My Sep '56 oval project

[Rokseth]

So I bought my first beetle project this week and I'm quite stoked about it The car have a lot parts, but also missing a few key parts. The previous owner drove it to this garage 12-13 ago, and started to take it apart and applied the horrible rust protective green (hope it comes off easy). My immediate plan is to get all the big upgrades it got in the 60s reversed, get it all back to working condition and just enjoy my oval I think the original colour look like some kind of silver, but have no clue whether the interior is original or not (ordered the birth certificate today). Would very much appreciate input about the car.

[aa390392]

Youve quite a project ahead of you..good luck.
Keep us posted witn updates.
Thomas
_________________
.
getting grumpy & less tolerant!


55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet

[motofly196]

Under the hood looks like Polar Silver to me. But why was the Vin plate painted over? Is that rust proofing material slopped in the spare tire well?

[Rokseth]

[Rokseth]

Cleaned the transmission today, very pleased with the result. Had a blast at the local "wash it yourself" with warm highpressure water with soap, definitely taking big parts for cleaning there in the future. While cleaning it, a lot of what seemed like black paint appeared, is the transmission black from the factory?

When finished:

[VolkFanJefe]

Quite the project! Look forward to seeing it come back to life!

[Rokseth]

The reassembly have begun Had to source a lot of bolts that had gone missing after the disassembly 12 years ago, but with the help of some locals and WW I now believe I have what I need so far. Got it on four rolling wheels and preparing for the body to be put back on, so I can have a rolling car when it goes to the welder, can't wait to get the oval window back in and some minor rust repairs done.

Fittet what I believe is the original steering box and new rubber brake lines as the left one was cutted and the right one was too short

The old spring plate cover was very bad, and I only had one! Left one was removed some time but I couldn't find it among the parts.

Bought new ones with new bolts Also new bushings. It's nice to work with new things sometimes, looks odd though.

Pulled the original nails and nailed down the new seal a bit harder in the original holes, worked better than expected

As it sits know

[carnut63]

That trans came out awesome. I should do the same thing to hold me o we until I can get a totally fresh one.
_________________
Tyson

---> Mar 2 1955 Strato Silver Oval <---
---> July 1957 ragtop project <---
---> May 5 1966 Ghia <---
---> 1962 Ruby Red Deluxe (sold)

[jason]

Like the tires. I usually take a big screwdriver, heat it with a propane torch and put holes in the pan seal. Doors are wrong or at least the door handles.

[Rokseth]

[Jacks]

Remove those broken bolts for the body at the rear of the chassis before installing the body.
_________________
Jack Staggs
Actual name

[Rokseth]

[58 bug]

Is this only one car? The dash is an oval but the pic showing the back window and engine compartment look like 58 or 59. The red garden hoses are drain tubes only in 58 and 59 models. I just picked up a 56 and it’s the same color under the hood. I’ve also been searching color charts to figure out the color. In some lights it looks a little green but diamond green looks too green. I’m thinking polar silver too.

[Kjell Roar]

The seats/interior is from a 58/59, i believe. Seats are in general equal as oval.

Only original 56 color that matches the front, is Polar silver. It can be difficult to find a good picture, because it changes a lot in the sun, and many cars with newer paint are a little off.

Can the body have been put toghether of 2 cars at some point, or is the big window grafted in?
_________________
I got a historic car, every scratch got a history...

My car, Aug. 4th, 1955 / an early 56: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=610438

[Rokseth]

Yes this is only one car, the big window is definitely grafted in as I can see the welds, it got modified in the early sixties, it seems like all later parts/modifications are 58/59, it may be that they got all parts from a 58/59 that had a front collision??? Seats are 58/59 as they don't have the threaded pin on the rails. Still waiting for the birth certificate to confirm the paint and interior. I took som new pictures of the engine compartment today while reuniting the chassis and body after 12 years apart. Would very much like any input if there is anything else than drain tubes that is wrong in the engine compartment, how is it supposed to be?

[Blue Baron]

It could have been a black or gray market car. The demand for Beetles in the U.S. was so great that it wasn't uncommon for importers to update the rear window of older cars in Germany and ship them over as new (black market) or late-model (gray market) cars. The birth certificate will tell the story of where the car was first sold.
_________________
We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[Rokseth]

[Andrezleuro]

Cool ride ! I’m also working on a 56 ragtop semaphore car

[Rokseth]

The oval is now rust free and looks like an oval again Removed all the later details in the engine compartment so it should be correct now. Also replaced the rear bumper mounts as they where very rusty and had a bad repair in the past. The birth certificate arrived the other day and confirms the Polar Silver , but says the interior could be grey cloth OR beige leatherette The wait time was 5 months.

[Kjell Roar]