'55 original build - Black Sabbath

[txoval]

Its a February 1955 car

European and US cars had the VIN plates riveted

The screws look like they could be original to me, but I do not know much about the Australian cars

[Hazza6542]

[txoval]

Sorry, that's what I get for using my phone.

February 1955

[67ctbug]

Thats what scares me.... It looks like someone has welded 2 new tunnel vins over the OG one.
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'73 Dodge W200
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[txoval]

No, that is how the original tunnel VINs are on the early cars, there is small rectangular indent where the VIN sits

The number is correct. Plus any welding would have damaged that original sound padding

[67ctbug]

Oh ok, that indent looked like another piece of metal to me so it looked messed with.
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'73 Dodge W200
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[Mildoval56]

Yep, looks like an early '55 which is pretty much the same as a '54 in Australia. There shouldn't be screws in the vin plate (it should be riveted) but it' looks like it's had a paint touch up in that area in the past, no dramas there. As you said.. it's an early oval and it's black! Enough said... have you got it home yet?

[Srecko]

There should be a MKA number behind the Made in Germany tag. MKA represents Martin and King who put together the knocked down kits from Germany. It covers all early ovals in Australia.

[Hazza6542]

Cheers guys, very helpful.

Nope not home for a few weeks still, 2nd week of July it arrives. I'll be getting a ton of photo's when it arrives and asking lots of questions.

[Hazza6542]

Got the engine number today, thing is I think it's from a '54!

1 - 0863732

I'll try starting it in my '61 shell and see what happens. It'll probably be stored away for a long time until I can do a proper rebuild of that and just run the fresh 1776 in it. Is there any way to tell if this car had synchro gears at all?

[Hazza6542]

Well it should be here this weekend hopefully!

Question about replacing the pans. It comes with replacement WW pans, but I've noticed they're not the same as the original pans or the Klassicfab pans. I'm wondering if when I replace the pans I can leave the last bit in place maybe, for the original battery tray so not to hit the seat springs on the battery terminals.

So there are the new WW pans, the 'correct' -55 pans because of the correct seat rails but the rear around the battery isn't right at all. You guys know what I'm talking about.

It's never going to be a showroom factory condition car, so I'm wondering if there is anything really important about keeping that section of pan original or not. I've seen some other 55-55 builds where people are welding in these new style pans without issue. Only thing I can think of is the battery hitting the low early seat springs but could that be solved by just mounting a battery strap a few inches forward?


Here's some photo's of it rolled out ready for pick up. Love black beetles at night, going to have to get some of Chip's LED panels for the hearts so people see it. Having the top heart section as an indicator might be the go.

[Srecko]

Chris Vallone from Classic VW has a great video on You Tube - https://youtu.be/X6yWsHJCC7Y which can help you.
Essentially you will have to keep the rear of the pan, seat rails and the jack sections to retain the period correct components of the pan.

Check out the other videos, he's a really good resource centre.

[Hazza6542]

[Mildoval56]

Since your not going full 'period correct' just remove the complete old pans and replace with the new pans - it's just a cosmetic difference.

[Hazza6542]

[D-train]

[Hazza6542]

Going to try and find some rubber boots for the terminal connectors to slip over first, then go over again with something like that for extra safety.

[Hazza6542]

It's here!

I'll edit it all together better late but pics!

On the trailer the moment it came.

The main nasty rust repair on the fender, will try and weld from underneath to keep the look.

Front bumper and bonnet look better than I expected

HEARTS! Rear apron in surprisingly good cond.

Dash looking good, retrosound already in now just playing with the fit to make it flush.

Wiring is mint, ripped out a semaphore and tested and works perfectly! There was nothing under that front 'Made In Western Germany' tab, so is it a CKD Aus delivered or a RHD import maybe?

Little rust in the wheel well but nothing crazy.

Door rust, gotta replace the A Pillar door attachments anyway and do a little rust repair on door bottom anyway so no dramas.

Pulling her apart to get parts across
Worthy trade, sad to see all that work disappear but it so easy to work on the new when everything is ready to go.



After a little play with lights and mirrors, the bumper over riders already had holes in the top so threw the fog on there and it just looks better on the black car.

More to come through the week.

[Hazza6542]

Motor doesn't turn but that's ok.

Floor pans are shot, again that's all good

All windows are Sekurit

Speedo stamping

Retrosound Model 2 test fitting, looks good in the dash.

The batwing is in really good shape, steering is sharp and no slop

Slammed on no rubber.

[EverettB]