Beetle identification and opinions

Ask and give advice here
Post Reply
dshutts
Drip
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:06 pm
What model do you have?: 196?
Location: PTA
Has thanked: 1 time

Beetle identification and opinions

Post by dshutts »

Hi all.

I'm new to the forum and have had a great time reading through the many informative and entertaining threads.

I have a 60's era 1500 beetle that I'm looking to restore as a project and want to get all my ducks in a row before I jump into what I know will be a long expensive process. I'm having trouble identifying the exact model year / engine type. The body doesn't seem to be in bad state and it was running before I parked it in the garage some years ago. The plate shows it being a 114 - which I read to mean 1964, but the bumpers don't seem right for that year? The engine shows SF which I understand to be SA built but I can't find online references for the SA engine numbers.

My intention is to strip it down, replace all hoses, rubbers, redo the engine / carb, properly respray and get it as close to stock as I can. Any suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks.
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Image


User avatar
Riaan.N
Oil Seal
Posts: 421
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:23 pm
What model do you have?: 1975 1600 TP Beetle
Location: Pretoria
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 37 times
South Africa

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by Riaan.N »

Welcome! That looks like a pretty decent beetle to restore. There is a wealth of information on this forum and with its members, so this is definitely the right place.

I’m sure some of the more knowledgeable forumites will soon pitch in.
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by retrovan »

From the photo the vin looks to start with a 2

Now I am no vin # expert, but I thought the beetle should start with a 1

maybe I don't look right.

We will wait for our vin expert @fig to comment.

But please give us the 1st few numbers of your vin as on the Vin tag.

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
dshutts
Drip
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:06 pm
What model do you have?: 196?
Location: PTA
Has thanked: 1 time

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by dshutts »

Thanks guys. I am confused on the VIN because as per the factory plate it says MODEL "114" then the serial number which is 218373433. But on my reg docs the VIN is stated as 118******* - where would I find the VIN on the car itself?

Looking forward to stripping it clean. The interior upholstery is in good nick. The original headliner is almost perfect!
User avatar
Jdt1976
Donor
Donor
Posts: 721
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:34 am
What model do you have?: 1952 beetle
Location: Ruimsig, JHB
Has thanked: 114 times
Been thanked: 90 times

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by Jdt1976 »

I don't think the plate is correct.

The Vin is under the rear seat on the chassis.
There are also other numbers on the front suspension and rear of the car that you can date it but I would first see why the plate and papers are not the same.
User avatar
John Alves
Crankshaft
Posts: 791
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 48 times
South Africa

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by John Alves »

looks like a 68 to me
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
User avatar
John Alves
Crankshaft
Posts: 791
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 48 times
South Africa

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by John Alves »

speedo is from a later beetle
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
calooker
Donor
Donor
Posts: 4973
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:24 am
What model do you have?: 77 SP
Location: Johannesburg
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 98 times
Contact:

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by calooker »

The vin number is stamped on the tunnel under the back seat infront of the gear rod coupling cover.
You have a 1968 beetle
For what it's worth, ignorance has no limits ......
dshutts
Drip
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:06 pm
What model do you have?: 196?
Location: PTA
Has thanked: 1 time

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by dshutts »

Thanks everyone for the input.

I'm going to start stripping the interior and identifying any rust that needs to be taken care of. Are there any particular problems / points of interest on the 68 that I should keep an eye out for?
User avatar
John Alves
Crankshaft
Posts: 791
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 48 times
South Africa

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by John Alves »

You Have a clean car, I doubt you will find any serious rust, you can start by removing sound deadening sponge material in areas shown, this will prevent future rust
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
User avatar
John Alves
Crankshaft
Posts: 791
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 48 times
South Africa

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by John Alves »

Most famous 68 ever, I wonder what happened to that car
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
User avatar
fig
Bus Driver
Posts: 12214
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:08 pm
What model do you have?: Type 2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/258896479219/
Location: Where life is cheap and death is free
Has thanked: 287 times
Been thanked: 321 times
Contact:
South Africa

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by fig »

dshutts wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:41 pm Thanks guys. I am confused on the VIN because as per the factory plate it says MODEL "114" then the serial number which is 218373433. But on my reg docs the VIN is stated as 118******* - where would I find the VIN on the car itself?

Looking forward to stripping it clean. The interior upholstery is in good nick. The original headliner is almost perfect!
Model 114 refers to a RHD beetle.
A 218xxxxxx VIN belongs to a 1968 panelvan, so that VIN plate doesn't belong to your car.
A 1968 beetle VIN will have 9 digits starting with 118xxxxxx.

As others have said, the VIN is stamped on the tunnel under the rear seat. The stamped VIN overrules any plate riveted to the car. Best remove any incorrect plates to avoid issues at roadworthy/police clearance.
fig
Kaapse Kombi Kult

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right." -- Henry Ford
User avatar
John Alves
Crankshaft
Posts: 791
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 48 times
South Africa

Re: Beetle identification and opinions

Post by John Alves »

fig wrote: Wed Apr 24, 2019 5:38 pm
1968 beetle VIN will have 9 digits starting with 118xxxxxx.

yep, both my 68 beetles start with 118
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
Post Reply