TheSamba.com :: View topic - July 51 Type 15A Karmann Kabriolet

Sat Apr 14, 2012 2:04 pm

Is this the wreck that was sold for 5K on ebay?

Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:23 pm

Yes, it is the Vert from eBay last Year :-)

Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:54 am

As advertised at Bad Camberg 2011

Yan, nice purchase on the Spanish 50!

Mon Apr 16, 2012 1:21 pm

This certainly is a 'project' but well worth tackling to save such a rare car. Good luck with the restoration Dave (but get your Oval Kab and T34 sorted first :wink: :lol: )

Sun Apr 22, 2012 6:10 am

Time for an update.

The birth certificate arrived and confirmed the build date as 27th July 51 - about 6 weeks after the chassis was made but that ties in with what I've heard beofre about Karmann taking delivery of chassis from VW in batches. I find it very interesting that there are no options listed - I've not seen that before on a birth certificate but then I've not seen one this early before:

It also confirms the colour combination of Brown and Beige - my favourite. This ties in with the log book that came with it.
Here's an example of how it will look when done:

I have also picked up a rear quarter panel from a 53/54 as a donor. Thanks Ian :)

I'm hoping it'll be of use for repairing this part:

I've also ordered a pair of floor pans and a pair of heater channels from Gerson at Klassic Fab and a pair of vert support rails from VW Robert.

On Mike Virtanen's advice I've also picked up a profile gauge so I can make patterns of any panels I need making.

That's it for now.

Dave

Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:46 am

Hi Dave

My 50's got no options and they have no record of the colour either.

I've got a section of front 1/4 I'll tuck away for you. Its the front 1/4 with the inner wing cut out. Its an odd peice but may be useful, its got the shape and is off a 53.

Keep us all updated, I'd love to pop in and see it next time I'm down your way

Seb

Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:03 pm

As I said Dave a Brown cabrio is the nuts :D

I know I sent you this pic of Brians car already but its worth sharing ! ...

Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:21 pm

beetleseb wrote: Hi Dave

My 50's got no options and they have no record of the colour either.

I've got a section of front 1/4 I'll tuck away for you. Its the front 1/4 with the inner wing cut out. Its an odd peice but may be useful, its got the shape and is off a 53.

Keep us all updated, I'd love to pop in and see it next time I'm down your way

Seb
That's interesting Seb - at least I have the colour confirmed.

Thanks for the front quarter - can you email me a pic please? I can pick it up from Stanford Hall if that suits you? You're welcome to po down anytime too.

Thanks for the pic again Kev - I couldn't lay my hands on that one when I was putting the post together :)

Cheers,

Dave

Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:10 pm

wow huge project
congrats on taking it on i look forward to the progress

Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:14 am

kevm wrote: As I said Dave a Brown cabrio is the nuts :D

I know I sent you this pic of Brians car already but its worth sharing ! ...

If you go with that color combo, you'd better be prepared for extra attention from hot chics! :lol:

Wed May 09, 2012 11:44 am

Thanks for the advice Greg - I will be going for that colour combination so I'll keep my eyes peeled!

I got a delivery from Columbia yesterday:

One box was damaged:

As was one heater channel - but very fixable

All in all I'm very pleased :)

They've now gone into storage until I have funds and time to sort them out.

I'm still looking for repair panels for other parts of the car - left rear lower quarter, front inner and outer wings lower quarters, maybe even a front clip as well as many of the early Kabriolet only parts - let me know if you know of any or have any to sell - especially a rear seat - I believe any pre 55 vert rear seat will do.

I was disappointed the Standford Hall show was postponed - I'd hoped to find some parts there.

Thats's all for now.

Cheers,

Dave

Wed May 09, 2012 11:57 am

For the heater channels, originally the flexible heater pipes were so long they reached to wind shield corners. And at least later vert has special reinforced heater channels with jacking points, are split channels the same?

Wed May 09, 2012 1:17 pm

Looks like it need a lot of work but thousend times worth it!
What is the colourcode of the brown and beige (ivory) colour?
Good luck with the restoration.

Wed May 09, 2012 2:40 pm

virtanen wrote: For the heater channels, originally the flexible heater pipes were so long they reached to wind shield corners. And at least later vert has special reinforced heater channels with jacking points, are split channels the same?

Thanks Mika - I'll need to source some more of that flexible hose then and extend my heater tubes - I have seen that in an old picture before. I have ordered the reinforcement sections from VW Robert here in the UK:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=49067

Dave

Wed May 09, 2012 2:42 pm

passoa55 wrote: Looks like it need a lot of work but thousend times worth it!
What is the colourcode of the brown and beige (ivory) colour?
Good luck with the restoration.

Thanks Pascal - I think you've summed it up rather well!

I have the colour codes somewhere - I'll post them up when I find them.

Cheers,

Dave

Tue May 15, 2012 2:13 pm

Thanks Pascal - I think you've summed it up rather well!

I have the colour codes somewhere - I'll post them up when I find them.

Cheers,

Dave[/quote]
Thanks Dave! :wink:

Tue May 15, 2012 8:07 pm

I love how they have the steel reinforcement bars welded to the back seat rest. that's funny. I wish it was in my garage so I could laugh out loud.
Seriously though after you finish this puppy, people are going to stand back and take notice. Bold Score.

Tue May 15, 2012 11:36 pm

Thank you - I'm loving your fender skirts - I have some in my garage destined for this project ;)

Dave

Thu May 17, 2012 3:39 pm

Dude great find, but that looks like a hard project

Thu May 17, 2012 10:34 pm

Thanks Andy :) It will be a big hard project but I'll be pleased as punch at the end of it and oh so satisfied :)

Cheers,

Dave