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raycer60
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 167
Location: H Town Texas
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 Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:10 pm Post subject: 1959 Beetle "Petunia" |
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I picked up this 1959 De Luxe Sedan early this year and trailered her home. She has been covered in my backyard shed waiting for me to start on her. Since I bought her, I knew that the ragtop had been grafted and ordered her birth certificate to find out more detail on her. BC finally arrived today!
She was born 3/6/1959 as a VW De Luxe Sedan in L335 Capri (Blue) with Leatherette Blue Grey Upholstery + M350 US-equipment. She was shipped on 3/11/1959 to San Antonio, Texas.
The pan and body have matching numbers and the engine is the one she came out with according to the letter sent by the Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen.
The previous owner had her for about 10 years and mentioned he had gotten her from someone in Lubbock TX. So it sounds like she has always been a Texan.
In the past couple of years I have been buying and selling bugs trying to find the one. I have always named them. When I came across this one, I asked my wife to name her since I thought "this is the one!” She named her "Petunia".
I am very pleased that the original color is L335 Capri. She will be re sprayed original color. The PO had just finished re-covering the seats. He picked red upholstery. I am going to think about which way I want to go with the interior.
My build is going to be somewhere in between OEM and custom. Period correct items are not so important to me. Having a grafted roof would throw all that “keeping it original” away anyway!
I am working on finishing some other projects before I can put my hands on Petunia. Body will come off and I will refurbish the pan and rebuild the engine. When this is done, body will get sprayed.
I will be performing most of the work in my home garage. I want to get her done asap but will not rush it. It is a hobby to me, and want to get her done just as I envision her. I am 56 years old and my goal is to be driving her no later than when I turn 59. Doable!
She did come with a 4 tab hood!
The original engine is in pieces. So I will start by rebuilding that and then go from there. I also have a running 1600 DP with progressive carb. I will probably sell it to fund stuff for Petunia.
Front end has adjusters and will add drop spindles.
Rear end will run drop plates.
She will be running on steel smoothies.
PO mentioned that the transmission was built as a freeway flyer.
I will be posting progress as soon as I get started! |
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arizonabuckeye
Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2013
Posts: 547
Location: SLC
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Can you post a pic of the BC? I am thinking about getting one for my 63' and would love to see an example. |
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Bob Loblaw
Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2008
Posts: 865
Location: Vancouver Island, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 Beetle "Petunia" |
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I love this one. Like a happy puppy with her tongue sticking out.
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sent from a phone using poor grammar and spelling |
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raycer60
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 167
Location: H Town Texas
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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| arizonabuckeye wrote: |
| Can you post a pic of the BC? I am thinking about getting one for my 63' and would love to see an example. |
here is one:
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ThingBeast
Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2012
Posts: 363
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Can u give me details on how to order a BC? Very interested in getting one for my 61. |
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raycer60
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 167
Location: H Town Texas
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iowegian 
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9913
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 Beetle "Petunia" |
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| Bob Loblaw wrote: |
I love this one. Like a happy puppy with her tongue sticking out. |
And "Petunia" is an awesome name for a puppy.  |
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raycer60
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 167
Location: H Town Texas
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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As I said in earlier post, I found out from the automuseaum that the engine that came with Petunia from the previous owner, in fact is the original motor. So I determined that she will be running original power. From all of the buying and selling bug stuff I had kept a really nice running 1972 1600cc DP with electronic ignition and progressive carburator. I just sold this engine so I could have funds to build my original 1959 1200cc.
Anything specific that needs to be looked at while building the 36 pony engine? Can it run electronic ignition? |
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57BLITZ
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012
Posts: 2389
Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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| raycer60 wrote: |
| Can it run electronic ignition? |
look up "PERTRONIX" . . .
It fits inside the stock distributor and it eliminates the points and condenser.
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Jesucristo es mi Señor y Salvador! |
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raycer60
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 167
Location: H Town Texas
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 9:11 am Post subject: |
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Labor Day weekend was busy and I managed to have some helping hands on lifting the shell off of the pan. Step #1...DONE!
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notsnarb
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2006
Posts: 849
Location: MI
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:44 am Post subject: |
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| raycer60 wrote: |
| arizonabuckeye wrote: |
| Can you post a pic of the BC? I am thinking about getting one for my 63' and would love to see an example. |
here is one:
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That's interesting I've never seen a BC with M350 US-Equipment followed by (find enclosed) all mine have said cannot be identified - Did VW enclose a list of US equipment with your BC? if so can you post it? |
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raycer60
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 167
Location: H Town Texas
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 7:33 am Post subject: |
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branston, here are the second and third pages from VW BC.
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notsnarb
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2006
Posts: 849
Location: MI
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:41 am Post subject: |
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That's the first time I've seen the enclosure and the nice letter attached to the birth certificate.
It sure clears up what M350 is. Thanks for sharing. |
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iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9913
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| raycer60 wrote: |
branston, here are the second and third pages from VW BC.
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I am surprised to see a '59 with Hazard warning system and Dual-circuit brakes.  |
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notsnarb
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2006
Posts: 849
Location: MI
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 10:42 am Post subject: |
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| That's very good point. 66 for hazards and 67 for dual circuits? what is VW thinking. |
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gitchesum
Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2003
Posts: 515
Location: North Cali
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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Reversing light...maybe on a 67.... and 2 locking doors....do they mean with a key ?
_________________
Looking for SP Kadron manifolds...please !!
57 SC
61 rag w/356B brakes
61 356B
Honda XLR 250, 69 Z50, Yamaha 100 Enduro...and others.
GMC SLT 4x4 Dmax
Kubota L3710, not enuf attachments.
And various VW's that come and go... |
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raycer60
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 167
Location: H Town Texas
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:08 am Post subject: |
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| branston wrote: |
| That's very good point. 66 for hazards and 67 for dual circuits? what is VW thinking. |
Exactly what I thought! It does not make sense.
First, I thought: "WOW, Petunia is special"
Then: "Wait, this can't be right!"
The easiest thing to check now that the body is separated fron the pan will be the dual-circuit brake system which probably won't be there since it was normally a single circuit. I just need to get to my storage shed sometime this week.
If it has a single circuit (which it probably will) I will email the AutoMuseum and ask about this. |
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raycer60
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 167
Location: H Town Texas
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| Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 11:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 Beetle "Petunia" |
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After almost 2 years since bringing her home I finally am getting started with my build. Made room in my garage and rolled the pan in. It will be a slow process but I am happy she is now on the front burner. First I have to assess what has to be done to the pan. Power washing is first in order.
[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1447090.jpg[/img
[/img]
The plan is to build a daily driver with the original 36 hp engine and paint the body in the original Capri blue. The build is not going to be back to original style since the rag top is grafted. She will be lowered front and back. And I will be performing most if not all the work. I will update as I go and make progress.
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59 De Luxe Sedan with grafted ragtop |
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Joseph DR
Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2004
Posts: 180
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:56 am Post subject: Re: 1959 Beetle "Petunia" |
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Looks like a fun build. I'll keep my eyes peeled on this one.
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1964 Beetle |
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raycer60
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 167
Location: H Town Texas
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| Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 Beetle "Petunia" |
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| Joseph DR wrote: |
| Looks like a fun build. I'll keep my eyes peeled on this one. |
And fun is what I will be having....I HOPE!
First thing I am coming across is a frozen steering gearbox. I has what I believe to be the original VW#111-415-131 box. I unbolted a plug on the top cover and it looks like it lost all it's lubricant which I think is some sort of 90wt oil and not grease as in the newer TRW boxes.
Any advice on rebuilding this box? Car has not been driven in probably 12 years.
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59 De Luxe Sedan with grafted ragtop |
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