1965 Beetle, no keys...doors locked, options?

[mikewire]

Hey all. Just picked up a 1966 (I think it's actually a 1965, but I digress) Bahama Blue Beetle at an auction, with no keys. This is my first Beetle, worked on a couple but never owned one.

I have a buddy going to pick it up for me (I'm out of state) and when talking to the auction house, I asked if the doors are open etc, and was told the doors are locked, no keys, so the could not get inside.

So, my thought is that we could cut out a side window seal and get in to unlock the doors, but wanted to see if there were other thoughts, ideas or options maybe others have.

Whatta y'all think could be done here?
_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[SLO-N-LO-69]

Through the vent window to pry open the lock then stick your arm through would be my first try. If that doesn't work then go the other options.

[mikewire]

[61SNRF]

Pretty certain telling people how to break into a Beetle is frowned upon in this forum long thin pocket screwdriver.
_________________
-Bruce

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[KTPhil]

A carefully bent coat hanger, skillfully used, with correct pressure on the vent window at the right spot, can flip the vent handle the right way. It takes practice, though, to not tear up the vent wing seal.

I used to have such a wire stuffed into my rear bumper bracket so I could lock the keys inside at the beach. It was old and rusty and looked like a typical crap repair hack, so it was never noticed by thieves.

Another idea... if the hood can be opened, you can remove the glovebox and reach in. Sometimes it can be jimmied (this is not a good thing!).

For now, if you can't get at it that way, cutting the side rear window rubber seal is the least likely to do damage. Just be careful you don't slit the headliner that is wrapped over the pinch weld that the seal fits into.

Photos? Easy to tell a '66... center defroster vent on the dash. Lots of other changes like decklids, wheels and hubcaps, but those can be changed out over 50+ years. If you look underneath the front, ball joints started in '66.

[mikewire]

Awesome, I love the options there...thanks all for the suggestions I really just want my buddy to be prepared when he picks it up - he is also a VW guy so I can relay this info and he'll get it.

I have some pictures, skillfully taken with a potato cam. I happen to be 1500+ miles away so they'll have to do for now. I'll fly back home next week and get some more pictures and see what the overall condition is.

I *think* it's a 1965 based on the horn buttons, license plate light, press button on the rear hatch, and the solid wheels. But, again this is my 1st Beetle, so I'll let you guys school me!

Here 'ya go, not all of them but I can post more if you need more to ID:

_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[SLO-N-LO-69]

Oh that's purdy. Pretty good chance the window rubber is hard as a rock and rotted so cutting the rear quarter window rubber is a good option.

[Busstom]

Agreed, all indications are 1965. Looks dry and solid.

[mikewire]

Nice! Thanks for the confirmations. My hunch was correct, I guess I've been around aircooled stuff long enough now I may be getting decent at this stuff.

My buddy also has a set of pop outs for it, so I'll not too concerned about the crusty rubber, 'cause it's getting cut out eventually.

Thanks again Gents
_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[Cusser]

Get someone with AAA coverage to call in and be there; 4 services a calendar year, and getting late in the year....
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[mikewire]

[Adriel Rowley]

[mikewire]

Thank you!

Good call outs - from what I can tell, the last date on the registration sticker on the license plate looks like 1993. I can assume it's been off the road since then, and don't know why.

Oh for sure...the plan is to shine the heck out of that OG paint!! Should have just the right amount of patina too.

Montana is my home state, my kids were born there and we lived there for many years - now we live in Texas (job opportunities). Being out of central Montana, it should be a dry Beetle.

I'm very grateful that I have a buddy who is available to go and pick it up for me this weekend; I'll be flying home for an few days the next week. When I'm there I'll check out the condition and if the motor turns over I'll be prepared do a "will it run".

I'm already shipping parts to my parents house and should have everything needed to resurrect it.

Maybe I should make a separate thread on it to document the progress.
_________________
-Mike

@countdowngarage
@bigskyeuro

1972 VW Kombi 9 Passenger Deluxe 221(5) w/ 2.0L F.I. VWAC swap
1965 VW Beetle Deluxe Bahama Blue

[fredybear]

[quote="mikewire"]Awesome, I love the options there...thanks all for the suggestions I really just want my buddy to be prepared when he picks it up - he is also a VW guy so I can relay this info and he'll get it.

I have some pictures, skillfully taken with a potato cam. I happen to be 1500+ miles away so they'll have to do for now. I'll fly back home next week and get some more pictures and see what the overall condition is.

I *think* it's a 1965 based on the horn buttons, license plate light, press button on the rear hatch, and the solid wheels. But, again this is my 1st Beetle, so I'll let you guys school me!

Here 'ya go, not all of them but I can post more if you need more to ID:

Am I missing something?

Looks like the vent wing is unlocked. Just push it open.

[mikewire]

[Busstom]

[KTPhil]

So the trick is to have a two-step process for flipping that lever.

One wire bend/motion has to be to get past the seal by pressing the front of the glass inward, creating as much looseness at the rear as possible, so you don't tear the rubber.

Next you need to press the back of the glass inward (near the bottom), so the tension is taken off the lock arm, allowing you to flip it forward with the other bend in the wire.

These two operations are basically at cross purposes, but careful bending and rotating of the wire once past the seal. It will take a few tries to get the bends just right.

If your vent wing seal is already crispy you don't have to worry as much about ruining it. But if it's decent, some experimentation with the two necessary bends in the wire may pay off.

Maybe I should consider another career...

[Adriel Rowley]

[mikewire]

[Adriel Rowley]