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Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:10 pm

I picked up this 1959 De Luxe Sedan early this year and trailered her home. She has been covered in my backyard shed waiting for me to start on her. Since I bought her, I knew that the ragtop had been grafted and ordered her birth certificate to find out more detail on her. BC finally arrived today!
She was born 3/6/1959 as a VW De Luxe Sedan in L335 Capri (Blue) with Leatherette Blue Grey Upholstery + M350 US-equipment. She was shipped on 3/11/1959 to San Antonio, Texas.

The pan and body have matching numbers and the engine is the one she came out with according to the letter sent by the Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen.
The previous owner had her for about 10 years and mentioned he had gotten her from someone in Lubbock TX. So it sounds like she has always been a Texan.

In the past couple of years I have been buying and selling bugs trying to find the one. I have always named them. When I came across this one, I asked my wife to name her since I thought "this is the one!” She named her "Petunia".
I am very pleased that the original color is L335 Capri. She will be re sprayed original color. The PO had just finished re-covering the seats. He picked red upholstery. I am going to think about which way I want to go with the interior.

My build is going to be somewhere in between OEM and custom. Period correct items are not so important to me. Having a grafted roof would throw all that “keeping it original” away anyway!

I am working on finishing some other projects before I can put my hands on Petunia. Body will come off and I will refurbish the pan and rebuild the engine. When this is done, body will get sprayed.
I will be performing most of the work in my home garage. I want to get her done asap but will not rush it. It is a hobby to me, and want to get her done just as I envision her. I am 56 years old and my goal is to be driving her no later than when I turn 59. Doable!

She did come with a 4 tab hood!

The original engine is in pieces. So I will start by rebuilding that and then go from there. I also have a running 1600 DP with progressive carb. I will probably sell it to fund stuff for Petunia.
Front end has adjusters and will add drop spindles.
Rear end will run drop plates.
She will be running on steel smoothies.
PO mentioned that the transmission was built as a freeway flyer.

I will be posting progress as soon as I get started!

Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:26 pm

Can you post a pic of the BC? I am thinking about getting one for my 63' and would love to see an example.

Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:10 pm

raycer60 wrote:

I love this one. Like a happy puppy with her tongue sticking out.

Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:26 pm

arizonabuckeye wrote: Can you post a pic of the BC? I am thinking about getting one for my 63' and would love to see an example.

here is one:

Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:50 pm

Can u give me details on how to order a BC? Very interested in getting one for my 61.

Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:01 pm

ThingBeast wrote: Can u give me details on how to order a BC? Very interested in getting one for my 61.
go to: http://automuseum.volkswagen.de/en/the-museum/opening-times-and-prices.html

P.S.: it took about 4 months to get mine. They claim not enough people working at this.

Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:30 pm

Bob Loblaw wrote: raycer60 wrote:

I love this one. Like a happy puppy with her tongue sticking out.
And "Petunia" is an awesome name for a puppy. :D

Wed Aug 20, 2014 1:00 pm

As I said in earlier post, I found out from the automuseaum that the engine that came with Petunia from the previous owner, in fact is the original motor. So I determined that she will be running original power. From all of the buying and selling bug stuff I had kept a really nice running 1972 1600cc DP with electronic ignition and progressive carburator. I just sold this engine so I could have funds to build my original 1959 1200cc.

Anything specific that needs to be looked at while building the 36 pony engine? Can it run electronic ignition?

Wed Aug 20, 2014 3:06 pm

raycer60 wrote: Can it run electronic ignition?
look up "PERTRONIX" . . .
It fits inside the stock distributor and it eliminates the points and condenser.

Wed Sep 03, 2014 9:11 am

Labor Day weekend was busy and I managed to have some helping hands on lifting the shell off of the pan. Step #1...DONE!

Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:44 am

raycer60 wrote: arizonabuckeye wrote: Can you post a pic of the BC? I am thinking about getting one for my 63' and would love to see an example.

here is one:

That's interesting I've never seen a BC with M350 US-Equipment followed by (find enclosed) all mine have said cannot be identified - Did VW enclose a list of US equipment with your BC? if so can you post it?

Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:33 am

branston, here are the second and third pages from VW BC.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:41 am

That's the first time I've seen the enclosure and the nice letter attached to the birth certificate.

It sure clears up what M350 is. Thanks for sharing.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 9:23 am

raycer60 wrote: branston, here are the second and third pages from VW BC.

I am surprised to see a '59 with Hazard warning system and Dual-circuit brakes. :shock:

Sat Sep 06, 2014 10:42 am

That's very good point. 66 for hazards and 67 for dual circuits? what is VW thinking.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:49 pm

Reversing light...maybe on a 67.... and 2 locking doors....do they mean with a key ?

Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:08 am

branston wrote: That's very good point. 66 for hazards and 67 for dual circuits? what is VW thinking.

Exactly what I thought! It does not make sense.

First, I thought: "WOW, Petunia is special"
Then: "Wait, this can't be right!"

The easiest thing to check now that the body is separated fron the pan will be the dual-circuit brake system which probably won't be there since it was normally a single circuit. I just need to get to my storage shed sometime this week.

If it has a single circuit (which it probably will) I will email the AutoMuseum and ask about this.

Sat Jan 02, 2016 11:05 pm

After almost 2 years since bringing her home I finally am getting started with my build. Made room in my garage and rolled the pan in. It will be a slow process but I am happy she is now on the front burner. First I have to assess what has to be done to the pan. Power washing is first in order.
[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1447090.jpg[/img

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The plan is to build a daily driver with the original 36 hp engine and paint the body in the original Capri blue. The build is not going to be back to original style since the rag top is grafted. She will be lowered front and back. And I will be performing most if not all the work. I will update as I go and make progress.

Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:56 am

Looks like a fun build. I'll keep my eyes peeled on this one.

Sun Jan 03, 2016 3:38 pm

Joseph DR wrote: Looks like a fun build. I'll keep my eyes peeled on this one.
And fun is what I will be having....I HOPE!

First thing I am coming across is a frozen steering gearbox. I has what I believe to be the original VW#111-415-131 box. I unbolted a plug on the top cover and it looks like it lost all it's lubricant which I think is some sort of 90wt oil and not grease as in the newer TRW boxes.

Any advice on rebuilding this box? Car has not been driven in probably 12 years.