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Mon Jan 09, 2023 2:54 pm

Hey everybody,

I am about to buy a 54 beetle project :)

It will be my first oval window and I need some information.

Please tell me, what are 1954 model year's specific items?

Thanks in advance 8)

Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:48 pm

For engines, look here. :D

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=179439

Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:37 pm

Okay, I will play.

The early ones share a lot of split window details. Which means stuff, like parts, get a little bit pricey. I am really certain that late in the model year they changed the way the rear wheel well to cabin area was fabricated. It did not change anything on the exterior, just inside the wheel well area.

Seats are different.

Tue Jan 10, 2023 3:04 pm

Thinking it may have egg tail lights.

Tue Jan 10, 2023 3:33 pm

Okay. I broke out the Garwood booklet.

1st year for 1192cc engine with 6.1 to 1 compression ratio. In September the 1192cc engine was bumped up to 6.6 to 1. This engine configuration was in place till 1960.

Vent screen at carpet was rectangular instead or round and had an aluminum screen.

Heater knob did away with the H A Z

Hood hinge bolt was changed from 3 to 2.

"SG" keys replaced "P" and "G" keys.

Starter button was removed from the dash and incorporated into the switch.

Glove box hinge was beefed up.

New tail lights were introduced. Eggs I believe, dark amber.

Chrome ring around the ashtray.

Directional indicator light went from 2 arrows to one integrated double arrow.

Carpeting ran up the front inner quarter panels. Also in the luggage area. Deluxe models got carpet over the tunnel.

Flat stock wiper arms.

Semaphores had smooth lenses.

1st year with the brake reservoir behind the spare tire.

Lots of changes to the inside gears and synchros inside the transmission.

Those are the highlights. Lots of details within some of these items. But for the most parts pretty self explanatory.

Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:17 pm

The only 54' specific change that anyone cares about is the pressing on the cylinder tin. If the top cylinder cooling tin isn't the proper 2-piece style where they welded on the tiny little bits you might as well push it into the river and walk away. That's the first thing anyone will care about.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8632816

(this is all sarcasm, except for a few people that mostly sit in the split window forums)

Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:52 pm

Thank you very much for all of these information.

I wasn't expecting that much :lol:

I believe I have to search & check all 1954 year related threads in forum.

I believe door handles and front hood handle were also special for 53 & 54?

Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:42 pm

Bub wrote: The only 54' specific change that anyone cares about is the pressing on the cylinder tin. If the top cylinder cooling tin isn't the proper 2-piece style where they welded on the tiny little bits you might as well push it into the river and walk away. That's the first thing anyone will care about.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8632816

(this is all sarcasm, except for a few people that mostly sit in the split window forums)

Thank you Bob! Oh, wait, I misread that. It is Bub. Hey Bub! Now I know what the history of my rusty 54 is! Damn thing lost it’s engine tins! Well, we will try to relocate them and make sure they are reacquainted with the engine! And hear I thought that it was everything else. Shame on me for thinking! (Thick sarcasm, very thick!)

Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:03 pm

RUN99 wrote: Thank you very much for all of these information.

I wasn't expecting that much :lol:

I believe I have to search & check all 1954 year related threads in forum.

I believe door handles and front hood handle were also special for 53 & 54?

Hood handle was new for the 52-53 zwitter. It looks like an oval handle but is solid polished aluminum. With the start of the oval window it changed to a chrome plated pot metal casting. The late 53, early 54 hood handle was cast solid, after that they are hollow on the backside and not as heavy

Sat Jan 14, 2023 12:44 pm

esde wrote: RUN99 wrote: Thank you very much for all of these information.

I wasn't expecting that much :lol:

I believe I have to search & check all 1954 year related threads in forum.

I believe door handles and front hood handle were also special for 53 & 54?

Hood handle was new for the 52-53 zwitter. It looks like an oval handle but is solid polished aluminum. With the start of the oval window it changed to a chrome plated pot metal casting. The late 53, early 54 hood handle was cast solid, after that they are hollow on the backside and not as heavy

Thank you Sir!

My car is from September 1954.
So should I found the solid one?

Also what can you tell me about the door handles?

Why 1953 and 1954 ice pick handles are different from 1955 to 1959 models? When I check the pictures, I don’t see much difference :?

Sat Jan 14, 2023 1:57 pm

if you look at the handles side by side the difference is immediately noticeable. Here is a freshly chromed 56 and later

Here is a 55 and earlier

you can see that the early handle has a flat surface, and the later one has a slight ridge.
Besides that, they have a different arm to actuate the lock mechanism, and within both types of handles there are different key profile changes year to year..
Some more info on early oval handles here
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392441&highlight=outer+handle