1962 Beetle Convertible - Baja to Original Conversion

[buntist]

[MANNAXMAN]

[buntist]

Thank you,

Does anyone have measurements?

Specifically, something that I can use when I am trying to buy a fender in person, and don't know if the seller knows what year it is from.

Measurements of the hole diameter, measurements from the front inside corner?

Thanks!

[jitbba]

[mukluk]

Here's a page from a 1960 tech bulletin showing how to install indicators on earlier cars that didn't have them. It seems like this should be the correct location for a late 50s/early 60s car.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/techbulletins/e12.php
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[buntist]

[hm]

Great project, its always nice to see another vert getting saved. Unfortunately though.. piecing this car together out of random loose parts is the absolute hardest way to go about this. There are a lot of part sellers on here and other places that just dont know or care about the specific years of the stuff they sell. Lots of beat up leftover junk or very high priced stuff.

Years 61 through 63 are the closest and correct years to get parts for your 62 convertible. The convertible can be the most difficult vw to restore and you will need every edge possible to be able to finish your car someday. I know because Ive restored many in the past 3 decades and I still own 3 today.

Your car is important to you and well worth the trouble but you have gotten bad info and terrible advise from the usual suspects around here in the forums. The best thing you can do at this point is to buy a "complete" un hit, un dented, un rusted original as possible 61 thru 63 sedan in good condition..remember your car is a convertible and its worth saving..forget the whiners!

The complete car is best because you can see the shut lines of the hood and decklid to make sure it all lines up, so it does on your car once transfered over. All body and fender gaps. How the fenders line up to the front and rear clips. That the bumper brackets hold the bumpers straight through the apron and rear fenders. This is the edge you need. You will get all the correct year parts in one shot. The hoods, fenders, bumpers, brackets, lights, handles..everything. Even the correct hardware to put it all together is priceless. You also get the measurements of where to cut the clips so there is no more guessing.

The donor cars are out there.. there is plenty of them. You may get lucky and find a cheap one, but its got to be complete.. Even spending $2500 or more for a donor is well worth it. All the nice correct german parts add up to big $$$$. In the end you will have many extra parts leftover you can sell and trade to get money back to buy the remaining odds and ends to complete your convertible. Whatever you do.. I wish you luck. Once finished the reward of driving the car, knowing its done right..is well worth the money and effort!

My 63 with an old friends 67

[Chickensoup]

are you still looking for a front clip and fenders? i have a friend up north who lives near a acvw junkyard, and i just found a small junk yard by me. if i buy two i may be able to get em cheaper. they would have to be shipped of course. if my scrap yard doesnt allow cutting i know my friend can get a front clip or two if i ask nice enough let me know, i know i can get real nice OG fenders from my local shop. im calling on prices today if they arent closed by then.
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-'85 c10 5.3 LS, 222 cam, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP
'69 RIP
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

[buntist]

[Chickensoup]

Alright. Sounds good. I will see if he's got correct fenders for you car. I will send a PM soon.
_________________
-'85 c10 5.3 LS, 222 cam, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP
'69 RIP
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

[buntist]

I picked up this front clip for fairly low cost. Guessing 66? I think I may use the small portion of it that I need for the vert. Not seeing large enough differences in the 62 and this one that make me think otherwise. And, it is much straighter, and has all of the fender bolt nuts in tact.

[buntist]

[anthracitedub]

Well, I dug the apron out of storage... I actually had this on my car about 15 years ago but I found a nicer one before I painted it. I did however harvest the inner panel out of it.... it needs some work to make usable again.

[buntist]

[buntist]

[buntist]

I got the front clip stitched into place. need to work the apron a bit more before I install it. Still need to do quite a bit of grinding and touch up welding, but I think it is turning out pretty good.

Working on the rear clip panels and noticed that the vert fender nuts are inset like this,

The panels from my sedan donor car are not. Wondering if I should remove these fender nuts and weld in the inset ones?

Still looking for a good decklid and hood.

[Adriel Rowley]

[Rome]

[buntist]

[buntist]