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Stocknazi
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Joined: June 18, 2004
Posts: 5470
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 Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 8:11 am Post subject: Re: What color should my knee protector be ? |
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| karl h wrote: |
the gray on the rerpro is mch too light
here is the original grey one on my panel
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Must have used the same (wrong) gray rubber as the door channel weatherstrip. You'd think after a decade or more someone would notice the color is a little off and make some type of correction 
Seems like I'm constantly banging my knee on the column, I'm happy to have a "dealer accessory" knee pad in place. My gray cracked original (60 year old) still stays in place without glue.
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matthew henricks
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Joined: January 02, 2002
Posts: 1362
Location: So. Cal
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2025 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: What color should my knee protector be ? |
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Other than the color, are the ends or shape of the reproductions different from an original? Anyone have pictures of an original not mounted to educate the curious?
The ends of the repro look to have a heavier chamfer on it but hard to tell for sure.
From the gallery.
Original. Hard to tell what the ends look like. Ends look round.
Repro. Ends chamfered. Chamfer easy to see from all the re-sellers too.
Sales info. Hard to make anything from this.
Steering lock install. Ends look round.
Looks to be original. Ends round.
TIA
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70bus 
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Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 1447
Location: P.O.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: What color should my knee protector be ? |
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I agree the originals look blunter at the dash end. They also look denser, if that makes sense... could be the age. However, your pics of OG units at least give comfort that even the originals had a nasty visible seam line.
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Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams
Raul the 65 singlecab
Karl the 70 nine-seater |
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EverettB
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Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 71597
Location: Phoenix 602
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karl h
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Location: austria
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70bus
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Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 1447
Location: P.O.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:30 pm Post subject: Re: What color should my knee protector be ? |
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thom wrote:
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| I went and got one of the gray repros, and I think it looks like ass; |
I agree with how bright the grey is (tho on an L87 bus it isnt as bad as thoms' red one) - anyone have a good technique for dyeing the rubber a darker shade? Just use vinyl seat dyes?
Another data point - this seller says this knee protector is "original" but it seems to be more-sharply pointed at the ends than other 'OG' ones shown here. Not impugning the seller, just an observation. I did email them several weeks ago asking if this was more grey or black in person vs. photos, but never got an answer. This thread popping back up is useful, as i had obviously just been disgruntled about my repro and was looking for an original... whatever they are!
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Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams
Raul the 65 singlecab
Karl the 70 nine-seater |
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matthew henricks
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Joined: January 02, 2002
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Location: So. Cal
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70bus
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 1447
Location: P.O.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2025 9:45 am Post subject: Re: What color should my knee protector be ? |
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Now that there are a slew of us looking for originals... I looked into dyeing the repros, and it seems the only realistic option are products made by Parasol
https://parasolinc.com/dyes-paint/rubber-dye-paint-rubberbond/#1513492183543-805e19ff-c810
https://parasolinc.com/dyes-paint/epdm-rubber-paint-epdmbond/#1513492183540-4f8a4380-f436
I saw a few colors that looked like an option
https://parasolinc.com/vinyl-dye-plastic-paint-manufacturer/color-chart/
Not cheap - 150 to 200 US delivered for a quart. At that price, testing colors is a bit steep. However, folks in areas with a big bus population may be able to go in together on a can.
Another question: while the new ones are rubber dyed a unifom color throughout the item, a few of those OG ones seem to have a colored skin over the interior, much like original door seals (or a Milky Way bar if you are more familiar with those).
If that's the case, there are a number of vinyl paints that may work, and are far cheaper - AND when they inevitably crack, they may appear authentic! Sadly, I haven't sen a good color match, but the paints are cheap enough to try color mixing.
ADDED:
lighter, yet blunt
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3533812&highlight=#3533812
Some that would seem to be repros have less chamfer; some that look to be OG are pointy-ish. Manufacturer differences?
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Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams
Raul the 65 singlecab
Karl the 70 nine-seater |
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70bus
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Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 1447
Location: P.O.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2025 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: What color should my knee protector be ? |
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Moar, mostly on buses that appear to have been restored, so likely aftermarket:
"spray it all white!"
There are a few white ones out there.
My takeaway is that the orignal seems to be a slate grey, with a hint of blue. Like primer used on many buses. Shifter boot is similar.
They seem blunt overall, but some have a bit more of a profile than others. Ones that look most like they are probably original have a crinkly skin, so should have a different texture inside, like the door seals. Anyone want to cut one up? :)
My guess is pic 2, 3, 8, 9 and maybe 4 are OG, tho obviously some were painted.
Some current aftermarket ones look nearly turqouise! I am getting a few leather dyes and will see what it looks like and if it stays on at all. Even toning down the blue tint would be a help.
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Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams
Raul the 65 singlecab
Karl the 70 nine-seater |
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70bus
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 1447
Location: P.O.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: What color should my knee protector be ? |
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I did get some dark grey leather paint (as opposed to $$$ rubber dye) and gave it a shot. The color is much better than the brightish blue from one vendor, and close to the color on another repro:
as purchased
one coat
Needs a few coats with a very soft brush; sponge as per paint bottle just rubbed off previous coats.
two repros showing blue of 1st repro
Still not a good match to OG grey emergency brake lever boots
Note one boot is OG, and rounded edges; other has no markings and clipped edges, but they are pretty close in color. In any case, that rubber is more brownish than the knee protectors; were they always that way, or has time changed the tone? Were they ever the EXACT color of knee brace?
rembered Everett had a pic of the grey shifter boot so I didn't have to go take out mine
That color shift by the metal base does make it look like the grey had a hint of blue, but turned darker/brownish with exposure to sun.
I bet there's a leather color that would better match knee protectors to that aged look if one wanted to experiment.
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Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams
Raul the 65 singlecab
Karl the 70 nine-seater |
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