Looking for information

[Nanda]

Hi all I'm new to the forum.
I have recently come to own a 57 beetle. Still very complete and going in for restoration.

I do have a question about it though.

The gentleman I got it from says he was the second owner, which makes me the 3rd.
He says that he got it from the SA Army. Now the bug is still in it's army green paint, and it does seem to be the original paint on this bug. When I say everything is green, I literally mean everything.
It's steel wheels are green, it's hubcaps are green, the internal paint is green,under the door cards same green.


Now my question is how can I trace it's history? The tags are there but I can't find one for the army codes... Does anyone have any idea where I can start looking?

I'll post pictures as soon as I have most of the dust off of it.

[Terry Phillips]

Welcome and nice find.If I where you I would leave it as is it will add value to the right collector that's if the body and paint job are still in a respectable condition. my2c

[Nanda]

Unfortunately it will have to be redone... I do not plan on ever selling it.

[Eugene]

I'm no expert but this will most likely be post 60 model....it does not have semaphores

[AlanH]

Welcome,nice Beetle.
That's how I found my Beetle as well. A good wash and a buff afterwards will have it looking good enough to keep as is.
First get it working mechanically and get used to it as is. I'm with Terry on keeping it even with rust spots. You will be amazed how many like the rust spots.

[John Alves]

Stunning beetle please leave as is

[Blitzkrieg]

I have a complete 60 model with snowflakes, original 1200 6v drivetrain etc if you would like to trade?

[V6 Capri]

TCD used to be the old Kempton Park plates if I am not mistaken?

[Nanda]

I've got the tags for the bug if anyone could help me decipher them?
And does anyone know where I can find 6v batteries for this guy? And price range if possible.



And thanks but no thanks for the trade. I've got three snowflakes in the bunch of spare parts I got with the bug. Hehehe so I'm good hey.

[Donovan D]

Chassis 1169xxxx would make it a 1966 ?

[fig]

Chassis 1169xxxx would make it a 1966 ?

Correct. Those VIN plates belong to a 1966 beetle.

As far as I know, the colour code O/D stands for olive drab. I have seen this code on an ex-SADF, olive green painted kombi.

[Jdt1976]

Donovan is right, its a June 66.

6V battery at Maiden Electronics in Kyalami, 011 468 1619. They got a 70 and 77 Ah. The bigger one is better, both same price.
https://www.maidenelectronics.co.za/var ... ar-battery

Or get a price from Quality Batteries in Newlands 011 673 6702, but they will order one, takes a day or two.

[retrovan]

In the late 60's, most army stuff was auctioned off at the army auctions in Voortrekerhoogte.

I am sure that if you contacted them, they would be able to tell you when they sold it as well as its history in the army.

The army keeps better records then VW did.

Herman

[73type2]

And does anyone know where I can find 6v batteries for this guy? And price range if possible.

I just got a quote for an Optima Redtop 6V, 50 ah, 815 CCA - 1 Year Warranty, R3 084,19 (incl VAT) from www.batteriesonline.co.za.

[Tony Z]

Be careful of the redtop
I looked into Optima batteries a few years ago so my info might be a little wrong, but I am warning you to look into it for yourself before you buy.
Optima batteries are great
Unfortunately, they have 1 style of battery (I think it is the red top) which is not designed to run flat and if it does, it is virtually impossible to bring it back to life. Or it has a lifespan of something like 5 total discharges before it is dead. Its a great battery for a car that is used daily, but a very poor choice for a car that stands a lot. For a car that stands a lot, you want one of their deep cycle batteries (read: car audio or marine), which has slightly less CCA but can run flat over 1000 times without killing the battery.
Do your research, but you have been warned