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roscoesvw
Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2008
Posts: 33
Location: Riverside Ca
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 Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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Thought I would jump in on this one as well. Im working on a Mini T4 that my father in law has had in his yard for 40 years!!!!!!!
Does anybody now where to get or who could make the bumpers and the top?
Also are all ID stickers above the gas tank under the body? |
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EVfun 
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6349
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: Mini T |
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| damold wrote: |
| Just thought I would jump in and follow the threads here. I am retired now and am going to resolve a 50 year old "itch" to have a dune buggy so the search has started. Being an old street rodder I do believe I NEED a Mini T. I am still learning about Mini T, mini T4 , Berrien/Acme, etc. Every day is Saturday....aint it wonderfull....Dave |
I NEEDED a Berry Mini-T too. For me it was page 9 of "Dune Buggies" by Gary Gladstone (copyright 1972.) I checked that book out multiple times from the local library and that was my favorite page. I fished around thesamba for a while and managed to find a never installed body (or more accurately, the previous owner was here found me as I fished around here.)
Here is my favorite off-site build. That mini-t is sooo cool. Actually, I really liked it before the rebuild too, though it needed front-end detailing (the previous color was cool.)
Here are some photos of my build. I do things a bit differently. The photos are a bit out of date as I have the EV drive system complete and running. The 12 volt system is just a skeleton at this point, only brake lights and circuit to integrate the turn/brake signals from a flat 4 towing connector into just brake lights on both tail lights. I still got to actually mount the tail lights ('50 Pontiac, just like the build I linked to above) and my license plate (WA '63 plate under year of manufacture rules.) I will have my Mini-T at the Greenwood Car Show in June 29th.
My biggest question has been about the changes in the Berry Mini-T during production. Looking at the photos in the build above you can see a different rear fender in the Hot Rod magazine cover Mini-T. When did the fuller coverage rear fender replace the bobbed one? There may also be front grill changes and possibly rear panel (tail light and license plate area) changes over the about 3 years the body was produced.
_________________
| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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damold
Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2013
Posts: 1
Location: Fl and SD
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| Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:46 am Post subject: Mini T |
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| Just thought I would jump in and follow the threads here. I am retired now and am going to resolve a 50 year old "itch" to have a dune buggy so the search has started. Being an old street rodder I do believe I NEED a Mini T. I am still learning about Mini T, mini T4 , Berrien/Acme, etc. Every day is Saturday....aint it wonderfull....Dave |
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NETAAA
Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2013
Posts: 4
Location: Pomona, Ca
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| Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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here's a couple more..
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kustoms
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2003
Posts: 1313
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| Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:00 am Post subject: |
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I gues they did not get the patent. My "T" is a low number body.
_________________
Google this.
"Bread and Circuses"
And wondering what the heck happen to my Samba post count?!?
Tom Thompson
Tijuana Kustoms Inc. (TM)
1-516-338-8746
www.tjkustoms.com |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6349
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for that. The label above my gas tank (more over the engine on the 2 seat mini-t) is unreadable and now I know about what it was supposed to look like. I can faintly read where someone with a ball point pen wrote "purple." My tag has the same proportions and the same mottling, but is generally more gray and faded to the point of showing only the tiniest hints of the original printing. Perhaps I'll try photographing it and then enhancing the photos.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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NETAAA
Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2013
Posts: 4
Location: Pomona, Ca
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| Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| EVfun wrote: |
Can you post a picture of the body tag? I can find mine, but it isn't readable. I do see that "purple" was written in pen near the lower right corner.
I will get pictures of the electric install. The motor is already in place and can be seen in some picture. My plan right now is to put 39 cell under the pickup bed (3 rows in 13 cells) for about a 200 lb. pack. I have room for 10 cells up front, but only have 42 of these older Lithium cells. |
The body tag isnt readable on mine either, but i did find this sticker above the gas tank.
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6349
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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Can you post a picture of the body tag? I can find mine, but it isn't readable. I do see that "purple" was written in pen near the lower right corner.
I will get pictures of the electric install. The motor is already in place and can be seen in some picture. My plan right now is to put 39 cell under the pickup bed (3 rows in 13 cells) for about a 200 lb. pack. I have room for 10 cells up front, but only have 42 of these older Lithium cells.
_________________
| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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charlindabob
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2010
Posts: 44
Location: Lake Panasoffkee, FL
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| Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:36 am Post subject: |
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| NETAAA wrote: |
after a couple of years of sitting, im finally starting to work on it. im removing the tank to clean it and i found a sticker on the body on top of the gas tank. it says mini T4 long beach Ca. cant wait to get it running again!
i cant figure out how to post a pic, but i somehow posted one on "other vw vehicles" |
I hope you post some pictures and especially interested in the roll bar as I haven't seen a Mini-T with one and that one appears to look good on your buggy.
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Bob Leibold, Lake Panasoffkee, Florida
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure. |
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charlindabob
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2010
Posts: 44
Location: Lake Panasoffkee, FL
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| Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:21 am Post subject: |
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| EVfun wrote: |
Very nice! Is that the original gelcoat? Your looks to be Corvair powered. Mine is about to be electric powered.  |
I hope you take pictures as I find the electric aspect very interesting. Batteries go up front? And if so, how easy will they be accessed? Right now on my buggy, you have to raise the body to get to the master cylinder! I wish I could figure out a "tilt" body for it. Be nice to pull a couple of pins and have the whole body tilt up out of the way, huh?
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Bob Leibold, Lake Panasoffkee, Florida
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure. |
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charlindabob
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2010
Posts: 44
Location: Lake Panasoffkee, FL
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| Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:13 am Post subject: |
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It has the original gel-coat and yes, it is Corvair powered by a 150hp Corvair turbo. It has Corvair running gear including the steering wheel, dash instraments and tail lights. Frame is square tubing with a 3/4" plywood floor.
I have the body off and wiring tore out (there were "thousands" of wires) and working on the brakes. This buggy had been sitting awhile and needed cleaning up and lots of attention. I have had the engine running but it needs gone over, but one thing at a time.
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Bob Leibold, Lake Panasoffkee, Florida
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure. |
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BL3Manx
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6768
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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Looks great, really like the wheels and tires.
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6349
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice! Is that the original gelcoat? Your looks to be Corvair powered. Mine is about to be electric powered.
_________________
| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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charlindabob
Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2010
Posts: 44
Location: Lake Panasoffkee, FL
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NETAAA
Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2013
Posts: 4
Location: Pomona, Ca
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| Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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| surfnc wrote: |
Here you go:
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Cool! Thanks! |
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surfnc
Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006
Posts: 948
Location: OBX, NC
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NETAAA
Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2013
Posts: 4
Location: Pomona, Ca
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| Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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after a couple of years of sitting, im finally starting to work on it. im removing the tank to clean it and i found a sticker on the body on top of the gas tank. it says mini T4 long beach Ca. cant wait to get it running again!
i cant figure out how to post a pic, but i somehow posted one on "other vw vehicles" |
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kustoms
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2003
Posts: 1313
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:08 am Post subject: |
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Just thought I would post this.
The Berry-T snow machine. 
Photo thanks to Kieth.
_________________
Google this.
"Bread and Circuses"
And wondering what the heck happen to my Samba post count?!?
Tom Thompson
Tijuana Kustoms Inc. (TM)
1-516-338-8746
www.tjkustoms.com |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6349
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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It looks like you are right, despite what the buggy bible has to say. The old advertising literature posted online all seems to list Long Beach.
_________________
| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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BL3Manx
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006
Posts: 6768
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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I'm pretty sure Berry was in Long Beach, 1123 Nevada Street. Hale got it wrong in his book.
EV, PM me your email, I'll send you some stuff. |
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