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Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:45 pm

I just got back from Winterjam in Daytona Beach, Fla. and saw a really nice splittie, think it was a 51?? It had crotch coolers and one piece door windows with like a "curved notch" cut out of the front upper of the door glass ?? I assume this is original and curious as to what the purpose of this was/is ???

Thanks

Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:50 pm

The cut out sort of acted like a vent window.

Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:06 pm

If you roll down the window about half an inch, that slot opens up at the forward part of the window only, not at the rear top.

Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:40 am

The cut outs are for venting, roll the window two cranks and you get a little air.

What color was it, there were a few splits.

I think there were about 6 spilts, i was the only bone stock one there.

Spanish Flea

Wed Feb 24, 2010 7:27 am

drscope wrote: The cut out sort of acted like a vent window.

Yes, that is what it was supposed to do, but it doesn't really work....

:roll:

Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:02 am

I am pretty sure that it was meant to be used in conjunction with the crotch coolers. Ultimately it didn't work so well so they introduced the vent wings on the zwitter.

Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:05 am

splitjunkie wrote: I am pretty sure that it was meant to be used in conjunction with the crotch coolers. Ultimately it didn't work so well so they introduced the vent wings on the zwitter.

It was introduced before crotch coolers.

Wed Feb 24, 2010 11:10 am

All Germans smoked in the late 40's and early 50's. Ashtray in front - ashtray in back.

Wed Feb 24, 2010 11:23 am

Spanish Flea wrote: The cut outs are for venting, roll the window two cranks and you get a little air.

What color was it, there were a few splits.

I think there were about 6 spilts, i was the only bone stock one there.

Spanish Flea

Nice pic, your split looks great.

What's up with the rear bumper brackets on that cream colored one next to you????

Wed Feb 24, 2010 12:18 pm

johnshenry wrote: Spanish Flea wrote: The cut outs are for venting, roll the window two cranks and you get a little air.

What color was it, there were a few splits.

I think there were about 6 spilts, i was the only bone stock one there.

Spanish Flea

Nice pic, your split looks great.

What's up with the rear bumper brackets on that cream colored one next to you????

Looks like that center bumper guard mounted upper chrome towel rail arrangement had something to do with those offset brackets, perhaps to fit that crank handle through it, just a guess. Not sure about the look of it either, but if its some kind of original accessory with maybe some functionality it still gets points in my book.

Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:05 pm

Yeah, the bumper brackets were modded to accept the towel rack, the mount for the crank (on the bumper) was extended too. Not really clear on why. i know the guy really well. he owned the car since he was 17, paid around 500$ for it then he's in his mid 50's now.

Spanish flea

Wed Feb 24, 2010 2:47 pm

Spanish Flea wrote: Yeah, the bumper brackets were modded to accept the towel rack, the mount for the crank (on the bumper) was extended too. Not really clear on why. i know the guy really well. he owned the car since he was 17, paid around 500$ for it then he's in his mid 50's now.

Spanish flea

That makes NO sense to me (why anyone would do that), but to each his own ......

Wed Feb 24, 2010 11:15 pm

johnshenry wrote: Spanish Flea wrote: Yeah, the bumper brackets were modded to accept the towel rack, the mount for the crank (on the bumper) was extended too. Not really clear on why. i know the guy really well. he owned the car since he was 17, paid around 500$ for it then he's in his mid 50's now.

Spanish flea

That makes NO sense to me (why anyone would do that), but to each his own ......

Had a chat with the owner some days ago. Very nice fellow. The reason for the mod is he wants to open the engine lid every now and then.

Wed Feb 24, 2010 11:54 pm

Detroit73super wrote: I just got back from Winterjam in Daytona Beach, Fla. and saw a really nice splittie, think it was a 51?? It had crotch coolers and one piece door windows with like a "curved notch" cut out of the front upper of the door glass ?? I assume this is original and curious as to what the purpose of this was/is ???

Thanks

This was my 51 split at WJ, I had the window rolled part way down so people could ask why the glass was shaped that way. Some people thought it was a cal look mod :roll: I had it parked out front at the ocean center too. Dont know if this is the car you were talking about or not........ but the glass is OG

Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:17 am

HeSa wrote: johnshenry wrote: Spanish Flea wrote: Yeah, the bumper brackets were modded to accept the towel rack, the mount for the crank (on the bumper) was extended too. Not really clear on why. i know the guy really well. he owned the car since he was 17, paid around 500$ for it then he's in his mid 50's now.

Spanish flea

That makes NO sense to me (why anyone would do that), but to each his own ......

Had a chat with the owner some days ago. Very nice fellow. The reason for the mod is he wants to open the engine lid every now and then.

Thats right, without the mod the bar would be in the way. He said the bar and guards would come with new bumper brackets, but his didn't so some were fabbed up.

Spanish Flea

Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:14 am

Go another mile and create a chrome plated prop from engine lid to the over rider and lose the broom handle. Then form the brackets to an "S" rather than step. OK so I am jealous, does it show? Beautiful cars.

So if the lower air vents get the nickname "Crotch Coolers" shouldn't the upper vents be called "Chest coolers"?

(to be read as William Shatner)
Your are correct John, the zwitter is the only split to have a true vent window. Proving once again that zwitters are the culmination of years of perpetual refinement, perfection, the ultimate split, to be more succinct....the best of the best, the rarest of the the rare!!... :shock: :wink:

Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:39 pm

johnshenry wrote: splitjunkie wrote: I am pretty sure that it was meant to be used in conjunction with the crotch coolers. Ultimately it didn't work so well so they introduced the vent wings on the zwitter.

It was introduced before crotch coolers.

pretty sure my 52 has both. ill have to check

i know my 54 cal bug has the notch. (it has 51 doors, what better way to add 1 piece windows than with factory parts :D )

Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:36 pm

joebug1956 wrote: Detroit73super wrote: I just got back from Winterjam in Daytona Beach, Fla. and saw a really nice splittie, think it was a 51?? It had crotch coolers and one piece door windows with like a "curved notch" cut out of the front upper of the door glass ?? I assume this is original and curious as to what the purpose of this was/is ???

Thanks

This was my 51 split at WJ, I had the window rolled part way down so people could ask why the glass was shaped that way. Some people thought it was a cal look mod :roll: I had it parked out front at the ocean center too. Dont know if this is the car you were talking about or not........ but the glass is OG

I think that was the one, parked kinda accross from the orange bus that won best of bus, with the surfboard on the roof ??

what a great show, my 1st. VW show in aklmost 15 years....