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sunroof Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006 Posts: 1774 Location: Winnipeg
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 7:06 am Post subject: |
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Since no one has posted anything here for a while I thought I would put something up:
Don _________________ Better and better mistakes! |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69829 Location: Phoenix Metro
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ExtremeBean Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2015 Posts: 192 Location: Mesa, AZ
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 10:02 am Post subject: |
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I've enjoyed reading all 116 pages of this thread. It's made me even more proud of my 59. I do have a couple of questions though.
1) PO replaced the steering wheel and turn signal switch with ones of a later model. So, could the column still be original, or are the splines different?
2) I've seen all original 59s with the square later model fuel gauge. From what I've read, this not correct. So was it something people have just added years later?
3) which is the correct shifter? I've seen both the totally straight and ones that are curved? What is the history between the two?
4) On quite a few birth certificates, I've noticed where it says "option cannot be identified". This would kind of tick me off if I paid $70 for a bc. What does it mean, it can't be identified? Isn't there a list somewhere where every single option code is available?
That's all I have for now. Thanks for the answers and the thread. I'm sure I'll have more later |
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AustenFults500 Samba Member
Joined: May 29, 2014 Posts: 6 Location: Alliance, Nebraska
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 6:32 pm Post subject: Seat Swap In a '58 |
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Hello fellow enthusiasts!
This is my first time posting a question to the Samba ever, so I apologize if I don't follow protocol. Haha
I am currently restoring my 1958 Beetle. A new two-toned paint job just got applied and I am preparing to work on the upholstery and seats now. However, when I bought the little car, there was no back seat and both of the front two seats were not original, but instead they were jimmy-rigged racing seats that were bolted straight to the floor pans.
Now that I have the little car, I would like to have a pair of seats that utilized the original seat rails that are on the floor. However, I do not need to have the original '58 seats to replace it with. I have heard of seat swapping between bug years, but I have never found a straight-up list of what seats are compatible with what cars up to what year.
Recently I have traveled to a junkyard and looked inside some bugs for their seat frames, but the oldest bug that is in the yard is a '68 or '69. Its seat frames are in excellent condition. I took some measurements of the seats and their rails and at this point they seem interchangeable, but I may be wrong and that is where I need you guys.
So my question is: Are the seat frames in the '68 or '69 bug compatible with my "58? If not are there any modifications that I can make to the seat frames to make them fit? Up to what year will I be able to swap seats with my '58?
Thanks in advance for your input and thoughts, everyone! _________________ Why do I drive a Volkswagen Beetle, you ask? Simply because they are a little car with a big heart. |
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Bret2094 Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2012 Posts: 665 Location: Linden, Texas or College Station Texas
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: Seat Swap In a '58 |
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AustenFults500 wrote: |
Hello fellow enthusiasts!
This is my first time posting a question to the Samba ever, so I apologize if I don't follow protocol. Haha
I am currently restoring my 1958 Beetle. A new two-toned paint job just got applied and I am preparing to work on the upholstery and seats now. However, when I bought the little car, there was no back seat and both of the front two seats were not original, but instead they were jimmy-rigged racing seats that were bolted straight to the floor pans.
Now that I have the little car, I would like to have a pair of seats that utilized the original seat rails that are on the floor. However, I do not need to have the original '58 seats to replace it with. I have heard of seat swapping between bug years, but I have never found a straight-up list of what seats are compatible with what cars up to what year.
Recently I have traveled to a junkyard and looked inside some bugs for their seat frames, but the oldest bug that is in the yard is a '68 or '69. Its seat frames are in excellent condition. I took some measurements of the seats and their rails and at this point they seem interchangeable, but I may be wrong and that is where I need you guys.
So my question is: Are the seat frames in the '68 or '69 bug compatible with my "58? If not are there any modifications that I can make to the seat frames to make them fit? Up to what year will I be able to swap seats with my '58?
Thanks in advance for your input and thoughts, everyone! |
The seat frames out of a 68 and 69 will fit in your car, but they are no where close to correct. Starting in 68 the seats went from a low back configuration to a high back configuration that included support from about your shoulders up to the middle of your back.( Ugly as sin in my opinion )There are also many other changes post 59 that set them apart as well. I would search the classifieds or put up an ad for some 58-59 seats
Bret _________________ 1959 baja beetle ragtop( going back to Full body)
1959 beetle
1960 Beetle frame Custom buggy
1962 Karmann Ghia
1967 beetle( august 66, first car)
1967 beetle (parts car)
1977 Westfalia Camper
1972 Plymouth Duster
Just another 22 year old jackass who caught the bug, and lives by the motto " NO fatchicks allowed" , I've got too many cars as is (buses N/A) |
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stale air Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2007 Posts: 5154 Location: Senoia Ga, formally NorCal
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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ExtremeBean wrote: |
I've enjoyed reading all 116 pages of this thread. It's made me even more proud of my 59. I do have a couple of questions though.
1) PO replaced the steering wheel and turn signal switch with ones of a later model. So, could the column still be original, or are the splines different?
If the column was changed out for a post 60 model, then the splines are different. And no, unless you car is a 60, or newer, there is no way for the wheel, switch, or column to be correct.
2) I've seen all original 59s with the square later model fuel gauge. From what I've read, this not correct. So was it something people have just added years later?
There was an electric square style available as an accessory, but more than likely yes, a mechanical one was added later on.
3) which is the correct shifter? I've seen both the totally straight and ones that are curved? What is the history between the two?
Im not sure about a totally straight one, but curved is up to 65. In 66 they went to a slimmer less curved model with a smaller knob as well.
4) On quite a few birth certificates, I've noticed where it says "option cannot be identified". This would kind of tick me off if I paid $70 for a bc. What does it mean, it can't be identified? Isn't there a list somewhere where every single option code is available?
Sometimes the factory no longer has the info for them to list. That said, I have seen some birth certificates that said cannot be identified, only to find another birth cert with that info on it. Its pretty hit of miss. Either way, im still happy that they even have birth certs available to us.
That's all I have for now. Thanks for the answers and the thread. I'm sure I'll have more later |
_________________ WANTED: Henry Veale Santa Rosa plate frames
WANTED: Brittsan Motors Fresno plate frames
WANTED: Any Georgia plate frames
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KombiMadness Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2011 Posts: 388 Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 5:00 am Post subject: |
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OK, 58/59 gurus...... would the blue/grey seat covers in my 58 RHD German deluxe be the original colour for a Kalahari Beige bug? The seat covers are obviously not original but would they have been like this from the factory?
What are your thoughts?
Another question - the car has been resprayed sometime long ago. It's looking splotchy in places. Assuming it was resprayed the same colour, which I think is Kalahari Beige, would it be hard to strip back the resprayed paint to get back to the factory paint (considering it's the same colour)? _________________ My brother & I on the roof of Dad's Splitty circa 1967 - I'm the half pint with the skinny legs! |
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stale air Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2007 Posts: 5154 Location: Senoia Ga, formally NorCal
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 11:54 am Post subject: |
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KombiMadness wrote: |
OK, 58/59 gurus...... would the blue/grey seat covers in my 58 RHD German deluxe be the original colour for a Kalahari Beige bug? The seat covers are obviously not original but would they have been like this from the factory?
What are your thoughts?) |
A Kalahari beige car from the factory would have K183 Red brown, upholstery, as well as KsK3 Brown-grey door panels. Blue grey was not used an an alternate either.
KombiMadness wrote: |
Another question - the car has been resprayed sometime long ago. It's looking splotchy in places. Assuming it was resprayed the same colour, which I think is Kalahari Beige, would it be hard to strip back the resprayed paint to get back to the factory paint (considering it's the same colour)? |
Yes, it can, and has been done before. You may want to check out this thread, before you decide to get to strippin.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=76072 _________________ WANTED: Henry Veale Santa Rosa plate frames
WANTED: Brittsan Motors Fresno plate frames
WANTED: Any Georgia plate frames
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KombiMadness Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2011 Posts: 388 Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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Hi stale air, thanks for the info on the correct seat cover combo and trim.
Also, thanks for the paint strip thread link..... I have read that thread before and did remove some crappy top paint on my old 15 window bus to get back to the OG Sealing Wax Red.
What I meant was the extra difficulty of discerning between stripping down between 2 paint layers that are the same colour. Most of the buses on that thread are stripping a totally different colour to the underneath OG paint. This makes it much easier to see the new colour coming through. Whether you use oven cleaner, paint stripper, etc, the process gets all cloudy with the rubbing and product, making it hard to see even a different colour clearly as it starts to come through. With the same colour, I imagine it will be very difficult indeed to discern the old paint coming through, and hence stop stripping and get the caustic stripping agent off before it eats too much into the OG paint you're trying to save - if that makes sense?
To do the stripping process properly takes a lot of patience and time. That's for sure _________________ My brother & I on the roof of Dad's Splitty circa 1967 - I'm the half pint with the skinny legs! |
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RichardinNZ Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2011 Posts: 280 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 12:59 am Post subject: |
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KombiMadness; is your car Australia built? If yes weren't your colours and interiors different to Germany as ours were the other side of the Tasman, so we can't necessarily look at what Germany did?
Edit: Just realised that you say it is German...!
'58/'59 Gurus; is the pattern on the seat typical of a German car? It is similar to the pattern on my Kiwi '58.
Thanks
Richard _________________ Richard
'58 Beetle; NZ Assembled
Dual Carb 36hp
My Car https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=1750253 |
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KombiMadness Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2011 Posts: 388 Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2015 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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RichardinNZ wrote: |
KombiMadness; is your car Australia built? If yes weren't your colours and interiors different to Germany as ours were the other side of the Tasman, so we can't necessarily look at what Germany did?
Edit: Just realised that you say it is German...!
'58/'59 Gurus; is the pattern on the seat typical of a German car? It is similar to the pattern on my Kiwi '58.
Thanks
Richard |
Hi Richard,
Yes my bug was made in Germany RHD (probably intended for the UK market) but was exported to Australia. The PO before the guy I just bought it from, was an 80 year old man who had it since 1960! So it was new or near new when it arrived in Oz.
But you are correct, normally a '58 Aussie Beetle would've been a CKD assembled in Australia with different paint colors, trim and many other differences to German (European) or US export models. _________________ My brother & I on the roof of Dad's Splitty circa 1967 - I'm the half pint with the skinny legs! |
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sunroof Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006 Posts: 1774 Location: Winnipeg
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Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Since no one has posted anything up here for a while I thought I would put something up.
Don _________________ Better and better mistakes!
Last edited by sunroof on Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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stale air Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2007 Posts: 5154 Location: Senoia Ga, formally NorCal
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Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Don, we have an "after" pic yet? _________________ WANTED: Henry Veale Santa Rosa plate frames
WANTED: Brittsan Motors Fresno plate frames
WANTED: Any Georgia plate frames
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sunroof Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006 Posts: 1774 Location: Winnipeg
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Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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How about a during pic?
Don _________________ Better and better mistakes! |
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Jgowin Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008 Posts: 289 Location: North GA
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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sunroof wrote: |
How about a during pic?
Don |
I checked out your build thread, nice work! |
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Long-roofs Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2002 Posts: 2295 Location: Millwood, Wa
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:00 am Post subject: |
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Recent find in Idaho, '59 Mignonette. Parked in '88.
_________________ ---
I have been on a treadmill drinking vodka, maybe more than once.
"No, I do not own a bleepin' leaf blower"
-- |
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jays58s Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2004 Posts: 2133 Location: Nor-Cal
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:13 am Post subject: |
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Long-roofs wrote: |
Recent find in Idaho, '59 Mignonette. Parked in '88.
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Nice car!!! I'm currently working on a original paint Mignonette car as well, I'll post up some pics. |
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jays58s Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2004 Posts: 2133 Location: Nor-Cal
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:20 am Post subject: |
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Thought I'd post up my current project, and original paint Mignonette '59. This car is SUPER straight, and there isn't one single rust hole anywhere. The cool part about it is that is has all '58 parts. It has the '58 and earlier 4 tab hood, the '58 front clip area by the brake fluid reservoir, '58 only cigar ash tray, '58 and earlier rear seat bar supports, and the '58 and earlier rear seat stops. Here are some pics of when I got it, and the progress I've made so far....
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jays58s Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2004 Posts: 2133 Location: Nor-Cal
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:22 am Post subject: |
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Had to section in some wiring, it had a small engine fire at some point, but didn't seem to hurt a lot except the wiring. I replaced it with factory wiring from a harness I pulled out of another '59 I had....
More progress pics....
Dash is buffing out nice....
Started stripping parts and painting....
I painted the tank black, but I may redo it gray like it's supposed to be...
Brakes are about done, all the drums are dated 58...
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sunroof Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2006 Posts: 1774 Location: Winnipeg
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 9:04 am Post subject: |
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That drivers door looks better than I thought. Stud guns are amazing aren't they?
Don _________________ Better and better mistakes! |
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