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Walter Wiseman
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2010
Posts: 21
Location: Glencoe, Ca.
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 Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 11:04 pm Post subject: My December 1954 project |
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I was able to purchase this Beetle about a month ago. I've got the body off now and pan almost stripped. I'll be sandblasting the pan soon and then off to powder coating.
The pan and body are matching #'s but the motor is missing. So my plan is to make everything but the motor as close to original as I can. I'll probably put a 1600 dp in because I plan on driving as much as possible and I live in the mountains.
All 4 fenders are incorrect, so I'm looking for those.
I'm sure I'll have lots of questions as I move along!
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54 Semaphore Beetle
65 Beetle (Gone)
71 Bus (Bastard Double Cab)
73 Thing |
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ZENVWDRIVER
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008
Posts: 3340
Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:52 am Post subject: . |
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Nice...looks solid...great looking pan...great looking oval... Guess the PO didn't care too much 'bout original...hoped that worked in your favor at purchase time.
I also have a 12/54 and it was better and worse than yours when I got it. The worse part worked in my favor...
Any idea what the original color was? Once the yellow is history, it won't look like a lemon any more 
Have fun and post pics as you progress...
_________________
5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
All super-heroes, wear a MASK |
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Walter Wiseman
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2010
Posts: 21
Location: Glencoe, Ca.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:56 am Post subject: My December 1954 project |
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I got the vehicle from a guy who was flipping it. It had been sitting for 10-15 years less than 10 miles from my house, wish I had found it! I paid $3000 cash and traded probably another $700 in parts for it. I'm ok with the price, I think it was good relative to what I've seen available, and I really wanted it.
I have no idea the original color, but I'll be getting the birth certificate soon so I'll hopefully find out the original color. I will be painting it as close to original as I can.
I also need a 54 hood (4 tab).
The seats look original but I'm not sure. Does this look like original upholstery?
_________________
54 Semaphore Beetle
65 Beetle (Gone)
71 Bus (Bastard Double Cab)
73 Thing |
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Bruce MacDonald
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2004
Posts: 193
Location: Markham, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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No, that does not look like 1954 stitching.
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Stop worrying about how much your car will be worth when you are dead and build it to make you happy! |
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janerick3
Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006
Posts: 1879
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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The front seat definitely has been recovered. If the seat doesn't have a 3-way backrest adjustment at the bottom, then it's original.
The black rear seat bottom under the running boards looks original, though. Black leatherette was only available with Iceland Green and the metallic colors (Strato Silver and Ultramaroon). The color around the front bulkhead appears to be Strato Silver, but the light and dirt can be deceiving.
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Thanks,
Jan K. |
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ZENVWDRIVER
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008
Posts: 3340
Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 11:22 am Post subject: Re: My December 1954 project |
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| Walter Wiseman wrote: |
I got the vehicle from a guy who was flipping it. It had been sitting for 10-15 years less than 10 miles from my house, wish I had found it! I paid $3000 cash and traded probably another $700 in parts for it. I'm ok with the price, I think it was good relative to what I've seen available, and I really wanted it.
I have no idea the original color, but I'll be getting the birth certificate soon so I'll hopefully find out the original color. I will be painting it as close to original as I can.
I also need a 54 hood (4 tab).
The seats look original but I'm not sure. Does this look like original upholstery?
Doesn't look like original upholstery, but does look to be in good shape and might be worth keeping if you like it. Are the seat backs adjustable? If not, the seat frames are probably original.
...great price for a complete and solid '54.
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_________________
5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
All super-heroes, wear a MASK |
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Rome
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004
Posts: 9654
Location: Pearl River, NY
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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Do you know if your semaphores still work? If so, I'd suggest keeping them on a separate switch (double pole-double throw), and install auxiliary blinkers like from a motorcycle on your front bumper brackets. You could keep the current front fenders, weld over the blinker holes on the top, cut out the oval holes for the horn grilles, and install old-style headlamps. That'd be the cheap solution if you are able to weld.
Have you looked up under your windshield cowl in the trunk to try finding some original paint color? |
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Walter Wiseman
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2010
Posts: 21
Location: Glencoe, Ca.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:07 pm Post subject: My December 1954 project |
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I have the semaphores, haven't tested them yet. I like the separate switch idea, and I've been reading on how to make the semaphores blink (I like that idea). I think the seats are original, they do not adjust.
On the color, I'm 100% color blind and have a very hard time figuring out colors. So even if I found a spot that was original I wouldn't know what it is. That's why I'll rely on the birth certificate to order the paint.
I just finished the rotisserie for the pan. The pictures are a little dark, but I'll get better ones.
_________________
54 Semaphore Beetle
65 Beetle (Gone)
71 Bus (Bastard Double Cab)
73 Thing |
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Walter Wiseman
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2010
Posts: 21
Location: Glencoe, Ca.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:11 pm Post subject: My December 1954 project |
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I have a question.
I was going to sand blast the pan and do the repairs, and then have someone I know powder coat it. He's really good, but really slow. I was talking to a friend of mine who owns a body shop (but does not do powder coating) and said I would be better off doing the whole pan in POR 15. I kind of like that idea because I can do it myself.
Is this a good idea? Or should I powder coat it?
_________________
54 Semaphore Beetle
65 Beetle (Gone)
71 Bus (Bastard Double Cab)
73 Thing |
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Major Woody
Samba Enigma
Joined: December 04, 2002
Posts: 9010
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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If the pan has damage that you'd like to repair using body filler, then POR-15 is a better choice.
If it's more or less in good shape, then I'd let the powder coaters handle both the blasting and the coating. They'll heat up the pan in their oven and cook the paint before blasting it, making it come off easily. Sandblasting is not pleasant. |
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Walter Wiseman
Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2010
Posts: 21
Location: Glencoe, Ca.
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 6:21 pm Post subject: My December 1954 project |
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Pan is all stripped, except for the choke cable. Working on that.
My home made rotisserie is working great!
_________________
54 Semaphore Beetle
65 Beetle (Gone)
71 Bus (Bastard Double Cab)
73 Thing |
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left_coast*9
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2009
Posts: 740
Location: Puyallup, WA
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glideking
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Joined: February 02, 2013
Posts: 990
Location: California
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