Anybody replace roof/windshield/dash on late super with Standard

[andk5591]

Kicking around a future project using some odds and ends I have laying around. Don't ask why, just looking for "has it been done and how"

Have a relatively complete 74 Super and part of a 61 body (was a rotted baja). What I am pondering is removing the roof and windshield from the super and replacing it along with the dash from the 61. Will also be doing a chop. I know that the area in front of the windshield will need filled to compensate for the curved windshield.

Has anybody else done anything silly like this and if so, any insight? An alternative would be to transfer the super front clip (part of it anyway) to the 61. (the Super hood area and front fenders are needed for my "vision"

Thanks in advance
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D-Dubya Manx clone 1914. Ex wifes car.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Ex-wifes car.
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[hitest]

Of course this needs to settle in longer to be exposed to more readers before considering your mod undone.

But, in essence, you are talking about recreating your own extremely laborious version of the least- valued beetle in VW history: the 1302 SB. Strip the dash pad off a '71-'72 SB and you are far enough along to know if you really want one. Honestly, if someone responds here saying they've built one it will qualify as a huge surprise.

Here's inspiration stolen from the galleries:

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[vamram]

[jhicken]

No, early supers ['71-'72] had flat windshields. But as I noted above, the windshield of a '61 is significantly smaller than that of say a '74 standard beetle.

-jeffrey
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Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

[hitest]

[andk5591]

Gonna repeat the don't ask why....I am not after creating a 71-72 Super sans dash pad. I can pick one up a couple miles from me for a bit over a grand, BUT its too nice and solid for what I have in mind which is waaaaaaaaaay more interesting than that. The thing is that I don't or wont cut up a decent car for a radical project.

The 74 Super I have is a piece of shit that had an engine fire at one time and was hack repaired by the PO. Needs a channel on one side and the floors are rough. Not worth restoring. The 61 Baja is pretty much missing the lower 6" of the body to rot and had donated a rear quarter to another project.

I have a very unique project in mind that the Super would be perfect for EXCEPT the curved windshield and dash wont work. AND I will be doing a moderate chop, so the smaller glass may be a plus. Yeah - I know about the space between the hood and windshield and it actually works well with my idea.

So once again - has anyone done anything like this?

OK - Screw it - here's the idea.....A buddy gave me inspiration by building a nostalgia type bug gasser recently. So look at a later super without a front bumper - its actually has the 39-40 Ford/40 Willys vibe. Was pondering building a 3/4 40 Willys Gasser (nose up, white wall slicks - the whole 60's gasser look) but turning the bug into a coupe is hard to make look right.

BUT I really loved the look of the 40 Ford Sedan....And a chopped bug has that look. So doing a Super with a chop may be the answer....And I have the 74 Super (and a 40 Ford style hood)and the baja..
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone 1914. Ex wifes car.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Ex-wifes car.
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[hitest]

Yes! The cat is out of the bag. And now the bag is much easier to see.

Since it is still just day one of your thread- and you'll need to reach at least all subscribers, including those who rarely read threads... Kind of joking, but you get it. You really will be the first to do this. Nobody else has, may or will. I love gassers and you've got the creative vision- make it so.

You've got two cars that each have little to no value. You can't even sell a sunroof 1303 complete body in Boise for $20- yes, I saw one last week and refused. I say chop sake everything and see where you end up- but it may require a careful examination of a stripped cowl to see what you need to do. It may also require a radically changed wire harness but in a good way- much simpler.
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[jhicken]

Something like this? You would be better off starting with a standard.

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Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

[HeidelbergJohn4.0]

What ever you do, just stock up on mig wire and welding rod. There's no book for what you're talking about. That's going to be all custom cutting and filling and blending in the super and standard windshield area. the biggest issues is actually going to be the area under the hood and dash where the two areas are substantially different around the rear fo the super gas tank.

I suppose if you start with swapping out the cowl and lower windshield frame, maybe separate that from the actual dash. or you could hack your way past the point of no return and try to match up everything from the top door hinges up and then fil lthe gaps between the flat dash and the super trunk floor.


I have to say, the super beetle trunk area is a nice change from the standard if you have plenty of junk for your trunk
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71 LWB Manx style dunebuggy
71 Beetle
71 Volksrod
Machette Speedster
2012 Passat TDI SE (sadly sitting in a buyback parking lot somewhere waiting for it's heart to be ripped out.)

[andk5591]

[jhicken]

I agree, that front door wasn't well thought out. A little work there would go a long way to achieve that Gasser Ford/Willies look your aiming for.

Also, if you start with a standard Beetle, I think it would be easier to rework the front fenders to roll under than to reconfigure the windshield and cowl. You might even be able to use super fenders and only need to rework the apron. Also, I'd think using a ball joint beam would give that front straight axle look better than the MacPherson front of a Super. You could just jused raised spindles to raise it up a few more inches.

-jeffrey
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Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

[jhicken]

Maybe you can use the '61 body, get a fiberglass tilt front end and glass that Ford front hood to it.

Sumpthin to think about.

-jeffrey
_________________
Der Kleiner Kampfwagens

[andk5591]

[BWingate]

[andk5591]

Well - I did this a few years ago - was a vert

Am building this now

The big blue Bentley has complete teardown of a body. And yeah - I use a lot of cardboard and thin plywood for mock ups. But I do a lot of work on paper first.

Both cars are, so to speak disposable. I mean, what is a 61 Baja body that needs door bottoms, heater channels, firewall and is missing a rear quarter worth, let alone a 74 Super with engine fire, hacked repairs etc.

Like I said - I dont cut up anything nice. And seriously, I build resto-mods, cal-looks, stocks and buggies for my wife and me as well as customers. I like the challenge of something different. And the cars I build tend to be pretty popular - Which doesnt always mean a lot There's some cars that attract folks that I think are hideous. Well - it will be a while before I actually start building it - still doing a thought experiment and seeing if I can do this...and if it will work - proportions need to be right. Have been wanting to chop a top though...would give me an excuse.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone 1914. Ex wifes car.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Ex-wifes car.
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[hitest]

I love how your thread has picked up steam- I think because you are sharing more of your vision. Over the years, many woodies have graced the pages of HVWs (30 year subscriber). Yours is BY FAR the finest ever featured. Truly beautiful sir. If anyone can pull off your gasser project- it is you.

I hope I'm interpreting your roof lines of the hearse correctly. If are you matching the contours as exactly as I'm seeing- you are doing what I'd expect a good coachbuilder would have done 60 years ago- bravo!
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[Joel]

[andk5591]

[Patty B.]