Official European Standard and Canadian Custom Oval thread

[AlteWagen]

[Bilyjax50]

I also noticed in the color charts posted in this thread that L37 Medium Blue ran from 1951 - 8/1954 ---my bug is 4/13/1955 and is medium blue. From what I have read elsewhere L37 ran to the end of oval production (7/1957) on German standards ---since Canadian's were with deluxe bodies they could vary in color --as far as I know German standards were only 3 colors Pearl gray for splits --- Jupiter gray and medium blue for the oval era

[ConcreteAce]

Although it is not listed on the birth certificate the original color of my 55 Canadian Custom was L 276 ultramaroon. I am guessing that Canadian Customs could be had in any deluxe color.
_________________
Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas

'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build

[jimbocameron]

I have a standard RHD oval early 55. Completly originally restored down to last nut and bolt with all the correct numbers.

The beetle was Jupitar Grey but is now Polar silver (not the most interesting colour Jupitar!). Originally all standards were jupitar grey.

My question is, All the windows have the chrome strips round the outside within the seals, this was not original. I have just had the 1/4 windows chromed (again these were originally painted Jupitar grey). Should I de-chrome the windows to standard model spec and paint the 1/4 windows polar silver, even though the 1/4 windows were only painted jupitar as with the standard model should have come from the factory.

I want it original as possible but with the colour being wrong what road should i go down, or how far should I go. Expert opinion would be great as to which would be most authentic.

[vwclap]

[vwclap]

[Poze123]

Hey
I own a 53 Standard Lhd, jupiter grey.
It came from the factory with the Golde as an option selected, along with the chrome pack on the sides. The car also had a few accessories fitted we think at the facotry as they look like they have been there since new (only as a guess) such as the gear shift lock and washer pump (foot operated).

Mine has the likely stadard chrome golde handle, two tone wheels, red and something dark round the outer part. Painted handles interior and exterior. Black trim for the handles etc. Beige/creme headlining, single peice of course.

Metal straps in the back behind the seat to secure the card/trim to the body for the luggage to sit on etc.

Sempahores and likely heart lights, but these are missing which is $$$$.

Single sun visor made from perspects, green or brown tinted, i cant remeber, but its melted!

The golde cover i noticed yesterday has square corners at the front (I think my 56 had rounded corners...), this is also fitted with a vinyl cover, not material, unsure if this is original??? but the fitment looks original, i dont think its been retrimmed in its life - certainly the underside looks very original spec. This vinyl stuff though is no longer flexible (at the moment_) so ive only opened the rag about 6".

Cable brakes operate of the pedal and all 4 wheels for the handbrake. Wing nut seat and basic floorpan.

Love the car, but likely to be sold as i just dont have any cash to do it and the wife says that i dont need 3 old beetles

Happy New Year.
_________________
1958 Beetle Deluxe
Chopper & Tamiya & Sinclair C5 collector
EX Cars- 53 T2 Barndoor, 53 T1 Standard Golde, 56 T1 Golde, 57 Oval, Mr Wizzo Wizard

[55 SPLITY]

Wow Ethan you realy scored on that bad ass 55. It looks kinda cool, glad it's still in Texas.

[ConcreteAce]

[jimbocameron]

What colour is this beetle below.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=758655

[AlteWagen]

[uberwagen]

Here are a couple of pictures of my friends 53 Canadian Custom.
The seats are the same herringbone cloth material as a 53 deluxe would have, but stitched in a more simple pattern, and with less padding. the interior panels also have no chrome strip, and no map pockets.
Another observation is that the bodies would have been set aside for Canadian Custom production before being painted, as they lack the headliner retaining cleats around the door that a deluxe would have, and are thouroughly painted in the areas that are usually covered by the deluxe headliner. They also would have the chrome exterior trim holes in place pefore painting.

[uberwagen]

The 53 and 54 canadian cutoms I have seen also have a rubber mat on the front tunnel instead of carpet, and no carpet on the rear tunnel.
They also had black wipers with round wiper arms.

[Helfen]

I have a 65 standard (called 1200A) that I bought in 1968. My car was ordered by a dealer here in Ca. and the owner picked it up at the factory and toured Europe before bringing it home to the U.S. A week after I bought the car I ran into the original owner who made me go to his house for parts that belonged to the car. Those parts were a air cleaner with no hose for crancase tube. A oil filler ( no nipple for hose to air cleaner) and road draft tube assy. Rear tail lamp assys (with amber turn signals), a kilometer speedometer. Without the exceptions just listed the car was built like a Canadian custom. I found out from the original owner that in 65 standards could be built several ways. They could be built in various trim levels on the outside. Stock, they came without chrome European bumpers or deluxe bumpers, chrome hub caps, body side molding and chrome door handles. 1965 Canadian standards came with deluxe bumbers to meet Canadian/U.S. bumper height requirement, chrome door handles, chrome hub caps, chrome (anodized) body side molding, chrome ft hood handle, painted rear engine lid handle Headlamps are Canadian/U.S. spec. . I have seen some mid 60's standards with painted body side molding painted the same color as standard bumpers and hub caps, door pulls ect. All standards have the ft turn signal housings and vent wing frames painted body color and use the old 63 style lic. plate lamp. All standards do not have chrome around windows or running boards-they do have brightwork on the door window frame where they attach to the outside window scraper. Engines for all 65 standards was the trusty 36 hp with the new(1963) fresh air heater system and the tin for this engine is unique. The engine has the old boss for the oil drain plug that is not drilled and taped. Oil is drained through the strainer plate like newer engines would be, but is stlii the small type. Transaxle was the the full syncro tunnel type trans with a 4.43:1 final drive. The rest of underneath was the same as a deluxe including the brakes which is not the case before 1963. Inside the car there are two differences between a 65 standard custom and a standard. The Canadian 1200 custom has a MPH speedo and a 56-59 deluxe steering wheel ( see one in this thread ) with the old style turn signal switch. 1965 standards are the last year to use the 36hp engine and 28pic manual choke, the last year to have bolted down ft seats (stud and claw-with wing nut). Last year to have snap in old style rubber mats (like a mid 50's) and no sound deadener under the rubber mats they do have the insulation mat behind the engine. All 65 standards have gray door pannels (no map pouch for driver- no door inside door arm rest on passenger side, and no ash tray for the rt rear door pannel. Inside door handles are painted. All 65 standards use the 3/4 headliner. The seats are covered in gray/ black vinyl, cloth might have been standard but I have never seen one built that way. There is no gas gauge ( they use the new type tank with no sending unit and have the 180 degree fuel reserve tap. They use the locking type ignition switch and there is no assist bar on the dash. Only one sun viser (driver only) and the steering column is the old type for the brush on the side for the horn ground. Rubber firewall matt is the type used on a 56 type beetle with the hole for the tap. There is also no chrome across the dash. There are no assist straps on the "B" pillars. The cargo area behind the rear seat is a cardboard type material gray in color. The interior light manual type only with no door switches. The wipers do not park. A interesting note if you ordered a standard with deluxe bumpers (like mine) or a 1200 custom, is on the rear bumper brackets which are normally three piece welded unit are only two piece and are missing the reinforced center piece. The above relates to 1965 standards only as 1966 standard is a whole different animal--see LGH threads for this discription.
It is interesting to note that the very last Beetle built in Germany (January 1978) was a standard 1200A with swing axle. The engine sure looks funny with it's small intake manifold tubes and a huge plastic air cleaner, alternator, and non rebuildable fuel punp.

Don

Don

[AlteWagen]

Great breakdown by years.

Anyone have any standard literature or sales brochures out there?

Is there a source for quality standard window rubber and scrapers?

MORE PICS PLEASE!

[Helfen]

Some standard literature here in the archives section, even Canadian standards (1200 custom)
As far as rubber goes, window rubber for standards is without the channel for the molding. Rear quarter glass as most standard owners will tell you is concave in nature with a medium hard 90 degree turn to the glass. Cal rubber does not have a channel also, but it's rubber is convex and will not look factory. Fact is, when most people see your car with that rubber they think it was a deluxe and is now a cal bug.
Try Viande, he is a supplier with a good reputation here on the Samba. At one time he was selling OE standard rubber. BTW the door window scraper/molding assy. for a standard is the same as the deluxe, it is the only bright piece on a standard door assy ( unless it's a Canadian 1200 custom) .

Don

[AlteWagen]

[AlteWagen]

saw this in the split forum that could help define wheels

[Helfen]

I should mention that 1963-1965 standards (36 hp) which use fresh air heater systems also use the 40hp exhaust. The muffler side of the cylinder heads have very long studs for the bolt up because they use a (about) 7/8" aluminum spacer for the exhaust port to make the head the same lenght as 40 hp heads. The intake manifold is a part # all to themselves because the heat riser tubes have to be longer to match up with the 40hp muffler. Also the breast plate and heat riser tube/bolt cover are different too. Too bad about Viande, There was a post of his showing the correct window rubber, sometime about the middle of last year.

Don

[joshbuchan]

I work with a guy that is restoring a 57 Canadian Std. He asked me a while ago where he could buy some new outside window scrapers for the doors without the aluminum trim.......I had no idea, anyone know if they are available?

thanks