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Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:22 pm

I just picked up my kindergarten teachers 1963 bug. She was the original owner. The car has 73,000 original miles and I am told that the body, chassis, engine and tranny are all original to the car. How can I know for sure?

I've confirmed that the numbers in the hood (vin) and under the seat (vin) are the same. I've gotten the numbers off of the engine (under the push rod tubes) and from the side of the tranny, but where do I go from here?

Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:23 pm

Look up on this site how to get a 'birth certificate' for your car.

The museum at Wolfsburg sells them for about $30. If you send them the motor number with the VIN, they'll tell you if it's original.

I don't believe the transmission will have any unique numbers on it, you'll have to figure out if it might be original by whether or not it's correct for the car, and if the oil slingers are still in it.

Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:25 pm

Chalklinedetail wrote: I just picked up my kindergarten teachers 1963 bug. She was the original owner. The car has 73,000 original miles and I am told that the body, chassis, engine and tranny are all original to the car. How can I know for sure?

I've confirmed that the numbers in the hood (vin) and under the seat (vin) are the same. I've gotten the numbers off of the engine (under the push rod tubes) and from the side of the tranny, but where do I go from here?

That is a part number, you want the number just below the generator stand!

Thu Jun 03, 2010 7:56 am

I just want to know if the curtains match the drapes on the kindergarten teacher.

Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:49 am

Quote: I just want to know if the curtains match the drapes on the kindergarten teacher.

Well, if she was old enough to drive in 1963, unless they are both gray...

If you are new to Volkswagens, Chalklinedetail, be aware that at 73,000 miles the motor may well be approaching the end of its first incarnation. Volkswagen engines rarely last 250,000 miles like modern water-cooled engines.

Check the compression and the endplay. If they are good you may well get another 25,000 miles out of this car; it depends on how conscientious the PO was.

If the compression and especially the endplay don't pass muster, consider rebuilding soon. The idea is to save that original case by not waiting until serious problems develop inside the motor!

In addition, if you are new to Volkswagens, read your Owner's Manual (in the ''Technical'' pull-down menu above) and purchase a Bentley Manual. You may also want to read Muir's How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive.

Thu Jun 03, 2010 12:22 pm

drscope wrote: I just want to know if the curtains match the drapes on the kindergarten teacher.

I just want curtains, not too much and not too little. For me, Brazilian is only a source for VW parts.

Post photo of the teacher.

Thu Jun 03, 2010 12:55 pm

Doesn't matter about the drapes or the curtains.

You may have a number matching car I do :)
Keep it that way...
On a final note it did not happen with out pictures!

Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:21 pm

curtains and drapes are the same thing.

You should find out if your carpet matches the drapes.

Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:31 pm

I prefer no carpet...

Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:01 pm

It's all here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/bugchassisdating.php

Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:51 am

Dating them is also a matter of deduction. It is highly uinlikely that the trans was swapped w/such low miles. You can pretty-easily tell if the motor's been pulled for such an event. The numbers DHMaher refers to will tell you the engine numbers used on or about the date of your vehicle. Any engine change and the gap in numbers is obvious- because few mechanics who swapped 40s all day long paid attention to details like serials...

Now, back to photos of your 73k car and carpet matching drapes teachers (it should be added that drapes gray long before carpet on most retired teachers- but that's another topic- maybe for General Chat forums).

Fri Jun 04, 2010 7:55 pm

Well, if she bought it new in 63, assuming she was at least 18-20 at the time, she'd be in her late 60's now, pushing 70...yikes! Wouldnt want to see that carpet now..probably gray and matted! :-&

Fri Jun 04, 2010 11:57 pm

O.k., I now officially regret my choice of Subject. I have had too many wrong visuals that I cannot unsee now. Lol

Turns out, I found the maintenance booklet that originally came with the car. It had the engine number on it. Based on the number I took off of the engine case, the carpet doesn't match the drapes :)

Sat Jun 05, 2010 5:59 am

before you go saying that for certain make sure that you get the number off the generator stand which is basically right in the middle between the crank pulley and generator pulley

Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:01 pm

Okay- you've posted way too many times without sharing numbers with us. What the hell do you have? We could have told you the complete history of your car by now.

There's no harm in sharing your body and engine numbers. Pics are amazingly helpful as well. Find any recent pics of the teacher at least? I feel like I know more about her than your '63...