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Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:43 pm

I've got a 56 and am thinking about grafting in a ragtop section. What came stock on 56's. Three fold... etc.
Sorry for the newbie style question, I just don't happen to know

Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:49 pm

2 fold

Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:56 pm

that only took a few minutes. What would you say a good price on one would be, preferably with the mech. in it. I know I'll need to replace the fabric but would rather not have to track down all the little pieces.

Sat Jul 24, 2004 2:05 pm

'56 only ragtop has round front corners and square rear corners. i have a brand new, in box blue canvas ragtop for sale if you need one.

here's a clip w/ the gear.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=92602

Sat Jul 24, 2004 6:47 pm

So I found a 56 sunroof hole in good shape for a good price. Is the 2 fold mechinisim 56 also. And about what do the mechanisims go for.
the one in the link has already sold, damn

Sat Jul 24, 2004 6:54 pm

oilspot wrote: So I found a 56 sunroof hole in good shape for a good price. Is the 2 fold mechinisim 56 also. And about what do the mechanisims go for.
the one in the link has already sold, damn

If you get a clip, get it complete! It sucks finding parts of the mechanism!

Sat Jul 24, 2004 7:10 pm

This may not help, but if your chassis # falls after 1181041, it would actually have had the same ragtop as 57-63. It's not as unique as the" one year" roof that came earlier in 56, but it is a whole lot easier to find.

Sat Jul 24, 2004 11:49 pm

I have converted three bugs into ragtops, one was a 56, we were able to locate a correct 56 rag hole (with square rear corners) for $150, but the mechanisms I've bought ranged from $300 to $400 dollars! Ouch!

Sun Jul 25, 2004 6:38 am

Never looked up the VIN's on my bug. Just took the word of the guy I bought it from. It's a 57' oval. I guess my search just got a little easier.

Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:29 am

oilspot wrote: Never looked up the VIN's on my bug. Just took the word of the guy I bought it from. It's a 57' oval. I guess my search just got a little easier.

In that case you should be able to find a clip and mechanism for $250-$300 USD.

Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:38 pm

before buying it take off handle and make sure the splines are not rounded off. make sure the short left rear aluminum channel is there(left side seems to never be missing) i do have extra parts,some nos if you need some stuff tho'

Fri Aug 13, 2004 5:50 am

At the Portland show I saw 2 ragtop mechanisms complete, each selling for $90! Look at the swaps, you may score a deal.

Fri Aug 13, 2004 6:44 am

About 4 years ago I start the resto on my 56 and I grafted a 58 section in only to learn later that my beetle should have square rear corners. Is the only difference the rear hold down bar and the canvas? Does anyone have a pic of the rear hold down bar?

Fri Aug 13, 2004 2:44 pm

If your in washington i have a complete ragtop roof section cut off at the posts ! out of a 61 ,it has the (golde) handle
$300
also have an extra top mechinism for $100

Sun Aug 15, 2004 4:56 am

So I've found a ragtop clip (minus Mechinisim) that has rounded corners front and back. Does that make it a 57-63???

Mon Aug 16, 2004 6:20 am

oilspot wrote: So I've found a ragtop clip (minus Mechinisim) that has rounded corners front and back. Does that make it a 57-63???

Yes

Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:50 am

jeremyrockjock wrote: About 4 years ago I start the resto on my 56 and I grafted a 58 section in only to learn later that my beetle should have square rear corners. Is the only difference the rear hold down bar and the canvas? Does anyone have a pic of the rear hold down bar?

When installing the '58 roof in the '56, did the roof mate up above the windshield good? I'm asking cause a guy wants me to put a '62 rag in his '56, I was concerned about the differences in windshield heights. I've done 5 rags in Beetles, but they were all early '60's with about same year roofs....

Mon Aug 16, 2004 12:05 pm

I had to work the front edge of the rag section to meet with the roof line above the windshield. I had to roll the metal a little and cut some small pie shapped pieces out to get the outer edges to contour like they should. It got it as straight as possible with the metal so there is very little filler.

The reason I did it this way was that I had some previous roof damage in the car and was using to the OG metal from the rag section to repair the damage. If I was to install a section in a car with a good roofline I would have only left about 1 inch of roof metal around the rag section instead of the 6 inches on the sides and about 4 on the front I used on mine.