TheSamba.com :: View topic - New Owner of a 63, Out of My "late model" Comfort

Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:06 am

Hello, I won't say I'm new here, but I haven't been active in many, many years (think: '90s). So anyway last weekend, I bought a bug. It's a 1963 "Euro Spec." I have the original purchase receipt when it was bought in Germany and it says it's "Luxe" also.

I know very little about these 6 v bugs, my previous was a '73 so I know much more about that era. Excited to learn! Been obsessing over the forums, gallery pics, archives and data here and elsewhere, looking for answers to some of my burning questions. I've found a lot, but there are a few things I haven't found.

I'll write a real "intro" post with car pics soon. The car is 300 miles away right now and going to be delivered in another 2 weeks.

Anyway here are my questions.

1. What is "Luxe"? I have gathered there are "standard" or "deluxe" models so I assumed that is related... but can someone tell me what a consumer got when they bought "Deluxe" versus "Standard"? What were the features?

2. What denotes a "Euro Spec" vehicle? I've gathered from the po and the Internet that it includes ignition on the column, a locking column, and different tail lights (tho mine has the US spec all-red tails, probably replaced at some point; i plan to change 'em back). Also says "FAHRT" on the ignition switch. So...what else would a Euro Spec vehicle have?

3. Do any of you have this book, "VW Beetle: Specifications 1949-1967" by Richardson? http://www.amazon.com/VW-Beetle-Specification-Guide-1949-1967/dp/1861269404/
Do you think it's a worthwhile purchase for me, just to learn more about these earlier cars? or can you recommend some other books? I have the Keith Seume Illustrated History, and a few others, that I've had since the late 90s. Obviously I need the Bently manual and such for technical, but right now I'm looking more just to learn "trivia" type stuff about my "new" 49 year old car.

4. Anyone have a good source for the following accessories:
----license plate frame with vehicle year (doesn't need to say "VW;" I had that on my '73 and did sell them for a pretty penny since they're no longer made..)
----black bud vase that isn't a $300 rosenthal off eBay. Not that I don't love those, but it's not a practical buy for me. I think wolfsburg west or JC Whitney used to sell them, of course that was 15 years ago and I can't find 'em now.
I'm quite patient on the accessories. Have more important things to work on than bud vases and plate frames. But just curious.

That's all I can think of for now. Many thanks in advance. If there's a forum about any of these things and I haven't found it (I promise, I've been searching!), please point me at it.

Thank you...

Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:12 pm

1. Luxe - correct, it is a deluxe version, similar to the typical car imported into the US

2. Euro Spec - is just what you have already figured out. It was produced for the European market. As you stated, the column mounted ignition was standard, [however could be ordered for a US car], The red and orange tail lights [US required all red], Bumpers were often different. Euro spec cars usually only have single blades with small over riders on them [as opposed to the "towel bars". However if your car was purchased in Germany through the tourist program with the eventual destination being the US, it may have been converted before it was picked up. There may have been interior differences, or engine differences, but without a birth certificate it's hard to tell. If the car was originally produced for another European country, there may be even other more specific differences. Best to order a birth certificate.

3. There are a lot of books out there and just as many opinions on what is best. You'll be hard pressed to find on that answers all your questions but I'm sure this is as good a place to start as any other. As you get more into earlier cars, your library will grow. The Garwood "Car of the Century" book is probably the best however it hasn't been produced in years and finding an old copy is difficult.

4. The Samba Classifieds and ebay are good places to look for the license plate frame and bud vases.

Just take your time and understand that with a lot you'll buy for this car, you get what you pay for. The $100 bumpers at JC Whitney are not as good as the $350 bumpers at Wolfsburg West.

Good luck and welcome back.

-jeffrey

Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:21 pm

Thank you for all of this information! Absolutely agree, about cost and quality. This is going to be a slow project but it'll be done right.

Definitely planning to order the birth certificate. I have the original paperwork from the german dealership but of course, that doesn't tell me everything. I had the birth cert for my 73 and it was great to have.

The car does have the towel bar bumpers, and I did notice that (as opposed to the blades). So, I wonder. There is also a charge on the German receipt that (once translated), charged the original owner $148 DM for "US Equipment."

Thanks for the recommend on the book! I'll keep my eye out.

I also picked up a tiny vase today at a thrift store that I'm going to try to mod in to a bud vase eventually. Should be fun even if it doesn't turn out. I'm kicking myself because I remember when JC Whitney and WW sold some decent little vases, and I didn't buy back then because it'd have looked weird in my '73... so of course now no one has 'em!

Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:47 am

jhicken wrote: As you stated, the column mounted ignition was standard, [however could be ordered for a US car]

this is incorrect, my euro 67 doesnt have a column mounted ignition, it was an option. :)

Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:32 am

Rob E UK wrote: jhicken wrote: As you stated, the column mounted ignition was standard, [however could be ordered for a US car]

this is incorrect, my euro 67 doesnt have a column mounted ignition, it was an option. :)

Rob, is yours a "Standard" or a "Deluxe"/"Luxe" model? I wonder if that's a difference between the two? My receipt says 'Luxe' and I'm trying to compile a list of what those differences might be.

Does anyone know when that became standard in the US (I'm guessing '68' as that seems to be the answer to most things)? My 73 had the column ignition and locking wheel and it was not euro, I also don't think the guy ordered it as an option (bought it from the original owner).

Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:50 am

no mine is a deluxe.

the steering column locks you mention were an extra a the time.

i also have a euro 62 bug also, this doesnt have a lock either.

it didnt become standard until vw moved the ignition onto the steering column in the late 60's.

Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:01 pm

Perhaps we should be helping each other. :D

I just bought my wife a '79. I've never previously owned a Beetle newer than '64. The plastic parts look so strange to me.

Wed May 16, 2012 2:23 pm

EVfun wrote: Perhaps we should be helping each other. :D

I just bought my wife a '79. I've never previously owned a Beetle newer than '64. The plastic parts look so strange to me.

I agree! I can't get over all of the metal in my 'new' 63. It's a truly different world. :wink:

Wed May 16, 2012 3:03 pm

I do have quite some (German) literature on the beetle, including old sales brochures, price lists etc, but never came across the name "Luxe" for a bug. Unless I am mistaken, we had two versions, "Standard" and "Export" in Germany until the mid 1960s. "Export" did not necessarily mean that the car went abroad, it just described the better equipped car (fully synchronised gear box, chrome window frames, ivory switches and steering wheel etc). If your German invoice says "Luxe", it might be a car produced to US specs? Just wondering and very interested to learn more.

Tom
(VW 1200 Export 1959)

Wed May 16, 2012 4:50 pm

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=444733

Wed May 16, 2012 5:26 pm

Post some pictures!

Sun May 20, 2012 7:42 am

NCdad wrote: Post some pictures!

Here ya go.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=512638

That thread has pics and more about it! :)

Sun May 20, 2012 7:51 am

Faltdachkäfer wrote: I do have quite some (German) literature on the beetle, including old sales brochures, price lists etc, but never came across the name "Luxe" for a bug. Unless I am mistaken, we had two versions, "Standard" and "Export" in Germany until the mid 1960s. "Export" did not necessarily mean that the car went abroad, it just described the better equipped car (fully synchronised gear box, chrome window frames, ivory switches and steering wheel etc). If your German invoice says "Luxe", it might be a car produced to US specs? Just wondering and very interested to learn more.

Tom
(VW 1200 Export 1959)

You already know a lot more than I do, maybe I can learn from you? Funny thing is that now that I look at the original papers (pics below), I don't see the word "Luxe". However, the Birth Certificate I received a few days ago from the AutoMuseum says the Model is "113, VW De Luxe Sedan." For Country of Destination, it says "Achaffenburg, Germany." Built June 27 1963, left factory the very next day. Had "extras" of "White Wall Tires" and "Us-equipment". Aligns with what you said. Oh and it does have all the ivory switches, wheel, etc...

Thoughts?

Either way, here's what I have as far as original papers. (Sorry, no pic of the birth certificate I just received.)

Translation of the listed items:

The $146 is "Extra Cost for US Equipment"
The $68 is for "Extra Cost for Whitewall"
The $135 is for a delivery charge from Wolfsburg to Aschaffenburg. (The long U word is literally "Apportioning")

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Sun May 20, 2012 3:13 pm

Nice that you got the original documentation with it... it is as if the car is talking :) "Auto Dunker" still exists in Aschaffenburg, selling VW and Audi at the same street address..

The "Luxe" denomination seems to be an internal VW thing for international markets... on your invoice it says "Limousine Export-Ausführung" (= Sedan Export model). On the birth certificate of my German 1959 bug VW also wrote "Limousine Export-Modell".

By the way, I wouldn't translate "Überführung" with "apportioning" (which goes in the direction of "dosage"?). And your prices are of course German Marks (DM), so a lot less when converted in USD at that time.

Tom