1965 sunroof 1200 named Mushu

[tzepesh]

It's time to start a topic for my wife's car. We've had it for more than 13 years, bought in pieces and stored until time would come for a proper restoration. That day has come.
The good: straight body, original Sea Blue paint, lots of parts for it, kids love it.
The bad: heater channels are nearly non-existing, chassis is a 63 and needs lots of attention, some fenders need to be replaced.
So, what do you all like? Do I hear pics? It will be another topic with lots of them. So let's start.

This is how we stored it at my father's house, indoor and protected.

Original paint on the wheel arches:

Saturday's work: I just wanted to take all parts out of the car. But it took me just 30 min to get the rear torsion bars out of the broken 63 chassis, so I mounted them on the "carrier" 59 chassis. And 1h later, front axle was complete and wheels up. The carrier chassis is there because I have to transport the car 450km away where we live now.

Monday's work: Body mounted on chassis, it fit very easily on the chassis bolts. Then first 5m on wheels in many years and a quick wash. Then all parts back and car is ready for transport. I made some strong reinforcements to keep it from falling apart (remember, right heater channel does not exist and left one is there only for the looks) And look at that door gap!

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'74 1303S, L98B Viperngrun (extra glitter), German Look
'64 1200, Sea Blue, under restoration

[Geier]

I like that you are doing this for your wife.

[67rustavenger]

This is a happy pic!

I admit, I did laugh out loud when I saw it.

This project is going to take some time to complete. But it appears to be in good hands.
And the prize at the end of the project? A very happy wife!
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I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[tzepesh]

It will not be a quick project, simply because it takes some money for tins and other parts. But the affort is low to change everything. Not more than it was on my 1303. Metalwork (on the second body) took just 3 months of evening and weekend work (not every day!). You can check it out here:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730319&start=0
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'74 1303S, L98B Viperngrun (extra glitter), German Look
'64 1200, Sea Blue, under restoration

[VW_Jimbo]

Looks like a fun project! I have spent almost 8 hours every weekend on the metal work on my 54, for 3 years, to get it to go to the blasters! Hoping this Bug has less work than that, but the Nap Hat on the remnant pan looks like severe metal destruction! What does the bottom 100mm of the car look like? What I can make out in the pictures seems like a walk in the park. But maybe there is more than what can be seen!

Regardless, love watching you do your thing! Have fun and keep us all in the loop!

Good luck!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Blue Baron]

Wow, that car is rusted.

But I imagine choices are limited in Romania, plus that look on your wife's face says it all. Good luck on the project!
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We are striving for perfection, to make our cars run forever, if possible.

Heinz Nordhoff

[Rome]

Won't you have significant problems trying to match up the '63's chassis number with the '65's chassis number stamped into the ID plate in the trunk, since there will be a mismatch during registration? Or do you have the "paperwork" for the '63 chassis and you'll be registering the car as that model year?

Are there some 1968 or newer standard Beetles (not the 1302 or 1303) in your country that have the optional semi-automatic transmission and therefore the semi-trailing arm rear suspension? Such a chassis would be excellent for a "body swap" because you can easily fit Karmann Ghia front disc brakes, front and rear sway bars; and have a much more modern-handling Beetle. But for that, you'll also encounter the chassis# and body# mismatch when registering the car.

[tzepesh]

[tzepesh]

While I make the list of needed parts and raise money for the first order (that would be chassis tins like floors, frame head...), I did some more disassembly. First off was the sliding sunroof. It is in a very "crunchy" state, so I started looking for a better one. It may take some time. Otherwise I will try to fix it, but it's very very hard job.

And I took off the wiring harness, which at first looked very good in the engine compartment and in the trunk. Well, big surprise in the C pillar area: it was burnt at some point. Pic is after I took off all the insulating tape which covered each wire... No big deal, I have lots of wiring from my other car and a big bag of wires from a BMW. So I will just patch it properly.
In the last pic you can see why this kind of fires start: very "romanian" fuses.

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'74 1303S, L98B Viperngrun (extra glitter), German Look
'64 1200, Sea Blue, under restoration

[tzepesh]

Can I install a later 67- wiper assembly with motor? Even if I use only one speed from it. I anyway wanted to convert to 12V, and the assembly on the car was modified for some local motor, so I need a new assembly anyway.
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'74 1303S, L98B Viperngrun (extra glitter), German Look
'64 1200, Sea Blue, under restoration

[VW Habit]

Hello, on my '65 I used a '67 wiper switch along with a '69 two speed motor. Worked great. Good luck on Mushu.

[tzepesh]

Thank you for the confirmation! I do not want to use the late two speed button, because it has 14mm nut compared to the original 10mm. I do not want to drill any different hole. I will just connect one speed and be happy with it.
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'74 1303S, L98B Viperngrun (extra glitter), German Look
'64 1200, Sea Blue, under restoration

[VW Habit]

Hi, the '67 switch is identical in appearance to the '65. No drilling required.

[tzepesh]

Great, thank you! I found these two speed switches new, a bit pricey but well worth the money.
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'74 1303S, L98B Viperngrun (extra glitter), German Look
'64 1200, Sea Blue, under restoration

[tzepesh]

Here's a picture of the sunroof underside. A lot of work to repair it, but I may have to if I do not find a better one around here (not an easy task to find one).

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'74 1303S, L98B Viperngrun (extra glitter), German Look
'64 1200, Sea Blue, under restoration

[Rome]

[tzepesh]

[Rome]

OK. I just thought in case you may have a spare 6 v SWF-brand motor already, the WW armature could've worked. How is the Beetle spare parts situation in your country? Are there enough enthusiasts around so that you can buy parts locally, or have them sent to you? Or do you have to go outside your country for parts?

[matthew henricks]

Nice project and if the wife is on board then you are in good shape no matter how long it takes.

[tzepesh]