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HeidelbergJohn4.0
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 1199
Location: Havre de Grace, MD
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 Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| typesoneandtwo wrote: |
| I swear that smell was there when they were new. I remember riding in brand-new Beetles whan I was a kid in the 70's, and that smell was distinct even then. I think it has to do with the perforated vinyl and horsehair. I remember the Gran Torino didn't smell that way. |
Aircooled VW's all had that smell from Day 1 and I swear it just gets stronger as they age. I was away from AC for 20 years, and the moment I open a door, the smell is there. Blindfolded, I could tell you what I was sitting in. Of course we all could also tell the sound of a VW door opening.
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71 LWB Manx style dunebuggy
71 Beetle
71 Volksrod
Machette Speedster
2012 Passat TDI SE (sadly sitting in a buyback parking lot somewhere waiting for it's heart to be ripped out.) |
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Soupbowl
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2007
Posts: 62
Location: Kelowna B.C.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| I took my 72 super down to pan, during stripping the inside it smelt so bad i thought i was going to die. Even now with the body off, after febrezing the crap out of it, it smells like a something died in it. |
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kingkarmann
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003
Posts: 4111
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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The last job at end of the Wolfsburg Assembly Line was to unload the fragrance from it's carton and install it in the car. 
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"Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.”
Mike Gerson
What is your "Bespoke Reality"? |
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skoshi surf
Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005
Posts: 41
Location: Fair Haven,New Jersey
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Whenever anyone asks about my VW if they had one in the past they always say does it still smell like a VW. |
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Bogey
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2006
Posts: 452
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| kingkarmann wrote: |
The last job at end of the Wolfsburg Assembly Line was to unload the fragrance from it's carton and install it in the car.
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That sir, is just not right. (walking away rubbing eyes)
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Volkswagen...Making mechanics out of owners since WW2.
1968 Type 1 Beetle 1641 m/t conversion with IRS
1965 Type 1 Beetle 1200 Bahama Blue
2008 GTI
2006 Ducati Sport Classic 1000 |
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volkswagenut
Samba's Big Jerk
Joined: November 12, 2002
Posts: 3529
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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The thing about the smell you can take a car that is striped completely , and it still smells like that . It like gets in the metal. 
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We are a Republic, NOT a Democracy |
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Wild Bill
Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2006
Posts: 1013
Location: Pepsi-Cola, Fl
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| Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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 As previously mentioned a combination of horse hair and bees wax, exhuast, oil + age= VW Smell.
The only other common smell is that every Hangar Bay on any aircraft carrier in the Navy smells the same. Jet fuel, hydralic fluid, oil and jet exhaust. All hangar bays smell the same way. 
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Life in the Fast Lane ?....What the Hell does that feel Like?"
"Wild" Bill Tucker
Pensacola, Fl
1978 Champagne Edition (High Top Camper Converstion.) 2.0L FI
1969 Squareback 2.0L
www.rareairvw.com |
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Sidbus
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2011
Posts: 731
Location: Miami
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mrmarcdude
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2005
Posts: 715
Location: Vacaville, Ca
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I want to install some new TMI interior pieces in my 65, but I'm afraid of losing that smell. There is no carpet as it sits now, and I'm looking at re-covering the seats at some point in the future as well. I guess my question is for all of the guys that have new interiors. Does it still retain that classic smell? Or do the newer materials change it? |
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drscope
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 15273
Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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A while back I redid a set of seats for my 64. Replaced the horsehair pads with new foam pads.
Now I have those seats in my 55 while I'm redoing the 55 seats.
The smell is GONE! Completely gone. It no longer smells like a VW inside.
But I have kept the old horse hair from both sets of seats and I plan on making a set of throw pillows and stuffing them with the horsehair. Hopefully will put the smell back in both cars.
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Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch! |
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Hefner
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2012
Posts: 230
Location: North Coast, NSW, Australia
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mrmarcdude
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2005
Posts: 715
Location: Vacaville, Ca
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| Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 1:54 am Post subject: |
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| drscope wrote: |
| But I have kept the old horse hair from both sets of seats and I plan on making a set of throw pillows and stuffing them with the horsehair. Hopefully will put the smell back in both cars. |
Thats a really good idea. I have noticed a few cars at the shows with little pillow/ arm rests in the back seat. If you made some of those, just smack em around a little every time you wanna get the smell! |
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fresno james
Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2009
Posts: 559
Location: Kingman AZ
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| Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| mrmarcdude wrote: |
| drscope wrote: |
| But I have kept the old horse hair from both sets of seats and I plan on making a set of throw pillows and stuffing them with the horsehair. Hopefully will put the smell back in both cars. |
Thats a really good idea. I have noticed a few cars at the shows with little pillow/ arm rests in the back seat. If you made some of those, just smack em around a little every time you wanna get the smell! |
I totally agree with both you guys....
It's the seat padding that "adds" to that great fragrance... 
In my 57 vert I have , I re-did all of the interior , but opted for the WBW coconut fiber pads that they offer.... Very nice I have to say
First thing people ALWAYS comment on also with that particular car is , "The Smell" , "What is that ?" ... LOL
So , I would think making those pillows out of the OG stuff would definitely help give back some OG .."Aroma" to the car !! 
JP 
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JP Kustoms
contact info. [email protected]
Kingman AZ |
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panic_fan
Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2008
Posts: 711
Location: Mcdonough GA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 7:34 am Post subject: |
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When I first bought my bus, my boss asked if he could sit in it. He Didn't wanna drive it, just sit in there and get that classic vw smell. I thought it was funny.
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Rich
Brilliant Blue/Cloud White
1970 Baywindow Bus
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=291988&highlight=
"Still learnin the way around my VW bay"
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VOLKSWAGNUT
Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007
Posts: 11055
Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:44 am Post subject: |
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Simlar topics...
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=373342
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=522369
Just to clarify
Its not really "horsehair" per say, but Coconut Hair..
Unmistakeable for sure....
If you ever travel somewhere "tropical".... you can smell it in the damn air.
| KTPhil wrote: |
| Consensus is that a big part of the "VW smell" on a rainy day has been determined to be the coconut fiber in the seat padding (it's not actually "horse hair," even though it's still called that by many). |
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited |
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34002
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| VOLKSWAGNUT wrote: |
Unmistakeable for sure....
If you ever travel somewhere "tropical".... you can smell it in the damn air. |
Another reason to move to Maui... |
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VOLKSWAGNUT
Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007
Posts: 11055
Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:25 am Post subject: |
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| KTPhil wrote: |
| VOLKSWAGNUT wrote: |
Unmistakeable for sure....
If you ever travel somewhere "tropical".... you can smell it in the damn air. |
Another reason to move to Maui... |
Yeah no kidding... Love that place.
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited |
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flemcadiddlehopper
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2011
Posts: 2332
Location: Kelowna, BC. Canada.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| mrmarcdude wrote: |
| I want to install some new TMI interior pieces in my 65, but I'm afraid of losing that smell. There is no carpet as it sits now, and I'm looking at re-covering the seats at some point in the future as well. I guess my question is for all of the guys that have new interiors. Does it still retain that classic smell? Or do the newer materials change it? |
I was wondering the same thing. My Bus resto will have all new padding and sisel in the seats. My wife asked me "will it smell bad like before?"....arg! I told her not to worry I saved the padding the sat in the headliner so that I could re-install the smell that was saved in it. Smell has the strongest links to memories than any other of our senses. It is almost not a VW without the smell.
Gordo. |
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vwlovr73
Samba Member
Joined: April 20, 2000
Posts: 273
Location: ND
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| Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 9:02 am Post subject: |
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| flemcadiddlehopper wrote: |
| mrmarcdude wrote: |
| I want to install some new TMI interior pieces in my 65, but I'm afraid of losing that smell. There is no carpet as it sits now, and I'm looking at re-covering the seats at some point in the future as well. I guess my question is for all of the guys that have new interiors. Does it still retain that classic smell? Or do the newer materials change it? |
I was wondering the same thing. My Bus resto will have all new padding and sisel in the seats. My wife asked me "will it smell bad like before?"....arg! I told her not to worry I saved the padding the sat in the headliner so that I could re-install the smell that was saved in it. Smell has the strongest links to memories than any other of our senses. It is almost not a VW without the smell.
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I'm of the mind that you can't erase 40-60 years of that unique, recognizable smell with some new padding and glue. I went foam padding (not the coconut), new carpet, and all that on my 73 and yes, the smell remained (just slightly 'fresher'). So I won't bat an eye to do the same with my 63. The smell will live on, for it is a VW and that is just how they smell.
Though: I did sit in one at a show that did not smell like that, and it was the weirdest thing. I couldn't put my finger on it until later, what was wrong with that car.
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1963 Beetle euro spec "Darrel" (since 2012)
Past - 1973 Beetle "Arthur" (owned 1998-2005)
Red River VW Club- http://www.redrivervwclub.com |
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cseay1
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2012
Posts: 1341
Location: Elkwood VA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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When I got my 68 Ghia that smell was there .. underneath a layer of mold and mouse urine aroma, but there it was .. It brought me back in time 30 years ago riding in the back of my dad's 70 bug.
Magical stuff! |
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