Retrovans 1952 Beetle find in South Africa

[Retrovan]

Hi Guys,

Just wanted to share my find with you, as finding a Split Beetle in South Africa is becoming near impossible these days.

So here is the story so far....


As promised, I will post what I have right now,

As you can see, there is not much to see, but boy what a good looking project this is.

The rotten pan and body VIN numbers are correct and matching, and clearly a June 1952 build.

(guess who has rose coloured glasses on)

so here goes..........



With the incorrect tank, I have already placed an order for the right 1952 (pre Oct) tank

Also have placed order for 49-52 pan half's

and even as I have already got "a" pillars, have placed order for new ones as well.

Set of German rubbers

Round horn grills

Popes nose lenses

Dim/bright floor switch

door light switches, but no dome light fond yet.

So yes, its coming together, one day at a time.

Well not much news, but the parts are starting to come in.

Have got a few "replacement " Parts, but they still look good.......


Waiting for the "Hens Teeth" to come, as I managed to get some off The Samba, Will however wait till they here before announcing them.

The body will be collected just after George Show, then there should be more Photo"s for you Main Line addicts.

Till then

Herman

_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Retrovan]

As time passes....

As most would know, my time is not my own at this time, with Consultant Work, Moving house and office, building new house, renovating new office, and trying to do projects one runs out of these few hours in a day.

This means, that to prevent the 1952 Beetle project from grinding to a halt, I have farmed-out the Body work, or should I say, the metal cut, bend, fit and re-weld to someone with more time and better equipped for the job.

No, the final prep and flatting will still be mine, and the body ready for paint will be done by me.

Then Paint and assembly..... again ME....

So here are some teasers to wet your pallet.......

Here we have an Hole'y 1952 Beetle pan with more hole and less pan.



As this is the correct pan for the car, we will have to fix it, and get it back to life....
and that has been done.....


"A" pillars are gone "west"as well, so they where cut and fitted.......





As some of you may remember, this will be a "Used" car, not a Trailer Queen, so the engine will be "Upped" a bit, and to load it in and out with ease, the back Valance has been made removable.

With all shouting at the same time...".Beetle engine is easy to take in and out.".. let me explain..

The split window had a much higher fitting engine, the box is held tight up to the body, so to get an 1600tp engine with twin carbs in is near impossible. Yes..Yes.. if you take off near all the satellite parts, it just slips in....but fully complete, its a drag.


OK so we will carry on with this reconstruction, and as I have more, I will post it.

Ok , so the work is going on.

The metal is being replaced where possible, and the other areas are being welded up, with new steel.

The Pope Now has a nose again, bit worse for wear, but a nose all the same.



The pan has just got to be cleaned up and smoothed out, to ready it for the epoxy coat coating.



The bumps are being leaded out, to reduce the use of filler, something the old 52 Beetles had little of.




The body is coming together nicely, so soon we will be having it back in PE for the paint prep work.

Thanks for looking.

Herman

_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Retrovan]

Well the body work is coming on nicely now, and she is near ready to come home.

Will just be light bolt on of all the parts, so that It is easily striped here at home, to start flatting and readying the body for paint.

Will be removing the body off the pan, and building the car up from there.

OK, Here is "before and after"




Looks a bit different to when she was found.



Well, this is a start of a new beginning for her, and a joy to have a 1952 in a 1952, and one is as good as new.......

Now all I need is a good body shop for myself.

Thanks for looking.

Herman

_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Retrovan]

Look what followed me home........

Yes the 1952 Split Beetle has returned from the metal workers up in Jhb.


OK, so here is the story so far..... :puterwork:

The Beetle was found in Pretoria on a farm, the Beetle was brought back to Buggers work shop, and the donor car was also dropped off at Buggers workshop.

Pierre then had his metal guys loose on the project, and in very little time, replaced all the rust, with good solid metal, not only from the donor car, but from time correct panels brought in from all over the world.

The work was well done and on budget, and best of all, on time. Thanks Pierre, super work, and thanks for the detail built into this project.

Now the body will be removed, and the pan completed and final painted, before the new pan seals are fitted, as well as the original bolts supplied by Impi, Thanks Armand.

Hope to have more pic's during the build as from now, lets see.

Sorry about the "Shadow Man", but he does seem to be having fun, and also likes the beetle, judging from the thumbs up.

Thanks for looking,

Herman

_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Retrovan]

OK so for you VW aircooled perverts.....

Here are some pic's of my new workshop and parts room.

Please excuse the mess, but we work here...


Been trying to find a panel beater to do my pan straightening......

but alas, non are willing to do it on short notice.

So the self sufficient in me decided that I too can do this.

With angle iron brackets, and 10 mm wall plug screws and drill, I bolted the two brackets to the floor, under the two axles.

With the pan on tripods, I strapped the 3 high points to the floor, and jacked up the low point.

Over jacking a bit at a time, I had the pan straight to the mm, and now I can complete the work without having to lick someones a$$ to do the pan.

Will post pic's tomorrow, as I did not have the Camera with me at the workshop.

Well till next time..

Herman

_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Retrovan]

Well here you go, very crud, but effective.......

So here are the photo's of the handbrake system,

Here to I have a photo of the peddle stops for the split / oval system that is hard to come by, as no info is found on the web, or books.

These stops can now be adjusted forwards or back to set the required position of each peddle.

Just now still waiting for my new Gear Rod coupler, then I can close up the hole in the tunnel, and fit the body back on.

Herman

_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Retrovan]

If only life would not interfere, I could have it done by now........

So the body finally went back on, and the bolts where refitted and the wheels went back on.

Got the incorrect mudguards off, and fitted the re-worked 52 mudguards back on.

She is now ready to go to Paint.


Thanks for looking,

Herman[/quote]

_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Retrovan]

So the cats out the bag, the Split Beetle is wearing her new coat, and I think she looks a Million Dollars.

The Old Fugly did her thing, as Grand Madam, and A-Framed the split home safe and sound.

Here is a small taster of what she looks like,

Here we just collected here from the Painters, and as always the Boys at Paramount Body Works did an excellent job,

Richard, take a bow, as per the Fastback, that you also did, the Split will be a testimony of your excellent work.



So the trip went off well, and we got home just before dark, so a few pic's before putting her to bed........


Now the fun will begin, as a small boy in a candy store, sleep will elude me tonight.

Till next time, thanks for looking.

Herman

_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Retrovan]

We here she is today as you see her...

So as I am still waiting for the Wiring harness, which could still take weeks, I am getting the small things done.

Started with the Sound proofing, and YES the 1952 did not originally come out with sound proofing. but as said a number of times, this is not a trailer queen, but a daily driver.

So here we go, the Back seat area got 1st treatment.....

Here you see it all done,....

Now you do not .....

The engine fire wall also got the same treatment ...

So now we will do the back wheel humps and the doors.....

But in the mean time I had to hang them 1st, and get the hardware into the doors as well....



Well till next time

Herman

_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Rome]

You're doing a fine job! My gosh, cutting out the center tunnel like you did- that's real precision work to patch in a good section. I fully understand your intent to save the chassis# stamping from the original pan.

[aa390392]

Love the tenacity you guys that purchase these car and totally get them road worthy and documenting the work being done, keep sharing its like a page burner novel.
Thomas
_________________
.
getting grumpy & less tolerant!


55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet

[Retrovan]

[Patty B.]

Great resto/make it your's Retrovan! Also great colour!

[Basketcase]

fantastic job bringing it back.
_________________
'72 Karmann Ghia Coupe (the Boss's)

[joey1320]

Great job man!
_________________
**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[Retrovan]

Thanks Guys,

Yes, thats right, makes a very affordable sound proofing without causing condensation build up under the normal carpet type sound proofing.

You can now fit the "under-veld" type on top of this, and it will not promote rust.

Well as you can see, I have added sound proofing to the back side panels as well as both doors, so the door now has a nice quality sound when closing.


Also made up some seat rails, as the pan sections for the replacement true 1952 did not have them on.

Thanks again Jaco, for letting me copy your old rails, Think I managed to get a very near perfect rail together.

Here are the parts before assembly......

And here is the driver side in place, fixed to the pan.....

Not very clear, but better photo's when I do the passengers seat.

Still waiting for the Harness from John Henry, so we will carry on with the small things till it gets here.

Still getting the window sashes as well, so you can see that this is a slow process to get all parts needed for such a project when you start with only a shell.

thanks for looking

Herman
_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[Zvonimir1985]

I was enjoying reading...
_________________
Proud to be Croat!

[Retrovan]

Thanks guys, will be going full blast after getting harness from John Henry.
Till then

Herman
_________________
1968 Fastback Type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (Red)
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc. twin 34 ICT's (Azur blue)
1975 Split Bus Type 4 1914cc. twin 34 ICT's (wh/aqua)
1972 Bay Panel-van with type 4 2 Lt. twin 34 ICT's (white)
2019 Beetle Flatbed Truck called MeFusco
1973 FT Hahn SP - Project 1776cc

[aa390392]

Great job....
question why does it soooo long to get the harness?
Seems like shipping has not kept up with new millennium?
Bureaucracy? Laws? Taxes?
Thanks
Thomas
_________________
.
getting grumpy & less tolerant!


55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet

[Martin Southwell]

We run a couple of web-sites selling goods around the world, and from our experiences, I can tell you that South Africa is notoriusly slow when it comes to processing things through their postal system. If our customers get their goods within 2 months, then that is good going. By comparison, from the UK, it generally only takes 5 days to reach even the outback in Austrailia.

Staff in South Africa have a long running dispute with the Post Office, and have been on strike at least once in the past year. Plus customers tell us that the system is basically bankrupt: http://www.bekkerinvestments.co.za/saa-suspends-delivery-of-south-african-post-office-mail/

Does that throw light on the delay subject?