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DeVertible Samba Member
Joined: May 23, 2013 Posts: 85 Location: Sequim, Washington
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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 8:15 am Post subject: Wolfsburg West Vinyl Sunroof - Color and Experience |
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I am getting ready to purchase a replacement sunroof for a pearl white 62 bug. I would like to replace it with white rather tan. Although they both look great, I have come to the conclusion that white was original rather than tan as indicated by various websites. I would like to hear from anyone who has purchased a white vinyl cover from Wolfsburg West, wanting to know if the cover is stark white or off-white. If there is another source for a definitively off-white product I would also like to hear from those folks too. I am hoping to closely match the pearl color of the car rather than ending up with a large, bright white square on the roof of my car. Any other information regarding the installation experience and quality of the product would be appreciated. Source for a DVD or online video of rag top cover installation would also be gratefully appreciated. Thanks, Carl |
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26302 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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I think the ones they sell are pretty white. I gave up on vinyl tops over 20 years ago though, and go with canvas. Last time I got one, I bought one of the (special order color) off-white canvas tops that Sewfine sells. It's not an exact match for Pearl White but it is better than white.
It depends on the ambient light as to how close it matches the paint.
Now, I don't know accurate this sales photo was, because it appears to have the wrong color running boards, but here's a vintage 1963 ad showing the top being a little darker than the paint.
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62ItalianRagtop Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2007 Posts: 1352 Location: Italy
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Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:12 am Post subject: |
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My og pearl white sunroof cover was pearl white _________________ LOOKING FOR 62 ENGINE WITH NUMBER FROM 6.904.xxx TO 6.915.xxx
http://tettodistraccio.blogspot.com/ |
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26302 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:12 am Post subject: |
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The factory installed tops were always supposed to be the same color as the body... however a "named color" in vinyl may not have always been a 100% match but I'm sure it was intended to be close. Which is why I cast some doubt on that advertising photo I posted above.
I have no idea if this was an original top or not, over 20 years ago, this kid stopped by when I was at work one evening. He had a 63 quite like my 62 and I took a few photos of the two cars. His vinyl sunroof top matched that car and I don't know if it was original or not, it wasn't attached very well at the front.
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gondiwindi Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2006 Posts: 1192 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
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Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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Are these a nightmare to install or is it better to outsource to an upholstery shop? I guess that it's a skills issue, but I have a black canvas top that has been staring at me for the past few weeks. |
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SBD Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2012 Posts: 3269 Location: SOUTH DAKOTA
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:04 am Post subject: |
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I installed a vinyl one on my '63 back around 1990 and it was simple. No real skill required. IIRC, you just pop the headliner loose behind the sunroof opening. It's held in by spring clips. This gives you access to the nuts that hold the back end of it to the body. I think I got to the front ones through the sides with the sunroof open. It was pretty painless, and self-explanatory once you got started. _________________ "Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"
mark tucker wrote: |
I wouldent waste $ or thyme on building a small motor. build it big so it dosent have to work hard.remember it's only as fast as your foot alows it to be unless you build a small turd then it just stinks as it squishes up through your toes when you step on it. |
Last edited by SBD on Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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62ItalianRagtop Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2007 Posts: 1352 Location: Italy
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:07 am Post subject: |
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DeVertible let we know _________________ LOOKING FOR 62 ENGINE WITH NUMBER FROM 6.904.xxx TO 6.915.xxx
http://tettodistraccio.blogspot.com/ |
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DeVertible Samba Member
Joined: May 23, 2013 Posts: 85 Location: Sequim, Washington
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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Well I talked to WW and basically said white was like typing paper white. Got tired of looking and decided on tan vinyl which will match tan runningboard covers. I am glad to get a little ecouragement regarding install. Hoping to find some instructions somewhere. Thanks all. I'll let you know how it goes. Ordered today |
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stale air Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2007 Posts: 5148 Location: Senoia Ga, formally NorCal
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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DeVertible wrote: |
Well I talked to WW and basically said white was like typing paper white. Got tired of looking and decided on tan vinyl which will match tan runningboard covers. I am glad to get a little ecouragement regarding install. Hoping to find some instructions somewhere. Thanks all. I'll let you know how it goes. Ordered today |
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=564358&highlight=ragtop+installation
^^^Here you go...
Oh, and I have a tan WW cover on my 61, and have no issues.
_________________ WANTED: Henry Veale Santa Rosa plate frames
WANTED: Brittsan Motors Fresno plate frames
WANTED: Any Georgia plate frames
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DeVertible Samba Member
Joined: May 23, 2013 Posts: 85 Location: Sequim, Washington
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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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Awsome that will be a big help Thanks much ! |
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26302 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:42 am Post subject: |
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Back around 11 years ago the only tops I could find were bright white and tan in the color range I wanted... (in cloth) and I went with the tan one. It took a lot of work to get it to fit good, but once it did it was good for several years. The stitching started to disintegrate though after a while and that's why I changed to that off-white canvas top from Sewfine mentioned and shown above.
But here's a photo of my 62 with that cloth tan top in 2004:
I do prefer the off-white top I have now (and the different style of wheel beauty rings). But that tan top is a lot better than the black top I had on before it!
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Dwayne1m Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011 Posts: 3538 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 6:09 am Post subject: |
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I personally like a tan top on that model car for 2 reasons, 1-to give it some contrast, 2-to match the tan running boards, but to each his own. I do agree the black top looks bad. What about fender beading? What was the original color, black or white? I've seen both. |
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26302 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:44 am Post subject: |
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Sorry, I was looking back through some old threads and realized I never saw the last question in this thread.
The answer is... stock fender beading (up to around 1975 or so, IIRC) matched the paint color. |
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nvrgvupjw Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2014 Posts: 85 Location: AZ
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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Dwayne1m wrote: |
I personally like a tan top on that model car for 2 reasons, 1-to give it some contrast, 2-to match the tan running boards, but to each his own. I do agree the black top looks bad. What about fender beading? What was the original color, black or white? I've seen both. |
My first 63' Bug had black vinyl which fell apart in the AZ UV sunlight. I rebuilt it with the tan canvas and (surprisingly) that is still pretty good after 10 years (but some years in storage). The tan canvas is more bucks, but I'll use it again. |
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