Old Volks Beetle restorer

[maxtwo]

For interior have a look at the guy on soi sukumvit 105 Bangkok.I posted A couple of his cars early in the thread.

At home in uk I have triumph Tr5 and Morgan 3 wheeler v twin .But like all old cars and I was very impressed with this guys work to see from road it's just a mess but round the back the cars he had in the work shop were all A1.

[LannaGuy]

30 minutes ago, maxtwo said:

For interior have a look at the guy on soi sukumvit 105 Bangkok.I posted A couple of his cars early in the thread.

At home in uk I have triumph Tr5 and Morgan 3 wheeler v twin .But like all old cars and I was very impressed with this guys work to see from road it's just a mess but round the back the cars he had in the work shop were all A1.

nice but this is a Chiang Mai Forum thread  lol

Edited February 6, 2017 by LannaGuy

[maxtwo]

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[maxtwo]

nice but this is a Chiang Mai Forum thread  lol

Yes but if you want a good job done you have to travel .And there are no only Chiangmai Mai residents reading this thread.And I think VW specialists in Thailand are thin on the ground.

[LannaGuy]

38 minutes ago, maxtwo said:

Yes but if you want a good job done you have to travel .And there are no only Chiangmai Mai residents reading this thread.And I think VW specialists in Thailand are thin on the ground.

We have several here and gobs has had his red car renovated as you can see. I think I'd prefer we stick to Chiang Mai, thank you, unless it's parts etc. which we can ship up here.

 

It might be worth starting a new thread in the car section?  covering all Thailand?  cheers

Edited February 6, 2017 by LannaGuy

[The Dark Lord]

13 hours ago, gobs said:

Ah-ah! Thanks for the kind words, Alan...

Interior has just been done a few months ago. Very, very good work and nice finish touches...

 

 

 

 

Though, according to the original '67 VW chart, for my Red Ruby Beetle the interior ought to be platinum (a kind of dark grey) for the cloth and black for the leatherette, as stated here:

 

 

But at the end I felt it was too dark (not even considering the thai hot weather), so I went for something clearer and fancier with a white sunroof, beige/caramel color tones and a crimson edging around the seats.

 

 

 

Hey gobs my friend, as I said earlier, I am not much of a VW (Stuttgart) man but more of an Austrian ( Bavaria) man but your motor looks <deleted>****g awesome. 

 

Monster  amount of kudos for your care and effort there 

 

not so sure about the the furry toys in the rear sill, do they nod and have the eyes light up as a third brake light?

Edited February 6, 2017 by The Dark Lord

[LannaGuy]

I'm being quoted 12,000 to 18,500 for a steering wheel is that normal?  it seems waaaaaay overpriced for a repro but maybe I'm just outta touch?  

 

rims quoting 32,000 set of 4 which dun seem too bad but i think I'll just get them in Chiang Mai - one question - do you experts worry about carrying a spare?  if I change dem der wheels I will need 5 (if I can fit the spare into the storage bay)

Edited February 6, 2017 by LannaGuy

[gobs]

22 hours ago, steve187 said:

sometimes we can all be a fit over the top, I am just going to get my Kombi drive-able and use-able, but at the back of my mind is a really nice type 3, but not sure if it will come into my wife mind at any stage. on a slightly different note i am thinking of going to the VW Siam festival next weekend, be nice to look at some nice vehicles and a chance to look around for some 2nd hand parts, that i need .

 

yes will Lannaguy keep it original or change the look.

 

where did you get the trimming done

I agree, Steve. Better to settle and be happy with "the best one may get"

 

A nice Type 3 drive is a great idea. Not many to be seen and very proper design...

 

Upholstery has been done in Lamphun, but as I got the restoration as a "package", the tech (as the middleman) never told me the name of the shop...

 

[gobs]

11 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

are you sure your interior beats mine?  lol

Ah-ah-ah!

It's called a "distressed interior": very trendy nowadays!

 

In those times I think it was a bit of a norm for mass production european popular cars to be at first "utilitarian" and not expensive. As far as  I remember I can't see any "fancy" interior in Europe then for this kind of vehicles...

But here in Thailand it's easy to cure that and not so expensive compared with the West...

 

As I said earlier, it's part of the way to "build" your own drive and put a lot of your own feeling into it.

 

 

 

 

[gobs]

11 hours ago, maxtwo said:

For interior have a look at the guy on soi sukumvit 105 Bangkok.I posted A couple of his cars early in the thread.

At home in uk I have triumph Tr5 and Morgan 3 wheeler v twin .But like all old cars and I was very impressed with this guys work to see from road it's just a mess but round the back the cars he had in the work shop were all A1.

Yummy!

[gobs]

10 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

We have several here and gobs has had his red car renovated as you can see. I think I'd prefer we stick to Chiang Mai, thank you, unless it's parts etc. which we can ship up here.

 

It might be worth starting a new thread in the car section?  covering all Thailand?  cheers

I think it's a great idea, Lannaguy! A "general" thread about vintage cars maybe...

Could be useful for any owner about any brand, with infos, tips, links and addresses.

Yes I think it would be interesting...

[gobs]

10 hours ago, The Dark Lord said:

Hey gobs my friend, as I said earlier, I am not much of a VW (Stuttgart) man but more of an Austrian ( Bavaria) man but your motor looks <deleted>****g awesome. 

 

Monster  amount of kudos for your care and effort there 

 

not so sure about the the furry toys in the rear sill, do they nod and have the eyes light up as a third brake light?

Thanks for your nice words TDL.

Ah-ah-ah! No, toys don't nod or light up (but good idea though ). They are just here to give the "over-kill-too-much" disturbing touch I like to throw out sometimes...

[gobs]

1 hour ago, LannaGuy said:

I'm being quoted 12,000 to 18,500 for a steering wheel is that normal?  it seems waaaaaay overpriced for a repro but maybe I'm just outta touch?  

 

rims quoting 32,000 set of 4 which dun seem too bad but i think I'll just get them in Chiang Mai - one question - do you experts worry about carrying a spare?  if I change dem der wheels I will need 5 (if I can fit the spare into the storage bay)

In the West a repro original steering wheel is about 12,000.

A chinese wood one is about 5,000 - 8,000.

A italian wood one (Nardi: excellent quality and finish!) is about 15,000 - 18,000.

Did you look around here in CNX in thai accessories shops? They may have these kind of chinese repros with proper adaptors...

 

In the link Steve gave earlier, Fuchs rims in BKK quoted 26,500 and available delivery:

https://web.facebook.com/AFV.thailand/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&_rdr

 

For me, yes better to carry a spare wheel. But don't worry it being the same as your other rims. Even if the car is not then well balanced, you just drive slowly/cautiously to the next repair shop. This kind of spare is usually used for a very short time...

IMHO no need to "invest" in a 5th alloy rim. But YMMV...

 

Some pics of the steering wheel and rims you are speaking/dreaming of?

Just to make us salivating...

 

 

Edited February 6, 2017 by gobs

[alaninlamphun]

At the moment I'm working on a project in the UK and I would love to meet up in Chiang Mai when I'm back there (a few weeks away yet) to see what your doing with the cars.
If your interested please let me know, a coffee and a chat about beetles one afternoon sounds appealing at the moment, the weather is cold and miserable here.
Alan


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[LannaGuy]

4 hours ago, alaninlamphun said:

At the moment I'm working on a project in the UK and I would love to meet up in Chiang Mai when I'm back there (a few weeks away yet) to see what your doing with the cars.
If your interested please let me know, a coffee and a chat about beetles one afternoon sounds appealing at the moment, the weather is cold and miserable here.
Alan


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

absolutely!  

[LannaGuy]

10 hours ago, gobs said:

In the West a repro original steering wheel is about 12,000.

A chinese wood one is about 5,000 - 8,000.

A italian wood one (Nardi: excellent quality and finish!) is about 15,000 - 18,000.

Did you look around here in CNX in thai accessories shops? They may have these kind of chinese repros with proper adaptors...

 

In the link Steve gave earlier, Fuchs rims in BKK quoted 26,500 and available delivery:

https://web.facebook.com/AFV.thailand/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&_rdr

 

For me, yes better to carry a spare wheel. But don't worry it being the same as your other rims. Even if the car is not then well balanced, you just drive slowly/cautiously to the next repair shop. This kind of spare is usually used for a very short time...

IMHO no need to "invest" in a 5th alloy rim. But YMMV...

 

Some pics of the steering wheel and rims you are speaking/dreaming of?

Just to make us salivating...

 

 

those are 5 bolt 205 wheels?  mine is 4 bolt 130 and can't take those babies.. I am told they have to adapt and put in an extra bolt... is this what you have done???  (conversion kit in photo)

Edited February 7, 2017 by LannaGuy

[LannaGuy]

9 hours ago, gobs said:

In the West a repro original steering wheel is about 12,000.

A chinese wood one is about 5,000 - 8,000.

A italian wood one (Nardi: excellent quality and finish!) is about 15,000 - 18,000.

Did you look around here in CNX in thai accessories shops? They may have these kind of chinese repros with proper adaptors...

 

In the link Steve gave earlier, Fuchs rims in BKK quoted 26,500 and available delivery:

https://web.facebook.com/AFV.thailand/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&_rdr

 

For me, yes better to carry a spare wheel. But don't worry it being the same as your other rims. Even if the car is not then well balanced, you just drive slowly/cautiously to the next repair shop. This kind of spare is usually used for a very short time...

IMHO no need to "invest" in a 5th alloy rim. But YMMV...

 

Some pics of the steering wheel and rims you are speaking/dreaming of?

Just to make us salivating...

 

 

asking 12,000 for this one - repro - it seemed a lot to me but I'm new to this  :)  I dislike the current wheel (although original) another dealer has a similar white one for 18,500 but i think black would go better?

Edited February 7, 2017 by LannaGuy

[LannaGuy]

the white one 18,500 - which one do you guys like?

[oldcarguy]

you need a spare but a stock one is fine , do make sure you also have stock lug bolts and a lug wrench to fit ,

 

leave you bug 4 bolt , there are lots of aftermarket rims to fit the 130mm 4 bolt including 2 liter Porsche 914 fuchs ,

 

steering wheels , the repro  stock looking ones seem to be a little flimsy , not as strong metal ,

I would have Koch in California do one for me , he uses stock VW steering wheels and puts new plastic on them , can also do the color you want

 

There are so many things to do on a VW , I  prefer the stock look ,  with a few period look accessories......

[gobs]

7 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

the white one 18,500 - which one do you guys like?

Price seems high but if you have a look here in UK, not so much.

1) £300 the steering wheel but no horn:

https://www.vwheritage.com/ac400i235-steering-wheel-flat-4-banjo-ivory

2) then add £100 for the "sun and moon" horn press:

https://www.vwheritage.com/ac400i246a-horn-press-flat-4-sun-moon-for-banjo-wheel

So about £400 both (no delivery): about THB17,000. Not so far...

 

Seems pricey to me.

As well too '50s connotated for a '70s Beetle in my opinion. I well see this SW on a old convertible Beetle or a vintage car with spokes wheels.

Frankly speaking, if it were for me, I wouldn't chose this SW, but it's only my point of view of course.

Very difficult to give cosmetic comments: to each his own preferences...

 

[LannaGuy]

1 minute ago, gobs said:

Price seems high but if you have a look here in UK, not so much.

1) £300 the steering wheel but no horn:

https://www.vwheritage.com/ac400i235-steering-wheel-flat-4-banjo-ivory

2) then add £100 for the "sun and moon" horn press:

https://www.vwheritage.com/ac400i246a-horn-press-flat-4-sun-moon-for-banjo-wheel

So about £400 both (no delivery): about THB17,000. Not so far...

 

Seems pricey to me.

As well too '50s connotated for a '70s Beetle in my opinion. I well see this SW on a old convertible Beetle or a vintage car with spokes wheels.

Frankly speaking, if it were for me, I wouldn't chose this SW, but it's only my point of view of course.

Very difficult to give cosmetic comments: to each his own preferences...

 

yes I think the black one 'fits' better 

[gobs]

12 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

those are 5 bolt 205 wheels?  mine is 4 bolt 130 and can't take those babies.. I am told they have to adapt and put in an extra bolt... is this what you have done???  (conversion kit in photo)

Oops! My bad. I forgot your '72 wheels are 4 lugs 130...

 

I think your original wheels are 4J15 or 4.5J15, right?

You know, if it were me, I'ld go visit/spend time in some rims/tires big shops in CNX and ask what is available in 15" 4/130 or not to make any mistake I'ld go with my spare wheel for them to check and see what they may offer. You may find something "classic" you like for your Beetle...

 

Or:

After a quick search, I saw some 2nd hand 4/130 rims sets for sale here in Thailand:

 

 

 

 

Just speaking here...

 

As well, I'ld do the same for a steering wheel: looking through some accessories shops in CNX before deciding. Usually adaptors are not a problem if needed...

 

10 years ago when I bought my '67 Beetle, the steering wheel was a wood Momo (maybe a chinese copy with the Momo logo in fact). Then I quietly waited (3 or 4 years) before I found a 2nd hand original one (as on the pics above) that I paid BTH4,000, clean and in good shape though not as new.

 

Searching for parts and accessories is part of the (fun) quest...

 

 

 

[Saraphee]

On 1/26/2017 at 10:33 PM, gobs said:

Between TV members, I'm afraid it'ld be a "micro" VW Classic Club

But open to vintage cars, any models and brands, why not? Then it'ld become a "mini" Classic Cars Club. And more stories, tips and jokes to share too...

www.classiccarsoflanna.com

[steve187]

old post on a facebook page but he may have more - 

https://www.facebook.com/TP-collectiblesVw-parts-409802839132951/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE

[oldcarguy]

the white 3 spoke "banjo" wheel is flat across the front so you need a "tall" adapter to make it sit right ,  originally they came on early bugs from the 50s and easy 356 Porsches which all used a flat wheel,   Flat 4 in Japan had them made in the  USA years ago and made a tall adapter so  they would fit on the new Mexician beetles they were importing to Japan

 

your bug has a "dished" steering wheel , and if its not made to fit a bug your fingers will hit the windscreen

Flat 4 also made a copy of the dished "Empi" wood wheel

 

Everything Flat 4 made was top quality stuff ,  most everything the "New" Empi / Chinese junk being sold is trash , just made to sell cheap, 

 

Real EMPI was from Riverside California 1965-74 ,  run by Joe Vittone  and very good stuff , 

Then the name got kidnapped in the late 70s  and the NEW made in China Empi  ( was named Mr Bug before) started making trash and still do !

 

How about a Metalflake  wheel  from Mooneyes :)

 

 

[LannaGuy]

9 hours ago, gobs said:

Oops! My bad. I forgot your '72 wheels are 4 lugs 130...

 

I think your original wheels are 4J15 or 4.5J15, right?

You know, if it were me, I'ld go visit/spend time in some rims/tires big shops in CNX and ask what is available in 15" 4/130 or not to make any mistake I'ld go with my spare wheel for them to check and see what they may offer. You may find something "classic" you like for your Beetle...

 

Or:

After a quick search, I saw some 2nd hand 4/130 rims sets for sale here in Thailand:

 

 

 

 

Just speaking here...

 

As well, I'ld do the same for a steering wheel: looking through some accessories shops in CNX before deciding. Usually adaptors are not a problem if needed...

 

10 years ago when I bought my '67 Beetle, the steering wheel was a wood Momo (maybe a chinese copy with the Momo logo in fact). Then I quietly waited (3 or 4 years) before I found a 2nd hand original one (as on the pics above) that I paid BTH4,000, clean and in good shape though not as new.

 

Searching for parts and accessories is part of the (fun) quest...

 

 

 

yea i think I'll not adapt it and stick to 4 lugs - i'll scout around first

[LannaGuy]

8 hours ago, oldcarguy said:

the white 3 spoke "banjo" wheel is flat across the front so you need a "tall" adapter to make it sit right ,  originally they came on early bugs from the 50s and easy 356 Porsches which all used a flat wheel,   Flat 4 in Japan had them made in the  USA years ago and made a tall adapter so  they would fit on the new Mexician beetles they were importing to Japan

 

your bug has a "dished" steering wheel , and if its not made to fit a bug your fingers will hit the windscreen

Flat 4 also made a copy of the dished "Empi" wood wheel

 

Everything Flat 4 made was top quality stuff ,  most everything the "New" Empi / Chinese junk being sold is trash , just made to sell cheap, 

 

Real EMPI was from Riverside California 1965-74 ,  run by Joe Vittone  and very good stuff , 

Then the name got kidnapped in the late 70s  and the NEW made in China Empi  ( was named Mr Bug before) started making trash and still do !

 

How about a Metalflake  wheel  from Mooneyes :)

 

 

thanks - the two examples I posted will fit the '72 according to the VW Classic dealers but I have sort of disregarded the white one and think I'll take the black - I really don't like the present wheel even though it's original 

[Trujillo]

I don't see any seat belts in the previous photos. 

[gobs]

19 hours ago, steve187 said:

old post on a facebook page but he may have more - 

https://www.facebook.com/TP-collectiblesVw-parts-409802839132951/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE

Thanks, Steve! This is a nice wheel.

For a (light) sporty-look '60s-'70s Beetle, to my taste, this Empi wheel is one of my favored ones...

 

 

 

 

[gobs]

10 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

yea i think I'll not adapt it and stick to 4 lugs - i'll scout around first

Today I went to a tires/wheels small family shop near home to get my Beetle punctured spare wheel fixed.

By chance the guy has many clean 2nd hand alloy rims sets for sale. Some 15" 4 lugs, but 5" or 5.5" wide.

I asked him if there were 4 lugs 130, he didn't know (or understand?). He just said to me you have to come with your car and we'll try if it fits.

Price of one 4 alloy rims set: THB5,000. OMG!

 

Sometimes, it's worth scouting thai shops: good suprises may pop out...