Here are some more pictures of the Beetle, now it has all been reassembled and finished.
These next couple of pictures show the original and immaculate burgundy leatherette interior. The only bits that let it down are the carpet sections on the heater channels, which I plan to renew as soon as I can find somewhere that sells the carpet!
Notice the original white parcel shelf below the dash. It has been with the car from new and is made from plastic-covered plywood.
The car used to have a burgundy steering wheel cover, but crumbled on removal. I am currently looking for a replacement...
Here is a picture of the original 'F-series' 1285cc 1300 engine. None of the tinware has ever been repainted - it is still gloss black (despite many people thinking it should be satin black - incidentally, the bumper irons are the original sliver ones - many people incorrectly paint them black during restoration).
Note the accessory reversing light. It was designed to be fitted on the bottom edge of the bumper, not the top. When I removed it to correct this, there was a small scratch in the chrome, so it was replaced there.
Under the bonnet is the original, virtually unmarked card liner. When I removed this (and the second protective wiring card underneath), there were some blue wax inspectors markings on the paint! There are also some under the rear seats, and probably more on the inner wings - if you removed the underseal! There is a paper ticket under the rear seat that says March 1966. The speedometer and fuel gauge are also marked 3/66.
I still have the VW toolkit, complete with all of the tools. The plastic bag over the petrol tank filler was fitted to stop the petrol fumes coming into the car when driving, due to an ill-fitting cap. I have now fitted a replacement cap, and removed the bag!
The VW outside our house. As my Dad's has two old MG's in the garage (a 1962 MGA and a 1947 MGTC) there is no room for the Beetle - it lives outside as it always has done no matter what the weather! Regular washing and cleaning keeps it in tip-top shape all the time.
Here's the car with my Learner plates on, from when I was learning to drive!! I have since passed my test. Unfortunately it was not in the VW, but in a Rover Metro... (My test examiner turned out to be a Beetle fan! - was that why I passed first time?!?)
This shows the engine after the dynamo was removed. Originally I was simply going to replace the brushes, but one of the retainer springs fell off the bottom hook. After many failed attempts to replace this spring, I tried to take the end off the dynamo. I removed a long bolt, and CLUNK, a nut fell off the end and into the fan housing!! It eventually took two days for me and my Dad to remove and replace the unit! Luckily, it gave me a good chance to clean the engine tinware. I have also replaced both axle gaiters. Not a drop of oil has leaked out since!
The second time I had to remove the dynamo it only took 3 hours. Getting better!
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