TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Aug 24, 2018 2:50 pm

... saw this in a gallery and want to know if the access on the top of the tunnel, over the pedal mechanism was a stock - from the factory access in 1946?
And if so, When was it discontinued?

Fri Aug 24, 2018 4:45 pm

Not factory.

Fri Aug 24, 2018 11:52 pm

The hole on the right side of the tunnel... assuming it is for a pedal cluster? If so, didn't think they made RHD in '46?

Sat Aug 25, 2018 2:21 am

The access cover on the tunnel is not factory. You find those homemade openings often on bugs, they allow f. ex. to change the clutch wire without having to disassemble the pedal cluster.

Evidently there were RHD bugs in 1946 already. Attached fotos of such a car, believed to be built in February 1946, that a friend of mine photographed some years ago in an Australian museum.

Here´s the story of this CCG bug as exposed in that museum:

Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:21 am

[quote="originalo"]The access cover on the tunnel is not factory. You find those homemade openings often on bugs, they allow f. ex. to change the clutch wire without having to disassemble the pedal cluster.

yes, I like working in that area without removing the pedal assembly - I always refer it as the access VW forgot to make,.

Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:30 pm

The picture that you have is our '46. The front of the tunnel was badly butchered when the restoration began. Some previous owner had simply hacked a hole!

The restorer asked if I wanted it restored to factory or have a reinforced surround welded below a cleaned up hole and a flush fitted almost hidden access plate fitted, it is retained by countersunk set screws. My choice was the latter having experience of changing a clutch cable on these cars in the past.

The result is access available to the cable area and with the tunnel as strong as the original.

Sat Aug 25, 2018 4:29 pm

rod_vw wrote: The picture that you have is our '46. The front of the tunnel was badly butchered when the restoration began. Some previous owner had simply hacked a hole!

The restorer asked if I wanted it restored to factory or have a reinforced surround welded below a cleaned up hole and a flush fitted almost hidden access plate fitted, it is retained by countersunk set screws. My choice was the latter having experience of changing a clutch cable on these cars in the past.

The result is access available to the cable area and with the tunnel as strong as the original.

This part is critical.

Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:14 pm

rod_vw wrote: The picture that you have is our '46. The front of the tunnel was badly butchered when the restoration began. Some previous owner had simply hacked a hole!

The restorer asked if I wanted it restored to factory or have a reinforced surround welded below a cleaned up hole and a flush fitted almost hidden access plate fitted, it is retained by countersunk set screws. My choice was the latter having experience of changing a clutch cable on these cars in the past.

The result is access available to the cable area and with the tunnel as strong as the original.

that access was well thought out, with a real craftsmanship-like installation...looks factory, to me... your body guy is awesome... is the access VW forgot to include.

Sun Aug 26, 2018 5:16 pm

originalo wrote: The access cover on the tunnel is not factory. You find those homemade openings often on bugs, they allow f. ex. to change the clutch wire without having to disassemble the pedal cluster.

Evidently there were RHD bugs in 1946 already. Attached fotos of such a car, believed to be built in February 1946, that a friend of mine photographed some years ago in an Australian museum.

Here´s the story of this CCG bug as exposed in that museum:

The beetle was designed with the details to build them left or right handed from the very beginning. I don't know if they were thinking of being able to export the cars or if the nazi's plans to take over the world had something to do with it.

A '46 dash

Mon Aug 27, 2018 12:39 am

ZENVWDRIVER wrote: rod_vw wrote: The picture that you have is our '46. The front of the tunnel was badly butchered when the restoration began. Some previous owner had simply hacked a hole!

The restorer asked if I wanted it restored to factory or have a reinforced surround welded below a cleaned up hole and a flush fitted almost hidden access plate fitted, it is retained by countersunk set screws. My choice was the latter having experience of changing a clutch cable on these cars in the past.

The result is access available to the cable area and with the tunnel as strong as the original.

that access was well thought out, with a real craftsmanship-like installation...looks factory, to me... your body guy is awesome... is the access VW forgot to include.

My body man is Steve Hook of Hooky's Panel Shop ( http://www.hookyspanelshop.com/ ) , one of the best in the UK.

Mon Aug 27, 2018 12:57 am

rod_vw wrote:
The restorer asked if I wanted it restored to factory or have a reinforced surround welded below a cleaned up hole and a flush fitted almost hidden access plate fitted, it is retained by countersunk set screws. My choice was the latter having experience of changing a clutch cable on these cars in the past.

The result is access available to the cable area and with the tunnel as strong as the original.
Would you mind taking the plate off and posting some detailed pics of the reinforcements done?

Mon Aug 27, 2018 2:38 am

Here you go...

Don't take any notice of the left floor plate, its presence is a long story. Both floors were eventually replaced like this with new floors supplied by Kdf Osnice ( https://en.kdf.cz/inpage/catalogue-kdf-82/ ) suitably created by Ivo for a saloon.

And now the car is on the road...

Mon Aug 27, 2018 8:20 am

.. thank you Rod - that is a beautiful '46 - that access is a well executed upgrade - a great part of VW history.

Mon Aug 27, 2018 8:27 am

What a beautiful car! Wow.