51 split Beetle

[fig]

Hi Muds

I did notice that a lot of the beadings looked incorrect. Also the aerial stood out and looked rather tacky compared to the rest of the car. I didn't pay any attention to the wheel size. I'm not that knowledgable about originality on Beetles, so I'm sure I missed a lot of details that I would have seen instantly on an old bus.

So long as the owner is on a long-term mission to find all the correct parts he gets full marks from me.

[Muderick]

I agree, he sure gets top marks for effort thus far. Also Im sure this will definitely be done right!!

[JonnoDub]

looks really pretty to me

[retrovan]

I am sure it is still "work in progress"

And in my book, he gets full marks for effort, and any improvement, is a bonus.

Getting parts for a 51, is not easy, so what better to have wrong parts then no part at all.

It may take a life time to get all the correct parts.......

Will have it as is any time........

Herman

[Rashaad]

I wish my split beetle could look like this

[IMPI]

Strange thing about being in south africa in the fifties Cars were rare and accesories almost non existent. it was quite normal to paint a car with a brush and if a mudguard cracked you took it to the local blacksmith who welded it up with gas and a piece of baling wire no lead or any fancy body work just functionality. VW sa was in its infancy and was also assembling morrises and studebakers.
I once stripped ansplit found this horrible selftapping kind of bolt in one of the pan holes. This bolt worried me and eventually I remembered where I saw one before........ It was a Studebaker body bolt ( I repaired body damage on one years before) There was only this one bolt in the floor and as the pan had never been off it must have been put in on the assembly line. Point is Originality for early SA built cars will always be a concern as the kits probably didnt follow the german builds in chronological order. Radios were sold by other importers and most probably only the most universal arials got here to reduce stock holding.
In my opinion An perfect restored SA built car might be miles off a perfect german built car
Armand

[Blitzkrieg]

Strange thing about being in south africa in the fifties Cars were rare and accesories almost non existent. it was quite normal to paint a car with a brush and if a mudguard cracked you took it to the local blacksmith who welded it up with gas and a piece of baling wire no lead or any fancy body work just functionality. VW sa was in its infancy and was also assembling morrises and studebakers.
I once stripped ansplit found this horrible selftapping kind of bolt in one of the pan holes. This bolt worried me and eventually I remembered where I saw one before........ It was a Studebaker body bolt ( I repaired body damage on one years before) There was only this one bolt in the floor and as the pan had never been off it must have been put in on the assembly line. Point is Originality for early SA built cars will always be a concern as the kits probably didnt follow the german builds in chronological order. Radios were sold by other importers and most probably only the most universal arials got here to reduce stock holding.
In my opinion An perfect restored SA built car might be miles off a perfect german built car
Armand

You never cease to amaze us with your knowledge Armand

What happened to the split which you stripped?

[Muderick]

@ Armand.... I think this beetle is being restored according to German Spec. I enquired, and apparently this Split was either a Toursit purchase, or a full import. I guess thats why the attention to German detail is being adhered to in this resto.

@ BLitz
You are such a Brown-noser!