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laneven28 Samba Member

Joined: January 09, 2007 Posts: 314 Location: Cedar Hills, Utah
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 7:26 pm Post subject: 1961 Turkis Ragtop Build |
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So I’ve been a samba member for several years, but have primarily lurked around reading other’s posts and hunting the classifieds. I’ve owned many VW’s since I was 16 – I’m 40 now – and have been fortunate to own and build some great cars over the years. That said, I feel like I know very little compared to many of you out there, so please be gentle as this is my first build thread.
I have 3 boys and since they were young, I knew I’d build a VW with and for them when they were old enough to drive. In the summer of 2008, my oldest son was 14, and I knew it was time to start hunting for his first VW. While I’ve primarily owned ovals, I wanted a big window ragtop for my son’s first VW so he could see out the back but enjoy the ragtop and styling of an early car. After searching for a couple months, I found a 60 ragtop advertised on the samba for $600 in western Oregon. The price was right and I really didn’t expect much so I bought it sight unseen, then drove 12 hours one way to pick it up. As expected, it turned out to be a mess. Rusted out floors, rusty channels, big dent in the side, ugly 80’s paint job, no engine, no seats, more rust, but many of the parts were there. And it wasn’t a 60 – it was a 61. I was more put off by that than all the rust, but got over it quickly. Put on some good wheels & tires, and towed it home to Utah without any problems. Once home, it went into storage until the next summer.
Once I got the car into the garage and took a good look at the condition, I realized I was in way over my head. Over the winter I learned the car was built in August 1960, one of the very first 61’s, and originally Turkis – a big bonus as it has the 6 month only interior style. I decided it was a good challenge, so we rolled up our sleeves and tore it apart. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long before my oldest son decided he didn’t want a VW for a first car so the project lost some momentum until my middle son decided he did want it, so the project picked back up again in mid-2010 and is still going strong today. Plan is to have it driving by early summer, and there’s a lot to get done before then.
Enough with the history, let’s get some pics posted. These are from the summer of 2009 when we brought the bug home from storage, and took a good look at what we had to work with.
Quite the turd, huh? Stay tuned - it looks dramatically different today. I'll begin detailing what's been done along the way. _________________ 1950 Pearl Grey Hoffman Standard Split Window
1954 Iceland Green Euro 3-Fold Oval
1955 Strato Silver Transitional 3-Fold Oval
1956 Iris Blue Convertible
1958 Pearl White Lowlight KG Convertible
1961 Turkis Ragtop |
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YouBugMe58 Samba Member

Joined: December 29, 2011 Posts: 540 Location: AL (Wiregrass area)
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like a great project. I just started my first vw restore also. Almost like yours but mine is a 59 euro ragtop. Ragtops are just cool. Good luck, I am learning also.
Good luck, keep us posted with your progress. |
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GB2S Samba Member

Joined: October 27, 2003 Posts: 1008 Location: Omaha
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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I have all the seats out of a 63 Canadian standard if you want them. Just pay the shipping.
Geoff _________________ 1963 Ragtop |
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6Kabrio7 Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2006 Posts: 2387 Location: California
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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A turkis green 61 ragtop is a very special volkswagen, One that I have contemplated wanting to own for years now. I see them pop up in the classifieds occasionally with the green color steering wheels(pastel blue) I think? Good luck bring her back to her former glory. _________________ 67 Convertible July 67 Yukon Yellow
67 Sedan May 67 Zenith blue |
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laneven28 Samba Member

Joined: January 09, 2007 Posts: 314 Location: Cedar Hills, Utah
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:19 am Post subject: |
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YouBugMe58 - I'm watching your build with great interest. Love the car, and your plans for it.
I appreciate the offer for seats GB2S, although I have since bought all seats and most parts for the car.
61 Turkis cars are a special breed, and I feel very fortunate to have stumbled across one. The car is being restored, although I'm still undecided on the drive train. I have the original tranny and have picked up a numbers correct 40hp case, but the car is going to be driven daily and on the freeway. I'm leaning towards using 1600 with a freeway flyer, but would rather keep it 100% stock. I'm open to anyone's thoughts on this point.
On with the build - first thing we did was strip the car clean, carefully storing all parts. Next I gave the boys a grinder with a paint stipping disc, schooled them on proper technique and safety, and over the next several weeks, they began to take the shell down to bare metal.
Sprayed self etching primer on the bare metal to protect until epoxy and final body work & paint
_________________ 1950 Pearl Grey Hoffman Standard Split Window
1954 Iceland Green Euro 3-Fold Oval
1955 Strato Silver Transitional 3-Fold Oval
1956 Iris Blue Convertible
1958 Pearl White Lowlight KG Convertible
1961 Turkis Ragtop |
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buguy Samba Member

Joined: November 17, 2003 Posts: 4915 Location: Port Orange, FL
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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Yikes! Your letting them grind/sand near that lowlight with the top down??!! But seriously....I gotta have some kids!! I would get 3x more stuff done!! |
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pOrk Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2011 Posts: 339 Location: Wauwatosa, Wi
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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Cool project, whats the oldest kit want for a first car? |
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laneven28 Samba Member

Joined: January 09, 2007 Posts: 314 Location: Cedar Hills, Utah
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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Yea, seems crazy on the surface I realize, but the ghia has since been torn down and is currently at the body shop (has been since Sept 2010) so no harm done.
My oldest son chose a Hyundai for a first car. He's loved it, and it suits him well. My middle son is way excited for the bug, however, and will have his license this coming May. We're working to have it done, or near done by that point. He's is convinced it's going to be a chick magnet  _________________ 1950 Pearl Grey Hoffman Standard Split Window
1954 Iceland Green Euro 3-Fold Oval
1955 Strato Silver Transitional 3-Fold Oval
1956 Iris Blue Convertible
1958 Pearl White Lowlight KG Convertible
1961 Turkis Ragtop |
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cruisinvdub Samba Member

Joined: November 09, 2011 Posts: 172 Location: Tehachapi
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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this is totally awesome to see a father and son project in the works. great job guys _________________ Late 1965 L87 Pearl White type 1
1961 L478 Beryl Green type 1
1959 L343 Kalahari Beige Euro type 1
Early 1960 L349 Jade Green type 1
January 1960 L41 Black type 1
1973 thing |
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buguy Samba Member

Joined: November 17, 2003 Posts: 4915 Location: Port Orange, FL
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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Ahhhhaaaa! A chick magnet!! |
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GB2S Samba Member

Joined: October 27, 2003 Posts: 1008 Location: Omaha
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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How did you spray the primer? compressor, spray can?
Geoff _________________ 1963 Ragtop |
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laneven28 Samba Member

Joined: January 09, 2007 Posts: 314 Location: Cedar Hills, Utah
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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That primer is from a spray can - Eastwood's self etching primer - and was only for short term protection. It's all coming off when the final epoxy primer/2k/paint goes on. _________________ 1950 Pearl Grey Hoffman Standard Split Window
1954 Iceland Green Euro 3-Fold Oval
1955 Strato Silver Transitional 3-Fold Oval
1956 Iris Blue Convertible
1958 Pearl White Lowlight KG Convertible
1961 Turkis Ragtop |
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DerekR Samba Member

Joined: July 22, 2004 Posts: 384 Location: Riverton, Utah
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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This is great to see! I too have been working on bugs with my boys. We finished a 60 ragtop for my second oldest boy a year ago and that got my oldest boy interested (or jealous) and we are now doing a 61 ragtop for him. I am trying to get my 62 ragtop back together after paint last month and my wife is left parking in the driveway. She is a trooper! I am local to you (in Riverton) and have many extra parts. Let me know if you need anything. _________________ 63 Ruby Red Double Cab
60 SO 23 Westfalia SWR/BG Camper
59 Dove Blue Standard Kombi |
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ConcreteAce Samba Member

Joined: May 19, 2005 Posts: 861 Location: Spring, Texas
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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Great father and son project! looks like you scored getting the 61 with the correct tank in it. I searched for a long time for that tank for my old 61. Looking forward to watching this thread! _________________ Ethan Dunlap
Spring, Texas
'51 Deluxe
'61 Build
'68 Turbo Diesel Baja
'64 Ghia Vert
'61 Baja Build |
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laneven28 Samba Member

Joined: January 09, 2007 Posts: 314 Location: Cedar Hills, Utah
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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Good to meet ya neighbor - sounds like you've been traveling the same road as me for a while now with several early big windows. I’d love to see them sometime. My wife has been very tolerant with my projects in the garage as well – I hope that continues as I’m going to need the space for a while longer I appreciate your offer, and will certainly keep you in mind as the project continues.
ConcreteAce – Glad you finally found the correct tank. There’s a lot of unique parts for these 61’s and they don’t come up for sale very often. Despite all the rust problems my car has, I was very fortunate that it came with most of the correct parts.
I’m going to be tied up for a few days with work. I’ll continue posting pictures of the progress later next week. _________________ 1950 Pearl Grey Hoffman Standard Split Window
1954 Iceland Green Euro 3-Fold Oval
1955 Strato Silver Transitional 3-Fold Oval
1956 Iris Blue Convertible
1958 Pearl White Lowlight KG Convertible
1961 Turkis Ragtop |
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epic number3 Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Cedar Hills Utah
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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my name is wade, the son. the one that owns the bug. i have been working on this project with my father for around 2 or 3 years. as you know my older brother didnt want the car and when i picked up the project (best rebound ever) it took off. this is something that i truly enjoy and a great bonding experience. we are learning as we go and are constantly making mistakes (though its annoying its also funny). any tips would be greatly appreciated. |
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jzjames Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2007 Posts: 1921 Location: Windy Point, WA
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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Way to go Wade.
Projects are good.. How old are you and when do you think youll have this bug driving? |
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jwaj2002 Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2011 Posts: 269 Location: sheridan arkansas
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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so... what is a turkis supposed to look like? |
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stale air Samba Member

Joined: August 23, 2007 Posts: 5451 Location: Senoia Ga, formally NorCal
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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jwaj2002 wrote: |
so... what is a turkis supposed to look like? |
_________________ WANTED: Henry Veale Santa Rosa plate frames
WANTED: Brittsan Motors Fresno plate frames
WANTED: Any Georgia plate frames
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GüteAndTite Early Convertible G�ru

Joined: June 16, 2005 Posts: 2144 Location: Low So Cal
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