Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: Jeffs2006EvoIX
Thanks guys,
My Dad has been working on the VW nothing major just something he always wanted to do. He wanted to put in an OEM Mechanical Gas Gauge. He actually acquired one, not a replica one, an actual OEM one for the 60. We are finding out though, our VW must have been a late 59 and sold as a 60 due to some differences in the car. Example, the Fuses and the horn. Ours has the 59 style, though the car was sold as a 60.
So my Dad had to buy a new gas tank, modify it to accept the gas gauge for a 60 even though his VW is a 60 haha.
He is trying to keep it period correct on fixing things as the car needs it. Original Engine, and Transmission. Transmission wise my Dad would like to get it rebuilt and have a synchro 1st gear installed. We may get the engine re built too. It has not really been touched since the mid 70's as far as a re build of any sorts.
He also just replaced the Brake Master Cylinder and just basic maintenance.
We are so spoiled with cars now not having to adjust the brakes, the carb, the clutch, the timing. I need to really learn how to do all this stuff.
We are saving up for a new top for it, and though my Dad re did the interior himself, we just could not find anywhere the OEM style material that it had when it was new. Parts also are getting very difficult to find.
You would think for a car they made so many of the parts would be everywhere. Seems our VW is a fluke half 59 half 60 car though its all original and in 61 lots of stuff changed and those parts are everywhere. Pre 61 one though its hit and miss.
Great Car, Runs really good, will do about 60-65 WOT with the wind pushing us on the freeway. Its a hoot!!
Jeff
Have you looked on wolfsburgwest.com for parts? They seem to have the best VW parts. It's where I order parts for the 70' Beetle.
Yes Wolfsburg West is one of our go to places for actual German VW OEM parts. Problem is we have a unicorn VW. Its a 60 but was produced in mid 59 so the car is literally 50% 59 and 50% 60. Finding parts for 61+ yrs is easy and quite accessible. Pre 61 though? Its a [censored] shoot. Parts that are supposed to fit a 60 doesn't fit our car, so we look for parts for a 59 but those parts are hard to find that actually work. So we have to retrofit parts and while doing this trying to keep everything as stock looking as possible.
Now folks with an endless budget that can just drop the car off at a VW restoration place drop big money will be able to have people actually fabricate the parts through CNC technology or 3D imaging. We just cant afford that.
So we do the best we can, and we actually still drive this car. My Dad drives it at least 2-3 times a week. Its no garage queen, and something about that makes me smile. It just keeps chugging away. Say what you will about VW, but any car on its original engine and transmission after almost 58 yrs and driven often to boot? Thats pretty frickin amazing in my book
Love this bug. Its just something about it that brings back many memories of my family.
VW built this simple car....and its still going..
Jeff