Well, my "new" long term project has arrived. Actually, it's been
here for about a month. Right after it got here, winter finally
arrived so I haven't had a chance to look it over much. It's an
"early" '55 Beetle. It needs pretty much ALL of those highly sought
after "55 only" parts which will make it a somewhat ambitious...uhhh
....expensive...project. I'm not looking to make this a 100 point
show car so I'll probably live with some compromises. The back of
the car had been hit and repaired consequently it no longer has its
W decklid, "H" apron and '55 only taillights. Ouch. On the good side,
the car is amazingly rust free. The pan is really clean and solid
as are the heater channels. Not a flake of rust anywhere. All four
fenders are beat up and I'm not sure how restorable a couple of them
might be. All of the chrome is shot, door handles, hub caps, vent
window frames, etc. The front axle is bent, the trunk lid has been
hit on the handle in typical VW fashion. (more metal work) I guess
I'm going to have to practice up on sheet metal welding and hammer and
dolly work. I have already found and purchased a correct '50-'54
W decklid and a set of '55 only taillights.

If anyone would like to help out, the next items on my "need to find"
list are a correct rear "H" apron and rear dimpled/beaded fenders.

One curious note. The car is white which is not a '54/'55 color.
The original Polar Silver shows through in spots but this car was,
at some point, completely disassembled and painted white. And I do
mean completely.

Wish me luck and I'll be posting pics as the work progresses. (slowly...)

http://home.earthlink.net/~mfkoch/55-4


--
>>>Mike
'64 sunroof Beetle
'55 semaphore Beetle