Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by retrovan »

Haans wrote: Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:39 am Great !,....now she is legal !!,......don't have to hide her in thecorner like an ugly stepsister !,.......you can hold her hand in public now !!!

🤣😎

Haans
:lol:

Much to the local traffic cops displeasure ... :mrgreen: , she has been around the place without plates :shock:

But they start looking and "forget" to ask about plates ... :roll: :wink:

She has done over 2000 Km since completion. :D

Herman


1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle

Post by retrovan »

Donovan D wrote: Tue Jan 15, 2019 1:35 pm Nice one Herman !!!
Are you taking her to the National event ?
retrovan wrote: Thu Dec 15, 2016 5:21 pm
Donovan D wrote:.....
I was at the local Builders Warehouse yesterday and had a look at the laykold tape.
How well does this stuff work for sound proofing compared to products that are made for soundproofing. The Dynamat stuff is just way to expensive.
How do you find the laykold, does it do a good job at keeping the noise out ?
Yes she will be at George this year, as a Lady, not as a "TowTruck" she landed up as last year. :lol: :lol:

.......Yes the Laykold is a lot cheaper, and it works just as well as the high priced stuff.

Have the more expensive stuff in the Fastback, and the Laycol in the beetle, and can not tell the difference in performance.

In-fact the beetle has a more noisy exhaust, (modified see thread way back) but is more quite then the std fastback type 4 from inside the car with windows closed.

if you apply the Laycol with a heat gun, it will work better then the Dynamat and it will not allow moisture build up under the tape.

But you must get the metal hot as well as the tar side of the tape so it melts to the steel.

Herman
Last edited by retrovan on Tue Jan 15, 2019 7:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by retrovan »

Riaan.N wrote: Tue Jan 15, 2019 1:29 pm Herman, could you register it as a 1952 or is it a 2018/9?
As it was not on any system, and it was restored without proof of originality, it has to be registered as a build up 1952 with "Date of liability for 1st registration" as 2019.

It Has been noted on the submission to the license dept. that the vin number corresponds to the VW registered Vin numbers for 1952.

Hope that helps.

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by retrovan »

Terry Phillips wrote: Tue Jan 15, 2019 1:36 pm Well done Herman good to see the end results and the appreciation by others acknowledging that it is a fine job done and presented very well. :flash:
Thanks Terry, yes it meant a hell of a lot coming from a perfect stranger with no regard for personal gratification, a lot more then some gossip I have heard from envious friends :shock:

:roll:

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by retrovan »

buggyfan wrote: Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:22 pm :roll: But still no license disk in the window
Have Disk, ...Will Drive... :D :D

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by Riaan.N »

retrovan wrote:
Riaan.N wrote: Tue Jan 15, 2019 1:29 pm Herman, could you register it as a 1952 or is it a 2018/9?
As it was not on any system, and it was restored without proof of originality, it has to be registered as a build up 1952 with "Date of liability for 1st registration" as 2019.

It Has been noted on the submission to the license dept. that the vin number corresponds to the VW registered Vin numbers for 1952.

Hope that helps.

Herman
Aah ok, was just curious ImageImage
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by retrovan »

So I am putting this here as it pertains to mainly the beetle and the perception, and motivation of the beetle build.

This is also here as when one of my cars get sold, I inform the buyer to 1st read the Project Tread, so he knows what he gets, this can be verified by Dixon, with the 1959 beetle and Bugger with the Fugly.... NO, I DO NOT BULL S#IT anyone about my cars. What you read is what you get.

as a youngster I read that the Sani Pass drive was done in a beetle, and as the 1st car I got "given" was a beetle (it had broken down and the owner did not want it)

That was the time the number one thing on my bucket list became the ride up and down Sani in a beetle.

The Beetle had to be a 1952, as I was born in 1952, life went by, the kids had to be reared and educated, the business had to be gotten up to speed, and so years and years went by. I my search for a VW aircooled, I ran into Garhard, and wanted a 52, but no luck. so I got a Fastback off him and put the 52 on the back burner.

As time went on I asked everyone that had a 52 to sell but no ways. Now I am not a young man anymore and with two broken knees, Asthma, circulation problems, and a 3 degree head trauma from a bike accident, we live life from year to year.

So this quest for a 1952 beetle took on a bit of urgency, Finding the best I could I took on the job to get her ready for this quest.

So you guys that have followed this thread will know that the 52 body and chassis had Vin numbers matching, but that the quantity of rust had a bigger percentage then metal. Now years before I was mislead to buy an Oval "with papers " that turned out to be a black listed body which means it will never get onto the road as is. So NO, I could not with clear conscious put this car back on the road.

I was not going to catch someone else, and the correct thing to do was to take the body out of circulation and take the loss.

So then the plan came to me, to use as much as I could from both bodys as possible to complete the 52.

This would mean that the final car will be completed from GERMAN BODY PANELS, made in the same VW Factory , By the same presses , with the same steel, and probably by the same staff.

Much better then having Brazilian 2017 panels, or some other replica sheets or even some guy bashing out Iscor sheets to complete the car.

Now time was also important, so I did not have time to find year correct parts, and date correct items, as I needed EVERYTHING fast.

As I was building a model correct car, not a year and month specific car, I managed to reduce the spares find time that would fit my possible time span.

This I think I done quit well, even if I need to say so myself. Had it not been for my friends at Bishu, my plan may have worked.

BUT the good lord has allowed me time to take a 2nd stab at it so hopefully The two 1952 models will go up the SANI after all.


OK so why did you get mad at George I hear you all ask....

Well when I started with this build,

there was total amusement that someone would try to do this rust bucket.

Then a few in a click, was astonished that I continued and did not fail.

These then turned to disbelief, then maybe jealousy, then the finger pointing started.

This did not bother me, as it was my car, my plan, my money, my time, my ambition, and my project.

Insults and accusations just flowed off my back, if only they know why, I was doing this, but nobody even asked.

So why now, well at George, my 52 was received with high acclaim, even guys like the old boss of Berg motor came to shake my hand, and was extremely impressed. Hundreds of visitors got joy out of this little car, and that was the crowning glory to me, that I, Yes I could give so many visitors joy and good memory's, with this simple build.

Had a good chat to willy from the Auto Pavilion, standing next to me, and shearing story's of how hard it is to find parts for these pre-53 cars. How he has to use the pavilions money to do these builds that VW does not fund them.

Now some nice guys came to look at my beetle, yes these are guys I like, guys I consider my friends, not a nice word on anything about the beetle but started asking odd questions.on the 3rd visit to the beetle, photo's where taken of the "Non correct" features of the build.

WHY ????????

Was that necessary??

What did they want with these photo's, ??

Now I did not mind them taking the photo's, just the insensitivity of it, if they asked, I could give them a list of issues not "Original"

After all, this is a REBUILD, not a RESTORE

Always said this is a model specific 1952 not a year specific

And YES it has;-
1915 cc Motoer
twin 34 ICT Weber carbs
Longer final drive gear ratio gear box
Coil Over shocks at the back
Steering damper
Flashing indicators
15 " wheels and not 16"
Its got after market floor panels
its got a LED 3rd stop light.
it has a 1975 Horn button.
it has no Fuel tap
it has the correct wiring harness.
It has 1960 front seats
Has a custom interior
And every body's favorite, the hole for the oval interior light.
which I refrained from closing.
And the aerial dimple was removed prior to me getting the body,
so to uphold the provenance, I never put it back.

So the old question...is it ..
The same as taking a fleetline and turning it into a Samba, or cutting Bay drop panels and fitting them to a split, Fitting after market body panels.
Is that a rebuild or restore ??????

The One person I look up too in the Beetle world, said too me that he would have done the same thing, and as a matter of fact, he is in the same predicament and will also sacrifices a donor oval to save a split.

So all is said and done, love you guys dearly, and hope we can clear this air, but that was totally un-called for.

With this I close this issue and look forward in enjoying this forum as always.

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by Terry Phillips »

Herman I dont feel we need an explanation on how you done things or did not do things its your car and you done with it the best you could with what you could and put another old rear car back on the road for which you should be praised for doing well done.
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by retrovan »

The Beetle I now being prepair to go to Sani, to complete the bucket list.

Will not be making it a weekend trip, but will drive the beetle to Himeville, Book into a B & B and drive up & down the next day

Think the midweek would be more suited.

Should anybody want to join, please let me know so we can see when will suit everybody.

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by Haans »

I am sure glad this is sorted,.......kissed and made up !!💋😘

Great,..now we can get on with life!,....and enjoy what is placed in front of us !🛠

Love you all😍

Haans
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by retrovan »

As the beetle was next in line for a once over, after standing in the garage and looking like a barn find, We did a few things that have been on the to-do list for a long time.

The 1st was to crack the driver seat and bring the back rest back so you do not feel like an old lady going to church with the nose up against the windscreen.

So I cut out the backrest stop and moved it a bit away so the back rest can be more comfortable for long drives.

Also added a small buzzer to the LED light which is in the driver side glove-box lid grill, so that I can see and hear the indicator.

As the relay box is hid in the trunk with the "new legal indicator flasher" unit and relays you can not hear the ticking so you drive with the indicators going all day.

Now I can see and hear,

Then it was off to the car wash and an long drying off trip,

Back home and back to bed.

Here is hoping the JBCCC club has an outing soon, hate this sitting with classic cars just getting dirty in the garage.

Oh well till next time.

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by retrovan »

So we have had some good weather this weekend and the JBCCC decided to have a picnic

This gave me and excuse to get the 1952 beetle out the back corner of the workshop

Had a great drive there and back only totaling approx. 100 Km.

But it did refresh the sole got the cobwebs out of the old lady

Not much to show but here goes.

Herman
Image

Image

Image
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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retrovan
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

Post by retrovan »

JBCCC was asked to do a static display for a church function here in Jeffrey Bay.

So we had place for 7 cars and i took the 1952 beetle.

Was a slow day but it soon became busy,

Sure it will grow year after year.



Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
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Re: Retrovans 1952 Split Beetle -Lady Phoenix

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