TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1961 One-Year-Onlies...

Sun May 21, 2006 11:51 pm

Greetings,
Could anyone shed some light on some of those 1961-only odds'n'ends which would make my period-correct restoration difficult? (besides potentially not having a vehicle to work on?)

I mean something along the lines of the windshield wiper switch having a bellows on the back or the horn ring being of a different internal design than some other ones. I've read the turn signal switch is different too.

Thanks,

Mon May 22, 2006 2:57 am

What is the chassis number? The front hood went from 4-tab to the early 3-post midway through the year, at chassis number 3 551 045.

The turn signal switch is mechanically the same for 1960 and 1961, but in 1961 they went to push-on spade terminals for the first time instead of screw-terminals. They both have 6 wires as the switch sends a combined signal to the rear for the brake lights and the rear turn signals.

The steering wheel's horn setup is a bit more primitive, with three spring loaded brass pins under the horn ring that make the contact. The horn ring itself is shaped a bit different too, although I've seen later rings on there and be made to work.

I gotta run so I'll let others add to this discussion...

-Andy

Mon May 22, 2006 6:07 am

gas tank is 62-67 style ,but no cutout for gas guage.

Mon May 22, 2006 7:22 am

Windscreen washer bottle & plastic brake reservoir is also special to the 1961 model.

Mon May 22, 2006 8:53 am

60 or 61 had a one off steering wheel, It had notches where the horn ring went into the half ring.

Mon May 22, 2006 6:41 pm

RareAir wrote: Windscreen washer bottle & plastic brake reservoir is also special to the 1961 model.

Wasn't that the only year for the stainless"teardrop" washer nozzle? :?

Mon May 22, 2006 6:45 pm

Rear bulb holders . TROY

Mon May 22, 2006 7:34 pm

MEANIRISHMOFO wrote: 60 or 61 had a one off steering wheel, It had notches where the horn ring went into the half ring.

1960-62 all had the nothes in the steering wheel for the horn ring. As Glutamodo pointed out, 1960-61 & 1962-63 carry different part numbers.

Tue May 23, 2006 7:39 pm

Greetings -
Thank you all for your time!
My chassis number is 3377705, and according to the BC was built on 18 October 1960.
Side note - when I got Waltraud, there was a 1600 in her... according to my BC the engine serial number wasn't recorded. I was interested in doing as "period correct" a restoration as possible, so I bought a 1200 long block serial number 5221881 - according to what's posted on the website, that would be close, right? That would make it a 40hp huh? Don't all the 36hp blocks have the integrated generator stand?

What sort of different wiper bottles do you mean? I have a snap-cap non-pressurized VDO I'd obtained a couple of years ago.

Troy, what is the difference in the bulb holders? '61 was the last year for the "snowflakes" I know, but how could I find out which ones I have?

I have the correct steering wheel, but what about color? The BC says "radscheibe" but that means "wheel disk"... my wheel is painted what appears to be the original L390 golfblau.

Again, thank you all very much for your help!

Tue May 23, 2006 9:50 pm

scottyhoffo wrote: what is the difference in the bulb holders? '61 was the last year for the "snowflakes" I know, but how could I find out which ones I have?

1961-only bulb holders are spade terminals. 1955-60 would have screw terminals. Luckily, the repro's are spade so it's easy to relace.

Tue May 23, 2006 9:51 pm

scottyhoffo wrote: I have the correct steering wheel, but what about color? The BC says "radscheibe" but that means "wheel disk"... my wheel is painted what appears to be the original L390 golfblau.

Your steering wheel is painted L390 Gulf Blue? Hmmm :? I thought only convertibles were equipped with color-matched steering wheels.

Tue May 23, 2006 9:54 pm

Hey Scott,
Did you ever recover your '61 after returning back to the States?

Wed May 24, 2006 6:16 am

RareAir wrote: Hey Scott,
Did you ever recover your '61 after returning back to the States?

what Glenn said^^^ where is it???

Wed May 24, 2006 7:10 am

Oct 60 is a 61 model year and will have a non fresh air 40hp 1200cc , all 36hp had the integrated gen stand . TROY

Wed May 24, 2006 9:26 am

scottyhoffo wrote: Greetings -
What sort of different wiper bottles do you mean? I have a snap-cap non-pressurized VDO I'd obtained a couple of years ago.
That's the one ! from the top, looking down looks like 1/2 of a banana. Another good thing to save would be the grill and trim from the right side of the speedo, 60 had the pointed heavy trim, 62 gas gauge.

Wed May 24, 2006 3:11 pm

bill may wrote: RareAir wrote: Hey Scott,
Did you ever recover your '61 after returning back to the States?

what Glenn said^^^ where is it???

Examining the only pic that Scott posted of his Beetle, it looks like it's within a mile of the Linda Vista area. See the freeway signs? That's got to be the I-163 heading South near Kearny High School :wink:

That means it's in your neighborhood Bill.

Wed May 24, 2006 7:28 pm

Thank you SO much for your help!
Now the car... *sigh*

Here's the scoop: Jose says he has it but seems to have some trouble getting pictures emailed to me to prove it. The police have been notified and they said they'd spoken with his wife and they do indeed have my car and would have pictures AND my updated invoice sent to me today. Amazing - it seems like the only way I can get him to tell me anything about the car is by calling the sheriff's department there getting involved. Grrrr...

You're right! The picture of my car was taken from the front of my old apartment on Kearny Villa Ln - the Cabrillo Palisades Townhome complex. Yeah that darn 163... :) It was nice to be able to make it home from work in less than 15 minutes and not even get on the highway... I wouldn't trade living in Rancho Bernardo for much though - expensive but beautiful.
I'll post some other pictures which I have as soon as I get them processed.

BTW I think my steering wheel is L390 - it's a '61 for sure. Maybe someone put a convertible part on the car at one time. I have a picture but it doesn't show the wheel closely.

...trying to remain optimistic about the car...

Wed May 24, 2006 7:41 pm

RareAir wrote: scottyhoffo wrote: what is the difference in the bulb holders? '61 was the last year for the "snowflakes" I know, but how could I find out which ones I have?

1961-only bulb holders are spade terminals. 1955-60 would have screw terminals. Luckily, the repro's are spade so it's easy to relace.

Mine were pretty rough - definitely not belonging to the car as they were black and pretty rusty... so they may even be the earlier ones.
Good to know that all replacements are patterned after the '61s! :)

Thu May 25, 2006 5:50 am

i live 10 blocks from kearney high school.

Thu May 25, 2006 6:52 am

I am SOOO glad you are one who is restoring your car correctly GREAT.
Keep it stock and don't drop or any of the other junked up stuff people do.
Thanks