Sun Bug?

[Chris74]

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!
I got home and decided to look under the carpet and padding like “badassdubs” did and to my surprise it had “hellas” written on it. So I guess that is all the proof I need to prove my new project is a Sunbug.

Now I just need to finish my daughter’s ’73 Super so I can start restoring my Sunbug.

Thanks to everyone who was kind enough to help me figure out a little bit of the history of my car. The people on this site are the BEST.

Chris

[bvolks]

Did they all have the corduroy inserts in the seats? I thought my 74 was a Sunbug but now I'm not so sure. It does have the center console though.

_________________
1985 Diesel Jetta Coupe (temporarily retired at
756,000 km)
1971 Doublecab project
1995 Golf CL
1974 Beetle
1978 Westfalia

[a.wilson]

[badassdubs]

[Bruce]

I may be wrong on this, but as far as I recall, the Sunbug special edition didn't appear until late in the model year. May, June and July cars only.
A Sunbug has to have either a convertible top or a sunroof.
A Sunbug has to be metalic gold (a couple of recipes exist for the colours)

A 74 without a sunroof might be factory painted gold, if so, it ain't a Sunbug.
A 74 convertible might be painted in a colour that's not gold, then it ain't a Sunbug.

Glenn, do you recall if there were gold Bugs on the lot the day you bought yours?
_________________

[Chris74]

I ordered a birth certificate yesterday. bvolks, my convertible does not have the corduroy seat inserts, but the seats could have been recovered. When I remove the seats for recovering I am going to take a closer look and see if I can find any corduroy fabric.

Does anyone know of a company that makes the correct color interior for Sunbugs? I want to restore my car back to original, or as close as I can. Also, does anyone know how many Sunbgs were made?

Thanks,
Chris

[bvolks]

They could have possibly recovered but the car was only 8 years when it was hit in the rear passenger's side and put into the barn where I found it in 92.
_________________
1985 Diesel Jetta Coupe (temporarily retired at
756,000 km)
1971 Doublecab project
1995 Golf CL
1974 Beetle
1978 Westfalia

[ncbill]

My Sun Bug has, as best as I can tell from the picture, the exact interior as the sun bug pictured by bvolks.Mine has a weave center pattern with smooth sides/back in brown. The door panels are also brown. Mine has a black door tag manf. 01/74 Convert
Was the corduroy insert was an option?

Dear Kaseyart, could you elaborate on having the engine hood bug emblem
made
Thanks/Bill

[kaseyart]

From what I can tell from my research on sunbugs there were actually a few different interiors. The brown with the inserts and then just a brown with no inserts. Again this is from what I understand.

Chris74: Number on the consoel is: ZVW-155-111 Here are pics:

ncbill: I have a friend that works for a company that makes the metal plates that foil stamp on the front of hard cover books. (hope that makes sense) If he has extra time he can do side work. I redrew the sunbug logo from the bottom of the brochure in illustrator. Took the length form the standard "volkswagen" emblem on the back and sized it from there. He then took that and made a 3D image and cut it from a light weight aluminum if I remember correctly. The thickest part (sunglasses) is 5mm thick and the thinnest (inside font) is 2mm thick. I then took them and sprayed them with auto grade paint and clear coat. I have more pictures if you would like to see. Hope that is what you were wondering. Sorry so long.

[Chris74]

Kaseyart, Thanks for the info. My console looks exactly like yours and I believe the numbers are the same. I will have to check when I get home. It is good to hear that the seats came with different options, since my seats are all vinyl. Of course they are worn out and I will be replacing them, but now at least I have different options.

[ncbill]

Dear Kaseyart, I smell a side business making the sun bug logos. Give it a shot I'm in for one.
Bill

[kaseyart]

[a.wilson]

[Chris74]

Kaseyart, I would buy one also if you decide to have them made

[bond007]

[bvolks]

[Chris74]

[quote="kaseyart"]From what I can tell from my research on sunbugs there were actually a few different interiors. The brown with the inserts and then just a brown with no inserts. Again this is from what I understand.

Chris74: Number on the consoel is: ZVW-155-111 Here are pics:

My seats are smooth brown vinyl with brown basket weave inserts. Maybe these are the original seats.

Thanks kaseyart, that is number on my console. Mine is dirty and faded and I would like to repaint it, could you tell me if the black is shiny, satin or flat black? Where did you find all your info on Sun Bugs?

[Chris74]

John7 my VIN is 1542446888

[kaseyart]

[jwcurry]

Just a general comment...you can't always go by what someone had on their car when they bought it new. I worked in dealerships for almost thirty years. It is not uncommon for a dealer to take a standard trim vehicle and dress it up with SE parts to get more money out of it.

Examples:
At a Honda dealership, we upgraded LX models with LX-i wheels and trim.
At a Ford dealership, we upgraded XLT trucks with FX4 decals, but didn't change suspension components (which FX4 desination was supposed to have)---or added chrome exterior trim (non-OEM) to XLT's to mimic Chrome Edition trucks.

We would also pull cloth interiors and install leather to "upgrade" a standard model. None of these "upgrades" were mentioned to a customer...unless they were familiar with what was supposed to come on a vehicle and asked.

Whenever I see a thread like this about what came on what new--I think that in thirty years, all those cars modified at the dealership will be the object of a debate on what came on what, when.