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Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:17 am

this topic is so remote-i'll be lucky if any comments! as you know-the perfectly restored car for show should have a correct manual and correct tool kit as supplied by the factory. the next item or items i would ad to the list would be the correct vw key and.....the tag that came on the key with serial number and vw logo. when splitting the hairs on a couple nice cars-i would look for these items and give the nod on the really complete car. next show-see who 'kicks it up a knotch'! i will post a picture in gallery.

Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:55 am

I got the original key, ring and tag when I got the car, and added one of my grandfathers dog tags. The first show I went to I had a spare set of keys made, and the key guy commented that he hadnt seen a metal tag in years. When I got home I put the originals in a safe place. So safe that I can't find them.

Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:14 pm

Here's the original key and tag from my 63 Dormobile:

Wed Jun 24, 2009 2:00 pm

I got the same one for my 1960 beetle! Nice to see this topic. I spoke to someone who worked for VW in the sixties, and he said me they were never delivered with such a key tag. He was wrong! :lol:

Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:18 pm

I'm guessing that the number is the VIN?

Life is strange. I'd never heard of these before this past Friday when I was given one that was in a box of junk left by my recently deceased uncle. I had no idea what it was, but it had "VW" on it, so I kept it.

Less than a week later this thread pops up. What're the odds?

Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:11 pm

I would love to meet a show judge that would notice that key tag w/o having it pointed out to them on a call out sheet.

Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:38 am

Those look easy enough to make.

Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:39 pm

Anchovy wrote: Those look easy enough to make.

That would be a cool thing to have..start makin' em and I'll take one!

Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:56 pm

zozo wrote: I'm guessing that the number is the VIN?

Life is strange. I'd never heard of these before this past Friday when I was given one that was in a box of junk left by my recently deceased uncle. I had no idea what it was, but it had "VW" on it, so I kept it.

Less than a week later this thread pops up. What're the odds?

This tag looks earlier and better made than the others in this thread. The number puts it as a 1958 bug.

Can you scan it next to a ruler and let me know the thickness?

Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:13 pm

It's 1/32" thick and this long:

I'm fairly certain it's from my uncle's '58 bug that he bought new and had shipped in while living in Nome, Alaska.

He told me stories about running out of gas and managing to still drive it, running on gin, so he wouldn't freeze beside the road.

He loaned it to a friend that promptly rolled it. They used a 2x4 and a jack to push the door openings back into shape, popped out the roof with his feet, and kept using it as always.

When he found out that I was into VWs, he dug through his garage and mailed me the round Hazet tool kit that came in the '58.

He eventually cut up the '58 and made a "beach buggy" out of it. I've got a couple pictures of it that I haven't scanned in. He sure loved his VWs and Porsches.

Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:59 pm

This one^^^^^ looks like a nice one with a bit of thickness to it...the other ones with the cut corners look thinner and more "temporary". This one also seems to have cleaner logo and number stampings.

Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:07 pm

hitest wrote: I would love to meet a show judge that would notice that key tag w/o having it pointed out to them on a call out sheet.

Most show judges are people who lack any real knowledge of the vehicles they are judging or craftsmanship. They are usually just bodies who show up and like blue cars or red Ghias or "Buggies".....not their fault, but no real criteria like real concours or anything close. It is much more like a popularity contest....so the key tag will never count, except when I look at your VW and talk for 30 minutes on how great it is to see someone who cares about detail.

Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:12 pm

zozo wrote: It's 1/32" thick and this long:

I'm fairly certain it's from my uncle's '58 bug that he bought new and had shipped in while living in Nome, Alaska.

He told me stories about running out of gas and managing to still drive it, running on gin, so he wouldn't freeze beside the road.

He loaned it to a friend that promptly rolled it. They used a 2x4 and a jack to push the door openings back into shape, popped out the roof with his feet, and kept using it as always.

When he found out that I was into VWs, he dug through his garage and mailed me the round Hazet tool kit that came in the '58.

He eventually cut up the '58 and made a "beach buggy" out of it. I've got a couple pictures of it that I haven't scanned in. He sure loved his VWs and Porsches.

Very cool key chain. I would love to have one with the vin stamped in it for my 58. Oh, and cool ruler. Along with VW's I am also a WWII collector. :wink:

Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:37 am

The first two tags pictures are the shape of the one that came with my 59. The corners are clipped and the hole for the ring oval.
The lettering on mine was like the 2nd one pictured.
The first two appear to be a bit thinner than the third kind. I know on mine the VW symbol was stamped deep- you could see/feel the VW on the back side.

I'd hazard a guess that different key companies made slightly different tags.

Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:52 pm

Shooot, not so rare. I have the tag and og keys for my 63 all og sunroof notchback :wink:

Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:41 am

Hey guys,

John (zozo) was kind enough to lend me his original tag so I could make up some reproductions. If you are interested in having a tag made with your VIN, check the classifieds. I will make a batch once a month, or more often, based on orders.

Thanks again to John for lending his tag.

Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:10 pm

zozo wrote: I'm guessing that the number is the VIN?

Life is strange. I'd never heard of these before this past Friday when I was given one that was in a box of junk left by my recently deceased uncle. I had no idea what it was, but it had "VW" on it, so I kept it.

Less than a week later this thread pops up. What're the odds?

My Magic 8 ball says 2023026 to 1. Lucky You.

Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:49 am

PSScoots wrote: zozo wrote: I'm guessing that the number is the VIN?

Life is strange. I'd never heard of these before this past Friday when I was given one that was in a box of junk left by my recently deceased uncle. I had no idea what it was, but it had "VW" on it, so I kept it.

Less than a week later this thread pops up. What're the odds?

My Magic 8 ball says 2023026 to 1. Lucky You.

Add this to the equation, I was in Chattanooga at the time that I was given the box of stuff from my uncle. I notice that you are also in Chattanooga. Calculate that one out for me. Life is sure a trip.

Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:47 pm

Here is one on a '65 Beetle. Recently saw another '65 with the vin tag on the light switch....

Another on a key ring

Thu Aug 27, 2009 6:54 am

I have all the blanks made up. I will tumble polish them to even out the surface and debur the edges. Next step are the markings: