TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:13 pm

I have been registered here for a long time but I don't think I have ever posted. It has been 12yrs since I owned a VW and I am now very close to owning another.

Now I would like to say thanks since it only took me 5 min. and the search function to find out where the chassis VIN is located.

I have found a 58/59 beetle with no title. The owner has a 63 title that will go with the car if I want it, but I am set on getting a 58 title. I took a few pics of the chassis since the car is COMPLETELY stripped. I looked at the pics and found where the VIN is at on the tunnel, but can't really see it in the pic.

I will go tomorrow and get the numbers and run a search and if everything works out; the car will be mine this weekend!

Thanks again, I am ready to get acquainted with you guys!

now time to go dig up my idiot manual..lol

Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:48 am

Hi Tony G,

Don't be a stranger around here. I'm really new here, but every one (well 99.999% of them) is so patient and helpful. And as you have found out the "search" function can be your best friend. It is as patient as you are. :wink:

Please post some pics of the '58 when you get it, OK?

Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:50 am

You might want to post pictures BEFORE you buy it if you can! That way we may be able to point out things you don't see.

As for your title, this can be a problem. It really depends a lot on your state and how they operate.

There are title companies that can get a title for you. (usually out of state). It used to cost about $100 and took about 3 weeks.

Good luck and welcome aboard.

Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:51 pm

Thanks guys! I have a couple pics of the pan. The body is stripped to bare metal right now and has very little rust. The car has big back glass, semaphores, the guy I am getting it from has started putting a sliding rag in, two sets of fenders in good condition. the deck lid is from a later 60's, but I will find a correct lid. original engine and transaxle(inspected by local VW shop).

It will be kinda ratty when I get it on the road, but no worse than some I have seen here..lol. I kinda like the rough look, but it won't stay that way.
sorry about the pics.. my camera fogged up. lol

I am off to get get the numbers now..

Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:02 am

Got the numbers on my way to work yesterday and called a friend to have him run them for me. Body and pan match. He told me the numbers came back 59 model on the body, chassis and engine. Now.. time to search for title.

Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:17 am

ok, now I am really confused. Friend that looked up the numbers told me it was 59 on everything. But after double checking the chart here; it shows may of 1960 on everything....

anyone want to confirm?

chassis and body numbers : 3100257

engine : 3840547

Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:27 am

Yup, that looks like May '60 with likely the original engine. I had a feeling it was later than March '60 due to the steering damper on the beam, and the fact everything looks pretty un-messed-with.

Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:36 am

60's a great year! I'd personally rather have a 60 than a 58 or 59.

What about the body? I see the floor pans have been removed.
Look carefully at the heater channels and the rockers where the running board bolts onto it for cancer.

Good Luck

Dave

Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:18 pm

i will have more pics probably with a new thread here soon. Heater channels have a few holes in them. I have found NO rot in the body anywhere else. A little pitting on the roof, but not bad. The car is 95% blasted to bare metal. It shouldn't be hard to get a title with all the correct numbers, right?

Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:41 pm

Tony G wrote: i will have more pics probably with a new thread here soon. Heater channels have a few holes in them. I have found NO rot in the body anywhere else. A little pitting on the roof, but not bad. The car is 95% blasted to bare metal. It shouldn't be hard to get a title with all the correct numbers, right?

Hi
You want us to all say "Right, it'll not be a problem".

Truth be told, these forums are full of sob stories of people who purchased a car without a title and the aggravation they've gone through. To be fair there are some that haven't had big problems and are just fine.

It all depends upon your State rules and truthfully even your local DMV representative. I don't know Texas so won't speculate. I'd check out Texas' rules before putting out cash.
There are a fair quantity of stolen VW's that are never seen again, is this one of them??

Be careful, get documentation from the seller, include name address phone number and even drivers license number. Make sure the person selling it to you is who he says he is. If he balks, I'd balk. SAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION you get until the car is no longer yours and even then maybe longer to head off future law suits should the car eventually be identified as stolen.

Odds are that all will be fine but then again someone will be the next sob story, will it be you??
Good luck, be smart.

Dave

Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:00 pm

thanks again. I know the individual and even a couple owners back. I am sure a title is somewhere between them; but if not, my father-in-law lives in alabama.. so I do have a back up plan. :wink: