Recently acquired a 69. Need your opinions.

[technowar]

Greetings from the Philippines.

I recently acquired a rare 69 beetle with IRS transmission and would love to restore it to its original form. I really need your honest inputs, opinions, and suggestions on all of my questions (mostly aesthetics). I may or may not add more questions in the future.

1. Based on the chassis number, is there a way to tell its original paint color and interior trim color? The chassis number is 11944328.

2. The beetle came off with 65-67 front seats when I bought them and I am told they are the original seats. However, based on the image below (Source: http://www.jbugs.com/category/1969-vw-bug-seat-covers-padding.html), it isn't. Are these seats interchangeable or not based on year model?

3. It didn't come with seatbelts, so I'll be getting a new one. With this specific year model, which seat belts did the front and rear seat had?

4. Which color of the steering wheel and knobs did the beetle originally have?

5. To be honest, the stance of the beetle is the only thing I'd like to change. What happens if I only make a change on the spindle (original rims and tire size). Will the tire hit the fender when I make a huge turn? If so, can you suggest me a tire size that goes perfectly with the rim and won't hit the fender?

6. There is no tar board in my beetle. Is it a good idea not to install one?

[neil68]

1969 Beetles had a 9-digit VIN, so you're missing one number. However, the VIN will not tell you the colour or other specs.

In most of the export market, Beetles came with low backrests on the front seats, so yours could very well be the originals. Jbugs is a USA company, hence the high backrest specified in their catalogue, as per exports to North America (to meet their safety standards).
_________________
Neil.

Der Kleiner Rennwagens
68 Beetle 2332 cc, 204 WHP
12.5 seconds @ 107 mph
Dynojet Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9B_H3eklAo

[technowar]

Glad to know. Thank you.

[glutamodo]

You can see the style of low-back seats used outside the USA in this 1969 brochure from France. These aren't the same as 66-67 seats, they have a remote-release knob for the backrest... 66-67 had the release lever down at the bottom.

(Also note the lack of a padded cover on the dashboard.)

Compare that to this 1966 brochure:

_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[67rustavenger]

From a 67 owners manual. The backrest release came mid year.

_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[glutamodo]

Oh yeah, that's right. Mid 67, like 5 months in.
_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[technowar]

So I guess it is safe to say I have the original seats?

[technowar]

Anyone with more inputs?

[technowar]

Anyone with more inputs?

[glutamodo]

Post some photos!
_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[ashman40]

Can you confirm what your end goal is?? Are you trying to restore it to its original state (100% restoration)?

[technowar]

@glutamodo sorry didn't get the chance to take pictures. I don't have the camera on my phone.

@ashman40 yes, restore it to its original state. However, since the body isn't really rusted and has no further body works (thank god), I'd like to restore first all the original aesthetics that came with this year model of mine (eg steering wheel, buttons, switches and their colors, antenna and etc).

[HankScorpio]

[technowar]

What tire size and wheel size works well with a lowered beetle?

[FullFender]

Maybe this thread can help answer your question.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=247735