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popeynz Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006 Posts: 11 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 3:39 pm Post subject: South African Grille procurement |
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I have a 1981 T25 / Vanagon air cooled Westfalia and as part of a full restoration I have been trying to locate a South African upper grille allowing me to procure new headlights and inner driving lights. I have searched most supplier sites but it appears these are now either very rare or discontinued. If any body knows of a seller who may have one of these for sale I would love to hear from you. I am in New Zealand but happy to get it shipped. Locating a set of suitable lights that fit and are set to drive on the left side of the road (like UK etc.) would also be appreciated. Thanks. |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7473 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grill procurement |
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These have become unobtanium here in the states. I believe one recently went for $1500 at an auction. Yes, that was just the grill, it didn't come with a van. _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9810 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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vanagonjr Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010 Posts: 3431 Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grill procurement |
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jimf909 wrote: |
These have become unobtanium here in the states. I believe one recently went for $1500 at an auction. Yes, that was just the grill, it didn't come with a van. |
Without lights even? E-bay auction? _________________ John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 3050 Location: MD
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 6:16 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grill procurement |
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I saw $2k for an ebay auction. Nuts! _________________ '87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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vino de vano Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2016 Posts: 359 Location: columbia gorge
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grill procurement |
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Look like its time for some sort of security strap! _________________ what a long strange trip it's been |
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candyman Samba Trout Slayer
Joined: December 20, 2003 Posts: 2694 Location: Missoula MT
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 6:29 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grill procurement |
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vino de vano wrote: |
Look like its time for some sort of security strap! |
Thought of this too, sadly some thief will just destroy the whole grill in the process of trying to steal it :/ |
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vanagonjr Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010 Posts: 3431 Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grill procurement |
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4Gears4Tires wrote: |
I saw $2k for an ebay auction. Nuts! |
The 2K one has been there forever, so unlikely to sell. But yes, nuts that someone would list as such.
Maybe I need to sell my complete set-up! _________________ John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50352
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grille procurement |
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Have you checked with VW itself? Sometimes they have things that no one else does. |
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vik Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2005 Posts: 204 Location: back in Czech
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 11:28 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grille procurement |
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Wildthings wrote: |
Have you checked with VW itself? Sometimes they have things that no one else does. |
I reached up to the VW classic parts and this was their feedback:
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Hallo Volkswagen Parts,
Hello Viktor
No, we are really sorry, but we have no chance for this grille anymore.
Ihr Support-Team von VW Classicparts,
Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Volkswagen Classic Parts |
There is someone in Germany offering fiberglass repro
Or maybe some far east vendor may make a copy like to SA lower grill if they will think it is a good business for them _________________ T3 Syncro camper in progress |
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Corwyn Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Olympia, Washington
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Posted: Mon May 24, 2021 10:29 am Post subject: Re: South African Grille procurement |
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That's a lot of money for a truly flimsy piece of plastic. Its why I stuck with the rectangles and went E-code. If someone had a BIG 3D printer . . . _________________ '90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja
"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~ |
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deaddrift Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2020 Posts: 46 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Mon May 24, 2021 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grill procurement |
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vanagonjr wrote: |
jimf909 wrote: |
These have become unobtanium here in the states. I believe one recently went for $1500 at an auction. Yes, that was just the grill, it didn't come with a van. |
Without lights even? E-bay auction? |
I sold mine for $1800 last year. _________________ Nat
'91 syncro Westfalia, 2nd and 4th owner
Ò,ó |
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Yellow Rabbit Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2005 Posts: 1146
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Posted: Mon May 24, 2021 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grille procurement |
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Has anyone tried contacting salvage yards or parts suppliers in South Africa? These were produced until fairly recently. I am surprised if they don’t have crash replacement parts available on the local market. |
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vik Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2005 Posts: 204 Location: back in Czech
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 12:05 am Post subject: Re: South African Grille procurement |
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They are about 5000Rand ($360). ¨Problem¨ is shipping. They do not ship outside SA. If you want to organize your shipping it is expensive. Quote from UPS is roughly 7000Rand to Europe
Unless you are willing to buy multiple units it is not worth it in my opinion.
I´m actrually thinking to try to make it as 3D print part(s).
At home I can print it in 7 parts
I know a company who can print up to 500mm long unit. So 4 parts are possible. I´m not sure about the finish as well. This is a backburner project for me at the moment. _________________ T3 Syncro camper in progress |
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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grille procurement |
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or 3D the end and middle pieces; use small dia Al tubes in between
I guess I'm glad I have one, but it was still overpriced... _________________ .... |
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popeynz Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2006 Posts: 11 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sat May 29, 2021 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grille procurement |
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Thanks to all contributors. Special thanks for the link to the cut out efforts. I am going to go with this option and my local workshop are happy to have a go at the task. I located some original inner lights and we are now searching for some H4 Hella replacements (left side traffic). I’ll even have a scout around for the suggested black plastic rims although we don’t have the beauty of a Home Depot New Zealand. I’ll post a pic of the completed job but it will be a while as the Westy is having a full paint job first. |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7473 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 11:42 am Post subject: Re: South African Grille procurement |
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This post w/ the good looking grill mentions printed trim rings by Uniwerks and they appear to be currently available in two sizes. A possibility...
Uniwerks page...
https://www.uniwerksdesign.com/exterior-accessories/
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8446378#8446378
_________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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vanagonjr Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010 Posts: 3431 Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 11:43 am Post subject: Re: South African Grill procurement |
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deaddrift wrote: |
vanagonjr wrote: |
jimf909 wrote: |
These have become unobtanium here in the states. I believe one recently went for $1500 at an auction. Yes, that was just the grill, it didn't come with a van. |
Without lights even? E-bay auction? |
I sold mine for $1800 last year. |
Wow! Just wow!
Was that with light buckets and inner lights, just grill or ??? _________________ John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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ZsZ Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2010 Posts: 1647 Location: Budapest Hungary, Europe
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Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 1:06 am Post subject: Re: South African Grill procurement |
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deaddrift wrote: |
vanagonjr wrote: |
jimf909 wrote: |
These have become unobtanium here in the states. I believe one recently went for $1500 at an auction. Yes, that was just the grill, it didn't come with a van. |
Without lights even? E-bay auction? |
I sold mine for $1800 last year. |
1500/1800USD may cover the costs of postage from SA _________________ Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008 |
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RainierSyncro Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2013 Posts: 809 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 11:15 pm Post subject: Re: South African Grille procurement |
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Checked Uniwerks webpage and they show flat trim rings. When he made them for my project, they were curved to match the curve of the grill. I didn't get a picture of them before I installed them. |
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