Trim and Semaphore Questions

[ckissick]

My July '50 split has incorrect body trim and semaphores. I plan on buying trim repros from Kaefer Nostalgie. They offer trim in stainless steel or aluminum. Which is correct?

Also, they sell a kit to convert my incorrect oval semaphores to ribbed semaphores. Should they be black, or the body color?

Are there other suppliers I should consider?
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Charlie
1950 Beetle
1983 Westfalia
1989 syncro Tristar
1966 Porsche 912
1989 Beck Spyder
2007 GTI Fahrenheit

[pastellgreen]

The original trim on my '50 is out of aluminium.

The semaphores on '50 are still black. Even on the special model in ivory for the abessinian emperor Haile Selassi shown on the IAA in April 1951, they have been painted black!

[fusca66]

June 1951 already paited in car color or still black?
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Bug 1966 2280cc
Bug 1951 1900cc
Bug 1952 typ4 1800cc
Sp2 1972 1700cc

Na duvida não ultrapasse

[johnshenry]

Although it may be my opinion only, I think that all split era semaphores (and possibly beyond) were black; for the simple reason that there is only one part number for them. They would not have been able to keep inventory correct if they used pre-painted semaphores with all of the colors offered for a single year.

I think that new cars with body color painted semsphores were "dressed up" and were painted by dealers with service shops and the ability to paint, before being delivered to customers. JMO
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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

[peter schepens]

Just for the record... Hebmullers came with body painted semaphores. The ivory on black cars had the sema in ivory. The red on black cars had... red sema's. Split trim is aluminum.
Greetings.
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Zelensis, glassfibre body made in Belgium , disigned and built on a VW platform About 25 body's built.
Hebmuller info wanted for http://www.hebmueller-registry.com/home.html

[fusca66]

good, some old photos still look black, but some in the color of the car, but John's idea of a only onr part number seems real
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Bug 1966 2280cc
Bug 1951 1900cc
Bug 1952 typ4 1800cc
Sp2 1972 1700cc

Na duvida não ultrapasse

[Mr. OGPaint]

They didn’t have multiple part number for different color sems in the era we know semaphores were painted. Also, Bus bumpers came from n different colors from the factory but also had only one part number and color as replacement. I’m not disagreeing with Johns conclusion, but I don’t think the lack of part numbers for colored sems is a valid argument.
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https://instagram.com/mr.ogpaint
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Patrick Hall

[johnshenry]

[nlorntson]

[johnshenry]

My personal opinion (as a restorer of ribbed and grooved sems) is to save your money and get some real ribbed or grooved sems. The conversions are not bad, I used to do them myself, but in terms of improving/keeping the value of the split, original sems are best. To further, sems date coded 1-3 months before the cars production even better.

I also buy sem parts from Ricardo, they are very good.
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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

[Matts Bug Parts]

I would concur with John Henry.

Matt

[fusca66]

[nlorntson]

[johnshenry]

[djfordmanjack]

I can highly recommend Samuel from Samsteel ( Repuestossam)!
Although his ribbed semaphore covers are made from brass and even have his company bagde stamped inside ( which I like as he isn't even pretending to sell oem factory pieces), but if you are ok with that and not doing an utmost concours correct resto, those sem covers will do for most and are reasonably priced. I am really pleased with what I got for the money.
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Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins !

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