My 1966 VW Beetle! A new restoration project

71Convertible · 3rd May 2010, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71Convertible

The sun-roof looks a bit smaller than the original factory size, so it could be after market though hard to tell from the pics.

I just had another look at your pic and realized what's on there is a metal sun-roof not the earlier rag top. When I looked at your earlier pics, I mistook the dents in the roof for a ragtop and it looked smaller than the usual -- so my comment. Now i see my mistake.
Byas

funkykar · 3rd May 2010, 16:54

Its a very nice bug! What is the history of this car? How long has it beein lying in this state? And more important, how did you find it?

onlinestuffa · 5th May 2010, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA7VA5

So let the collective knowledge of VW Guru's flow in to this thread for this humble begining - promise you all a great collection of pics and restoration activities step by step.

I can see a long haul on this one for sure but I am ready!

Coincidentally I'm also planning to restore my Beetle (1966 model, 1500 cc, RHD) which has been out of use for a few years - but it's in a bit better shape than your's because my family has owned it since 1966

. Will upload pix as soon as possible.

Unfortunately rust has eaten into the floor and doors so the number one priority is body work.

I remember going to Swami the mechanic under the Def Col flyover right from when I was a kid, but he is really old now. Is there any other expert VW mechanic and esp. someone for the body work that anyone can recommend?

Hope there'll be two restored Beetles soon

AM

IndrojitSircar · 7th May 2010, 04:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA7VA5

Finally the car was loaded on a flat bed emergency tow truck using a winch to pull it up on the flatbed and the car was delivered to the workshop for start of the long and crazy haul on the body work.

Stay tuned as we progress....

Cheers

Congratulations on the bug.Who is restoring this car for you in delhi ? If you don't mind i would like to see the car.

akaushik · 7th May 2010, 12:30

congrats mate for grabbing this wonderful piece of history... where is your workshop and from where you have grabbed this car... from delhi only ?

SA7VA5 · 17th May 2010, 16:46

Hi All,

I am sorry I was out of action as I was out of the country.

Meanwhile the engine from the car has been taken out and the body work has started. Have ordered some floor parts from USA and rest are being fabricated in Delhi.

The car is being restored by Mr. Tutu Dhawan who is a renowned Vintage Car restorer. He has done many beetles earlier and he is doing my beetle and another beetle right now.

The car is right now with a denter to whom the basic work has been subcontracted under the supervision of Mr. Dhawan as he is chock-a-block with various vintage vehicles under restoration in his own facility. But he is making daily trips to supvervise the basic denting and tinkering on my car.

The car is a Delhi number and has changed 4 hands and was last bought by someone in lucknow and was lying unused for over 4 years and thats when the rot happened.

I have already received quite a few critical body parts from USA that will help restore the structural integrity of the car - they have just been delivered at my house TODAY !

So I am going to take a look at the parts and take pics today and post tomorrow.

Also will visit the denter sometime during the week to oversee the current situation and handover the parts that have just arrived.

More pics after I visit the denter...

Cheers

Saurabh

PAVAN KADAM · 17th May 2010, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA7VA5

Hi All,

I am sorry I was out of action as I was out of the country.

Meanwhile the engine from the car has been taken out and the body work has started. Have ordered some floor parts from USA and rest are being fabricated in Delhi.

The car is being restored by Mr. Tutu Dhawan who is a renowned Vintage Car restorer. He has done many beetles earlier and he is doing my beetle and another beetle right now.

The car is right now with a denter to whom the basic work has been subcontracted under the supervision of Mr. Dhawan as he is chock-a-block with various vintage vehicles under restoration in his own facility. But he is making daily trips to supvervise the basic denting and tinkering on my car.

The car is a Delhi number and has changed 4 hands and was last bought by someone in lucknow and was lying unused for over 4 years and thats when the rot happened.

I have already received quite a few critical body parts from USA that will help restore the structural integrity of the car - they have just been delivered at my house TODAY !

So I am going to take a look at the parts and take pics today and post tomorrow.

Also will visit the denter sometime during the week to oversee the current situation and handover the parts that have just arrived.

More pics after I visit the denter...

Cheers

Saurabh

Did you pick up those 4 fenders ?

SA7VA5 · 20th May 2010, 11:03

No Pavan I spoke to your friend and he asked me to send him a mail but have not received any response till now.

Can you please put in a word to him.

Cheers!

Saurabh

GoldenParadox · 10th June 2010, 02:52

Anything happened yet?

The car posted in the link earlier (http://www.oldbug.com/00split.htm) looks just too good. Will you be trying to take this beauty to that level?

SA7VA5 · 6th July 2010, 16:35

HI All

Work on the beetle is slow as I am trying to finish the denting work on my Benz 280S and as soon as that is out of the denter's workshop the beetle will go straight in.

In the mean time I have gathered a bunch of parts for the beetle body work. Still looking for the rear fenders though - PAVAN Help!

Will keep the group posted on the beetle developments!

Cheers

S

PAVAN KADAM · 10th July 2010, 17:15

Sorry dude,

No luck with the fenders yet.

But i have found a Bonnet in great shape. Let me know if you would be interested

If the distance was less, you could have sent me those fenders, i would have redone them for you in a weeks time.

SA7VA5 · 1st December 2010, 11:27

Okay - have been missing in action for a long time!

Have been slowly trying put this busted Beetle back in to shape....very slow and arduous process....have collected a lot of parts but the body work has been painfully slow because wanted quality workmanship on this one.

Am attaching some pics for reference.

Cheers!

Saurabh

kevinephraim · 1st December 2010, 13:43

Other than the body work being done here have you already started up the engine and checked the mechanicals?
What work do you need to do on that? Would it not be a good idea to check that out too and order any required parts while the body work is in progress? So as to be able to get the parts from wherever in time.

SA7VA5 · 6th December 2010, 14:59

Sure.
Have taken off the engine already. Under restoration. Parts are mostly to be imported hence its a very expensive exercise - slow therefore.

Have got a bunch of suspension and other body stuff which is missing.

More to be ordered as we progress. Want to ensure that every nut bolt gets to its original shape and form.

And there is a surprise which is being worked on! Will share soon enough!

Cheers!

SA7VA5 · 21st November 2011, 13:07

Dear All

A lot of water has flown under the bridge as far as this project is concerned.

This is one of the MOST detailed car restorations that I have ever carried out. All the learning and knowledge accumulated in this field is being applied for one of the finest Beetles to hit the road.

Have shown progress pics to some guys at VW and they are itching to lay their hands on it when it gets ready.

Here is the update for you.

Cheers!

3rd May 2010, 16:54	#17
funkykar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,686 Thanked: 6,883 Times View My Garage	Its a very nice bug! What is the history of this car? How long has it beein lying in this state? And more important, how did you find it?
	() Thanks

7th May 2010, 12:30	#20
akaushik BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 172 Thanked: 9 Times	congrats mate for grabbing this wonderful piece of history... where is your workshop and from where you have grabbed this car... from delhi only ?
	() Thanks

17th May 2010, 16:46	#21
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	Hi All, I am sorry I was out of action as I was out of the country. Meanwhile the engine from the car has been taken out and the body work has started. Have ordered some floor parts from USA and rest are being fabricated in Delhi. The car is being restored by Mr. Tutu Dhawan who is a renowned Vintage Car restorer. He has done many beetles earlier and he is doing my beetle and another beetle right now. The car is right now with a denter to whom the basic work has been subcontracted under the supervision of Mr. Dhawan as he is chock-a-block with various vintage vehicles under restoration in his own facility. But he is making daily trips to supvervise the basic denting and tinkering on my car. The car is a Delhi number and has changed 4 hands and was last bought by someone in lucknow and was lying unused for over 4 years and thats when the rot happened. I have already received quite a few critical body parts from USA that will help restore the structural integrity of the car - they have just been delivered at my house TODAY ! So I am going to take a look at the parts and take pics today and post tomorrow. Also will visit the denter sometime during the week to oversee the current situation and handover the parts that have just arrived. More pics after I visit the denter... Cheers Saurabh
	() Thanks

20th May 2010, 11:03	#23
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	No Pavan I spoke to your friend and he asked me to send him a mail but have not received any response till now. Can you please put in a word to him. Cheers! Saurabh
	() Thanks

10th June 2010, 02:52	#24
GoldenParadox BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 57 Thanked: 4 Times View My Garage	Anything happened yet? The car posted in the link earlier (http://www.oldbug.com/00split.htm) looks just too good. Will you be trying to take this beauty to that level?
	() Thanks

6th July 2010, 16:35	#25
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	HI All Work on the beetle is slow as I am trying to finish the denting work on my Benz 280S and as soon as that is out of the denter's workshop the beetle will go straight in. In the mean time I have gathered a bunch of parts for the beetle body work. Still looking for the rear fenders though - PAVAN Help! Will keep the group posted on the beetle developments! Cheers S
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 17:15	#26
PAVAN KADAM BANNED Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NAMMA BENGALURU Posts: 5,601 Thanked: 2,557 Times	Sorry dude, No luck with the fenders yet. But i have found a Bonnet in great shape. Let me know if you would be interested If the distance was less, you could have sent me those fenders, i would have redone them for you in a weeks time. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

1st December 2010, 11:27	#27
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	Update Okay - have been missing in action for a long time! Have been slowly trying put this busted Beetle back in to shape....very slow and arduous process....have collected a lot of parts but the body work has been painfully slow because wanted quality workmanship on this one. Am attaching some pics for reference. Cheers! Saurabh Attached Thumbnails
	(1) Thanks

1st December 2010, 13:43	#28
kevinephraim BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pune, Bahrain Posts: 450 Thanked: 85 Times View My Garage	mechanicals? Other than the body work being done here have you already started up the engine and checked the mechanicals? What work do you need to do on that? Would it not be a good idea to check that out too and order any required parts while the body work is in progress? So as to be able to get the parts from wherever in time.
	() Thanks

6th December 2010, 14:59	#29
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	Sure. Have taken off the engine already. Under restoration. Parts are mostly to be imported hence its a very expensive exercise - slow therefore. Have got a bunch of suspension and other body stuff which is missing. More to be ordered as we progress. Want to ensure that every nut bolt gets to its original shape and form. And there is a surprise which is being worked on! Will share soon enough! Cheers!
	() Thanks

21st November 2011, 13:07	#30
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	Re: My 1966 VW Beetle! A new restoration project Dear All A lot of water has flown under the bridge as far as this project is concerned. This is one of the MOST detailed car restorations that I have ever carried out. All the learning and knowledge accumulated in this field is being applied for one of the finest Beetles to hit the road. Have shown progress pics to some guys at VW and they are itching to lay their hands on it when it gets ready. Here is the update for you. Cheers! Attached Thumbnails
	(2) Thanks