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gfulcher Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Orinda, CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:56 am Post subject: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? |
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[img]Hey everyone - it's been a long time since I've been on the Samba, after selling my '73 Thing and '72 914 after my second child was born (and living in the city at the time).
I've had two Things, and am very intimately familiar with all aspects of them. I'm considering purchasing another '73, and found one that is overall very solid, but has cracked filler & paint on the right side of the front apron, where it curves back towards the filler neck. See photo below. This car has been repainted in whole or part.
My question: How much filler was generally used from the factory? I haven't personally encountered any original filler in my Thing ownership, but that doesn't mean it wasn't used. I'm perplexed, because inspecting the inside of the trunk area, there is no deflection or damage visible. It'd be unusual for factory filler to crack in this way - at least in my experience.
Thoughts? Thanks!
_________________ '73 VW THING (driver) '78 Mercedes 280ce (daily-driver) '91 SAAB 900 S Convertible |
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wbailey2112 Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2015 Posts: 483 Location: Grove City, OH
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:42 am Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? |
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My guess is not much filler was used if any at all. Looking at the photo you included I would say that this particular Thing has been hit and repaired. The paint on the right fender and the paint on the right side and front apron/hood don't seem to really match. The fender seems to be more of an original matt finish but the side, apron and hood appear to be gloss or semi-gloss. The shade of orange seems to be slightly different too. _________________ '74 Thing
'83 Westfalia |
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gfulcher Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Orinda, CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:45 am Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? |
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What is confusing to me, @wbailey2112, is the complete lack of any malformation inside the trunk in the same area. In fact, it's mostly original paint in there, as best I can tell. And, if the car was hit on that side, the fender wouldn't be original. That doesn't rule out the possibility the fender was replaced with a like-colored one, but things just aren't adding up. _________________ '73 VW THING (driver) '78 Mercedes 280ce (daily-driver) '91 SAAB 900 S Convertible |
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77kafer Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2008 Posts: 823 Location: New Windsor, NY
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? |
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gfulcher, that seam to the left of the vertical rib has been filled in halfway also, it doesn't look like that on the driverside does it? _________________ Supposed to be 77kδfer, but there are no umlauts on an american keyboard
Overheard on 27 June 07, one lady to another when they saw my Harli in a parking lot at West Point, "maybe he found it on the clearance aisle at the Volkswagen dealer" |
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gfulcher Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Orinda, CA
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? |
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It's uniform on both sides.. I looked specifically at that yesterday.
Update: the seller just sent me photos. He discovered an area tucked up under the top apron crossmember (for lack of a better term) that shows holes with filler oozing through, where the dent was pulled.
I looked in there yesterday, but apparently didn't stick my head in there far enough and look up.. He's check the other side for me.
Thanks, guys... I have always found it best to go back for a second visit before buying, which i might do on Weds. _________________ '73 VW THING (driver) '78 Mercedes 280ce (daily-driver) '91 SAAB 900 S Convertible |
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ach60 Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2001 Posts: 4139 Location: Santa Maria
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: Amount of filler used at factory for Thing? |
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Seams get sealer applied before prime & and painting.
Nearly every photo I've seen, the seams looks like below,
but these things weren't to built that carefully that the excess isn't OEM Original Equipment Mexican sealer.
_________________ Good Luck
Al |
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