1963 Beetle 1200

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ClassicVolks
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1963 Beetle 1200

Post by ClassicVolks »

Hi everyone!
As promised in my introduction post, here are some pics of one of my cars. My 1963 VW Beetle 1200 and my absolute pride and joy. This car is also where my passion for old VW's stem from.
She was built in Germany in April 1963, then assembled at SAMAD in Uitenhage in June (according to the VPO number) and then sold to Mr. Willie De Lange on 14 August 1963 at Broderick Motors in Vanderbijlpark. Willie, and his wife Bettie, were also very good friends of my grandparents at the time. Fast-forward to 1979 when my mother was in her first year at varsity and was starting to get a bit tired of taking the bus. My grandfather suggested to her that she buy this Beetle from Oom Willie, who still owned it. Sadly, by this time, the poor Beetle had long fallen into disuse and was standing on blocks behind his house. 16 years worth of rust was also showing - must have been the acid rain in the Vaal Triangle? So, my mother sold her brand new sewing machine to come up with the R200 that she paid for the car. My grandfather helped her to fix the rust on the body and pan and also got the car mechanically sound. She was finally registered on my mother's name on 13 March 1980. My parents got married in 1982 and she was also used as the honeymoon car. I was eventually born a few years later and so, this Beetle has been part of my life since the day I was born. I'm extremely privileged and grateful to be her current owner for the past 15 years.
I use her regularly and my plan is to treat this as a preservation and not to restore - apart for a few exceptions. Sadly, she has had 2 bad re-sprays in her lifetime and is not the original shade of "Sun Glow Yellow" anymore. I would like to restore her mechanically. I want to replace the tired carpets, which isn't the original anyway. The front seats are from a late 70's Beetle and were reupholstered by my aunt about 20 years ago. I would like to replace the seats with originals and reupholster the seats and door panels in something a bit more period. Most rubbers are also far past their expiry date. Rust has a also returned since my grandfather "fixed" it 40 years ago and is a massive concern. But I guess one has to draw the line at some point and decide when a "preservation" should be turned into a restoration?



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Pic from 1981 when my parents (who were still dating at the time) toured the Eastern Transvaal (Mpumalanga).

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Last edited by ClassicVolks on Sat May 02, 2020 1:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Tony Z
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Re: 1963 Beetle 1200

Post by Tony Z »

Awesome story and history. Thanks for sharing
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AlanH
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Re: 1963 Beetle 1200

Post by AlanH »

Great story. Enjoy.
Wanted parts:
Left sunvisor
Sink faucet
Exhaust to swap for Beetle exhaust
Haans
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Re: 1963 Beetle 1200

Post by Haans »

Just don't put her to pasture boet,.....history is entagled with yours!,,,.....maybe you wereconceived in the backseat ???
Oh,... if these cars could talk 🤔👀😂🤣
Haans
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John Alves
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Re: 1963 Beetle 1200

Post by John Alves »

RUST? thats not rust, that's patina, you need to come to the Cape for rust.
I say leave her as she is, get it mechanical sorted and safe, and drive it every day
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
ClassicVolks
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Re: 1963 Beetle 1200

Post by ClassicVolks »

Haans wrote: Fri May 01, 2020 5:35 pm Just don't put her to pasture boet,.....history is entagled with yours!,,,.....maybe you wereconceived in the backseat ???
Oh,... if these cars could talk 🤔👀😂🤣
Haans
Haha, anything is possible Haans. But I think I'm one of those people who try not to imagine how or where they were conceived :lol:

But you're right, if only these cars could speak and tell us what they've seen.
Last edited by ClassicVolks on Sun May 03, 2020 12:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
ClassicVolks
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Re: 1963 Beetle 1200

Post by ClassicVolks »

John Alves wrote: Sat May 02, 2020 9:44 am RUST? thats not rust, that's patina, you need to come to the Cape for rust.
I say leave her as she is, get it mechanical sorted and safe, and drive it every day
Very True John. I do think the ocean air in the Western Cape is much more forgiving then the more humid South and Northern coast. I lived in Bellville for 3 years and I was pleasantly surprised at how many rust-free classics were running about in Cape Town. Although I have to admit that they were most likely garaged their entire life and not parked in the street in Central Cape Town. Because yes, then it's an entirely different story.

I have to mention though that I still think there's a misconception among people in coastal towns and Cities that cars that are from Johannesburg or Pretoria are completely rust free. We get thunderstorms and rain almost every afternoon during the summer. I've seen rusty cars here that would make you think it was parked in the ocean :lol:

But thanks - I'm definitely going to enjoy her as-is for a long time to come. But yeah, just need to sort out all the nitty-gritty stuff...
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Re: 1963 Beetle 1200

Post by Herbie »

ClassicVolks wrote:Hi everyone!
As promised in my introduction post, here are some pics of one of my cars. My 1963 VW Beetle 1200 and my absolute pride and joy. This car is also where my passion for old VW's stem from.
She was built in Germany in April 1963, then assembled at SAMAD in Uitenhage in June (according to the VPO number) and then sold to Mr. Willie De Lange on 14 August 1963 at Broderick Motors in Vanderbijlpark. Willie, and his wife Bettie, were also very good friends of my grandparents at the time. Fast-forward to 1979 when my mother was in her first year at varsity and was starting to get a bit tired of taking the bus. My grandfather suggested to her that she buy this Beetle from Oom Willie, who still owned it. Sadly, by this time, the poor Beetle had long fallen into disuse and was standing on blocks behind his house. 16 years worth of rust was also showing - must have been the acid rain in the Vaal Triangle? So, my mother sold her brand new sewing machine to come up with the R200 that she paid for the car. My grandfather helped her to fix the rust on the body and pan and also got the car mechanically sound. She was finally registered on my mother's name on 13 March 1980. My parents got married in 1982 and she was also used as the honeymoon car. I was eventually born a few years later and so, this Beetle has been part of my life since the day I was born. I'm extremely privileged and grateful to be her current owner for the past 15 years.
I use her regularly and my plan is to treat this as a preservation and not to restore - apart for a few exceptions. Sadly, she has had 2 bad re-sprays in her lifetime and is not the original shade of "Sun Glow Yellow" anymore. I would like to restore her mechanically. I want to replace the tired carpets, which isn't the original anyway. The front seats are from a late 70's Beetle and were reupholstered by my aunt about 20 years ago. I would like to replace the seats with originals and reupholster the seats and door panels in something a bit more period. Most rubbers are also far past their expiry date. Rust has a also returned since my grandfather "fixed" it 40 years ago and is a massive concern. But I guess one has to draw the line at some point and decide when a "preservation" should be turned into a restoration?



Image
Pic from 1981 when my parents (who were still dating at the time) toured the Eastern Transvaal (Mpumalanga).

Image



Image



Image



Image
Very nice car indeed. We also own a 63 and it is certainly the most drivable Beetle I have ever owned. It is not fast or nippy but drives like a charm. Thanks for sharing.


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Blood Type: VW+
1978 Beetle SP 1600
1963 Beetle
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