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Vera - 1960 Semaphore Beetle.

March 2013

I have just agreed to the Purchase of this 1959 / 60 model Beetle.

It has been in a lock up since 1976, it is very hard to get at to take a proper look.

I have purchased it to squirrel it away so I can rebuild it back to stock in a few years time...

Here are a couple of photos from March 5th 2013 when I had a chance to have a little look.

The car appears to be quite solid, only needing rear body mounts and the rear bumper mounts need straightening too (there is probably more!).

It has no engine or gearbox fitted... 

Its a Semaphore model so believed to be a 1959 Built car... 

Paint L 349 jade green  
Upholstery - cloth 52 dust green/
dust green
Upholstery - leatherette 75 light green

 

 

 

vw oval beetle projectXRK384 Sneak peek.jpg (315661 bytes) vw oval beetle projectXRK384 Sneaky peek.jpg (261771 bytes)

I collected the car today, Tuesday 19th March 2013.  

I've just checked the chassis number... it appears to have been built 900 cars into 1960...  bugger!

 

Who would know that this door had hidden this little bug for 37 years?

1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 you would never know.jpg (236138 bytes)

Vera - Where she has been for a long rest..  

1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 tax disc Mar 76.jpg (168516 bytes) 1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976.jpg (214673 bytes) 1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 inside.jpg (165967 bytes) 1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 above.jpg (230514 bytes) 1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 front end.jpg (396079 bytes)

I found a trolley and a Bay wheel made a good replacement for rear wheels.. 

Out in Daylight for the first time.

 

1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 back end.jpg (370784 bytes)  1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 day light.jpg (285136 bytes)   1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 out.jpg (319771 bytes)

Packed and ready to go... 

   1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 towing.jpg (238555 bytes) 1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 braizing.jpg (215300 bytes)1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 side view.jpg (214083 bytes)1960 Semaphore Beetle 1960 Beetle stored since 1976 trailer.jpg (255792 bytes)   

The weather has been great since getting Vera home... I bet the snow is a shock to the system!

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectxrk384 snow.JPG (306762 bytes)

27th March 2013. Vera has been waiting for some attention.

Today I had a quick tidy up. Bolted the bonnet and wings on for safe keeping. The fibreglass wings from Day Mouldings have been sitting for so many years that they have lost their shape and gone "flat" .. I'm hoping that hanging them will allow them to re form their original shape.

I've given her a wash too.

Just need to go through the parts and work out my "wanted" list... 

Some photos of her with Day mouldings wings hung loosely. Notice the lack of Horn Grills - standard model wings? 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectxrk384.jpg (227892 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores project1960 Beetle projec.jpg (262633 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores project1960 Beetle project front.jpg (231095 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores project1960 beetle project rear quarter.jpg (240669 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectbonnet.jpg (224649 bytes)

Some detail shots... 

The Gutters, quarters etc are all good. Doors fit and heater channels appear good...    

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectdrivers front quarter.jpg (174440 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectdrivers side gutter.jpg (318804 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projecta post.jpg (235404 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectfront quarter.jpg (170600 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectgutter rear edge.jpg (256723 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectgutter edge.jpg (187188 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectwing mirror holes.jpg (257012 bytes)

There is a bit of rust above both jacking points and on the wing mounting on the rear near side...  

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectjacking point rust.jpg (126867 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectjacking point.jpg (144583 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectrear wing mounting.jpg (254423 bytes)

Dash is nice.

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectdashboard.jpg (153752 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectspeedo 117600 miles.jpg (184080 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectfoot well.jpg (210961 bytes)

Floorpan, Under bonnet and engine bay all look fairly good. There is a thick hard coating of under seal on everything that needs removing to get a good look at it.. 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores project1960 beetle project under bonnet area.jpg (340237 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectengine bay.jpg (293577 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores project1960 beetle project chassis.jpg (132667 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores project1960 Beetle project spare wheel well.jpg (194810 bytes) 

The engine has been sitting in a shed for the last 37 years and is seized, but appears to be the original, it was a runner when taken out for a gearbox change... 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectengine.jpg (297802 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectengine number 30 horse hp.jpg (250172 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectsceized.jpg (346887 bytes)

The replacement split case gearbox... 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectsplit case gearbox.jpg (244164 bytes)

2 tone wheels - and a shot to show the original wheels had black rears.. 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores project2 tone rims.jpg (301700 bytes)1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectrims rear black.jpg (229770 bytes)

Very old Day Mouldings sticker - 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectday mouldings sticker.jpg (140310 bytes)

Glove box contents.. 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectglove box contents.jpg (123150 bytes)

 Ah, I recognise that Brazing! - shame about the burnt headlining.

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectmore brazing.jpg (396575 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectmore of that brazing.jpg (353739 bytes) 1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectburnt.jpg (364340 bytes)

Some spare parts... 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectmore parts.jpg (207405 bytes)1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectparts.jpg (227272 bytes)

Last time it was on the road.. 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projecttax ran out march 1976 14.65.jpg (162958 bytes)

The car came with these later seats. Andrew told me that as a teenage boy he had the job of putting the car in the garage. the seats pinched his legs, so as a 1970s upgrade, they put in later seats, as you would to modernise the car....  obviously many years later I want to put it back to original style seats.. 

1960 VW Beetle last of the semaphores projectwrong seats 1965 1966.jpg (415469 bytes)

 

I went to the VW Sweetcorn 2013 show and picked up a nice rear light housing from Gunter for the car.. 

snow flake light housing vw oval .JPG (341964 bytes)

 

February 2014 - I have at last found a full set of seats from the right era - 1958 to 1964 which will slot straight in.. they are a creamy colour and should look fine - they need a good clean.

 

2017 - Still waiting for restoration.

 

More info soon!

 

2024 - Maybe soon?

 

 

 

 

 

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