Whilst we prattle on about trivia on how many revs our little beasts are doing which in turn can be costly in repairs and also keeping the government in revenue, maybe we can start a session on some history on “our little wonders” in our own areas.
“Wandin Valley” to many who were around in the 70s and 80s? would remember the fictitious town in “A Country Practice”. To us locals it was Pitt Town, one of the five Macquarie Towns in the Hawkesbury, N.S.W.
In those early 50s there was a funny looking car which arrived in town and as it turned out it was around a 1954 Beetle. Not long after, even the Mayor of Windsor was driving around in about a 1955 or 56 Beetle, of which I tried to con out of him 1n 1965. As far as I know he still had it at the time of his death. His sister had a Karmann Ghia in those early 60s as well so VWs were starting to be well represented around the area including both of my elder brothers. I actually learned to drive on the Oval 55. We also had a 56 ute (pickup or whatever it’s called). The old 36 hp engine meant constant rowing of the gear lever! Plenty of Bugs caught on as well as Type 2s but Type 3s were rare in the area.
I started out with a 1961 Bug (first of the 40 HP) in 1965 but quickly learned to count past 2 and joined the Type 3 brigade by 1967. With continual “hotting up” it was quite quick and I hate to admit that ONLY ONCE it was pulling 5,200 in top along the Castlereagh Road. I now think how stupid it was, especially when I drive past the spot near Castlereagh Tractors. One of the apprentices I had in the early 90s lost it there and not only killed himself but a girl in the car coming the opposite way. His mate in the car survived. The car was a Brock Commodore. A bit too much for an 18 y/o!
The 1600 engines had just arrived so after 1966 this was the natural upgrade to the 1500 engines. Also, there was a garage at Seven Hills which seemed to get a supply of the “new” heads with the later rocker shaft mounts which eliminated the stripping of the long ones of the early 1500 heads. They were the leftover heads from the industrial engines. As 40 HP ones had the same problem, I was somewhat busy making modified studs for the local Blacktown dealer, Lennox Motors. We copied everything from quick shifts to towbars in those days as well as many of the specialised VW tools which their mechanics needed for home use!
I’ve added a pic from the local mail contractor of the late 50s or early 60s with her oval beetle.
Now what was in your area?
[ Edited on 12/2/2006 by 1500S ]
That's a good little piece of Dub history. Thank you.
Actually my first memory of a VW related experience was back in about 1959 when I would be riding my bike home from school. A fawn coloured Beetle used to pass me every day and a red Porsche 90 used to follow it a few seconds later. That would happen every day like clockwork. They both made the same sound, so it was clear to me that they had similar engines. A year later the Beetle was replaced by a light blue Mini Minor. The Porsche remained. Don't forget that at that time all of the cars were brand new.
I have had several Beetles, the first being fawn and a light blue Mini, but not yet have I had a Porsche of any model or colour.
SIGH!!!
1500S,
In your post you said:
We copied everything from quick shifts to towbars in those days as well as many of the specialised VW tools which their mechanics needed for home use!
Did you happen to make the tool for removing door hinge pins??? You could make a fortune hiring one out.(put me first on the list).
Matt.
Sadly no! What did it look like? The pins are near impossible to get out of Type 3s. Not sure on the Beetle. Did see some of the tools for "modern cars" when the panel beaters were still teaching at Meadowbank. Only have a few bits from those days such as flywheel locks, Type 3 fan puller and a couple of other bits. If I need anything I still make it.
Port Macquarie.... You just reminded me, my wife will kill me!! My first Notch in 1969 at Port.
[ Edited on 12/2/2006 by 1500S ]
cool pics Is that telephone box still there
I have one of those phone boxes in my back yard - maybe it is that one!
crazy ow much they are worth , I knocke back $800 for it about 12 years ago, however I will swap for hens teeth...
Great photo's 1500S,
our local Dealer was Wards Motors which was just on the Eastern side of the Nepean river bridge - now swallowed up by expansion of the Log Cabin Hotel, Mr Ward was a really nice guy, & occasionally when you drove by you would be lucky enough to see an amphibious beetle sitting out the front, it used to run up & down the river in the very early '60s , & I think it was a grey oval, does anybody remember the car ? the "Penrth Press" would probably have a few photos in it's archives
Please, I need drivers side window regulator (winder mechanism) for my '54
old pics! great.. keep 'em coming!!
Pay your debts, CxxT
1500S wrote:Sadly no! What did it look like? The pins are near impossible to get out of Type 3s. Not sure on the Beetle. Did see some of the tools for "modern cars" when the panel beaters were still teaching at Meadowbank. Only have a few bits from those days such as flywheel locks, Type 3 fan puller and a couple of other bits. If I need anything I still make it.
Port Macquarie.... You just reminded me, my wife will kill me!! My first Notch in 1969 at Port.
[ Edited on 12/2/2006 by 1500S ]
Apparently the tool used by VW workshops was tube shaped with a slot cut down it's length so it would fit over the hinge. They had a nut welded at the bottom that a bolt screwed through and pressed the pin out. I imagine that given the pressures required the nut and bolt would have to be quite hard and probably used one of those very coarse flat topped threads like you see on bearing pullers. The nut would also have to be long to give the bolt plenty to bite into. I don't know if using the tool was a "door off" job but I imagine there would be plenty of penetrating oil and possibly some heat involved.
And yes, the pins are just as hard to get out on a type 1, that's why you see so few with hinge mirrors.
By the way, I'm an old Blacktown boy, did you ever have dealings with that dutch VW guy on sunnyholt road, up near the corner of tattersals rd. He was there for donkeys years, always had a few out the front for sale. I saw a mod out the back once that was the front half of a early 60's beetle and the back half of a similar vintage type 2 ute, it looked fantastic!
Just realised I was logged on as my son, my user name is matt ryan
Dave. You forced me to get the Notch out and go for a drive! Below is the Post Office today and it has even moved one house down the road! The red Urban Assault Vehicle is parked around the spot where the oval was. The year was around 1964 when the bug photo was taken. Things certainly change with progress! Big brother only lives 3 doors from the original photo and can't remember when the old phone box went.
If someone has a drawing or pic of the door hinge removal tool could they e-mail me a copy?
Kombikim...... Have got the big scans of your pics. How about posting those pics of yours here?
Wow, thanks, I have more B & W as well & wil put here as soon as I can,
SO, do you remeber the amphibious oval that used to hang out at Wards Motors in Penrith, ?
Please, I need drivers side window regulator (winder mechanism) for my '54
Did go to Penrith in those early days for some bits but we did have a local dealer here at Windsor. It was situated where the garage is on Richmond Rd opposite McQuade Park (That's the Richmond Rd which is between Windsor and Richmond past the RAAF Base).
Did have a bit of dealings with Peter when he was at Blacktown (Now at Riverstone in the old AP Spares building in Princes St). Generally haven't a need for those shops these days. That shop in Sunnyholt Rd, Blacktown was originally started by Alan .....? back in the mid 70s. He worked out of home for a period of time before moving to that location. From memory he traded under "Western Imported Spares" and got some of his gear from Lindsay Tooley (Later to become Tooley Imports). Lindsay started off in his garage at Normanhurst in the 60s. Customs nearly drove Lindsay mad and made him crush loads of bearings etc because they had the VW stamp on them! In those days, I lived at West Epping and quite often, we would pull an engine on friday night, do a complete rebuild and have it back in on Sunday night ready to drive back to work at Hawker DeHavillands on Monday morning thanks to Lindsay being relatively close and parts were affordable ....................... just not that much puff us any more!
[ Edited on 13/2/2006 by 1500S ]
Can't help you with a drawing of that tool, I have only ever read descriptions of it. Apparently they removed pins quite easily back in the day, - not so much time to build up todays levels of corrosion.
I have read of Aussie dealers tarting up new vehicles by fitting top hinge mirror pins & mirrors without taking doors off. They thought nothing of it and often installed a flash kit while they were at it.
Matt.
Will have a look at a Beetle hinge next time I'm in P and Payless and get some measurements for you Matt.
DH
well. finally snavelled a photo album off my mother . wedding, Honeymoon etc, the Wedding day was Jan 26th 1956, the wedding car was the Volkswagen they were married no frills at StAndrews in Sydney City & the small afternoon tea reception was at Clifton Gardens where the first photo was taken, from ther they headed to Abercrombie Caves , then via Kanangra Walls down to the Snowy Mountains, mostly on horrific roads
-Funy/Sad is nearly all the Honeymoon photos include th beetle!
Please, I need drivers side window regulator (winder mechanism) for my '54
Ah! Memories Kim! Just might add that if anyone has slides tucked away out of sight for near 40 years, get them out soon and get them scanned. The home scanner with Photoshop is quite acceptable at 1200 DPI but the lab scanners can also focus on the slide for a clearer image as well as giving a much larger file for enlargements.
Let's start rescuing OZ VW history before it's too late.
Love the pics kim!!
:thumb
