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RUN99 Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015 Posts: 30 Location: TR
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 2:54 pm Post subject: 1954 Information needed.. |
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Hey everybody,
I am about to buy a 54 beetle project
It will be my first oval window and I need some information.
Please tell me, what are 1954 model year's specific items?
Thanks in advance |
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Dan22 Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2019 Posts: 470 Location: Battle Ground, WA
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VW_Jimbo Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 9969 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:37 pm Post subject: Re: 1954 Information needed.. |
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Okay, I will play.
The early ones share a lot of split window details. Which means stuff, like parts, get a little bit pricey. I am really certain that late in the model year they changed the way the rear wheel well to cabin area was fabricated. It did not change anything on the exterior, just inside the wheel well area.
Seats are different. _________________ Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
TDCTDI wrote: |
Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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D. Haviland Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009 Posts: 536 Location: Burlington, Vermont
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: 1954 Information needed.. |
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Thinking it may have egg tail lights. |
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VW_Jimbo Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 9969 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: 1954 Information needed.. |
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Okay. I broke out the Garwood booklet.
1st year for 1192cc engine with 6.1 to 1 compression ratio. In September the 1192cc engine was bumped up to 6.6 to 1. This engine configuration was in place till 1960.
Vent screen at carpet was rectangular instead or round and had an aluminum screen.
Heater knob did away with the H A Z
Hood hinge bolt was changed from 3 to 2.
"SG" keys replaced "P" and "G" keys.
Starter button was removed from the dash and incorporated into the switch.
Glove box hinge was beefed up.
New tail lights were introduced. Eggs I believe, dark amber.
Chrome ring around the ashtray.
Directional indicator light went from 2 arrows to one integrated double arrow.
Carpeting ran up the front inner quarter panels. Also in the luggage area. Deluxe models got carpet over the tunnel.
Flat stock wiper arms.
Semaphores had smooth lenses.
1st year with the brake reservoir behind the spare tire.
Lots of changes to the inside gears and synchros inside the transmission.
Those are the highlights. Lots of details within some of these items. But for the most parts pretty self explanatory. _________________ Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
TDCTDI wrote: |
Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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Bub Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004 Posts: 1155 Location: Central Washington
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:17 pm Post subject: Re: 1954 Information needed.. |
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The only 54' specific change that anyone cares about is the pressing on the cylinder tin. If the top cylinder cooling tin isn't the proper 2-piece style where they welded on the tiny little bits you might as well push it into the river and walk away. That's the first thing anyone will care about.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8632816
(this is all sarcasm, except for a few people that mostly sit in the split window forums) _________________
hitest wrote: |
Had a girlfriend once who shall we say, nearly arrived at the mere sight of a semaphore in action- easy to please she was... |
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RUN99 Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015 Posts: 30 Location: TR
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:52 pm Post subject: Re: 1954 Information needed.. |
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Thank you very much for all of these information.
I wasn't expecting that much
I believe I have to search & check all 1954 year related threads in forum.
I believe door handles and front hood handle were also special for 53 & 54? |
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VW_Jimbo Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 9969 Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: 1954 Information needed.. |
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Bub wrote: |
The only 54' specific change that anyone cares about is the pressing on the cylinder tin. If the top cylinder cooling tin isn't the proper 2-piece style where they welded on the tiny little bits you might as well push it into the river and walk away. That's the first thing anyone will care about.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8632816
(this is all sarcasm, except for a few people that mostly sit in the split window forums) |
Thank you Bob! Oh, wait, I misread that. It is Bub. Hey Bub! Now I know what the history of my rusty 54 is! Damn thing lost it’s engine tins! Well, we will try to relocate them and make sure they are reacquainted with the engine! And hear I thought that it was everything else. Shame on me for thinking! (Thick sarcasm, very thick!) _________________ Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
TDCTDI wrote: |
Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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esde Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 5969 Location: central rust belt
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: 1954 Information needed.. |
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RUN99 wrote: |
Thank you very much for all of these information.
I wasn't expecting that much
I believe I have to search & check all 1954 year related threads in forum.
I believe door handles and front hood handle were also special for 53 & 54? |
Hood handle was new for the 52-53 zwitter. It looks like an oval handle but is solid polished aluminum. With the start of the oval window it changed to a chrome plated pot metal casting. The late 53, early 54 hood handle was cast solid, after that they are hollow on the backside and not as heavy _________________ modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that. |
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RUN99 Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2015 Posts: 30 Location: TR
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: 1954 Information needed.. |
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esde wrote: |
RUN99 wrote: |
Thank you very much for all of these information.
I wasn't expecting that much
I believe I have to search & check all 1954 year related threads in forum.
I believe door handles and front hood handle were also special for 53 & 54? |
Hood handle was new for the 52-53 zwitter. It looks like an oval handle but is solid polished aluminum. With the start of the oval window it changed to a chrome plated pot metal casting. The late 53, early 54 hood handle was cast solid, after that they are hollow on the backside and not as heavy |
Thank you Sir!
My car is from September 1954.
So should I found the solid one?
Also what can you tell me about the door handles?
Why 1953 and 1954 ice pick handles are different from 1955 to 1959 models? When I check the pictures, I don’t see much difference |
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esde Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 5969 Location: central rust belt
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 1:57 pm Post subject: Re: 1954 Information needed.. |
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if you look at the handles side by side the difference is immediately noticeable. Here is a freshly chromed 56 and later
Here is a 55 and earlier
you can see that the early handle has a flat surface, and the later one has a slight ridge.
Besides that, they have a different arm to actuate the lock mechanism, and within both types of handles there are different key profile changes year to year..
Some more info on early oval handles here
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392441&highlight=outer+handle _________________ modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that. |
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