[the mole]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Quite a coincidence indeed, since we were sitting in the same car while I saw it

While both you guys are at it, please find me a beetle, Oh yes and make it cheap!!

[canonball]

My friend had fixed up a purple blue sunroof car of the same vintage in Mumbai for the Pune owner some years ago it was LHD or RHD can't remember he had put the aftermarket old amby style tan steering cover with holes in them did this have the same?

[moralfibre]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Quite a coincidence indeed, since we were sitting in the same car while I saw it

Come on, you haven't had a drive in my split yet.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by canonball

My friend had fixed up a purple blue sunroof car of the same vintage in Mumbai for the Pune owner some years ago it was LHD or RHD can't remember he had put the aftermarket old amby style tan steering cover with holes in them did this have the same?

Perhaps this is the car you speak of? Haven't seen it in 10-15 years.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/916092-post14.html

[wasif]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Perhaps this is the car you speak of? Haven't seen it in 10-15 years.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/916092-post14.html

who are the cute little boy and girl in these pics.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by wasif

who are the cute little boy and girl in these pics.

That would be me and the sister in a holiday in Goa. The only reason I always insisted we go to Goa were the Beetles.

[67Bug]

Originally Posted by the mole

While both you guys are at it, please find me a beetle, Oh yes and make it cheap!!

There was a beetle (1960) for sale about a week back in Bombay, paper intact and Bombay registration. Red in colour. Engine was OK but the body required work. Rumioured to have been sold for 1.25 lacs couple of days back. Let me validate and get back to you. Did manage to see the car at the Baand.

[the mole]

Originally Posted by 67Bug

There was a beetle (1960) for sale about a week back in Bombay, paper intact and Bombay registration. Red in colour. Engine was OK but the body required work. Rumioured to have been sold for 1.25 lacs couple of days back. Let me validate and get back to you. Did manage to see the car at the Baand.

I went to see this car last month with my pal who you know and lives around the area, The body was in bad shape and had started to settle down, most trims were missing, Complete interiors would have to be redone, and I know from someone who had worked on the car that the engine needed to be overhauled. In short It would have been a very very expensive restoration. And according to my math would have cost me above 4-4.5 lakhs in the end. At that price I think there are some really well restored beetles available. Why take the headache to restore one. Or that kind of money is better spent restoring a rarer car.

But If the car indeed sold for that price I would say one should invest in cars not stock! (more than 100% return) in this market by just having cars lie out in an open compound.

[harit]

Recently in Germany I visited the Karl Benz Museum in Ladenburg near Mannheim. Nice cozy Museum, they have other interesting cars too. One was a split Beetle, with an accessory called Vibulator. Basically it is a clear plastic device mounted on the bonnet and is supposed to deflect the wind and thus keep dirt at bay. Maybe even improve aerodynamics. Have a look. This would be nice addition to the beetle of 67Bug. If he keeps on adding accessories then he may have to uprate the engine.
And since no split bugs around, posted pics of the whole car too.

[the mole]

Originally Posted by harit

And since no split bugs around, posted pics of the whole car too.

Did split bugs ever come to India? If no what could have been the possible reason?

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by the mole

Did split bugs ever come to India? If no what could have been the possible reason?

I hear a car or 2 may exist, but no visible confirmation.

VWs really started pushing their exports later in the 50s (the Split ceased in 53). Early VWs that came to India came from Goa, either through the authorised local dealer (Margao Motors?) or through many people returning from Africa, Portugal etc. Perhaps they were introduced to Goa only later.

More importantly, the worlwide mammoth popularity of the Beetle began only in the 50s. Production during WW2 and the late 40s was pretty negligible.

EDIT - Harit, while the Beetle above looks in great shape with the original grooved bumpers, pope's nose number plate light and shade too (agave green/dove grey?), it is let down by later and larger 'snowflake' taillights, offered from around 55 to 61. A grooved bumper Split would have had small circular tail light lenses.

[ajay99]

haritji,
the period accessory you have mentioned is also called windshield deflector and is available in many colours.will cost around USD40 in US.
SINKO was a famous brand specializing in this.

[harit]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

EDIT - Harit, while the Beetle above looks in great shape with the original grooved bumpers, pope's nose number plate light and shade too (agave green/dove grey?), it is let down by later and larger 'snowflake' taillights, offered from around 55 to 61. A grooved bumper Split would have had small circular tail light lenses.

Next time I visit this place I will enquire. But why not keep focused on the subject?

Cheers harit

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by harit

Next time I visit this place I will enquire. But why not keep focused on the subject?

Cheers harit

Forgive me sir, but I thought I would contribute by educating on originality for anybody restoring their early split window. We shall now get back to wind/bug deflectors

[harit]

Another picture of a bug, which I believe wa recently sold. Note the sunroof, no idea if that was original.

Cheers harit