63 ragtop back to original specs

[nax]

Hi all,

After 5 years owning this ragtop, I have decided to progressively restore it as it left the factory in 1963.

It will be a long process because I need many parts and the budget for the paint job is quite high.

Firstly I am collecting all the parts that I need before painting it in its original Ruby Red L456.

Maybe you can help me with some doubts and I will pleased to share here the process.

[nax]

First i am looking for the correct headliner.

My doubt is about the color, if I am not wrong is should be vinyl perforated and white or grey.

[rcooled]

[Käfer2]

[nax]

[nax]

[nax]

Finally I decided to go for the off white perforated vinyl due to the difficulty to find the spotted one..

[nax]

Next step is the ragtop cover

Here I asked time ago where to find the correct ruby red canvas cover and as some of you recommended me I have contacted these guys from west coast interiors

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=20

https://www.westcoastclassicinteriors.com/about/

[nax]

Well this a photo of the sample they have sent me. They are making it 😃😃

[pastellgreen]

Original would be pinpoint vinyl.
The only company doing this to factory specs is KHM Stuttgart, Germany.
Cost: ca 500 Euro
But you have to take time, investigate the material from Haartz Company and tell KHM, what material you would like them to order

https://cabrio.de/Faltdach-Kaefer/343.1

you see, they suggest you four different colours, but there are more available, you have to find through google. They won't do the investigation for you.
Did this with a pearl white car and am happy with the result. The choice of colour could have been better, but I didn't order all the white colours that have been available. I was a little in a hurry, so I quickly took one of the few samples I ordered.

[nax]

well not in my case. Check que museum certifícate that I have posted, it says Canvas. I dont know if Volkswagen is wrong. My car was sold in Florida I dont know if the US market had different options.

Thank you for the info👍👍, I did’t know that manufacturer. I am going to check it but my order is already placed.

[AlteWagen]

Ive never seen an original canvas sunroof cover installed in any export type I after 55. Convertibles in N. America stayed canvass til around 65 in the U.S. but came earlier in canadian export models.

I think its just a pre programmed title at the museum in english and they use it for all folding sunroof cars
_________________
Grapes of Wrath $200 Engine Rebuild
Official Dual Carb Thread
Cylinder Head Quick Reference Sheet

[nax]

Well mistake is already made . Is something that in the future I could change easy but not cheap.

thank you all.

next step is purchasing a wrong carpet

[rcooled]

[nax]

Thank you for the advice. I will confírm that👍. Do you have pictures of the sewfine one? I have contacted them as well.

[glutamodo]

Sewfine canvas ragtop sunroof covers have a very sturdy sewn edging on them.

I switched to canvas sunroof tops in the early 90s. I actually drove to Sewfine to buy my first one, but I only lived like 60 miles away at that time. And they had one color... black. That was OK, I had a white bug with a cruddy black vinyl top on it anyway. That black canvas top lasted many years and a LOT Of miles driving with the top open. Later I wanted a better color and got a tan colored one from WW, and I had to do a lot of extra work to get it to fit right. It was OK after that. Driving with the top open does generate a lot of wear and when the stitching on that one went bad, I decided to go back with Sewfine, they now offered an off-white canvas, it was expensive, and it also did not fit perfectly at first, but I got it going. I was surprised though because I had a year or two earlier, put a dark blue Sewfine sunroof canvas cover on my Baja bug and that one was a lot easier to get fitted to the car.

Anyway, I learned a long time ago that sunroof tops are not "plug and play" by any means.

_________________
Andy T.

"What is Glutamodo, Horror of Toyko, besides total, fiendish, quality-a-you brain!"

[rcooled]

[67ctbug]

West Coast also now offers the printed dot headliners.
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[nax]

[nax]