have the chassis number on Friday so I can ask Wolsburg.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:17 am

The screws are correct. And it should have a two pice rail, yes. Hard to tell though if this has it or not..the joint could be there somewhere. Ask for a better picture with the sunroofcover removed a little bit.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:49 am

Rails don't look right to me, but might just be the angle.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:18 am

the rail should be 2 pieces short at rear longer ahead of it. the photo shown has rails that are not correct. just because the rail is not right doesn't mean the car did not come with a sunroof.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:32 am

Thanks for the replies. I was under the same understanding, on the first picture I should see where the long front section stops and the short end section starts. Now this car has been out of storage twice in the last 4 years so the ragtop was pretty hard to open fully. Also when closing it seems the headliner does not 'return' as neatly as it was before opening.

This is by no means a cheap car, seems solid / rust free but the latest paint job is of very average quality and some split window parts are missing. How rare is a ragtop crotch cooler?

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:59 am

vwmadeinireland wrote: How rare is a ragtop crotch cooler?

An ORIGINAL is extremely rare. But I heard another one might be up for sale soon. :shock:

Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:39 am

Could be correct rail if you ask me. Here is what it should look like.
Where the short meets the long piece could be hidden in the shadow

Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:18 am

Burman wrote: Could be correct rail if you ask me. Here is what it should look like.
Where the short meets the long piece could be hidden in the shadow

That's a lovely looking car! :D :wink:

Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:38 pm

yeah...it got potential :wink:

Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:57 pm

Wiggy wrote: vwmadeinireland wrote: How rare is a ragtop crotch cooler?

An ORIGINAL is extremely rare. But I heard another one might be up for sale soon. :shock:

Yea, but I bet it will be for a wee bit more than the last time it was up for sale. :wink:

Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:43 pm

This is truth.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:55 pm

Burman wrote: Could be correct rail if you ask me. Here is what it should look like.
Where the short meets the long piece could be hidden in the shadow

I thought original split rag rails had NO rubber inserts in them for the full length of both pieces. If that is the case the long rail would be incorrect in this picture.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:00 pm

I can take some pics tomorrow of mine.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:30 pm

buggen wrote: Burman wrote: Could be correct rail if you ask me. Here is what it should look like.
Where the short meets the long piece could be hidden in the shadow

I thought original split rag rails had NO rubber inserts in them for the full length of both pieces. If that is the case the long rail would be incorrect in this picture.

Thats correct, good eye.

Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:26 pm

Wrong! The rubber insert rail type occured just before the zwitter era. Which means that a few actually have those...but you are correct...it´s not "very common"
Another difference is the reinforcement pieces in the front corners. Early splits didn´t have those. :wink: :wink:

And the "G" in 11G actually stands for Golde...But you probably allready knew :wink: :wink:

Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:38 pm

Burman wrote:
And the "G" in 11G actually stands for Golde...
What does the H stand for in an 11H car that also has a Golde sunroof?

Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:02 am

...eeeh... you got me there :shock: :shock: but so I ´ve been told and it seemed logic.
:roll:

Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:03 am

Quote: What does the H stand for in an 11H car that also has a Golde sunroof?

Hole in the roof?! :D