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bullibene Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2011 Posts: 70 Location: Munich, Germany
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 1:59 pm Post subject: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Hello all,
I bought this 1962 bug a year ago near Nuernberg(Germany) and had it sitting in a friends garage since then. I will upload pictures of the restoration in this thread.
The car sat in this backyard for over 30 years due to the owner.
tree in engine compartment
Loaded onto trailer
After 5 minutes of driving the right back wing fell off ...
In this garage of a friend of mine it waited another year for getting brought back to life.
This won't be a perfect restoration with all the correct panels etc. but all work will be executed technically well.
I will keep the original white paint and it's patina an it will be my daily driver after being finished.
Best regards from Germany
Benedikt
Last edited by bullibene on Fri Mar 04, 2016 12:02 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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itskyle Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2013 Posts: 634 Location: Plainfield, IN
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" |
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Hartzliche Gluckwuschen!
Und, viele gute fahrts! _________________ --
69 or 72 Autostick Bug current
66 Bug (We both miss it)
74 SuperBeetle Auto Stick (I miss that car)
73 SquareBack, Straight Stick (Wife misses this one.) |
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bullibene Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2011 Posts: 70 Location: Munich, Germany
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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While it still was at my buddys house we seperated the body from the chassis, stiffend the body and put it on self built trestle to bring it to my place.
Pan from underneath
Yes it smelled as bad as it looks
Heater channel...or what was left oft it could be taken out with bare hands
Still alltogether....
...demounted some parts to reduce weight to carry it out of the garage onto the trestle
I wasn't allowed to weld in this garage so we had to take the body of without any bracing
...outside I welded in the bracing i built out of square tubes and turn buckles so i can adjust the door gaps
As I life not far from my buddy we transported it by a pretty unconventional way i would say
Arrived I tried how good the original paint would clean up... good enough for a ratty driver
That's it for now
Bene |
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Joe.F Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2013 Posts: 43 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 10:37 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Nice progress,
Can I ask, is it still sensible to restore beetles in this condition in Europe? I know in other countries it is, but with the amount in Europe I would have thought there would be much easier projects to be found.
Here in New Zealand I am starting a '58 in similar condition. I look forward to seeing this progress. |
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 9602 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 7:59 am Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Mein Lieber, hast du was vor! You will end up being an expert welder when the car is finally safely repaired and on the road! I certainly wish you perseverence, and hope you take a few minutes each week to provide updates. |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13382 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 10:26 am Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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You're a brave man to consider trying to save that extremely rusty bug. Have you done this type of work before? You really are looking at hundreds and hundreds of hours of cutting and welding to bring that bug back. The cost of all the replacement metal you're going to need will make you shutter.
While we all love to save these old VW's, I think there's times where we should really wave the white flag and find a more suitable candidate for restoration. There's hundreds of thousands of rust free bugs in the SW USA looking to be loved again. You'd save yourself thousands and thousands of dollars by starting off with a rust free bug to bring back to life. Even shipping in a rust free bug from the states or Mexico would be cheaper than what you're going to spend in dollars and time trying to save that bug.
I'm not trying to discourage you nor look down at your decision but rather, give you a realistic view of what you're potentially getting into. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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jensenflagg Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2013 Posts: 104 Location: United States
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Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2016 3:47 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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On the other hand...
If you are resourceful and determined enough to use skateboard trucks and a bike to move the shell, have at it!
Good Luck! |
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beetlekey Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2004 Posts: 633 Location: MINDEN
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 11:33 am Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Das ist ein wirtschaftlicher Totalschaden, schlachten. Wir haben ja noch TÜV, und der Rahmenkopf hat fertig. _________________ Hebmüller 581
1953 oval Typ 11G metalblue
1966 1300
If you are searching for vintage keys, look here:
https://www.facebook.com/WagenmanufakturHO |
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bullibene Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2011 Posts: 70 Location: Munich, Germany
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Joe.F wrote: |
Nice progress,
Can I ask, is it still sensible to restore beetles in this condition in Europe? I know in other countries it is, but with the amount in Europe I would have thought there would be much easier projects to be found.
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Sensible? I would say no! But this hobby is not being about sensible
This project is more likely a challenge for myself and about the fact that I hate seeing early bugs getting cut up for parts.
wcfvw69 wrote: |
The cost of all the replacement metal you're going to need will make you shutter.
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It's not that bad if you use cheap Klokkerholm repro panels and do all the work by yourself This won'T be a concours resto... just a cheap, ratty driver
The work has begun.
Before I can start to work on the body i needed to repair the doors to fit them and adjust the door gaps.
I repaired the inner structure of the doors... the outter original paint door skin will stay how it is... as I said... just a ratty driver
New repro panel
door hinge was gone
cut out...
repro panel fitted an welded on
Door No. 2 was next:
Same procedure again...
cut...
the stiffner panel for the door hinge was also gone... so i had to fabricate them...
Both doors solid again
Next were the mounting points for the door hinges
I used the old hinge as a template and bent and drilled a panel in appropiate thickness
trimmed...
ready to be welded in...
test fitted with new hinge and welded in.
I also welded in an additional stiffner panel to the downside of the door for extra stiffness
same procedure for the other door
I used a template of the first... then bent and drilled it
welded in...
...and filled the hole
To be continued |
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Joe.F Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2013 Posts: 43 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Awesome man, power to you! |
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Joe.F Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2013 Posts: 43 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Awesome man, power to you! |
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67rustavenger Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015 Posts: 9663 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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bullibene
Welcome to the samba.
Ok! I'm pretty sure this man has the skills to pull off this restoration. Based on what I have seen so far in his posts. So you all can forget trying to talk him into finding a sound, rust free SW USA car to start with.
I lived in Eastern Europe for more that a year and a half 2008-2009. I was amazed by what folks could do with nothing. There was a neighbor in my village that made a homemade tractor with two steering wheels in his shop.
So my hat is off to the metal working skills of European craftsmen that take on such tremendous challenges. I just wish I had the metal working skills that some of these European guy's have.
Good Luck. And keep us posted on your progress.
BTW I had a huge laugh at your car dolly tow vehicle. That's inventive. _________________ I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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cricketseed Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2015 Posts: 114 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Love the tow-by-bike idea. _________________ '66 Beetle |
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bullibene Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2011 Posts: 70 Location: Munich, Germany
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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As the whole "frame" (heater channels, cross member & firewall) was rotten as hell. I put a new repro frame together separate on a good floorpan.
When everything was aligned I welded the parts together.
Next step will be to put the body onto the new "frame".
I used the recently available crossmember in better quality.
They are really well made but still not 100% correct for early crossmembers
(This really doesnt matter for this build... just as information for evtl. other potential buyers of them )
Unnecessary hole...
...welded....
...grinded...
...in primer.
Next I prepared everything to be welded together: Making holes for spot welding, straigthen everything, applying weld thru primer and aligning everything... took longer than it actually looks in the pictures
The coating on the firewall peeled already off by looking at it... so i sanded it down to apply some Epoxy later.
Everything put together
closed gap
Finished
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63Ragtop NZ Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2007 Posts: 895 Location: West Auckland
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Great work Sir! My new favorite samba thread!
I have not seen those rear cross members before, they do look much better than the old square shaped ones.
_________________ If you can't join them, beat them! |
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wcfvw69 Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 13382 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Well, he certainly answered my question about doing this type of work before.
Good luck with your project as you're off to a great start. _________________ Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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03hdfatboy Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2016 Posts: 74 Location: NC
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:25 am Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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You're much braver than I am. Looking good. I completely went through a very rusty 1985 Toyota 4x4 about 10 years ago. Body parts were nearly impossible to find so I had to improvise. Sad to say after that I just don't have the patients anymore. _________________ Early 1964 1835cc, single Dellorto 40 carb. Freeway flyer transaxle from Don's bus box. Replacing 4” narrowed Shockless front beam is my next project. |
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tisius Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2011 Posts: 1570 Location: Rotterdam,NL (+Chicago,IL)
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 7:49 am Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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You are on brave brother, to save that one!
"Build your own bug kit-package"... available at the Home Depot and OBI Baumarkt stores near you soon, hahah ! _________________ drive it like you just robbed the bank
you don't have to be crazy to be into VW's, but it sure helps!!
.... if it ain't dutch, it ain't much! |
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62ItalianRagtop Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2007 Posts: 1352 Location: Italy
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 7:54 am Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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CRAZY _________________ LOOKING FOR 62 ENGINE WITH NUMBER FROM 6.904.xxx TO 6.915.xxx
http://tettodistraccio.blogspot.com/ |
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Buscowboy Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2004 Posts: 402 Location: South Coast, England
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Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: The "Gartenkäfer" - '62 resurrection |
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Good work, keep it up. They all deserved to be saved. _________________ 1962 Gulf Blue Patina Deluxe Beetle
1963 SubHatch Westfalia MG/PW
1967 Fastback RHD Regatta Blue
1970 FI Auto Squareback
1999 T4 Transporter 2.5 TDI Reimo
http://www.youtube.com/@BuscowboyClassics
https://www.instagram.com/buscowboy/ |
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