TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:53 am

I once owned a 1953 Transporter, but maybe it was a 54? It's been 40 years - gimme a break! Whatever blanks can be filled in would be appreciated.
I don't remember door or ignition locks. I DO remember putting a pad lock on the driver's door, and believe I had to pin the other doors from the inside - but maybe they had locks and I just didn't have a key.
It had a small silver starter button (like in the pictures) and a switch for the ignition. But I don't remember if it was a factory switch or just a switch someone added.
This was a very basic model. It had the six side windows in the cabin, so I'm guessing it may have originally come with seats, tho there were none when I bought it.
Did they make any without a keyed ignition switch?
Did they all come with door locks?
When did they start importing them to the States?

I've been trying to recall details of the van, and separate that from all the other vans I've seen... and the cobwebs in between. I finally found a few pictures of 54's with the 'bullnose' air intake above the windshield, and I guess that is what I had.
Did ALL 54's have that? Only certain ones? How about 53's? Was it just passive, or powered by a fan? It seems I've seen it both ways. I would guess that factory models were works in progress and may not have all been the same over the model year.
What was the knob I saw in one picture that was underneath the front seat?
Not the choke or heater controls, but something directly under the seat.
I don't know how often these beasts hit the streets, but I'm guessing a big, bright center tail/brake light that could be stuck in the back window would be a nice addition. Those tail lights would have been brighter with a candle in place of the bulb.
Reduction gears??? The online manual (THANKS!) shows a reduction gearbox at each end of the drive axels. Would all 53 or 54s have had this? Again, (like an attorney general...) I don't recall. I was a mechanic back then and thought I would have remembered something this odd. Was this an option? I once had 14 people stuffed in the van going from one party to another. I needed all the gear reduction I could get! And bigger tires. Luckily - we were all slim back then.

Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:14 am

Not of what you have said narrows it down to a 53 or a 54.

drivers door had key lock handle from outside, passengers did not (locked from inside)

53 and 53 both had silver starter button

:?

Thu Sep 06, 2007 2:25 pm

jondoe wrote: I once owned a 1953 Transporter, but maybe it was a 54? It's been 40 years - gimme a break! Whatever blanks can be filled in would be appreciated.
I don't remember door or ignition locks. I DO remember putting a pad lock on the driver's door, and believe I had to pin the other doors from the inside - but maybe they had locks and I just didn't have a key.
It had a small silver starter button (like in the pictures) and a switch for the ignition. But I don't remember if it was a factory switch or just a switch someone added.
This was a very basic model. It had the six side windows in the cabin, so I'm guessing it may have originally come with seats, tho there were none when I bought it.
Did they make any without a keyed ignition switch?
Did they all come with door locks?
When did they start importing them to the States?

I've been trying to recall details of the van, and separate that from all the other vans I've seen... and the cobwebs in between. I finally found a few pictures of 54's with the 'bullnose' air intake above the windshield, and I guess that is what I had.
Did ALL 54's have that? Only certain ones? How about 53's? Was it just passive, or powered by a fan? It seems I've seen it both ways. I would guess that factory models were works in progress and may not have all been the same over the model year.
What was the knob I saw in one picture that was underneath the front seat?
Not the choke or heater controls, but something directly under the seat.
I don't know how often these beasts hit the streets, but I'm guessing a big, bright center tail/brake light that could be stuck in the back window would be a nice addition. Those tail lights would have been brighter with a candle in place of the bulb.
Reduction gears??? The online manual (THANKS!) shows a reduction gearbox at each end of the drive axels. Would all 53 or 54s have had this? Again, (like an attorney general...) I don't recall. I was a mechanic back then and thought I would have remembered something this odd. Was this an option? I once had 14 people stuffed in the van going from one party to another. I needed all the gear reduction I could get! And bigger tires. Luckily - we were all slim back then.

In which State did you have the vehicle registered and what is your last name? I have friends in DC that can look up that information for you and tell you whether it was a 53 or 54.

Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:53 am

I bought it in Cleveland in 1968. It was then registered in Mass by 69.
thanks

Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:55 pm

the drivers door, side door, and engine lid would have locks. No key on the outside for passenger front door.

They had a key to turn the ignition on, then a button to press to do the starter.

If it had the 6 side windows in the back, it would have had seats back there when new (middle seat maybe maybe not) but hey people can take those out to haul stuff, and leave them somewhere else.

More of those years were brought into the states by individuals than sold at VW dealers, but yes there were 53s and 54s around in the 60s. I did have a 54 bus that was sold new at Walker Motor Company in Kennewick, WA.

The air vent that hangs over the nose is a Behr intake. These were used from 54-55, there was a different air scoop that didn't hang over the front that was 53 & earlier. The Behr version had electric fans, the earlier version had no fans. I am not sure when exactly they switched from the one kind to the other. Yes, changes were often nothing to do with model year... maybe they switched from one kind to another in Feb 54, or Sept 53. They did use the earlier ones in June 53. The air vents were an option, many didn't have them.

I don't know what knob would be under the seat except heater & choke, but people add things.

Yes, all 67 & earlier buses came with reduction gears, including 53s and 54s

If you find any old pics of your bus, please share!

Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:03 pm

Clara wrote: If you find any old pics of your bus, please share!

Clara, pictures would be nice but he said that he doesn't have any.

On a completely different subject can someone help me with today's word puzzle:

S _ _ N _ N _ _ _ N _

Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:34 pm

Anchovy wrote: Clara wrote: If you find any old pics of your bus, please share!

Clara, pictures would be nice but he said that he doesn't have any.

On a completely different subject can someone help me with today's word puzzle:

S _ _ N _ N _ _ _ N _

Would this have anything to do with me uncle Patrick who would say standing out in front of a Pub down on Temple Bar Lane, Dublin, Ireland............"Aye, it's eight terty in da mornin. Almost noon, so it's time for me pint". :wink:

Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:44 pm

It was a 1954. I paid $80 for it in 1968. That is about $570 today. I recently sold my 20yo Villager van for $1400. It was light years ahead in quality and comfort. But didn't have the soul of the VW. (or a Vincent '52...)
But the bus did have all the comfort and horsepower of a riding mower.

Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:33 pm

Wow... Brought back from the dead thead! Wanted to reminisce again after 10 years?

Tue Nov 10, 2020 11:27 pm

Whilst searching I found this thread which seems as good a place as any for my question:

I am planning on installing a steering column lock on my barndoor. This has an ignition switch in it so I assume I ca=n make my ignition switch in the dash pod redundant.

If I do that, why not remove it and fit a blank like this one:

This is the only one I have ever seen - were they common? Are they available today?

It looks pretty factory - nice fit and a fuse too:

Many thanks,

Dave

Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:04 pm

There is lots of steering locks for sale and recently I discussed it with user Beaterbarndoor that the radius for the locks appear to be larger than a bus column. Meaning once the lock is placed over the tube it has slop in it seen in some busses taken up with a rubber of some sort. Does your lock fit snuggly around the column?

Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:27 pm

gatorwyatt wrote: There is lots of steering locks for sale and recently I discussed it with user Beaterbarndoor that the radius for the locks appear to be larger than a bus column. Meaning once the lock is placed over the tube it has slop in it seen in some busses taken up with a rubber of some sort. Does your lock fit snuggly around the column?
That's a tricky one to answer as my bus is on one continent and I'm on another. I hope to pick up a steering box and column tomorrow so should be able to answer then, just not installed in the bus. Watch this space 😊

Dave

Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:30 pm

bally wrote:

I'm told this is a feature of post war (possibly even used during the war) military spec beetles.

Cheers. Dave

Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:40 pm

If it was on the early beetles then it would be the fat steering column used on 52 and earlier barndoors. Might explain the sometimes loose fitting?

Thu Nov 12, 2020 4:28 pm

I’ve been looking around for a lock for my bus(54) and with questions to some sellers, measurements always seem to come back as the diameter of the beetle locks. I’m convinced pretty much all the locks listed as “Barndoor” are really just beetle(or whatever euro car it may fit) and listed As BD because it is black.

Yes, still technically BD because it should work fine for the earlier fatter columns..

I’m nearly convinced that the locks for 53-55 are either nonexistent or so rare that you are not likely to find one.

The usual vintage (Factory?) photo that floats around ,I suspect may be the earlier fatter column. Hard to say.

If you think about it, installing the “beetle” lock to a 53-55 bus column does no good. The lock casing itself has raised bumps to hold it into place on the column outer housing and then when put into lock position the lock shaft then pushes further into the column onto the sleeve welded to the column shaft.
Due to the size difference, the beetle lock would barely even lock onto the later style outer housing of the steer box.

It may look the part but completely useless and a lot of money.

I would love to see a real example of a lock that would fit the 53-55 buses.

Thu Nov 12, 2020 4:43 pm

My parts book lists two different locks - pre and post chassis 20-041711 which is when the column changed. The early lock has part number 929 051, the later one is 929 051a which then became 211 929 051a. My lock fits a tube with OD 42mm. I'm not sure if that's early or late. I can go BD no part number on it.

Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:46 pm

This thread may help, at least with some measurements:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=442411

Quote: I’m nearly convinced that the locks for 53-55 are either nonexistent or so rare that you are not likely to find one.
I absolutely agree they are rare and 99.9999% of the "Barndoor" locks being sold have the wrong measurements for a late Barndoor.

Thu Nov 12, 2020 6:08 pm

The later column measures out at about 32mm. Beetle style measures about 42mm
Good info on the part numbers. I had been trying to find if that existed In the parts book. Never ran across it but now see it in the electrical section.

So it did exist for later bus according to the parts book. Seems odd it wouldn’t , but still, It would be good to see proof that someone actually has one.

Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:27 pm

Factory photo mentioned above

My '55 from a few years ago. This could be the wrong one but it bolts up to the column:

Fri Nov 13, 2020 3:14 am

the factory photo appears to be a 53 ? early speedo, double fuse box, no indentation on the lower speedo pod edge. Probably the bolt holes for the og column mount clamp have been touched up, as usual with factory manual pics.

BTW what key style does this lock use, and is there a key# on the cyl anywhere? Mine is missing the key unfortunately. It's an early fat column.