Better Than a Barn Find.....My 1957 Horizon Blue Euro/Export

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:56 am Post subject:

This past Sunday Blauchen and I attended the VW's Over The Skyway #18/Boyd Hill Nature Park show......

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Despite all those nasty "Love Bugs" coming out and smashing into us during the mornings drive to the assembly area (we stopped in the shade and cleaned them all off quickly) and the insane SUV driver who almost rear-ended me before the bridge.... ("God was My Co-Pilot", Sunday Morning) and getting separated from everyone else while I went over the bridge, *SIGH* the day went very well, we had a lovely shady picnic place at the Park and it was great to see old friends and also make some new ones......

On the way home Blauchen clocked 29,600 Original miles (exact is currently 29,641).

"Back Home Safe Again" Very Happy

Now, it's just some small local antique car shows until this fall again when something VW happens.........

Enjoy!

Tom
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 10:34 am Post subject:

Here's a few cell phone camera snaps of Blauchen from the Bank Parking lot last Sunday......

I'm collecting photos from various people who photographed my car at the Skyway/Boyd Hill Show , thanks Kim!

If anyone else reading this who was at the show have any photos of my car going over the bridge let me know, write to my email: [email protected]

Tom
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 6:18 am Post subject:

We had fantastic weather here last Sunday and my best friend Lorne was here from outta town, so we went out for a drive with Blauchen on Lake Howard. Very Happy

And with the temps up into the high 80's we decided to go enjoy some of those world famous Shakes and Ice Cream Cones at "Andy's Igloo" in Winter Haven! Wink

~ Nothing major on the radar except for a oil change and tune up soon....

Enjoy!

Tom
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 2:36 am Post subject:

Just went over 29,700 Original Miles this past weekend.....I expect to go over or near 30,000 after this coming weekend. Very Happy

See everyone at Sundance Bug & Buggy Pre-Show this Saturday Morning and then later at Plant City!

Tom
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 12:12 pm Post subject:

Blauchen and Heike at the Sundance Pre Show Lunch and Swap Meet. Smile

Heike and Blauchen at Plant City this past weekend.......

Was a nice little show, we had amazing weather and it was nice to see a good turn out for the first time that Volkswagens were invited to have their own section at this famous Florida monthly car show.

Blauchen and I reached just short of 29,800 original miles on Saturday evening. Smile

I'll have my 30,000 very soon. Wink

Tom
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 10:54 pm Post subject:

It's been a while since I posted anything about Blauchen, we did just recently reach our 30,000 original miles!

I had a nice little drive doing so going to the local monthly Winter Haven car show and cruise, here's some new photos. Smile

Some of the photos are "artsy" I was just playing around with that 1954 f2/50mm Nikon HC lens on my Leica M8 (some close up shots).

Blauchen has a few "new toys" and Thanks to the Baron for this amazingly fantastic matching patina original 1950's accessory 4 Speed Pattern Gear Shift knob.....

Also very unexpected came a package from Germany with these "lovelies" in it.....

A beautifully restored pair of correct "D Code" SWF Semaphores.

Special Thanks to Manfred in Germany for doing these for me and just in time before I do my photoshoot for a very well known VW magazine, who want to feature Blauchen in a up coming issue, Yay!!!! Very Happy

More about that after it's done, please enjoy my photos.

Tom
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

bjoy · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 4:07 am Post subject:

great car, and i love the way you photograph it... it really brings it to life...

Blue Baron · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:28 am Post subject:

Photos look great as always.

We need to get back there for the car show and Chinese!
_________________
We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:05 am Post subject:

stale air · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:08 pm Post subject:

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 1:19 am Post subject:

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 9:42 pm Post subject:

I took Blauchen out today for a short drive.....

Around the old Cypress Gardens area Highway 540A for about 10 miles and then back home.....

The temps were in the mid 90's and it felt like you could fry an egg on the deck lid, but Blauchen ran kool and the drive was like always my therapy to relive all my stress and anxiety of weekday life. Wink

There's nothing better than to let the whole *mad* world go by you, while your driving 45 to 50mph calmly slow and gentle shifting gears, relaxed and happy with 36HP purring behind you..........

My Semaphores aren't hooked up yet, I have to get them done in the next week or two, also adjust the brakes, do an oil change, fix blinkers, check all my spark plug wires and if I COULD FIND A HELLA 6 VOLT HORN?????
~ then I could finally hook one up so driving him would be a whole lot safer.

Well, can't wait for this Florida weather to kool off a little, we have till end of September for that, but by then the weather will be perfect for driving all our air-cooled beauties in the Florida sunshine.

Tom
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

Blue Baron · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:00 am Post subject: Getting down and dirty

Here's Tom hard at it doing a proper oil change on Blauchen.

Tom should have taken a picture of the NOS oil change gaskets he used with German printing on them (seriously). He goes crazy over stuff like that.
_________________
We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Getting down and dirty

Hahahahahahah WoW! I was really "red in the face" there and that wasn't sunburn, hahahahhaah!!!!!!
(I look really unhappy for some reason?)

Yeah, I should have taken shots of them, they were awful pretty, but not too pretty to use in a oil change well needed. Wink

Thanks Baron for a very nice weekend!

Tom
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

Blue Baron · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 1:01 pm Post subject:

For anyone questioning Tom's street cred, here's a picture of him from an old copy of Hot VWs magazine, sitting on the fender of his oval sunroof across the street from Willi Lottermann's dealership during the Bad Camberg meet in '87, vintage Leica hanging around his neck. The caption (written by Jeff Walters) describes him as an Army dude diggin' his duty in Germany, 'cause he can scrounge for parts.

When I showed Tom this, he started talking at length about the car, just like he writes about Blauchen in this thread, but I have a short attention span so all I remember is the car was beige.
_________________
We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 1:33 pm Post subject:

Hahahhaahahha!!!! Very Happy

WoW! 1987.....seems like a hundred years ago.

Yes that was my FIRST vintage Beetle I ever owned ~ a L 378 prairie beige "Euro" Sonnendach/sunroof (now a PRETTY RARE car to find) with something like 65,000 kms on it, found it in Bobingen, (near Stuttgart) in 1986 really one of those "little old man" stories, owned by a vintage German Ford collector, (he bought it from the little old man) and placed it in the Ludwigsburg newspaper, where I saw it called and made an appointment to see the car that evening.

Went, looked the car was like pristine inside, perfect sunroof and cloth "pokadotted" seats, drove well, brakes all good, decent rubber, just modern post 1961 taillights were added and accessory blinkers on the front bumpers so the car would pass German TUV road inspection.

I PAID something like the equal of $1,000 (was 2.43 DM to the Dollar then) like 2,500 DM was the final price.
I drove the car for like 6 months and then still LUSTING for a pre 1949 car, I sold it to part finance a Split Window, sold it to that man in the photo, SP4 Tony Camancho (from Southern California) which he drove it for like 4 weeks or so and blew up the OG motor!!!! *UGGH* SPLIT THE CRANKSHAFT IN TWO PIECES! Sad

Anywhooo I bought the car back for like a few hundred dollars and found a motor for it, sold it to a DOD Teacher in Aschaffenburg, who in turn sold it to a SSG in Frankfurt who was later killed in the car, head-on crash on a rural road R.I.P. Sad

SAD ENDING . :/

Certainly we didn't think about how hard it would become to find a vintage VW like that in the future (we (the GI's into vintage VW's in Germany) were taking the whole Vintage VW scene in Germany for granted, there were tons of parts there and endless pre 1958 vintage cars to buy all original, thinking this will never ever end...) and we weren't too considerate about safety either, we drove without seat belts, also ran vintage cars with cable brakes and a OKRASA motor etc. (I still have to install seat belts in Blauchen) that car if I'd found it ten years later in Germany (1996) I would have handled it with kid gloves and restored the badly rusted/silver painted blade bumpers and removed the accessory blinkers, connected the semaphores and added the snowflake taillights, etc.

Well, back to the Bad Camberg shot, we were parked in the front of Willi's dealer, and had JUST pulled up (driving up from the Autobahn -Stuttgart/we were stationed in Kornwestheim near Ludwigsburg)
Tony and I got out of the car (loaded for bear with both our cameras!) and there was some guy from Hot VW's magazine standing there looking at us arrive, he asked us if we were soldiers and stationed in Germany?, "yes" and well if he could just just snap a photo of us for the mag and it *might?* go in the magazine's vintage issue........yeah it ended up there didn't it. Wink

.......... a nice memory of a great car, now in VW Heaven and good times we had during our tour of duty in Germany in the 1980's.

Thanks Baron for the memories....

Tom

P.S. God Bless him - Heinz-Willi Lottermann 1938-2001 R.I.P. ~ Willi you were such a great man, shared so many great VW things with me and welcomed me into your "inner circle" I miss you so much my dear friend.
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

Blauchen L331 · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 2:31 pm Post subject:

..........and I just noticed I was sporting a pair of (now vintage-then new) white Perry Top Siders, I'm sure I bought at the Stuttgart PX. Wink

Damn they were comfortable shoes!

Tom
_________________
OG PAINT L331 1957 TYPE 1 OVAL WINDOW
(US Navy In Germany/ Special Ordered Car from MAHAG Munich)
Delivered with Semaphores - German "Puntchen" Cloth Polkadotted Interior -
USA RAM Protection/Export Overrider Bumpers - MPH Speedometer -
Sealed Beam Headlights and Bullet Front Turn Signals!
99.9% ORIGINAL PARTS WITH ONLY 36,500 ORIGINAL MILES/ GARAGE FIND/ UNRESTORED CAR

Blue Baron · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 2:55 pm Post subject:

disneyherbie · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2014 11:10 am Post subject:

Wow! That was you Tom? I remember that Lotterman pic in Hot VWs. What a small world. Just insane!


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Better Than a Barn Find.....My 1957 Horizon Blue Euro/Export
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