GZs 55 Project

[gzaharatos67]

Came across a new project.

Only months after finishing a three year restoration on a 56 ragtop, here's my new 55 ragtop.

I'm still thinking about what my plan is going to be. I'm easily a year of work ahead of where the 56 was metal work wise... So there's that. Or perhaps I just get it road worthy and drive it as is ... I'll sleep on it.

The last four photos are of the 56 I just finished restoring.

[kintail]

Depends on your assessment of how much rust has affected the structural integrity of the floorpan/heater channel IMO. Looks like a lot with the sunroof gone. Great find!!

And excellent work on the '56!!
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Scott

August 1954 Beetle Canadian Deluxe

[gzaharatos67]

[finster]

get it on the road and enjoy the option of what to drive - shiny or patina
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[type4split]

Roll it. Looks awesome as is. Won’t need to worry about door dings or scratches.
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'67 deluxe bus w/the little windows
'52 beetle
'55 convertible
'50-something convertible (*need ribbed 'vert quarter panel )
'63 "milo" beetle
Part, parts and more parts

[gzaharatos67]

[Blue Baron]

You already know exactly what's required to restore one, so it comes down to what you want to do. A strato silver '55 sunroof would be mighty pretty restored!
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We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[pondoras box]

It’s a beautiful car that deserves to be restored. You obviously know what you’re doing. You have one to drive already so you won’t be stressed out about that. Plus you get best of both worlds, you get to drive a beautifully restored car while still having one in the garage to spin wrenches on.
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Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.

1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk

[gzaharatos67]

Body is off the pan. Today I took the front axle and transmission out and scrubbed the pan w degreaser. If it ever stops raining here I'll apply phosphoric acid and then por15 the whole thing ... After I replace the rear pan halves and weld up a few small holes on the driver's front.

[EverettB]

First, I'm enjoying this thread so thanks for doing it.

Second, this is a cool photo:

[kintail]

Just to clarify I voted patina........but the other half of me says '55 sunroofs are pretty rare and restoration is the way to go! Rust never sleeps......
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Scott

August 1954 Beetle Canadian Deluxe

[gzaharatos67]

Thanks Everett ... That means a lot coming from you.

Will keep plugging along and add photos whenever I make some sort of significant progress.

This week I'll be replacing the rear pan quarters on both sides, then hitting the frame and floors with Eastwood encapsulator.

[gzaharatos67]

One thing I've learned from this hobby over the last 25 years is that sometimes you just need to see a small victory... In this case it meant painting the shifter and base L75 beige after some rust treatment. Although I think the base gets painted black ...

I also split the case on the 36hp to see what was inside ...

[gzaharatos67]

Finished up work on the floors today. Pretty happy with how they came out.

[obus]

nice work on that!!
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July 1959 Mango Standard Bus aka Obus L346 L347 https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=256592&highlight=
June 1973 Pumpkin Orange Thing aka Othing L30H
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=711775&highlight=
1960 Paprika Red Karmann Ghia Convertible aka Schatze L452 built 5/20/60
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=
March 1956 Beetle convertible L41 Black

[gzaharatos67]

I removed the apron, measured up and cut out the right rear quarter. I'm pretty happy with how curving the bottom lip on it came out. I made it match the factory curves, being tighter in the rear and a wider gap as it goes forward.

I also painted two wheels ....sometimes you just gotta see color, hah!

Strato silver and pearl white (which I hope is the correct inner color ... It's certainly different from silver white).

[gzaharatos67]

As my summer break comes to an end, I finished up the chassis on the 55.

All that's left to do is fill and bleed the brakes and clear out one of the heater cable tubes which feels like it has cement in it.

Overall, I'm happy with it.

Next up is to build the engine, mount it and see if it runs. It's a case from 36hp dated in 57.

The body is being media blasted this week. Will post photos of it after it's done.

[BulliBill]

Yep! I'd definitely fully restore the rarer and cool '55 Sunroof. So unique, and more valuable when done right! Perhaps I'm biased a bit, as I luckily found a very nice condition unrestored original June of '55 Sunroof almost 30 years ago and it's the queen of my collection. I'm doing a resto on a '57 Kabriolett now.

Both your Ovals would be nice to have restored, but the '55 three-fold sunroof definitely has my vote!

Bill
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[gzaharatos67]

Thanks Bill ... Good luck with your project too!

[Dan22]