We recieved my eldest Son`s (Sam) Oval on Saturday. Not sure of the exact year as the chassis number is not stamped very clearly but it is an early ribbed door model with the two pressings in the B-pillars either side of the striker plate.
It is pretty bloody straight with only a few minor dents here and there. Rust wise it`s not TOO bad, it needs some repairs to the passenger side heater channel (which comes as second nature tome anyway as I`m a Pom!) and the floors are heavily rusted so will need replacing, again a job that I have done countless times before!
This is going to be a long term project as Sam is only 4 1/2 years old!! It`s going to be a full nut and bolt rebuild with everything restored or replaced.
The body and pan will be dipped at Minus Paint here in SA to completely remove rust and paint including inside the box sections(heater channels etc). This is something Heath (Turbo54) had done and which I was very impressed with.
Well here`s some pics of when it arrived!!
Cheers
Graham.

Sam giving it the "Double Thumbs!!"

.

Quick question....

Where do i look for chassis numbers and compliance plates etc, on a 54??
And how will I know the correct age?? ie, which numbers mean what??
Craig.
I hope you can help...or anybody...

nice! sensational find! goodluck with the resto!

sorta looks like sam's been photshoped into the bug.. haha

nick

Interior has a nice dash and Batwing steering wheel.
Semaphores are also with the car.

Hi Craig.
The chassis number is stamped on the top of the tunnel (spine of the chassis) under the back seat, just forward of the inspection plate for the gearshift linkage.
I would just do a search on google or alltheweb.com for "vw chassis numbers".
There are quite a few websites out there with chassis number tables, paint codes etc.
There should also be a plate under the bonnet where the brake fluid reservoir is (in the spare wheel well), the chassis number is in the top right corner.
Hope this helps!
Nick, I think it`sthe lighting, he was definately in there, he`sfully into it which is great!!
Cheers
Graham

Drivers side

Under the bonnet.
It has the early tank with big filler cap, even has the original jack/handle and wheel brace!

If anyone knows the history of this car, I`d be interested to know.
I bought it off Alex Holzl from V-Force who picked it up in Lismore, nothing too strange and I thought it was a NSW car but when I got it home I noticed the rego sticker (from 1979) from South Australia !!
I kind of feel good as I have brought it home to S.A!!
I bought a `54 at the auction of Keith Poole`s collection in 2001, there were a few other Ovals there, I can`t remember if I saw this one there..................

thanks graham. i will check out the sites.. i will be having a look when i visit the car in the not to distant future..

looks pretty good gra, i might pop up this weekend or well go to the you know wat.

catch you later, steve..............

Nice Find Graham,
All of a sudden 54's are turning up everywhere, did it come with hearts?
I love the 2-tone racing stripes idea. Cant wait to see it progress, Minus paint do do a good job, my new one has been bead blasted and it is just as good just not as smooth fiinish. I wouldn't get it dipped until you are ready to do body work and paint. I dipped mine and then deceided on another body and now I have to keep rubbing the surface rust off it as its just sitting in the shed. Even the moisture/ acid from fingerprints leaves marks.
T54

I am not 100% sure, but think that car is a '53 ?

Nice one!

All the bits on it point to being an early oval: flat top fuel tank, ribbed doors, batwing steering wheel, straight gear stick, one hole for the bonnet release conduit....

nice work, im sure sam will love it.
sam

Oval Tofu... one hole for bonnet release conduit?
What is that? Just curious.
T54

see where the sleet tube come throught the front apron? there's only one hole for the tube to come thru. In later ovals (I'm told), there are two holes - one for each side - presumably for the different markets being left and right hand drive....Those holes are larger and asymetrically eliptical.

Well the chassis number starts with what looks like a 3 but I think it`s an 8.
Ì`ll go and get the exact number later and post it up here.
I had a look on a website (can`t remember which) and with the 3 it dated it to late `53 but with the 8 it came up June `55 which is stamped on the speedo aswell.
It just seems strange as it has all the makings of a real early Oval.
What year did the heater knob move from behind the handbrake to the side of the tunnel in front of the handbrake??
Mine is behind the handbrake which I can`t remember seeing before.
Cheers for the replies.
Graham.

Looks solid mate. Love the pic of Sam - very cute.

My chassis number starts with an 806XXX and my heater knob is behind the shifter... which site did you look up for the chassis number?

Can`t remember mate.
Which would you recommend??
When you say your heater knob is behind the shifter, do you mean in between the shifter and the handbrake?
Cheers Graham.

Here`s a close-up of the heater knob (although it`s missing! anyone got one? are they the same as later Bugs?)
It also has a roller accelerator peda lif that makes any difference.

And a closeup of the front valance.So what years was the flat top fuel tank??
Graham.

I checked the chassis number and I think it is 896284 but like I said the first 8 looks very much like a 3, it`s really poorly stamped.
If it was a 3 surely it would make it a Zwitter or something, hey is that what that metal bar thing is that I found inside the car that seems to fit in the rear window!!!

There's plenty of chassis number references on the net, some seem conflicting since in '55, they changed the model year alterations to August instead of Jan...

http://www.gex.com/TechInfo1.htm 


A trick to seeing the stamped chassis number is to do it in poor light, and hold a torch nearly parallel to the surface so the light cst a more contrasing shadow across the indented areas. is it poorly stamed in both places - under the rear seat and the comliance plate up at the front? Just out of interest, do you have another number stamped into the body itself under the front compliance plate? Mine reads MKA#### or something..

Not sure what year ovals went to the 'humped' fuel tank to 'create more luggage room'. Though, anymore than the measly amount we have now would be an improvement! I've got the roller pedal too...

oh yeh, i meant that my heater knob sit behind the handbrake..

Hope some of that helps

Its looking very 54 Gra, Everything looks the same as mine>
HEath

Well that`s it, it looks the way I like so even if it`s a `64 I`m not bothered.

Its definately 53-55, has everything my 54 had...wht changes were there between 53-55, nothing major i thought?

it looks like 53 built 54 model, is the hand brake cable or rod??