TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:30 pm

I’m bored, so I thought I’d write this thread on what I know about suicide piano hinge quarters as I was talking about mine at benpon gathering and again it recently came up in the Barndoor vintage photo thread.

They seem to have definitely been a factory option

On microbuses and deluxes at least.

Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:35 pm

But also most probably factory on panel vans too.

And ambulances.

Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:45 pm

Notice though that there are two different types.

1. Where just the hinge has been swapped but the catch point Remains in the same location as a non-suicide quarterlight. This results in the window opening much wider then usual.

2. The hinge has been swapped but the catch point is also different. Spaced from the hinge as it is for non-suicide quarterlights ensuring they window only opens to the same degree as a normal one would.

Standard quarter on an early microbus with a fully edited deluxe suicide Quarter pictured below.

Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:54 pm

Here’s a bunch more.

Are both styles factory?
Or only the fully edited (2) type?
Are type 1 edits just aftermarket/dealer changes?

Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:50 pm

Thank you for sharing. I was recently sharing that I would really like to make a set of these, at the time I had no idea it had been a factory offering. Then I heard about them in the other thread and have been intrigued since.

Wed Oct 09, 2019 2:57 am

And of course my bus 😉

Wed Oct 09, 2019 11:01 pm

Did these suicide windows exist in the same time frame as Safari windows. Have factory offerings of both been seen on one bus?

Thu Oct 10, 2019 9:03 am

As far as I’m aware there is only evidence of one original piano-hinge Barndoor with safaris. And that was in the First factory safari fitting guide so was almost certainly the prototype/demonstration vehicle.
When the piano hinge quarter was changed, so was the A-pillar. The old A-pillar was not very conducive with fitting safaris.
The piano hinge quarter pictured with the safaris appears to be a regular non-suicide type.

Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:55 am

another point. Does anyone else think there could be a connection between the early style high mounted outside rearview mirror and the (optional) suicide style quarterlights?

I believe that the later ('53up) lower mirror could have gotten in the way of the suicide vent wings both visible and physical.

Fri Oct 11, 2019 1:55 pm

The quarterlight changed to the swivel type before the mirror dropped down. Dec 52s have swivel quarters and upward mirrors.

Fri Oct 11, 2019 2:10 pm

:? On second thoughts
Well progressive refinements suggest they changed at the same time. 20-041712
But factory photos suggest a slight lag to the mirrors. Possibly using up old stock?

Sat Oct 12, 2019 5:49 am

there's a nos quarter with the piano hinge on in the for sale section custom and commercial are selling it Im not sure how to post a like but I typed in the search barndoor light scroll down bit and its there

Mon Oct 14, 2019 1:59 am

Look at this panel, also suicide.....

https://www.willhaben.at/iad/gebrauchtwagen/d/auto/vw-t1-barndoor-338022548/

Mon Oct 14, 2019 2:11 am

ooooh my eyes hurt....the typical SA import craze. 195k....yeah. Although it presents nicely and sure has suicide vents, but there is so much wrong on this one... can't believe they used later cargo floors...ouch! :x :cry:

Concerning the suicide vent discussion, this bus obviously came from hot climate out of South America.

Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:06 am

Style 1 (non-moved pivot).
The hot climate link would make sense. Like they are just pre-safaris.
But all the brochure buses and all the style 2 suicide quarters were on cold climate buses.