Unrestored '56 Oval in bits - what should I do?

[nic_]

Thanks for the feedback and thoughts everyone!
I'm definitely leaning towards no paint for now - however I need to assess how much the new heater channels will impact that decision!

Next task (after fixing the fuel line issue) is to get stuck in to the seats and see if I can bring them back.

[mabbo]

Cool car If it was mine, I would 100% keep the paint and interior just the way it is... Id go through all the mechanical parts like you have, and do a sympathetic resto keeping as much original as possible.

They only original once

[nic_]

A brief update! I've been spending a lot of time out on the car (relative to a slow few months at the start of the year at least!), but mostly sorting and cleaning the various non-engine related parts that have been boxed up for years.

I got my fuel lines sorted by re-installing and just being super careful with the ferrule bits, and also a once-over on the carb (thanks EverettB). Crankshaft pulley was fixed with a bit of percussive maintenance (which scared me, but my mechanic said it would be fine!), so I've got the muffler on and it's running wonderfully...

Link


The last few Friday's have been spent completely stripping the body and panels ready for channels to be replaced, and then blasted and painted (after many family 'conversations' and opinions from friends, I think I'm going with painting it - it's just a little too patina'd to look good I think)...

Insides...

And customary plate shot...

Getting there! It's mid-winter here, so with a bit of luck and some days off I may be on the road for summer.

[joey1320]

Great work on that pan and engine.
What color are you going with?
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**1971 Super Project
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[nic_]

I'm going with Strato Silver.

I'm pretty sure it was originally Horizon Blue - although it does look a little dark now to have originally been that. It's an Australian delivery CKD, so no colour on the birth certificate. I love the look of Strato Silver so even though it might not be 100% correct I'd rather have a colour that makes me happy.

[joey1320]

[Rome]

You got the engine running like a good watch, and looking excellent.

Since you've decided to undent and paint the body, did the many small dents in the roof give you problems? Were you able to bang them out from the inside, or pull them up from the outside using a stud gun?

Strato silver- a lovely color.

Also, I hope you kept that remnant of firewall insulation, removing it carefully. German-built Beetles used that type of insulation pattern only for the '56 model year, and best I know nobody makes any type of a repro material with that "corduroy" look. Hopefully you can get creative and find a material based on your remnant, to give another correct appearance to your body revival.

As to the seats, I'm sure they'll look presentable after a good cleaning. The small wear holes in the front seat- how about carefully removing the cover, finding some dark blue vinyl with a similar grain, cutting out a small section of the new vinyl such as the size of a business card, and gluing it onto the backside of the original cover with contact cement so that the wear hole is not as visible? That way you are keeping the original covers but they won't have a "neglected" look compared to just keeping the wear holes untouched.

[nic_]

I’ve been getting new channels welded in over the past few weeks, and while it was in there all the panel work has been done. It’s getting sandblasted at the moment so will see how it’s all turned out in the next week or so.

I’ve got the firewall material (nothing has been thrown out yet!) but it’s obviously not usable. Thanks for the heads up on the pattern - I’ll add it to the list of things to do!

I’m still unsure on whether the seats will need recovering or not. I’ll see how they clean up, but given everything else is going to be so polished I’m worried it may be a little underwhelming if the original vinyl is too tattered.

More photos soon. Can’t wait to see the Strato Silver in the metal!

[nic_]

Due for an update! Body work has all been done - new channels, a chunk of new roof, and a fix on a shoddy old front quarter repair job...

And Strato Silver time!

[ConcreteAce]

Body looks Awesome, glad you decided to paint it, I love shiny cars personally
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Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas

'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build

[notchboy]

And to think you were once considering selling

Look great! Now the fun stuff
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[Stetoppingphoto]

Beautiful
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stetoppingphoto

[motofly196]

Have you had time to start the reassembly? I can't wait to see this one together! Beautiful paint job!

[laneven28]

That turned out great! Love that color!
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1950 Pearl Grey Hoffman Standard Split Window
1954 Iceland Green Euro 3-Fold Oval
1955 Strato Silver Transitional 3-Fold Oval
1956 Iris Blue Convertible
1958 Pearl White Lowlight KG Convertible
1961 Turkis Ragtop

[nic_]

Wow it's been a while! I spent three months out of the country from July to October, so not a huge amount to update, but figured I'd share a few photos of the body assembled and back home. It's literally just "putting it all back together" now, and hopefully I'll find a few days over Christmas to get things wrapped up. Although everything seems to take a little longer than expected!

[tomsbuggered]

Wow, that is beautiful. So glad you decided to keep it!

I have a 56 home in Canada, that I will work on when we return from our current visit in Australia.

There are some very nice VW's in NSW that i've seen and I am frothing to get home after New Year and tie into my Oval project again.

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June 1956 VW Oval Beetle

[BulliBill]

Nice work on your Oval! It's very rewarding to catch that first glimpse of your new paint job. Have fun re-assembling it, take your time! Don't rush and scratch something!!!

Bill
'55 OG paint Deluxe Sunroof
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[Stetoppingphoto]

She looks beautiful
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stetoppingphoto

[my59]

That is a nice progress progression!
If the seats are not too crispy and the stitching holes not ripped out, I'd be looking at getting them re-stitched. Once apart, they should clean up if not sun damaged. The original stitching will gradually come apart as the fibers age and cannot take the tension. If you clean the seats, the stitching gets affected by the cleaning materials as well.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[nic_]

Seats are already recovered. Given it's all new carpet and headlining it just felt like old seats wouldn't work. They look brilliant, I'll grab a photo when I'm out working on it on Friday.