TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:56 am

I have a 1966 1200A and am trying to do a 100% accurate restoration.

This article looks to be a very good source for details on finish, what is painted, chromed, etc. Any details that would help with doing the restoration correctly are needed. I tried to use google translate but didn't have any luck.

Can one of our German speaking friends translate this for me?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/65automobil.php

Thanks!

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Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:11 am

Hi,

it is really a lot of text and translating and typing it would take a lot of time.

There is little specific information on the details of the car´s finish, what is painted, chromed, etc. or that could help you more than is to see in the photos.

The author praises finish and quality but hates the poor power (old 30 hp engine) and the reduced equipment and comfort.

Anything specific you are searching for?

Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:09 am

Thanks for the reply, I know it's a lot of text!!

I'm wondering if it says anything about if these parts are painted or chrome...
Headlight trim rings.
Hubcaps.

I'm pretty sure the bumpers are painted also.

How about the floor, are there rubber mats? or could it possibly just be a metal floor?

Thanks again.

Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:46 pm

Hi,
the text says that the bumpers were painted, there is only a small headliner and the seats are mounted in the old style with wingnuts. You can also see that the trunk deck lid is not fixed with springs but with a folding down metal stick on one side.

It doesn´t say that, but on the pictures you see chrome headlight trim rings. I am not sure about the hubcaps. On the floor there were simple rubber mats.

I can offer you to translate live on skype if it is really urgent...

Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:19 pm

Thanks.
Now I need to be sure about the hubcaps and headlight trim rings. I've studied all the photos I can find and it's hard to tell how the 1200A came equipped.

Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:41 pm

You gonna take this to Pebble Beach when its done? :)

Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:13 pm

ned wrote: You gonna take this to Pebble Beach when its done? :)

Maybe :D

Hey Alex. Does the article say anything about seat belts?

Does it have no seat belts, lap belts, or lap and shoulder belts?

Thanks!

Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:05 am

Hey,
the article doesn´t say anything about seatbelts.

Seatbelts were not mandatory in Germany in the 1960s for another 10 years. Even our 1973 standard Sparkäfer came without seatbelts.

However, lap and shoulder seatbelts on the frontseats became mandatory in 1976 and had to be added to all vehicles registered from 1970 onwards. Rear seatbelts (lap or lap and shoulder) became mandatory in 1979 and had to be added to all vehicles registered from 1976 onwards. Lap and shoulder seatbelts on the rear seats did not become mandatory before 2004.