[edit]I checked the VIN, which dates the car to June 1956.[/edit]
Most of you know I'm more into buses than beetles, but a right-hand drive oval ragtop has always been my dream beetle. mrsfig and I have been harassing forum member Madbones to give us right of first refusal on his original, patinaed 56 ragtop ever since we first saw the car about a year ago. Two weeks ago, just before we left on our latest road trip, Richard Madbones contacted me to say the car was for sale and we had first dibs. Needless to say I told him to consider it sold.
We went and collected the car today. She drove beautifully all the way home, until the oil light came on a kilometre from home; it seems the flywheel oil seal had dried out and pissed out all the engine oil. Other than that, she drove like a dream. We intend to preserve the car in this condition, so it won't be restored.
The story has it that the car was found abandoned in a barn by construction workers building the N4 Platimum highway. It was sold to John Watson, who then sold it to Werner Alker, who displayed it in his museum for many years. A year or two ago Werner sold the car back to John, who in turn sold it to Richard.
Right now I'm grinning from ear to ear.
56 RHD oval ragtop
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fig
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56 RHD oval ragtop
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fig
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Bugger
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Re: 57 RHD oval ragtop
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 
Adapterplates Available for Rotary in Beetle and others aswell
And Special Boxes built for Rotary Conversions and Scubies
Pierre
082 600 8663
CLick on Banner Below to be routed to the Web site
And Special Boxes built for Rotary Conversions and Scubies
Pierre
082 600 8663
CLick on Banner Below to be routed to the Web site
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Muderick
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Re: 57 RHD oval ragtop
cheeky little so and so. She looks amazing. Are you gonna fix the front fender at least? Think me it as retro fitting. . . come on fig, its the least that old lady deserves. Just get her straight. . . 
Old School or Bust!
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karmakoma
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Re: 57 RHD oval ragtop
Fig, the last 6 months I have been contemplating on and off if I should respray my 58, but after seeing this you just helped me make up my mind, she is staying as is. completely OG, warts and all. Expect to see her, hopefully parked next to this one, at the 75th beetle celebration!
This car is just too cool for words, an Oval and a ragtop, wow, happy for you. At least we know she has gone to a good home, where she will be amongst friends
This car is just too cool for words, an Oval and a ragtop, wow, happy for you. At least we know she has gone to a good home, where she will be amongst friends
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fig
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Re: 57 RHD oval ragtop
The car will get some detail clean-up, but I don't know how far I'll take it, or whether I'll fix the fender. The damage extends to the bumper mount. I have the original small overriders, but the bumpers on the car have the holes for towel rail overriders, so I'm on the lookout for a set of original Euro spec bumpers, and also a Shatterprufe logoed windscreen. The only rust in the car is a large hole in the floor in the right rear passenger footwell, in front of the battery; otherwise she's totally dry.
Another surprise is that this is a Uitenhage assembled beetle, which blows my theory that no sunroof beetles were ever assembled in SA. It's certainly the first SA assembled sunroof beetle I've ever seen; all the rest were imports.
fig
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Dutch_Diver
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Re: 57 RHD oval ragtop
Congratulations, a very nice and special car! Well done
"MO" - 1965 Splitscreen bus --> http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... =37&t=9305" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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ChrisG
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Re: 57 RHD oval ragtop
Love the patina!! I really like the look of the back
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fig
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Re: 57 RHD oval ragtop
Like the bumpers on this beetle, no US-spec towel rails like you see on 60s SA beetles:farhaad.sonday wrote:hi fig . wat r the euro spec bumpers
fig
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Donovan D
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Re: 57 RHD oval ragtop
Mannnnnn I love this beetle !!!
Congrats FIG !!
Congrats FIG !!
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---------- 56 Oval ----------
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Farhaad
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Re: 57 RHD oval ragtop
so basicaly its the same as the ones u currently have on except that it does not have the holes for the towel rails. i bought a brand new set with overiders for my '66. looks beautiful except that they are half the strength of the og ones and rusts easily. looking back now id prefer to put chrome gromets on those holes if i didnt find good og's