TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 am

Hey folks.
I just found this pair of og Bosch spark plugs in the treasure chest area of my '57 SC. They cleaned up nicely! I was wondering if they have any useful value to anyone due to rarity or function, or would I be okay modifying them to make a pair of keychains?

I don't want to hack up something that may help someone with a restoration.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:36 am

I've seen a lot of old W8A and W145T1 plugs kicking around over the years. I don't think anyone would be missing out if you did something with those plugs. Heck, I've even got a set of them:

As for my own cars, I think I'd rather run W8AC plugs over vintage ones, and I think most people who run VW motors as drivers would do the same. So for your plugs, I'd say go and try whatever you want to do with them.

-Andy

Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:59 am

Good to know.
I'll be turning these into keychains.

Thanks!

Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:32 am

glutamodo, the plug in your pic is not that old. the truly old ones have smooth porcelain and black steel bases. those are hard to find. after that, they were smooth with plated bases, like the left one in the first pic. if it has a "W" part number, that is really not all that old. pink Beru plugs are getting harder to find.
plugs are one of those things that i think are peronal preference things, since you never really see them when installed. i like NOS old plugs and use them.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:43 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=269413

mine, want them?

Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:08 am

hi hazetguy -

yeah, I know that those were "transition" plugs - from the period they switched from long numbers to short numbers, and before they went to copper core. That would be the early 80's. They are still 20-25 years old. (and if I'm ever needing plugs and don't have any others around, yes I probably will use them) I didn't notice the two plugs in the picture were different, I only focused on the right one since it had the "145" visible on it - that one doesn't look much older than the ones I have.

-Andy

Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:37 pm

yeah, there are so many different varieties and small differences that it would be real hard to document exact time periods. funny, to me, plugs that are "only" 25 years old seem new to me. lol.
lind has some pretty cool old plugs too.
and happyhippo, i really hope you are only going to use these keychains for "show" purposes only. plugs are awfully heavy to be used as keychains. all the weight will wear out your ignition switch pretty fast.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:40 pm

Now, you are just showing off....

Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:47 pm

A few of mine:

Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:54 pm

The Australian/Canadian one is neat:

Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:55 pm

hazetguy wrote: ...happyhippo, i really hope you are only going to use these keychains for "show" purposes only. plugs are awfully heavy to be used as keychains. all the weight will wear out your ignition switch pretty fast.

YIKES! Good point. I hadn't even thought of that. Don't want to be messing up an ignition switch just for the sake of a keychain.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 3:20 pm

Very cool thread.
I now feel much more educated on the various qualities of vintage sparkplugs

Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:17 pm

How many of you guys have the Bosch spark plug cigarette lighter? (I'll post a photo tonight.) Looks just like a regular spark plug but has a thumb wheel striker and wick where the ground electrode is supposed to be. You see them come up for sale on eBay from time to time.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:53 pm

transporter, what's your point, mr. showcase. :lol:

Everett, that canadian one is really cool, i like the red cover and the wrapper.

i have seen those lighters, i even know someone who owns one, but i will let them post it (cough, Crofty). they pretty cool.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:04 pm

As promised, here are some photos of my Bosch spark plug / lighter. The cap comes off the bottom to reveal the lighter portion. Almost makes you want to take up smoking.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:30 pm

Everett

The Champion ones my aunt probably made in the late 60's early 70's
if they are marked Made in USA. Champion is from Toledo. All they
make there now is the NASCAR plugs.

Haven't seen a set of those in over 30 years.

Really cool plugs and box.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:07 pm

Yes, they say Toledo, Ohio.

If I see them again, I will get a box for you. There was a guy at the Southern California shows who used to have them at every swap meet for a while.

Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:03 am

Intersting thread so thought I would revive and add a little tidbit. here are two early plugs. The smooth Bosch on the left has labeling on its cast base but nothing but the two green lines on the insulator. Figure this to be early to mid 50's.

Somewhere I heard or read that Beru also supplied sparking plugs to new factory engines. This one might be a later 1960's version somewhere I have a set of earlier pieces.

Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:40 pm

vw howard was selling 4- W8A plugs for $.50 each or $2 per box at blackstar. he also was selling W8AC plugs for same price. i bought 12 plugs and a bunch of point /condenser sets - the P/C sets were $.25 each so i bought 12 sets. they were old in original bosch pkg from the 80's. the gasket change kits were also $.25 each so i bought 12 kits. where were you???

Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:19 pm

I'll take 100 of those W8AC for .50 each!!