My 1952 Zwitter

*#GTI · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 9:21 am Post subject: My 1952 Zwitter

This will be my first build thread. Just like any Im going to use it as documentation for my self, others and most importantly to ask questions.

Im 19 and have been searching for an early bug for many years. Ive been tinkering with vws since i was 15. First started with my fathers old 83Gti (now sold), 69 beetle (currently being restored), 66 so-42 bus (daily driver), and as of last night, a 52' split.

Found this on craigslist and called owner within 4 hours of posting it :p. Im the third owner as far as i know right now. Matching numbers, pan body motor. I beileve its a very early Dec zwitter with a nov. motor. It was on the road for 20 years and parked in a barn for roughly ten years. Second owner bought it 30 years ago and started to take it apart the year he got it. Then it sat in the same place for 30 years in pieces tucked away in his barn. Its missing the bumpers, rear fenders, and has incorrect pass fender Other then that i believe all the hard to find zwitter parts are still there. I have 2x doom lights with no switch(zwitter i believe), 2x solid alum. hood handles, 3 sets of original heart shaped tail lights at least one of which is zwitter correct, speedo/dome light switch is there, ash tray with no handle. Im also missing the ribbed semaphores but im not sure what im suppose to have. I do have 2x sets of smooth ones. I have all the original seats, and i am planning on sewing my own seat covers.

The body is in excellent shape. . Pan is completely very very solid. Drivers side pan was jacked up on the rear end and pushed up an inch. Can easily be pounded out. Worst rust is both cross members, which have started to flake apart. They are going to need some attention.. Rear apron was hit at one point. Small stress fractures at the end of the bumped mount brackets and a stress fracture in the center of the apron. Front apron is extremely solid and damage free. Doors are original and pitted on the inside, couple of pin holes nothing serious. Heater channels are rock solid.
Body was primed with red/brown paint at some point.

Im extremely pumped to get my hands on a solid split. The goal is to restore this thing back to as original as possible condition.

Also big thanks to Chris Vallone at Classic VW Bugs who helped me get a feel for what this car was when i went to check it out. Without him i really wouldnt have know what to look for in this zwitter. Thanks Chris!

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

original paint throughout interior and under hood/decklid

36 hp in it now

small hole in floor pan in center of pic

original motor

56reddy · Samba Member Joined: October 22, 2005 Posts: 774

Congrats! Everything that you've shown looks correct. The motor looks like an original 25hp, correct for the car. God luck with the resto.
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usariemen · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 11:10 am Post subject:

*#GTI · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 11:14 am Post subject:

the motor thats in the bug and a few pictures is a 36hp i beleive cause the engine number starts what a 182 the orginal motor is a late nov with # 0503653. I have the original fuel pump for it.

janerick3 · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 1:13 pm Post subject:

Engine in car is 36hp with a bunch of 25hp accessories mounted, including distributor, generator/voltage regulator and possibly fan shroud.
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laszlo805 · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 9:56 pm Post subject:

Nice car i also have a 1952 zwitter.
it looks like you have most of the hard to find parts.
if you paid under 10,00 you did good as long as the numbers match,

franklinunes · Samba Member Joined: August 06, 2007 Posts: 414

AlanInMass54 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 2:31 pm Post subject:

Congrats on your score, looks like it's in great condition! Mine is also an early Dec of 52 car, or most of one, it's junk compared to yours, actually! Would you by any chance be interested in selling one of the extra hood handles?

*#GTI · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 4:02 pm Post subject:

Martin Southwell · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 4:07 pm Post subject:

What's a solid aluminium handle worth these days?

*#GTI · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 4:19 pm Post subject:

*#GTI · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:33 pm Post subject:

Well i picked up the 52 this weekend with my girlfriend who was a good sport and helped out. Funny the reaction you get when you tell someone what you paid for that "tin can" Rolling Eyes

. 600 mile round trip went smoothly.
Found a few problems that i original didnt know about and im sure there will plenty more to come. The pass. fender is not correct its a 59' fender. The hood corner on the driver side is going to need some help and it was kinked/creased. Lastly the gutter seem on the driver side window pillar has rusted underneath and has pushed out and will need some major attention.
The pass side wheel well got hit some how and will need some reworking.

If anyone knows of or has for sale 2 rear fenders and a front pass fender please let me know.

Lots of better pictures.

janerick3 · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 7:40 pm Post subject:

Neither front fender is '59. They had two drain holes in the bottom of the bucket. If both fenders have the large "flares" down where the running board mounts and the horn grill holes are in the same location on both, I'd roll with them. Pre-'60 fenders are hard to find (thanks to accidents and Baja conversions) and tend to be obscenely expensive when they come up for sale.
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Jan K.

usariemen · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 10:22 pm Post subject:

Great project with lots of good parts.
Make a better pic of the manifold laying in the car.
Could it be a real zwitter/early oval one?

The Eberspächer muffler laying inside is older than the whole car.
Sell it and buy something you need from the money.
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*#GTI · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:42 am Post subject:

usariemen · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:17 am Post subject:

No, it´s not the Zwitter manifold.
That looks this way.

But the muffler is cool.
More appropriate for an older car, so I´d sell it and invest the money in the resto.
If it is half way solid it will bring some nice $.
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Basketcase · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 8:37 am Post subject:

looks like a great project!
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*#GTI · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:56 pm Post subject:

does anyone know anything about this Eberspächer muffler. Theres only one thread i can find about them and its alittle dated. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1...mp;start=0

Really no information on it.

D. Haviland · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:41 pm Post subject:

Nice find. I hope you're going with the original type interior fabric. If you need any pics of how things should look, let me know.

GERMANAIRE · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:46 pm Post subject:

Hello Chris, Dude that is a Great Find! Congrats!! I will stay tuned into this build definitely. Nice solid and straight split with lots of Great Parts!! Peter


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