Betty the Oval - Donovan D - ex-MINCE

[Donovan D]

Gotta decide what i want to do with that: take a gamble on continue from where it was left (resulting in continuous patch work for a long time) or acid dip the guy and start again.
What do you guys reckon?

You might aswell go all out on this one. It is after all your "Dream car" and you waited a long time to get it.

[MINCE]

Gotta decide what i want to do with that: take a gamble on continue from where it was left (resulting in continuous patch work for a long time) or acid dip the guy and start again.
What do you guys reckon?

You might aswell go all out on this one. It is after all your "Dream car" and you waited a long time to get it.

ya I know. That is what I want to do! But I have to keep in mind my resources: financially and ability. Acid dipping it might mean I have to take the body to a specialist to do proper metal repair work, and I am not sure if that guy, whoever does it, has a payment plan. This is not going to be cheap as you all well know, so I have to make decisions here.

But the body is not my first concern, so I have time to investigate. I really hope that I will be able to get the body 100% sorted, with little to no filler.

I know it is a very big ambition, but I want this beetle to be a wedding car for me, and to be an heirloom and maybe, just maybe a contender for a 'best of show'.

High hopes indeed!!

[MINCE]

Just so you okes know what I am aiming for, here is a pic I use for inspiration (only thing I will do different is wider rear wheels and a 2" nose drop)

[MINCE]

Just an idea I had, which is inspired by motorbikes is to convert the tops of the bumper stops (think that is what the are called) to be the indicator!
Has anyone seen one before? Anyone think they could pull it off? Problem is needing to find an indicator that fits the part I suppose, but still a good idea me thinks.
As illustrated in the image below:

[MINCE]

I just collected a package.
I know have the papers, lights, semaphores, interior trim pieces, amongst others and... the Wolfsburg Crest!

Will take snaps tonight!

Getting excited.

Still have to recieve the glass, spare set of wheels and spare gearbox, and the units for the 12V conversion.
happy days

[retrovan]

With regard to your front indicators, I would fit the bullet type as were on all USA beetles in 1957.



The back you can use the conversion to flash the stop light, will post wiring diagram if needed, Please note that all USA cars had indicators long before us. For the steering column, you use the lollipop switch, as standard equipment.



Herman

[Bushpig]

Mince,
Congrats and I wish you all the best with her. She already looks good and you are lucky getting all the bits.
I look forward to your posts and I can relate them to my 57 build. I agree with some of the guys, take the time now and build her right. She has also waited a life time to on the road again in all her glory. The books you have are great and I have the same plus one or two and If I can help let me know. I have just finished scanning in the 1952 - 1957 VW workshop manual and will pass it on to eben to place on the forum. I can also give you a copy on CD. I have the Bently Manual of the same so if you get stuck on a section I can let you refer. I am also on the hunt for bits so keep in touch maybe in my search I may come across bits you may be short of.
Again Well done and give it your best.

[MINCE]

Well, today i received the second delivery, and I am not going to lie, I am getting concerned.

As you can see in the images, there is a lot of bits and bobs. I have some doubles, even triples of some item, but they are not complete. So, for instance, there is not much I can do with a rear license plate light cover without the light. I cannot do much with 2 left quarter windows.

I may have to take a trip to Durban to physically collect all the other remaining parts (rest of the glass, rest of whatever I am missing) and drive them down myself. Otherwise it may keep going like this. Very frustrating.

I want to convert the electrics to 12V from the 6V but I will need everything to see what I need to get or repair or use.

This is going to be one Herculean task. I am getting worried now...
.............
@ Retrovan
And thank you guys for your helpful tips. I do know the bullet indicators very well, just thought that the idea I had would be different and would not take away from the lines of the car. Could be something worth looking into.
But is it legal to have the brake light flashing as indicators? I also want to have the semaphores working. Just because they are super cool! But new 12V units are expensive!

@Bushpig
I will definitely love access to those scans! That would be AWESOME!!!!
I can tell you now that I too will be doing a major part hunt. I definitely do not have everything, but I do have some doubles, some are in better condition than others. So let me see what I have when I have everything, and we can see how we can help each other.

[MINCE]

This unit is probably a good indication of what condition Betty was in before I got it the way I did.

Pope's noses x 3. 2 of them have the indentation for the W-decklid, the other may be for a 60's model. Will double check.

- the crest!

A Solex carburetor. Has 12V on the side, dunno what that means but I will find out. This unit seems to be better than the one currently on the motor.

The Semaphores. 6V units. Pretty crusty. Dunno if the solenoids are even functional. I really wanna have the semaphores working! Big goal. That and the heater

Headliner! Pretty clean actually.

So ya, as you can see in the pics, lots of doubles and spares.

[karmakoma]

Mince, you win some you lose some.
I can guarantee you all the parts will not be there, BUT, you have lots of doubles of relatively rare parts, a swap here , a sale there, and suddenly you have the parts or the resources to acquire the parts you need. So don't sweat it. There will be other items to get concerned about as you go along

[retrovan]

@ Retrovan
And thank you guys for your helpful tips. I do know the bullet indicators very well, just thought that the idea I had would be different and would not take away from the lines of the car. Could be something worth looking into.
But is it legal to have the brake light flashing as indicators? I also want to have the semaphores working. Just because they are super cool! But new 12V units are expensive!

It is legal to have brake lights flashing for indicators , on old cars, as this was law at that time. as long as they flash when you press the brakes.
Then you connect the Semaphores up as well, (with light flashing, when arm is up), as this will be ornamental, as they are not legal by them self any more. Have Fun.

[Bushpig]

Mince,
Nice box of bits. If you have duplacates can I have first dibs pleeeese. I have some duplicates so we can swop, sell, beg and borrow. I see there are bits from later models included but some nice pieces good place to start....

[Bushpig]

Retrovan,
Thanks for that indicator info I will do it on my oval when she is up and running.

[MINCE]

Mince,
Nice box of bits. If you have duplacates can I have first dibs pleeeese. I have some duplicates so we can swop, sell, beg and borrow. I see there are bits from later models included but some nice pieces good place to start....

fo sho man

[MINCE]

So, I called around finding places to acid bath ol' betty.
Cape Galvanizing Consolidated in Bellville South has the facilities but they do not do car bodies because, "it weakens the steel of the body".

pity