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Sat Oct 16, 2004 8:02 am

I tried this in the "Other VWs" section, but I think this question might find more answers here... I'm looking for pics and info of roll top coach builds... Most of all I need close-up shots of the roof details. Anybody own one? Thanks

Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:48 am

I tried looking up some photos but there were no close ups of the roll back mechanism. I believe this belongs to Ed Economy.

suposedly one of 5 left.

Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:02 pm

Skim wrote: I tried looking up some photos but there were no close ups of the roll back mechanism. I believe this belongs to Ed Economy.

suposedly one of 5 left.

I think that belongs to Ray Shubert (Volks Authority). :?

Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:09 pm

Wasnt Ed Economy the one that restored it originally? Or I guess he sold it. BTW, anybody remember when Ed rolled up (No Pun Intended) to the vintage meet at El Dorado Park with that giant sardine can key in the rolled up rag like a can of sardines?

Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:16 pm

Your pictures were from the Solvang meet and the car was at Kelly Park this year. At those times ---Ray owned it. Ed used to have his hand in every Split that came into this country---so you may be right, but that probably was 10 years ago.

Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:22 pm

Youre right. Actually about 1992. I was trying to sell him some split hood hinges for it while he was still working on it. Then I saw it completed in 1993 or 1994? at El Dorado vintage meet in Long Beach.

Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:28 pm

I see Ed every year at the Classic and it's toy and lit show, but I have not seen him show a car in at least eight years. I don't even know if he still has a VW. :?

Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:20 pm

Thanks, those are the best pics yet, anyone know who or where these cars were built? How about a number for the one time or possible owner of the one pictured ? I've got conflicting responses but the basic thing I've gathered is that regardless of production, the varying number of those left is always less than a total of ten. Sounds like a needle in a haystack sort of thing..... I've got three all original hebmullers I'll trade for one straight up.....(Ha! Ha!)

Sat Oct 16, 2004 5:40 pm

I recall the story being an after market sort of thing where a company installed the sunroof, like karmann or hebmuller did. the sunroof has wood to strengthen the roof where it was cut open, it is nailed in and the roll back assy connected to it and some very basic latches in the front to latch it. "Tushner" or something like that was the company. one was for sale a while back on strictly vintage a 47 or 48 it finally sold after quite some time.

Sat Oct 16, 2004 8:00 pm

From what I recall a company called Tuscher(sp)? was contracted to build these for the Swiss military.

Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:12 am

Skim, your recollection is correct, that is a Tuscher roll-back. It is indeed now owned by Ray Schubert of Volksauthority in San Jose, I don't know his number or e-mail off hand, but he is on Stockton St. in San Jose. I spent a bunch of hours leaning out the back of that Split (without the window, is it still a Split?) photographing cars for my "Splitting to Solvang" articles that appeared in VW Trends. It was perfect for photography- Your knees are on the rear seat cushion, so they aren't getting hammered by every bump and rock in the road, and the fabric, when rolled back, makes a perfect perch for the camera lens to rest on. The one thing I DO remember is that the car has an 8 gallon fuel tank- I remember this because on the way back from Solvang, everybody in the "Splitting to Solvang" caravan made it back on one tank of gas, except for the roll-back- because of it's 8 gallon tank, it ran out of fuel, less than 10 miles from Volksauthority...

Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:17 am

As it been stated, Ed bult that car and Ray later bought it from him.

Ray can be reached at Volks Authority in San Jose. http://volksauthority.com/ 408.286.7306

Mon Oct 18, 2004 3:23 pm

Thanks again, I've been looking for solid information on these for awhile.....