New "barnfind" - 1950 standard

[Rasser]

Hi all

I am new to the world of splitwindow beetles, but I have an early 55´ oval, and a 66´ split bus.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to add a 1950 standard type1 to my "collection" (isn't that what you call it once you have more than two cars ).

Anyway, the car is really nice!
I cant believe my own luck, cars like this just don´t pop up every other day.

The history of the car is that it was bought new in 1950 in Copenhagen Denmark, and then the original owner traded it in for a newer model in the 1960´s. The car then stood at the VW dealership, and they decided to keep it since this was one of the very first cars. They then "restored" the car and put it on display at the dealership, and later the car found its way down to the cellar where it rested among other cars.
When the car was restored (or maybe in the possession of the original owner), the car was updated with various deluxe parts. The worst part they did was drill holes for moldings on the body....
Then in the 90´s a lot of the cars were sold of to a guy, and the 1950 split was among those cars. My old colleague then bought the car from this guy, and he then decided to completely restore the car back to it´s original glory. He sandblasted the body, epoxy primed it, and painted it the original grey (original standard color?). He also sandblasted the chassis and lots of the other parts, and painted them black, followed by a clear coat layer. He really put some effort into this, and underneath the dust is a real nice paint job! He then had to change profession due to health issues (he was a painter), and the whole project got to a halt!
It then sat like this for 15 year!!
I had previously said to him, that if he ever wanted to sell the car, he could contact me.... that is exactly what he did last week, and in the following week I inspected the project, and we made a deal. He was sad to see it go, and hoped I would get round to restoring it the way the intended. But he was glad I ended up as the new owner, as he knows I value the hard work he put into the car, and intend to continue the work where he left of.
We also agreed he can come and borrow my early oval, when the summer comes. He was really looking forward to finishing and driving the 1950, so he was really happy that i had a driving car he could come and drive

The car has matching numbers, and it is believed that it has only driven 98.000km as the speedo says!!
It even has the original license plate issued in 1950, and the original registration and tax papers signed in 1950. It has only ever had one real owner using/driving the car, and the papers from this original owner are still present!

When the body was completely sandblasted there were found two very small rust holes in the rear wheel well, where it joins the heater channel (usual place). This is the only place on the body that has ever been welded.
No collision damage either.
The fenders are all original, but need a little metal replaced around the mounting holes. The hoods and doors are all there. All parts are the original for the car.

The car is now in storage, because I have no space for it in my garage right now, but the plan is to get it home this summer, and then try to assemble the car as it is, and get it running. Then from there decide what parts are missing, and what way to approach the rest of the restoration.

If anyone has any std. parts (steering wheel, interior dash parts etc. etc.), and need deluxe parts. Then let me know, because I need to trade a lot of the deluxe parts to std. parts.

Also if anyone knows if the standard models could be delivered in green color also, or was it only available in grey?

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1957 Ghia - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647222
1966 Deluxe bus
[email protected]

[multen]

Congratulations Rasser.

That is a really nice car you have found there. And I really look forward to see it - one day. And there might be a few things and details, that I would like to see And yes, as far as I know the only colours for the 50-model Standard is Perlgrau and Dunkelblau.

Best Reguards Michael

[usariemen]

Congratulatiuons.
Looks like a very solid car. Great project.
Cool are all the good original parts.
I think pearlgrey, darkblue and black are your options.
If you decide to change the color you can close the trim holes and the ashtray hole.
_________________
Master of my domain!

[franklinunes]

U must be today a happy man I am sure off that.

Nice found all the best for this project

Regards
Franklin

[detroitjohnny]

Great project! Keep posting as you make progress.
_________________
ostkuste

[murray7010]

Awesome! I'm looking forward to seeing more of this car. The standard splits are growing on me...
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1951 Deluxe Sunroof Beetle (11C Model)
Follow the resto up to date on Instagram @SplittyMcFiddyJuan
10/2013----->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2dHtL-_80g

[Rasser]

My biggest concern right now is whether I should try to completely rebuild it to standard model.

Early in its life it has been updated with deluxe steering wheel, dash pod, dash buttons, gear knob AND it has had moldings installed on the front and sides + moldings on the running boards.

It was delivered new with chrome handles, bumpers etc.

The previous owner did an fantastic job painting it, but too late he realized that to be 100% correctly restored, this car needed to have the molding holes welded up.
So this leaves me with a perfectly painted body (except doors etc.), but not 100% correctly restored.

But I could restore the car as is, and use moldings on it. And this would also be ok, since it is part of the cars early history. It is also a whole lot easier and cheaper too....

Which way would you guys go around this?
_________________
1957 Ghia - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647222
1966 Deluxe bus
[email protected]

[Blue Baron]

Even a hole cut for the dash ashtray?

The automatic "It's your car, do what you want" response comes up, but I would restore it as a standard because standards are cooler.

(Can opened, worms everywhere.).
_________________
We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[eurodub]

split standards look great! just love the black knobs and lack of chrome.

get it close to original, it deserves it!
_________________
1960 1200 model 117 deluxe ragtop
1976 MK1 Golf

[Rasser]

I was not aware of the dash ashtray!

It is marked as a 11a on the registration papers from 1950. Everything matches up with the papers/numbers. The engine number is also noted on the 1950 registration papers. The VIN plate on the body also matched the number on the chassis. Everything tells me that it is all as it left the factory (engine, gearbox, chassis, body)

It has black heater knob, black window handles inside, frontseats are secured with wing nuts. Front seats is just sewn together without piping, and is the blue striped pattern. All this stuff is standard only - right?

The clock and wheels have dates matching the car.

I can´t see why they shouldn´t have added an ashtray later. Maybe the original owner smoked....
Or maybe the dealership that restored the car thought that a deluxe car was a better car. I find that easy to believe, when you think about how modern cars are updated/facelifted nowadays.

The car was running and braking before teardown 15-16 years ago.
_________________
1957 Ghia - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647222
1966 Deluxe bus
[email protected]

[usariemen]

No worms in sight.
Standards ARE cooler.
If the doors, fenders and hoods will have to be painted anyway, I would repaint the body as well.
All will match then and you can close the added holes.
Get all the black parts instead of the deluxe stuff and it will be just cool.
_________________
Master of my domain!

[Rasser]

Yes, I could weld up all the trim moldings holes, have it painted, and then tell everyone that it is one of those rare rare std models with factory installed ashtray
_________________
1957 Ghia - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647222
1966 Deluxe bus
[email protected]

[usariemen]

While back then it was just one more hole for them to drill, it is just one more hole for you to fill.
As a standard it did not had an ashtray when new. I would close it.
_________________
Master of my domain!

[eurodub]

also the inside mirror is oval deluxe... you should aim for a standard painted one
and yes, weld the ashtray hole...
_________________
1960 1200 model 117 deluxe ragtop
1976 MK1 Golf

[franklinunes]

Rasser,
About standard or deluxe personally I like to have the car original even the paint if left factory standard you should bring it to original is your baby man take it to original that is the meaning, don't let him hacked to deluxe.

You saw your ID TAG / VIN TAG is in the front near the spare wheel, see it if is there 11C or 11A

best regards
Frank

[Rasser]

Here are a few more pictures:
Vin tag has been sandblasted and has been like that since, that is why it is so full of rust, but I will not drill out the org. rivets to fix it. Will have to do something else.

_________________
1957 Ghia - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647222
1966 Deluxe bus
[email protected]

[Rasser]

More pictures of the right and wrong:

_________________
1957 Ghia - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647222
1966 Deluxe bus
[email protected]

[Rasser]

I realize that it has oval mirror and windshield wipers.
But what about the fuel tank - correct?
_________________
1957 Ghia - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647222
1966 Deluxe bus
[email protected]

[franklinunes]

[usariemen]

The fuel tank looks OK for me .

Keep the pearlgrey and with the rest go black. Black is beautiful.

You wrote it came originally with chromed bumpers, handles and other chrome details. As you are in Denmark, that is well possible.
Early standards that where exported got sometimes such a chrome package. Like the cranks you have. Chromed with black handles.
I have a ´49 wich was one of that kind.
Here is a pic of such one. But still no trim stripes!

_________________
Master of my domain!