(o\_!_/o) Project: 1959 Ragtop VW Beetle

[AsadIshaque]

Something lurks under the covers!!! :-# I shall post details and pics after I get permission from the owner.

The split bus has been seen before. Belongs to Khizar, a friend who does not visit PWs much sadly.

Storm, what is that "thing" in the corner??

[AsadIshaque]

[AsadIshaque]

Bear with some low res pics again please.....

 These are from the next trip......


 Closeup of the post 68 fuel filler grafted onto the front right quarter panel. A neat job but it has to go.

[AsadIshaque]

The thing on the roof is the 64 rear parcel shelf area clip. It is to yield two patches for the engine bay area. Described earlier.

[AsadIshaque]

Sat down with Basit that day and had a long discussion on various VW topics..........

 Came onto making a good door post. Basit showed me how a factory original looking hole is fabricated using a custom made punch. His son gave a demo on a piece of spare sheet......

[AsadIshaque]

Drowning in cup after cup of "doodh patti chai" I shifted discussion to what extra curricular activities he was involved in...

Interestingly, Basit is into fabrication of a lot of parts. He gets brass replicas made which are later chromed to give a factory like look. The parts being done are whats rarer in the market.....

[AsadIshaque]

An interesting mini project was the replica Wolfsburg crests. Cast in brass, initially the plan was to have an artist replicate the details of the crest but he failed. Now stickers would be made and put to show the black crest.....

Anyone interested for these can contact basit......

[AsadIshaque]

The single 67 front fender provided so far turned out to be nice. It was unmolested with no signs of previous repair tho did need a repair patch at the rear bottom.

[AsadIshaque]

Now Basit asked me to go to Shershah as he needed a bunch of parts. His wishlist was as follows:

1. Front bonnet hinges in good shape.

2. Rear bonnet hinge supports. Pic coming up soon ... one had rusted through.

3. Door lock inner door mechanisms in better shape than what came off the 64 doors.

4. Bottom door hinge as one was missing from the RHS 64 door.

5. Balance LHS 67 front fender.

   Basits eyes almost fell out of his head when I told them I had all these items in my stash at home!!

[AsadIshaque]

The weekend approached and I had a 24 hour duty at the hospital.....

Post duty on monday with droopy eyelids went straight to the shop emptyhanded as I could not go home to fetch the parts.

Was happy to see more progress.

Front bonnet had been test fitted on, fenders were being scrapped......one pair of the rear fenders had been rejected in favour of the more solid 64 ones.

[AsadIshaque]

Above you can see the handheld oil blowtorch used for stripping paint off.

 What do you see inside the front bonnet area??? A 1960 vintage front end!!! One of my *major* finds! Sadly the donor 60 had been scrapped by the time I heard about it else I would have bought the whole car.

[psyb0rg]

@Doc, I've got so much to say but I don't know where to start!

[AsadIshaque]

Psyborg/ Jaaaaasim!!!

I was wondering where you were......Great to have you here!!


Start writting please!! :D

[psyb0rg]

@All, the W decklid looks more awesome in person, trust me. @Doc, I'll need it as a specimen for my car

Did you find the missing rollers for the rag assembly? Get them made by a fibre glass guy.

[psyb0rg]

I was wondering, where did the bonnet release go on this model? And you haven't shown everyone the steering wheel...or were there more than one??

[AsadIshaque]

Yes the W decklid is slick. Its still displayed in my bedroom!!

I was toying with the idea of making a W out of a post 68 decklid...just an idea.....might get round to do an experiment someday.


 Havent found the rollers, have plans to fabricate them if needed. Not in fibreglass but in Teflon which is more suitable for this application.


My elder bro comes from Cali in a couple of weeks. Rollers part of my wishlist, can t be sure if he can manage them with the long wishlists from every far and distant family member.

[AsadIshaque]

The front bonnet release was found where it is in my 68 bug ie on the LHS underdash area. For your 1970 bug it was inside the glove compartment though.

Which steering wheel are you talking about??? :-#

Initially I wanted to display all parts for the project but then changed my mind. People following this thread should see the items as soon as they come into play/are about to be fit. What say you???

[AsadIshaque]

Jasim, you can continue posting while I upload more pics.....would love to answer all you want to know!!

Okay back to our story......the front end.....

The current post 68 end was being cut off when the Oxygen cylinder dried up so things were left midway as we see them.


I put the 1960 front end at the front of the car to give an idea about the graft.

[AsadIshaque]

Sorry for the reposted pic but had to show something.....something techincal.......

There is a beam running which makes up part of the fuel tank support surround. This is enclosed in green here. I was not happy as it had been cut, the area encircled in red.

I was of the opinion that this should not be cut......discussed with Basit but he insisted this was the right way to go....lets see down the line a bit....

[psyb0rg]

Yeah, leave the suspense for later.