dubai Seriously Crusin Dubber
161 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·
was there ever a 53 split window beetle with an oval dash. I have seen many pictures and if so did they come in RHD?
Telling the age of a beetle
volumex Officially Full-On Dubber
389 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·
Yes and yes. The Irish and South African CKD kits were RHD, and both countries were producing cars during the Zwitter period of 1 Oct 52 to 10 March 53.
dubai Seriously Crusin Dubber
161 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·
Are there any in Australia? anyone got any picsvolumex wrote:Yes and yes. The Irish and South African CKD kits were RHD, and both countries were producing cars during the Zwitter period of 1 Oct 52 to 10 March 53.
cruise98 Slammed & Awesome Dubber
86 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·
hi i need some help seeing what year my vw beetle is
the numbers are matching on front id plate and on transmission tunnel 2585760
the motor all i can find is below a long housing that says 7188099
hope someone can help me
dale
the numbers are matching on front id plate and on transmission tunnel 2585760
the motor all i can find is below a long housing that says 7188099
hope someone can help me
dale
Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds
2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
There are plenty of websites that give info on chassis numbers / model years - such as http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/specgeninfo/chassisnumbers.htm
From this one, we see that 1959 models begin with 1774680; 1960 begins 2528668, and 1961 begins 3192507.
Your chassis number is therefore 1960. In fact it's very close to the start - 1960 contains 3192507-2528668 = 663,839 cars and yours is just the 57,092nd of that model year. In Europe the model year began the previous August - ie. August 1959 - but Australian-made VWs were a few months behind Europe. I would think your VW was made in the first few months of 1960. Your engine number is a little later - it's a 40-hp 1200 made some time in 1962 so it's not the original engine.
From this one, we see that 1959 models begin with 1774680; 1960 begins 2528668, and 1961 begins 3192507.
Your chassis number is therefore 1960. In fact it's very close to the start - 1960 contains 3192507-2528668 = 663,839 cars and yours is just the 57,092nd of that model year. In Europe the model year began the previous August - ie. August 1959 - but Australian-made VWs were a few months behind Europe. I would think your VW was made in the first few months of 1960. Your engine number is a little later - it's a 40-hp 1200 made some time in 1962 so it's not the original engine.
cruise98 Slammed & Awesome Dubber
86 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·
i thought it might be 1960 but its been licensed as a 59
i only just brought it
it does have the indicators that pop out the side did the 60 model have them
dale
i only just brought it
it does have the indicators that pop out the side did the 60 model have them
dale
HappyDaze Superannuated
2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·
Up to about July, 1960, semaphores were used on Beetles here. They had a dished steering wheel, with horn ring, lacquer paint, push-button door handles, softer rear torsion bars, front anti-roll bar, and a few interior changes. Later '60 models had baked enamel paint - with new colours, blinkers, and probably a few more minor changes.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
cruise98 Slammed & Awesome Dubber
86 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·
ive been to about 8 different sites some say 60 some say 59
it does have push button doors like the 60
they tell me the 1960 had a steering damper i cant find one on the car
it does have push button doors like the 60
they tell me the 1960 had a steering damper i cant find one on the car
HappyDaze Superannuated
2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·
Could be either late '59, or early '60. Check out the 'dot' on the Armourplate sign on the glass.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
volumex Officially Full-On Dubber
389 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·
It's a 1959 year model. Just to make it confusing, the 59 and 60 year models didn't start in the August 😂.
Ref from Progressive Refinements.
Ref from Progressive Refinements.
cruise98 Slammed & Awesome Dubber
86 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·
thanks heaps for that the licensing centre said it was too
they say late 59 model
great to be be sure thanks for everyones import i love being part of this site
they say late 59 model
great to be be sure thanks for everyones import i love being part of this site
cruise98 Slammed & Awesome Dubber
86 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·
ok im back hahahaha
my plate says made in west germany
im taking it it is a 60 model but made in 59 is that correct
far out this is confusing hahahhaah
my plate says made in west germany
im taking it it is a 60 model but made in 59 is that correct
far out this is confusing hahahhaah
volumex Officially Full-On Dubber
389 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·
The first 30 years is the hardest - it gets easier after that.
You have a 1959 year model car built in 1959.
A few points to note are that not all factory changes occurred at the year model change - many occurred throughout the year.
Also the car is 50 years old, and may have had parts changed during that time.
The book I quoted from above is a German document, and as the Australian cars got more locally produced parts they had more discrepancies with German production. For 50's cars it will be fine, but anything in the 60's should be treated with caution.
You have a 1959 year model car built in 1959.
A few points to note are that not all factory changes occurred at the year model change - many occurred throughout the year.
Also the car is 50 years old, and may have had parts changed during that time.
The book I quoted from above is a German document, and as the Australian cars got more locally produced parts they had more discrepancies with German production. For 50's cars it will be fine, but anything in the 60's should be treated with caution.
Dibsy Seriously Crusin Dubber
182 posts · joined Apr 2012 ·
Any help appreciated on dating my Oval..
Chassis number 1560101 .... this is November 1953
MKA 7118 ..... Makes it an Aussie assembled CKD
So any ideas on when it was assembled in 1954 ..... and does it still make it a Nov 53 Oval ?
Thanks, Mark.
Chassis number 1560101 .... this is November 1953
MKA 7118 ..... Makes it an Aussie assembled CKD
So any ideas on when it was assembled in 1954 ..... and does it still make it a Nov 53 Oval ?
Thanks, Mark.
Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds
2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Martin and King did not start assembly of VW CKD kits until June 1954.
Have another look at your chassis number - is it 1560101 or 1-560101? VW dropped the '1-' prefix in December 1955, shortly after the one millionth VW was built. The last 1955 chassis number was 1-1060929, so that extra 1- at the front was causing confusion.
If your number is actually 1-560101, then in all likelihood some 1953-dated CKD kits were shipped to Australia and assembled by Martin and King many months later. One kit did not contain the parts for one car; in fact 12 crates held the parts for 8 cars. Does your VW have date stamps in the wheel centres, and at the back of the speedo?
If your number is actually 1560101 (without the dash), then that makes it a 1957 - by which time Martin and King had been purchased by Volkswagen Australasia.
Have another look at your chassis number - is it 1560101 or 1-560101? VW dropped the '1-' prefix in December 1955, shortly after the one millionth VW was built. The last 1955 chassis number was 1-1060929, so that extra 1- at the front was causing confusion.
If your number is actually 1-560101, then in all likelihood some 1953-dated CKD kits were shipped to Australia and assembled by Martin and King many months later. One kit did not contain the parts for one car; in fact 12 crates held the parts for 8 cars. Does your VW have date stamps in the wheel centres, and at the back of the speedo?
If your number is actually 1560101 (without the dash), then that makes it a 1957 - by which time Martin and King had been purchased by Volkswagen Australasia.
Dibsy Seriously Crusin Dubber
182 posts · joined Apr 2012 ·
Hi Phil,
Many thanks for your reply. you are correct - I went down the chart and found my number as a 53, however I didn't realise the hyphen made a difference, now reading down the chart further, it is indeed a 57 chassis !
Another member has dated the mka number on the body for me as 1955 and this makes sense as it has ribbed doors and the starter switch hole on the dash.
It seems it's just a bitsa so I will put the body on my 58 running gear.
Many thanks for your reply. you are correct - I went down the chart and found my number as a 53, however I didn't realise the hyphen made a difference, now reading down the chart further, it is indeed a 57 chassis !
Another member has dated the mka number on the body for me as 1955 and this makes sense as it has ribbed doors and the starter switch hole on the dash.
It seems it's just a bitsa so I will put the body on my 58 running gear.