Wife's First VW: Early 1964 N Notchback

[NorCalWeekender]

Last night we bought my wife a 1963 Notch that was found here on the Samba. It's her first old VW (and I've been driving them for over 20 years but never had a T3).

So we're completely new to Type 3s and I'm hoping (and expecting) to learn quite a bit in the coming weeks and months.

Let's start with the fun stuff:
VIN: 0266806 (Samba VIN section suggests a Sept 63 build...so is it actually a 64 model?)

We have nearly 25 years worth of receipts and some old photographs which I'll scan later and add to the thread. The history of the car as we know it starts in '85 when it was stripped down and painted Corvette Yellow, Gray velour interior, disc brakes up front, four lug Riviera wheels all around. It might be lowered a notch, I can't be sure.

The motor's a 1600DP with dual webers. Runs good, but the throttle cable sticks a little (blip it and it's good) and the front seat is not 100% in place as I kept getting thrown back when I'd take off from a light!

So we took a friend to go look at it last night and while the 1985 work is showing its age, it's a solid car that really just needs a bunch of small tinkering done to it. Took it for a spin, mulled it over, decided we wanted it.

Then it wouldn't start again! After a bit of fussing and checking things, it just turned out to be that the battery had finally given up the ghost. The owner slapped one in from a different car and it fired right up. Checked to make sure it was charging, yup! And we were back on!

So we bomb down 101 with the lights working, but no dash lights and the heater apparently stuck on (windows down!) to the weekly BLTN VW club hangout. And only one person there knew we were potentially getting this Notch so it was a big draw when we pulled up!

Bear with the cell phone pix:

Those last two are after we got it home and parked. Now I don't have a pic of it yet, but the spot where the headlight and wiper switches are appear to be mounted to a black rectangle to the left of the steering wheel. The headlight switch looks dead-on to a Bug's switch and I'm kind of wonder if it's actually a push button Notch, but I need your expertise to determine that for sure.

And that's about where we stand...
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9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

[magoo125]

nice looking notch
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1974 Super Beetle 'Vert RIP(Rusted Into Pieces)

1967 Squareback 'I've seen the Type 3 light'

[NorCalWeekender]

Thanks! My friend who came up with us just sent me a pic of the dashboard...hope this helps determine some stuff.

_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

[magoo125]

I found this photo in the archives from a 63 brochure, it shows the same set up as yours,

just looks like one of your switches has been changed at some point

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1974 Super Beetle 'Vert RIP(Rusted Into Pieces)

1967 Squareback 'I've seen the Type 3 light'

[NorCalWeekender]

Aha! That's helpful! Thank you!
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

[flyinglow94]

Nice Notch. But it looks like a lot of parts have been changed for a 63. Like the rear reflectors, the front turn signals and a 63 would have a push button dash just to start. it looks more like a 64N . Not having the door lock on the passenger side ,no over riders . the pull knobs instead of the push button and the engine compartment looks wider than the 63. Its still a great find.

[t3kg]

[NorCalWeekender]

Being the wife's car...it's really up to her liking. I mean, if she's happy with it...that's what matters.

Now, let's talk what year it is...because all the paperwork I have going back says '63. If it's really an early '64...should I bother with the DMV and stuff to get the right year on it?
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

[t3kg]

Just noticed the lack of a passenger-side door lock, and you have a non-wraparound dash, so I agree with flyinglow that this is probably one of the first 1500N models. Ns didn't come with pushbutton units, so the black plastic switch plate and light switch might be original to the car after all.

Does the front trunk lid have a prop rod instead of springs to hold it open?
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5/62 343
I WAS THERE! The 2017 Type 3 Rally / September 29–October 1 / Cayucos, CA
2014: The 2014 Type 3 Rally / October 3–5 / Cayucos, CA
2011: 50 Years of the VW Type 3 / September 29–October 1 / California Central Coast

[NorCalWeekender]

Yes, it does use a prop rod...and has that awful 80s stone fleck paint inside, too!
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

[notchboy]

[t3kg]

Very cool, then what you have is an early 1964 1500N, a fairly rare car that is in some ways more desirable than a '63. It's had some later-model parts added to it and some custom touches, but it still has a lot of the N features. Congrats!
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5/62 343
I WAS THERE! The 2017 Type 3 Rally / September 29–October 1 / Cayucos, CA
2014: The 2014 Type 3 Rally / October 3–5 / Cayucos, CA
2011: 50 Years of the VW Type 3 / September 29–October 1 / California Central Coast

[NorCalWeekender]

[t3kg]

If you can post a photo of the front trunk prop rod we can confirm whether it's an N model or not, but I'm 99% sure it is. Your VIN points to October 1963 build date, so it's definitely a '64 model.

A lot of early Type 3s were misregistered when they were brought over. I don't know how much trouble it would be to correct the year. You might want to just leave it as is rather than go through the hassle of correcting it.
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5/62 343
I WAS THERE! The 2017 Type 3 Rally / September 29–October 1 / Cayucos, CA
2014: The 2014 Type 3 Rally / October 3–5 / Cayucos, CA
2011: 50 Years of the VW Type 3 / September 29–October 1 / California Central Coast

[notchboy]

Edit: a 1964 N thats been hit with a CaLook stick
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[NorCalWeekender]

Okay, give me a few minutes and I'll run back down there and snap a pic.

I'd change the thread title more...but we'll let the Cal Look stick part be a surprise.
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

[NorCalWeekender]

Prop Rod detail and the Vin plate:

And I think my bus is in the background of one of those pix.
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

[t3kg]

That's an N alright. Too bad about the Zolotone trunk paint!
_________________
5/62 343
I WAS THERE! The 2017 Type 3 Rally / September 29–October 1 / Cayucos, CA
2014: The 2014 Type 3 Rally / October 3–5 / Cayucos, CA
2011: 50 Years of the VW Type 3 / September 29–October 1 / California Central Coast

[NorCalWeekender]

LOL! Yeah...the Cal Look stick was sore after this ride came through!

Let me load up the pix the PO sent from 1985 (yes, he sent them directly from 1985, Marty!).
_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995

[NorCalWeekender]

Okay, put on some Huey Lewis & the News...here we go!

_________________
9th Owner of a 1971 Tintop Westy

"Eventually, we sold to a guy for $500 who towed it away to live in it in his parents' driveway. We didn't think it would ever avoid the junk heap on that day." -The 3rd Owner, 1995