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Convertible tonneau cover
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vw59vert
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:23 pm    Post subject: Convertible tonneau cover Reply with quote

On my 1959 I have several holes on my dash and along the outskirts of my door following the trim of the window. I was told that a Tonneau cover once existed for our type 1 verts. Has anyone seen or heard of this myth? I have yet to see one nor have I found any info on this. MUCH HELP appreciated. thank you.
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RareAir
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

VW did offer a Tonneau cover option, but to find one today is incredibly rare. Mark Depew at Wolfsburg West had one a few years back. It was similar to the ones used by Porsche Speedsters and MGs, in which there was a zipper down the center. You can unzip it and keep 3/4 of the car covered while having an opening large enough for the driver to operate the car safely.
If you want one today, your best bet would be to visit a competent convertible top shop and have one custom made.
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vw59vert
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 3:02 am    Post subject: Thanks Reply with quote

I live down the street from Wolfsburg and spoke to Mark regarding this cover. He mentioned it to me and that is how i came about knowing about such a tonneau cover. I was curious to see if anyone else heard of it and has seen one in person. I have never seen marks and he told me the story of it. I will have one personally made up.. Thank you for the feedback. If you know of anywhere where i can find some literature about it... that would be awesome too!
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oc63rag
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 6:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know of someone in Orange county who does good custom interior/top work. Let me know if you want the contact info and I'll dig it up.
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MedicTed
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 7:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why would you want a cover like that? The tops are so easy to put up and down. After all, they are not like a Thing, where the windows have to be put in and out and the top frame is soooo easy to bend.
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RareAir
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:27 am    Post subject: Re: Thanks Reply with quote

vw59vert wrote:
I have never seen marks and he told me the story of it. I will have one personally made up... If you know of anywhere where i can find some literature about it... that would be awesome too!


There's a picture of Mark's tonneau cover in the July 1999 issue of Hot VWs. Look under the article titled "Rarest of the Rare"
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vw59vert
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

its not really about ease of putting up or down the top. I believe the tonneau cover would ad a great dimension and look to the vehicle since no one else does it in the scene.. besides I have original holes for the tonneau cover. If the car had it before it is going to have it again.

Thanks for the info on Marks tonneau Ill be getting an issue soon.

Also info on a good custom interior shop would be great. Thanks.
You can see pix of my vert resto under gallery: vw59vert
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steven wood
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

VWRobert in the UK has or had a NOS RHD cover that was for sale. I wanted to find one when I had my oval verts.
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vw59vert
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 3:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

havent seen one at a show yet so.. think itll be a cool accessory to show off a car... Ill have one made by CLASSIC 06
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RareAir
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would suggest getting a hold of Julio of Convertible World (Long Beach, CA) He has some done some great tops for early cars.
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oc63rag
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Before anyone does anything with Julio at Convertible World, search the classified/vendor forum for feedback. There have been a lot of problems with this guy.
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vw59vert
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ive ran across alot of problems with alot of shops.. I spoke to julio when i was restoring my 65 vert. They are a busy shop and few years back julio would be the one doing the work... which i quality work but now theres alot of guys there that really dont take the time and quality work you would expect out of your hard earned money.

I plan on going to STITCHCRAFT in huntington. A guy name REVO does awesome custom work. They're the ones on OVERHAULIN the show. Great stuff for hotrods.

If anyone needs his contact let me know. Great guy. Been in every magazine dealing w/ imports, lowriders, to boats.
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markurski
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:48 pm    Post subject: Beetle Convertible Tonneau Cover Reply with quote

VW59VERT, are you still looking for this tonneau cover? I see this post is a few years old and no one has replied in a long time.
I have a 1958 Beetle Cabriolet in the process of being restored with the tonneau cover mounting hardware still on the car. I am trying to find any information on how the cover mounts to the hardware. If you visit this link you will find a 1958 Beetle convertible brochure that shows an illustration of the "interior cover" as VW called it, listed as an accessory. It is on the samba website. The brochure looks like it is real, I don't think someone would put all the time and effort into making a fake catalog.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/58vert.php

I will post pictures of the mounting brackets and the "nipple" press-stud spring capture fasteners. They look like little nipples that had a press-stud fastener connector sewed into the cover that mounted in the front on the upper dash. The nipples are mounted on the window vent defroster on both sides of the lower window area.
Please let me know if you have any other information. My restorer said he has spoken to Lenny Copp at West Coast Classic Restorations in CA about the tonneau cover and Lenny told my restorer that he has never seen a tonneau cover and thinks that VW never offered one as an accessory. Lenny told my restorer that he visited the link above and dosn't believe the brochure is real. At least he doesn't believe VW actually ever made them. If the hardware on my VW isn't for a tonneau cover, then I want to know what it's for. And if the holes you are talking about match up to the mounting brackets I have, then I would believe that VW did offer a tonneau cover. I intend to find out!!!
Long winded I know. Thanks for the assistance.
Mark Kurzinski
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markurski
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:24 pm    Post subject: tonneau cover pic Reply with quote

VW59VERT, a link to a picture of the tonneau cover from the samba site...
more evidence.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=84617
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vw59vert
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:27 pm    Post subject: tonneau cover Reply with quote

thanks for the pictures!!! wow.. it has been a while and yes those pictures look exactly like how i was going to do mine..there is a zipper that goes down the middle exposing the driverside..

also as you fold back the tonneau.. it has a belt buckle type harness that attaches underneath the back passenger feet area.

ITS REALLY NEAT!! and ur the first person ive heard from who has a similar situation.!! keep me posted. i will post pictures once my vert is complete.
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markurski
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the 58 brochure illustration, the tonneau cover does not appear to have a zipper on it. Are you sure a zipper was on the cover? The illustration is not that detailed, but you can see where the portion of the cover fits over the steering wheel. It does not look like there was a zipper on it. It dosn't look like the cover was meant to be left in place while driving. It looks like you clipped the cover off in the front and then tucked it behind the front seats when you wanted to drive. It may have clipped down in the rear seat are to keep it from flying out from wind gusts. Maybe that buckle you were talking about? What is your take?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/58vert/middle.jpg

By the way 59vert, did you ever get a copy of that June 1999 issue of Hot VWs? Apparently there was a picture of the cover in it?
-Mark K
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markurski
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

59Vert, a picture of the mounting brackets. Do you have these holes on your frame? Two vertical holes on the front and rear of the top portion of the frame behind the doors. Now only if I can find what type of fasterner slid into the brackets!!
I can get some close-up pictures later if you would like.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=377758

$$$$$ reward to anyone who can produce the brackets!!!
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markurski
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

edit to my last:

$$$$ reward to anyone who can produce the FASTENERS that slid into the brackets!!!!
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bnam
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My '71 1302LS vert (RHD) came with option 197 (lockable tonneau cover). I remember using it. It attached to the top cover at the back and while driving it, you could fold it back and clip it to the front corners of the rear seat (actually) just below the seat -- so that it still covered the back seat. It did not have a zipper in the middle.

I am still trying to locate this cover in my parents house and hopefully I will.

If I do, I will try to get it reproduced.

B
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markurski
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for your post bnam. Let me know when you find the cover.
Here are some pics I received of the cover. I am attempting to find/fabricate the TENAX fasteners and the brackets/buckle system. We'll see how it goes.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/434845.jpg

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/434844.jpg

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/434843.jpg
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