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Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:18 am

I'll try Sam Steel again on Monday, he doesn't seem to respond with anything other than a pre-programmed message unless you e-mail him during Spanish work hours, taking into consideration the different time zone. I think there is a 5-hour difference to EST. Gene

Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:20 am

fifty-eight rag, the ambulance sounds like a really cool project, but I believe it also was on the Kublewagen chassis ? Gene

Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:21 am

bakersam wrote: Regardless, the ambulance idea sounds easier, more fun, and less expensive as no one knows much about the ambulance version save the few period photos. By all means have fun with it, but don't dig yourself into a hole you can't afford to lose when it comes time to move it along. Replicas are great, but at the end of the day they're still just that.

Oh I agree completely...it's just a 50s era Bug converted.
Actually I am way ahead of the game since my base vehicle body is a Frankenstein of 4 vehicles to make one. I love challenges with metal repair...welding wire is cheap enough. :D

Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:24 am

geneL3c wrote: fifty-eight rag, the ambulance sounds like a really cool project, but I believe it also was on the Kublewagen chassis ? Gene

Yes...best I have found was it's an 82e converted to ambulance duty.

Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:36 am

fifty-eight rag, Just went through your Oval window build thread, very impressive work, you should have no problem doing your Ambulance ! Gene

Sat Feb 10, 2018 10:12 am

geneL3c wrote: fifty-eight rag, Just went through your Oval window build thread, very impressive work, you should have no problem doing your Ambulance ! Gene

Thank you.
This particular project car has been all over the map throughout the almost 10 years I've been messing with it.
Started out to just be a street driven 58 sliding rag, then morphed into an oval build...now thinking VERY seriously about the 82e ambulance. It seems like the perfect platform for a replica...relatively early body, pieced together like a patchwork quilt...no real value to it.

What I'll probably do is set aside all my good "oval" parts for the future. I want to eventually do a correct nut and bolt restoration to an oval window that has matching numbers.

Sat Feb 10, 2018 10:23 am

I sympathize with you about long term projects. My Typ 87 started as a Typ82e many years ago and I am just now in a position to put it on the front burner. I have had too many project ideas pulling me in different directions with the result that none of them really got the attention needed to complete even the simplest. Now that I'm focused on one, it seems to be finally moving forward with a practical plan for completion. It took me many years to even find the proper donor car because, as you mentioned, you didn't want to " violate " a good original. Even my '50 Split Window sits awaiting installation of one of John Henry's amazing wiring harnesses to get it back on the road. Gene

Sat Feb 10, 2018 10:32 am

Gene, Regarding Steel. I'd written them last month regarding availability of a specific part (one of their repro "T" air cleaners). They quickly responded that they'd be available in February. I received an email earlier this week that they now had them if I was still interested. I responded "Yes" (then got their out of office message in response), and paid. I got the tracking number a day or two later...all since this past Monday. I think more than one person picks up the email on their end, and this has more to do with their responsiveness (or lack thereof) than anything else I can deduce. I've done significant business with Steel over the years, and always got a response...sometimes sooner...sometimes later.

Sat Feb 10, 2018 11:55 am

bakersam, Thanks for the hopeful update, I will keep trying until he accepts my order, since obviously SOMEONE is awake there ! Gene

Sun Feb 11, 2018 12:25 pm

Stumbled across this. What an amazing restoration of a 1943 82e this is.
I can use this as reference for my replica.

http://ww2vw.com/galleries/kdf-beetle-type-82e-1943/

Sun Feb 11, 2018 12:33 pm

No doubt it's a perfect museum quality restoration, but somehow I don't think they looked that good new from the factory ! Having said that, it certainly is the yardstick for accuracy. The other gallery has some very interesting original condition artifacts. Gene

Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:55 pm

Larry, If you haven't already found it, the Ambulance appears to be a Typ 83
" Kastenwagen ". Google search for " images " has some interesting photos. Gene

Sun Feb 11, 2018 9:18 pm

geneL3c wrote: Larry, If you haven't already found it, the Ambulance appears to be a Typ 83
" Kastenwagen ". Google search for " images " has some interesting photos. Gene

I do remember seeing some listed as type 83s...but also some listed as type 82e's. Wonder which is correct? It does appear to have more listed as 83s.

By the way, it seems that folks regularly mistake my name for Larry. I guess it's the couple build threads I have listed for the vehicles I've restored/restoring for a buddy of mine named Larry.
My name is Mike :D

Sun Feb 11, 2018 9:37 pm

There is a Wiki page for the Kubelwagen and it's many variants, but a Type 83 isn't listed.
The "Kastenwagen" ambulance does appear to me to be riding high as if it's on a Kubelwagen chassis. Could it be an 82e that was modified for this purpose?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Kubelwagen

Mon Feb 12, 2018 7:34 am

Mike, That would be my guess, wartime needs would probably be more important than perfect records ? Gene

Mon Feb 12, 2018 8:26 am

geneL3c wrote: Mike, That would be my guess, wartime needs would probably be more important than perfect records ? Gene
Agreed
I will continue with my research, but I am leaning towards your understanding...that they were 83's.
VW/KDF seemed to issue a new type number for any differences between the vehicles and a big box on the back would qualify as a difference. :lol:

Mon Feb 12, 2018 10:08 am

Mike, I got a couple of 1:35 model kits made by CMK in Czechoslovacia that have really good detail, I think I saw one for the ambulance when I Googled the Typ 83. Gene

Mon Feb 12, 2018 10:13 am

geneL3c wrote: Mike, I got a couple of 1:35 model kits made by CMK in Czechoslovacia that have really good detail, I think I saw one for the ambulance when I Googled the Typ 83. Gene

Yep...I ordered one a couple days ago.
Great minds think alike 8)

Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:15 am

Here's a photo of Typ numbers when the British had control. I nipped this from Etzold's volume 2 of Beetle Chronicles. (It does say 83 when you see the image in person, sorta looks like 85 in the photo).

Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:18 am

Mike, Well here we go again, sent an order in to Sam Steel and not surprising I got back the standard response, " not taking orders, try again in March " ! Some way to run a business. I'm starting to think maybe he just doesn't like Americans ? :( :shock: Gene