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GERMANAIRE Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2007 Posts: 689 Location: BUFORD,GA.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 11:29 am Post subject: My First 53 Zwitter ! |
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Just received my 53 Euro Ragtop, Semaphore Zwitter and its pretty solid.
I have been reading through the forums to get as much information as possible. I have read about the 11 C, 11 E, 11 G, 10/11, 11/12 and so on but my Zwitter has a 1/11 with no G. Not sure if that is normal or correct but seems to be all original to me. Body vin plate in front spare wheel well area matches chassis tunnel stamping and title ragtop is not grafted in. I have posted some pics of the car in the split section of the gallery and would appreciate any input or help with this. Here is a picture of front vin plate and body #. Seems it is a January of 53 Zwitter from what I have gathered.
Again any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Peter
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AlanInMass54 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003 Posts: 1066 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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Hi, looks like a great car, I just got one too! I was wondering about the rear seat - was that one in the pics bolted in? Here in this pic it just has one hole per side.
If that seat bolted in and worked that's great as mine is missing and sourcing a replacement would be easier. From what I've seen they're supposed to be like this one I snagged from a wanted ad in the classifieds.
See it's got that extra pivot on the backrest on each side? But irregardless it looks like an excellent car and you're off to a great start! |
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franklinunes Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2007 Posts: 414
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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Hi nice zwitter
to me all seems original, despite the bar from the split window taken off...we never know if the past owner liked modifications :p just in case see the roof section if there is any weldded spots, but I almost know the answer, to me looks a perfect car, maybe the ID tag needs a bit more clean, the G is stamped, somethimes with the time is hard to see, is faded maybe, try to clean a bit more but carefully, there is some solutions to better clean.
I think the starter button, heater knob and also the speedo is not ok
Best regards and good luck with the baby |
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eurodub Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2007 Posts: 1321
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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those seats are 1960 european only. they were replacing the ones in your zwitter. _________________ 1960 1200 model 117 deluxe ragtop
1974 T2 Westfalia Campmobile
1976 MK1 Golf |
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RareAir Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2002 Posts: 14576 Location: 18 miles North of the border
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Zwitterkafer Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2007 Posts: 878 Location: Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, nice project! I see that your car also came equipped with the popular "mummified mouse" option....... Best of luck! _________________ "Criticism comes easier than Craftsmanship"
- Zeuxius, 400 BC |
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einsperren Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2006 Posts: 61 Location: down by the river
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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A interesting note. Even though the factory halted use of the "11G" on later cars, I recently rec.d my birth certificate and it still used the "11G" to describe mine which was mfg.on March 07 1953 with only one more day of twin window cars to be produced. |
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franklinunes Samba Member
Joined: August 06, 2007 Posts: 414
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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RareAir wrote: |
"11G" stamping stopped at the end of Sept 1952 |
Thanks for the info I didn't know this.
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0nebadbug Samba Member
Joined: October 01, 2009 Posts: 1087 Location: Rockford, Illinois
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GERMANAIRE Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2007 Posts: 689 Location: BUFORD,GA.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you guys for all the positive comments and info! I will continue to post as I go along. This one will need alittle more elbow grease and time to get back to og paint and will probably need to painted but we will see. Peter
RareAir, Thanks for that I was getting kinda nervous because of the "G"!
Thanks again, Peter |
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GERMANAIRE Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2007 Posts: 689 Location: BUFORD,GA.
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 8:04 pm Post subject: Saturday Aug. 31 2013 Zwitter Paint Removal Updates |
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Well I have done half of the car so far and and its time consuming removing 5 layers of previous 60 year paint jobs. It is pretty solid as shown in pics some welding has to be done. Very happy with it so far all major parts solid just look at that door post man that is sweet lookin'. wheel wells clean with some patch welding and some patch welding on the lower skin on door. All 4 fenders are getting blasted with decklid, hood, gastank and ragtop parts. Fender turn signal holes have to be welded closed on both front fenders and some patch welding done to lip with holes to bolt fender to body. Both rear bumper mounts need some tlc as well. Should have the whole car back to og paint tomorrow evening and disassembled to start welding. Hope the rest of the car looks as good it will definitely save me plenty of time and labor. OH! and money on replacement panels.
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GermanRust52 Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2005 Posts: 352
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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wow nice job P |
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oldsplitvw Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 285
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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Incredible!!! Thank you for preserving an amazing car!
Will |
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GERMANAIRE Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2007 Posts: 689 Location: BUFORD,GA.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 5:49 am Post subject: |
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AlanInMass54 wrote: |
Hi, looks like a great car, I just got one too! I was wondering about the rear seat - was that one in the pics bolted in? Here in this pic it just has one hole per side.
If that seat bolted in and worked that's great as mine is missing and sourcing a replacement would be easier. From what I've seen they're supposed to be like this one I snagged from a wanted ad in the classifieds.
See it's got that extra pivot on the backrest on each side? But irregardless it looks like an excellent car and you're off to a great start! |
Well I finally remembered to look for attachment point and there was none.
Can you please post a pic of what it looks like at the attachment point for the correct seat. I am trying to locate some seat frames but not a easy task to find someone who is willing to sell a complete interior. Thanks again, Peter |
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bwaz Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2004 Posts: 1780
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:20 am Post subject: |
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although older than yours, found this in the gallery. Top left in the photo for the backrest mount
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GERMANAIRE Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2007 Posts: 689 Location: BUFORD,GA.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:39 am Post subject: |
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bwaz wrote: |
although older than yours, found this in the gallery. Top left in the photo for the backrest mount
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Cool Thanks! |
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GERMANAIRE Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2007 Posts: 689 Location: BUFORD,GA.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 2:33 pm Post subject: Sunday September 1, 2013 Zwitter Paint Removal Updates |
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Well kicked ass today again and was able to finish drivers side. Hoping to get into the hood area tomorrow and then remove the engine. I would like to start the welding asap as my painter is telling me he can get the car in about two weeks from now. Gotta hustle and get it done and right the first time. Still looking for split seat frames if anybody knows of some for sale. Well started removing the chassis bolts but taking my time back and forth to try not and bust any bolts. Hopefully off the pan by next weekend to get the chassis to the blaster.
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ZwitterND Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2005 Posts: 1451 Location: Fargo, ND
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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Strange how similar the rust spot are compared to my zwitter. I removed the support pieces just forward of the torsion tubes. One side was worse than the other. Water, salt and sand built up and caused it to rust into the heater channel. On the plus side I had full access to the heater channel which allowed me to spray the inside of the channels with POR 15' _________________ Bill |
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Zwitter Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2003 Posts: 212 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:12 pm Post subject: 53 zwitter |
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Very Nice find.
From what I can almost make out, it looks as if your doors may have the original non anodized aluminum trim/window scrapers.
If that's the case, be as careful as humanly possible when time comes to remove those.
My Oct '52 car did not have them and I can't tell you the years of searching I went thru to find them. |
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Rich's 50 Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2004 Posts: 10781 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:17 am Post subject: |
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Well done bro, it's always enjoyable to read your topic's it kind of gets me motivated to get into the garage. Looking forward to this |
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