Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
1954 owners manual. Original or reprint?
Forum Index -> Beetle - Oval-Window - 1953-57 Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
This page may contain links to eBay where the site receives compensation.
Author Message
Jimmy Perez
Samba Member


Joined: September 08, 2003
Posts: 310
Location: Cruising in Cali, Nomad
Jimmy Perez is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's some original owner's manual's from my collection (left to right)
53 Zwitter, 54 oval, 55 oval, 56 oval, notice that the 55 and earlier manuals are larger in size and have 1 VW on cover, also darker blue in color.
Vinyl covers on top part of picture- 55 and earlier are clear vinyl, 56 and later are blue vinyl.
From my point of view, the manual in ad looks to be 56-57 owner's manual, but should have an Edition date with month and year.
Hope this helps
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Single Cab, Swapmeet Mafia$
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
1963 Empi Radar
Samba Member


Joined: June 28, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Tasmania Australia
1963 Empi Radar is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

'day. I was given one and it is in perfect nick. What would it be worth?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Riff Raff
Shivering Sambian


Joined: October 25, 2004
Posts: 3096
Location: Alberta
Riff Raff is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have the original owners manual for my 56 in the original document folder. My owners manual is identical to that one. I think he is guessing 54 to 55 because of the semaphores on the car. I think there was a thread on here a while ago asking a similar question, and if I remember correctly, the earlier manuals were a pale green, not blue (or was that just for the splits??).

Anyhow, it looks like a 56 or later manual and the price seems a touch rich.
_________________
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge
- Daniel Boorstin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
EverettB Premium Member
Administrator


Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69733
Location: Phoenix Metro
EverettB is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't know of any '54 reprints but they could exist.

Almost every manual on the site is an original.

The '51 manual says reprint on page 1. Smile Not easy to see though.
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Facebook Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
IN2VWS
Samba Member


Joined: January 29, 2006
Posts: 2521
Location: Australia
IN2VWS is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

glutamodo wrote:
Just a guess on my part, but I think it might be a VW issued reprint that covered more years than the original book would have. Have you compared it to the ones scanned on theSamba's Techincal pages?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/type1.php

They show the old cover with one Bug for 1/54 but by 8/55 they had gone to this 2-Bug cover, so it must have changed sometime in between. But I know that in 12/54 they were still using the old cover.

I think that price is kind of high though Shocked

Especially when there's one on eBay right now.... It's a 12/54 manual (that's how I know the cover art was the old style then) and the starting price on this auction is two decimal points over from where the Classified Ad is listed.


Thanks. I have looked at the Samba archives. The problem there is that they do not tell you if the manuals are originals or reprints. An example of this is the 1951 english manual, it is a reprint.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Tram
Samba Socialist


Joined: May 02, 2003
Posts: 22697
Location: Still Feelin' the Bern- Once you've felt it you can't un- feel it.
Tram is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a great resource for almost every owner's manual in an authentic looking reprint at great prices:
http://stores.ebay.com/Bishko-Books-Better-Buys

I've gotten manuals for all sorts of classic cars here, from VWs to Mercedes to a '57 Thunderbird! The quality is great, the prices are fantastic. If they don't have exactly what you are looking for, ask- they often have it.
Just an FYI.
_________________
Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

Bryan67 wrote:
Just my hands. And a little lube. No tools.


To best contact me, please use the EMAIL function in my profile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
glutamodo Premium Member
The Android


Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26298
Location: Douglas, WY
glutamodo is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just a guess on my part, but I think it might be a VW issued reprint that covered more years than the original book would have. Have you compared it to the ones scanned on theSamba's Techincal pages?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/type1.php

They show the old cover with one Bug for 1/54 but by 8/55 they had gone to this 2-Bug cover, so it must have changed sometime in between. But I know that in 12/54 they were still using the old cover.

I think that price is kind of high though Shocked

Especially when there's one on eBay right now.... It's a 12/54 manual (that's how I know the cover art was the old style then) and the starting price on this auction is two decimal points over from where the Classified Ad is listed.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
EverettB Premium Member
Administrator


Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69733
Location: Phoenix Metro
EverettB is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The color looks way too bright but that could be his scanner.

I thnk it must be a post-'54 manual since it has 2 Beetles on the cover.
The August, 1955 manual has 2 Beetles on the cover:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/9_55bug.php

I wouldn't worry about it too much anyway, the price is INSANE.
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Facebook Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
IN2VWS
Samba Member


Joined: January 29, 2006
Posts: 2521
Location: Australia
IN2VWS is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Macca,

Interesting....I notice that your cover has one beetle on the cover, and the other one I am questioning has 2 beetles on the cover.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Macca_nzl
Samba Member


Joined: December 22, 2003
Posts: 367
Location: Sydney, Australia
Macca_nzl is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is an original Dec 1954 Owners handbook - I believe the earlier ovals 54/55 are this colour - As an August '55 manual I have is a lighter blue - They then stayed with this lighter blue until the 58 model year when they went to black and green.

Mac

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
71 1302s

wanted - Blade from ambo fans.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Facebook Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
TWD
Samba Member


Joined: May 11, 2004
Posts: 976
Location: Georgia
TWD is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a 54 bug, but have not seen the proper owners’ manual for years. The oldest manual that I have is from 1960, Its cover is black where this one shows blue and the inserts on the cover are more of a turquoise rather than the black. Sorry that I couldn't be of more help.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
IN2VWS
Samba Member


Joined: January 29, 2006
Posts: 2521
Location: Australia
IN2VWS is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:39 am    Post subject: 1954 owners manual. Original or reprint? Reply with quote

What is your opionions of this owners manual. Is it an original or a reprint?

The color of the cover does not look correct to me.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=263344
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Beetle - Oval-Window - 1953-57 All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.