Restoration:1966 1200A Model 115 Sedan with Sunroof (Ragtop)

[Helfen]

Hey Tom, Long time since we talked. I hope you will paint it L-360. I think that is the color it was born with. Below is a shot of the last time my car and yours were together when Brian owned it. click on the links.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/516077.jpg

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/516078.jpg

[seibert66]

I hope Sea Blue will prevail!

[reay]

It's a tough call on the colors...definitely keeps me up at night!
Sea Blue is one of my all time favorites - my sea blue T34 was my favorite VW

_________________
Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop

[vwuberalles]

having the matched bug and bus would be cool, and you'd only need to keep one color on hand for touch ups.
_________________
1973 Superbeetle: 1st car, owned since age 12. Update thread --> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9919140#9919140
1967 Kombi: Owned since age 17, Dad's retirement project.
1966 Beetle: My new project. (SOLD) Build thread--> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=678040

[finster]

bordeaux is too deluxe, nice for setting off chrome parts but wrong for that standard vibe.
sea blue will look good and show off the grey trim and interior - and is original. I understand the appeal of agave but what about a subtler green such as mignonette or reed green?

_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[calvinater]

Have a gander at Bordeux Red.
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"Albatross"!

[reay]

It's moving along...All the parts that can be pulled off the body are getting epoxy primed. The long block is back from Brothers. The interior is here ready to be assembled. Now if I could just decide on the color!

I keep going between the original color - Sea Blue, which I love. Fontana Grey, which the 66 standard comes in, and I like, but kind of boring. Or Agave Green which would match my 66 Bus. I like that because it makes the car look older that it is. And it was a standard color in the 50's.

My bus:

_________________
Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop

[reay]

Almost completely bare metal now except for the interior and areas where I can't get to with the sanders. Next steps are to complete as much bodywork that I can, and take it welder to get the aprons on, fix some more rust spots, and fill the holes that aren't used on a 1200A. After that back to the sand blaster to get the rest of the paint of and a light blast to remove any rust flash that might occur. That will also give all the metal the same tooth for epoxy primer.

The long block is sitting complete and ready to go at Brothers Machine shop in Ontario, Ca. It's going to be a 1385 with a dog house cooler.

And most of the interior is here too!
_________________
Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop

[Busbodger]

Looks good!

[reay]

Well, I'm moving past the buying parts phase, and into he getting stuff done on the 66 1200a. I've got most of the paint off and am starting body work. The plan is to get these parts cleaned up and get as many dents out as I can. They aren't too bad. Then get the new front apron and same other welding done. Then a light sandblast to get the paint off the areas I couldn't get to with the DA or sander. Plus remove any surface rust that might appear in the next few weeks.

Then a good coat of epoxy primer on everything.

_________________
Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop

[reay]

For the 66's 55th birthday I picked up the sweet painted mirror!
_________________
Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop

[reay]

Thanks so much -

That does help. Of course the three options I'm looking at now - 2 complete rebuilt motors or rebuild a motor I have using a correct case - none of them have the pre-heat hose in that location!

Would I be forgiven if I didn't get that detailed on the engine?

TR
_________________
Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop

[61SNRF]

Tom,

Given your late 66 chassis number you would want to run the air cleaner pre-heat hose to the left heater box same as the late 1300's.

Here is my fuzzy pic of how a late 66 should look:

This is how the front tin looks, and you can just make out the fitting on the left heater box:

Rear tin is unique too, no hole for pre-heat tube. Not exact but something like this:

Of course to be 100% correct the engine should have a D stamped serial number, your friends probably doesn't have that but only the detail nuts will notice that.

Internally late 40's got cam bearings and most other progressive engine refinements but those are hidden from view inside the case.
_________________
-Bruce

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[reay]

I have a question -
A guy I know has a complete 40hp plug and play motor for sale. He's a retired VW mechanic. What should I look for so it would look correct in my 1200A? Or, was it basically the same motor for it's run, or were later ones different than earlier motors?

I have a H block and another complete engine with the correct tin and parts. But I think I'd rather just get a good solid motor like the one that is for sale.

Thanks, Tom
_________________
Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop

[mukluk]

The workshop manual calls for the split boot seam to be installed horizontally and toward the rear, though common practice usually dictates putting the seam at 10 or 2 o'clock to help prevent leaks while keeping the seam as close as possible to horizontal. The reason you don't want the seam straight up is so that the boot can flex as much as possible during suspension cycling without putting undue strain on the boot -- having the thick seam straight up stresses the boot and leads to tearing.

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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[reay]

[finster]

[reay]

I have a painter lined up, but need to figure out when that can happen.
_________________
Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop

[Chickensoup]

[reay]

Lets see -

I've picked up a NOS painted hubcap just to get the correct silver.
Later I found 4 NOS un-chromed hubcaps. So now I have almost everything that needs to be painted.

But, this project is a bit on hold. I picked up a Porsche for my daily driver and have been spending plenty of money there. Also, I have decided to make my other two vintage VWs 100 % finished. I need to take care a few items, nothing big.
_________________
Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop