1953 Sunroof Beetle .Pictures past and present

[Sunroof53]

I have recently started some work on my 1953 Sunroof beetle but thought i would start the thread with photos of the first restoration done by back in 1989 by the previous owner.He told me he bought the car after seeing an Autotrader ad .The car had been layed up since the 70s but didnt know much more .I did find out that the car was first registered by a Mr Harris in Cheshire with the original reg of TFM 794.

Please remember that back in the 80s panels for early cars were difficult to find and without the internet for reference there were few rescources available .I think Steve did a great job of restoring this car to stock especially as most people at the time were cal looking anything they could get there hands on.(me included).

I have scanned some of his resto photos before i start mine as a bit of background to the car.

[Sunroof53]

Like so many UK cars its no stranger to filler as the next pictures will show .Good thing is the filler has preserved it quite well .I have only started stripping back a few suspect places but i will let the pics do the talking.I,ll post later as i am bidding on a new grinder .Last one blew up when i was using a wire wheel to strip back the filler

[Sunroof53]

I had a few hours to spare and decided to assess the front end .I had noticed a few bubbles and lumps and i was expecting some remedial rust repairs .After owning many VWs i have learned to expect the worst and anything better is a bonus as the next photos show .Anyone who has seen my car maybe surprised .



I started looking at the front quarter and stripped back heaps of filler.
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Not looking too good
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And the lower repair panel removed.Looks like i'll be starting this from the ground up..But at least some of the original panel is there .
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[Sunroof53]

Moving onto the front valence and spare wheel well its the same story.

And with filler and patch removed

Here is a comparison of the original valance from the first restoration and you can see that the top part of the original four finger valence still remained underneath the replacment panel.
From first restoration.

Valence cut off to reveal its still there

Lots of work ahead and think Stanford hall maybe of the cards this year

[Sunroof53]

Some small updates but no repair work yet .I am still sorting out my garage as i have not restored a car since moving over 10 years ago .Having been used to a double garage,
going to a single means extra work trying to find space to put stuff as i take it off.
I have had to be i little inventive and construct a frame to lift the body .Well actually its some shelving i got from work as it was damaged .

Body will be coming on and off the pan a few times so i did a trial lift today .Also made removing the engine a doddle.

Winding back the clock a few weeks here are more panels uncovered with more surprises underneath.

Bondo beach :mellow:

Door pillar looking quite solid and original ,as is most of the heater channel for the left side.

Right of the car is typically worse for a right handed car and although the door pillar is original the channel has had a cover panel fitted to the section between the posts.I have yet to uncover this bit as i want to brace the car first.

[Sunroof53]

Some more pictures of the Disassembly .

The thing i love about this car ,the sunroof ,Now coming off .I have never removed one before but it was'nt too tricky to work out .It still has the leather slider pieces intact but there are some repairs needed to replace some captive nuts underneath.

Its amazing just how big that hole is on a 3 fold once you get the roof out.

This hole in the roof liner is where the car had some lodgers over a winter lay up.

Several moustraps removed them but the damage was done ,and the roof liner had to be removed .Here is the nest complete with mouse near the rear window.

Some parts packed way .I have kept a book of where everthing is as i know i will forget when it comes to put things back.

Tar board removed and all is well .

Sound pillows are intact but i need to remove them to inspect as i can see brown staining .

Only just noticed that the left side has had a small bump in the past .Picture doest show up to well but there is a small crease here.

Battery drill makes easy work of removing the bolts to remove the body.

Here is the frame i am using to lift the body as my rackety old shed is not up to hanging anything from.

As the 1938 beetle was recently married to its floor, mine is getting a divorce.Certainly makes it easier to remove the engine.I then spent a few hours hiding it in another shed.I will put the body back on after i have made something up to sit the body and floor at a good work height .This should be easier on my knees and I have some extraction to rig up as well as it can get quite dusty in there .

[Mats W]

Wow, judging from the pics you really have got some work to do here!

It’s a shame the use of bondo was so frequent back then, and perhaps still is …

I’m positive you’re gonna turn this thing into a cheer beauty again – keep up the good work !

[vwhelmot]

I remember seing this car in Volksworld i think? Ive done a resto to a 64 which was in similar shape , it was a nightmare undoing someone else`s shite work. Why do some people think that welding over rust is a good idea?! Good luck and keep up the updates. Lyndon.

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[DaleF4F]

Nice project to follow with all the pics.
Good luck with the rest of the resto.

[Frostbyte]

My god man....you've got some huge balls!

Best of luck on that resto. Can't wait to see the progress as you go along.

[Sunroof53]

[Sunroof53]

[vwhelmot]

I have all the issues of Classic VW and remember enjoying the story of the "rebuild". Just shows, how many so called mint restos are out there!
Owen Warlow is a good source of parts and maybe panels mate, it might be worth checking him out. He sorted me out with all my panels for my 56 oval rebuild. Lyndon.

[Sunroof53]

Not much done in the way of repairs yet but i have uncoverd the rh rear quarter repair

Much the same as the left really.

The rear bumper bracket stripped of filler .This has also uncovered what looks like a minor bump to the rear as there is a crease just above it.

I had thought that the rear valence was replaced with the rest of the work done in the 80s ,but based on the next photo i dont think it was .The valence is a 60s item which believe to be a genuine panel.
It was attached by some very good brazing and lead loaded to smooth off the join.I am guessing that the valence was replaced after the bump and a long time before it was reworked in the 80s.

I went to bugfreeze (a swapmeet in the uk)on a panel hunt mission but came back with nothing but a NOS bonnet badge .I was slightly dissapointed as i saw a front inner wing which i could have used to repair mine .Just as i started looking at it i was informed it was sold .Its looking like i will be making most of the part panels.
Did anyone else go ?i thought it was pretty poor for the restorer.In fact they should rename it Busfreeze as there seemed little in the way of Beetle spares .

Tomorrow i shall finish off removing the rear valence as i think its good enough to sell on.I have bought the super nice and perfectly accurate Wolf item .Only downside was i had to purchase a rough genuine panel for the inner part as they dont come with it.

Mike

[beetlekey]

[Sunroof53]

[Sunroof53]

I had some time today so i finished taking off the 60s valence.Quite satisfying taking it off as it was the one thing i wanted to change from the day i got the car.

Next in line were the side trays.I have tried several tools to remove spot welds but most are too big so i still use a 5mm drill.
I have to remove these for the bumper mount repair and the left hand one needs some small holes repairing .

There is also a small flange underneath the tray to deweld but they come off fairly easy.

I need to get them blasted before i start any repairs so in the mean time i separated the inner part of doner H valence ready for the wolf one .

This bit also needs blasting and repairs so i called it a day. Took a few pics of the sculptured bumper mounts.


Definitly food for thought for anyone checking over a beetle to buy.

Valence art

[Sunroof53]

Some pictures of the Wolf front and rear valence .I dont believe he made the dies for these at all ,i am convinced he dug up the original presses as surely nobody puts this kind of detail in panels anymore.

Mike

[Saggs]

Those are some sweet looking panels ( the new ones) Nice work, make good use of the sandblaster . You can use this metal etch called "pickelex" to preserve bare metal and use as a good tooth for any priming or painting. You are a true inspiration, Keep up the good work- God Speed Mate!
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"One man can make a difference...Jesus did."