1955 USA Deluxe Beetle Ragtop (three fold) restoration plan

[55rover]

High School Dune Buggy project (circa 1976)
1959 Coupe i got for free.
Reason for VW disease affliction

And yes, I have less hair and more weight now.

[motofly196]

You've had this car a long time. I think that speaks volumes on how you feel about it!
If you really do have a 20k budget, this could be a really cool vintage speed car similar to the 58' beetle that was first posted here, but I think the discussion was moved to the 58-67 forum.
I'm not sure if that was the look you were after, but I think it would suit your car very well. I would look closely at the front of your car for prior accident repair. That could explain the clear coat on the front. Possibly it was repaired and blended, using 2 stage vs. Single stage paint? Your car has a ton of potential. Do you have any pictures of the pan and interior?

[55rover]

Link to chassis photos

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=55rover

[motofly196]

From what I see, you have an extremely complete car! You have all the expensive, hard to find parts. I rarely see bullet fenders that are as straight as what you've got there. Hopefully you still have the tail lights? Strangely enough, original paint black housings come up for sale quite often if you are missing them.

[55rover]

I definitely searched for those items. I literally had not looked at this corner of my storage for 20 years.

[motofly196]

Hopefully you still have the seats buried in there somewhere too!! You don't even want to know what people ask for them now!
I miss seeing parts as clean as what your tail lights and bullet signals are in. 25 years in dry storage!!

[Keith]

[henry roberts]

[Keith]

[55rover]

Deleted other post reference

[Keith]

[EverettB]

Yes, honestly it would be better to take what you posted in the other thread and post it here and continue this thread instead.

People will see the full story and I bet there are already people "watching" this thread and get email updates when there's a new post.
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[55rover]

After posting on a restoration plan, many member comments questioning how much of the original paint was remaining. After 34 years in storage, I couldn't remember. Below are the results of spraying down the body (currently removed from matching frame) and on a roll around base. Honestly, a lot of the original finish is there. The only visible repairs are the front fenders and deck lid (pretty poorly done by previous owner). All the rest of the finish appears original. There are commensurate dings and dents. One good one on the passenger rear quarter panel. Rust is minimal, the only area notable is the spare tire well and it is surface only. A little hail damage while I owned it. Dents in hood and trim and punched holes in the rag top. After a complete frame clean, suspension, trans-axle restoration the body is going back on as is. Interior is shot and will be replaced.

Questions:
- Thoughts about repainting the fenders only?
- Clear coat the car?
- Any other "OG" tips?

[aa390392]

Put that beaut.back together button it up and drive it. Its just what most of want.
Cheers Thomas
_________________
.
getting grumpy & less tolerant!


55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet

[*Darren]

The body paint looks really nice. With respect to repainting fenders. That becomes more subjective and personal I think. If you really clean up the car, can you live with how the fenders look without repaint? If you can't go ahead. To me that's a personal choice.

EDIT: NO clear coat.

[henry roberts]

a few hours with some warm soapy water / nail brush will get the trim panels and back seat looking really nice.
be careful with solvents as some can strip the colour out.

if it is just the stitching in the ftont seats, that is an easy fix. (until some of the triangular trim holding tabs on the seat base invariably break), if not repairable seat covers do turn up from time to time.

there is a look a 60 yo vinyl trim gets that you just can't get with even the best reproduction.

i like the old ratty carpet look.

early headliners basically never survive, do it and the window rubbers.

a really good cut and polish should bring the car up wonderfully. some paintless dent work on the hail. maybe get the rear 1/4 fixed but only by someone who knows how to shrink and metal finish.

check out this thread on what is possible:

www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=419739&highlight=last+triumph

[55rover]

Reference semi-batwing steering wheel. All information I can find show full bat-wing steering wheel on pre-Aug 1955 Beetles. Everything on this body so far has been original and basically untouched. I am having a hard time believing someone replaced the steering wheel in the 27 years I did not own it. The steering wheel is in bad shape due to someone installing a steering wheel spinner and boogering up the finish.

Question: Anyone else have a semi-batwing on a pre-Aug 1955 Deluxe USA Ragtop Beetle?

[motofly196]

A friend of mine just found me a 7/55 semi-bat wing as you call it. Progressive refinements lists the steering wheel change as 4 Aug 55. My steering wheel is original paint and is the darker beige color like a bat wing.
I agree, your car should have a bat wing. Is there a date stamp on the metal hub of your wheel? Some have it, some don't for whatever reason.

[henry roberts]

when was the change from semaphores to front blinkers? eggs to snowflakes? ribbed doors to smooth? and early pan to late pan?

this car is an interesting mix of early and late oval features.

could we please get a picture of the engine lid spring mount?

[55rover]