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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 10:56 am Post subject: New (to me) 1965 1500 Variant S(!) |
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Oh boy.
So after months of scouring the Samba, Craigslist, and eBay for '67-'71 Squarebacks and months of heavy research here on the Samba and great input from folks like Tram and Jim Adney, I finally found "the one" and pulled the trigger on Keith Park's '65 Variant.
I originally specified '67-'71 because I wanted 12V, I wanted FI, I wanted IRS, I wanted disc brakes. Instead I got 6V, dual carbs, swing axles, and drums.
But the car was too good to pass up and Keith restored in such a way that it can really be used and driven properly. I went up to Albany a couple weeks ago to see it in person and it's completely gorgeous - everything it was advertised to be. We've since done the document transfer via FedEx and we'll be working out a date for me to take the train up there and drive it home.
I'm excited to get back into the ACVW world. I've been out of the game for a while but previous experience includes a '75 Beetle, a '78 Bus, a '74 Karmann Ghia convertible, an '83 Vanagon Westy, and a '79 Westy. I've always wanted a Squareback and, since they aren't getting any more plentiful out there, I figured now is the time.
One of my first orders of business will be to install a period reverse light. I have already acquired one of the NOS Bosch reverse light kits that goes on the shift rod. I was dreading the idea of drilling a hole through that perfect rear bumper for the light itself but I was relieved when I went to look at the car to find that the left side of the bumper is already drilled for the light. Whew!
I'm sure I'll have questions as I get more into things but I think one of the first things I'll want to do is build a spares set, especially for spare light bulbs since it's not like I can run down to AutoZone and pick up 6 volt bulbs.
What's the go-to source for 6V replacement bulbs these days? And what's the deal with wattages, seems like VW spec'ed 6V 18.5W for brake light bulbs/turn signal bulbs but it seems like what's out there now is all rated for 16.8W. I have 1129 for single filament, 1154 for dual filament, and 81 for the fender-mounted side parking lights?
(the comparable 12V bulbs are 21 watts, I'd love to find 6V 21W bulbs if they exist out there.)
Also, while generally speaking I hate LED lighting, especially in an old car, I'm thinking it might not be a terrible idea to have LED lighting for just the brake lights in this car. Anyone know of a good 6V capable 1129 replacement that has LEDs not just rear-facing but in all directions so that the reflector housing is properly utilized?
Last edited by sjbartnik on Mon May 18, 2015 11:41 am; edited 1 time in total |
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periscopebill Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2013 Posts: 148 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 11:16 am Post subject: |
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Congrats and welcome to the Brooklyn squareback club!! |
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D/A/N Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2010 Posts: 2224 Location: 11222
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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periscopebill wrote: |
Congrats and welcome to the Brooklyn squareback club!! |
Yeah, the only reliable Squareback in Brooklyn!!
That's a beautiful car.....I saw it in person a few years ago at a show. What a great purchase.....from what I can tell, Keith really went all the way with the restoration.
I hope you have off-street parking! |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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Oh yeah, I wouldn't have even considered this car if I didn't.
Yes thankfully I have a garage.
On the topic of other Squares in Brooklyn, I've only ever seen the hippie nightmare one on N. 6th in Williamsburg and sometimes when I go surfing there's a guy down in Rockaway (Queens I know) with a really sweet early Squareback surfmobile. I'll have to post a pic later. But maybe he lives in Brooklyn |
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JeeJeeJason Samba Member
Joined: May 23, 2014 Posts: 234 Location: Bay area, CA
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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Great looking square. Welcome aboard. _________________ 1968 FI Squareback |
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Erik G Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002 Posts: 13247 Location: Tejas!
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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they've got to be out there - my notch was tourist delivery to Queens (Woodside) and the man lived there until he kinda recently passed
great looking Square, these early type 3's are kinda coming out of the woodwork _________________ Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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t3kg Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 2712 Location: Los Angeles
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Tram Samba Socialist
Joined: May 02, 2003 Posts: 22697 Location: Still Feelin' the Bern- Once you've felt it you can't un- feel it.
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Damn... so you went and done it. Tell Keith he owes me a box of H. Upmann Churchills.
Congrats! _________________ Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.
Bryan67 wrote: |
Just my hands. And a little lube. No tools. |
To best contact me, please use the EMAIL function in my profile |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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Tram wrote: |
Damn... so you went and done it. Tell Keith he owes me a box of H. Upmann Churchills.
Congrats! |
You still haven't told me where to send that nice bottle of single malt! If you're not careful, it's gonna start getting lighter and lighter. |
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periscopebill Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2013 Posts: 148 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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sjbartnik wrote: |
On the topic of other Squares in Brooklyn, I've only ever seen the hippie nightmare one on N. 6th in Williamsburg and sometimes when I go surfing there's a guy down in Rockaway (Queens I know) with a really sweet early Squareback surfmobile. I'll have to post a pic later. But maybe he lives in Brooklyn |
Funny, I was on a crusade to save that poor square in williamsburg. I tracked down the owner to try to rescue it. Apparently he's an Olympic snowboarder, which at least explains the stickers. It's a '71, same light yellow as mine underneath all of the bad decisions. I even found the original owner out in Oregon who was horrified to see what it had become, but never heard from the current owner. |
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jaransonT3 Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2005 Posts: 1260 Location: Dearborn, MI
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Aaron M265 Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2008 Posts: 656 Location: Adelaide, South Australia
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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periscopebill wrote: |
Funny, I was on a crusade to save that poor square in williamsburg. I tracked down the owner to try to rescue it. Apparently he's an Olympic snowboarder, which at least explains the stickers. It's a '71, same light yellow as mine underneath all of the bad decisions. I even found the original owner out in Oregon who was horrified to see what it had become, but never heard from the current owner. |
I saw it one day a couple weeks ago with a sign on the windshield basically asking the city not to tow it as they were working on getting the title/documents from Oregon(??). At any rate, that Square has been sitting there all winter with the driver's side window down, including through a couple serious snowstorms so if that interior wasn't trashed before, it is now. |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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Aaron Britcher wrote: |
If you would like these images please send me an email - [email protected] and I will forward them to you. |
Thanks Aaron; Keith has already sent me his entire archive of restoration photos. Quite a job! |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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Here's the hippie nightmare (this pic was from Feb.)
And here's the sweet Rockaway surf Square:
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D/A/N Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2010 Posts: 2224 Location: 11222
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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sjbartnik wrote: |
Here's the hippie nightmare (this pic was from Feb.)
And here's the sweet Rockaway surf Square:
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That nasty hippie one was still there as of 2 weeks ago. The other one.....wow! It lives out in Rockaway all year long? |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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D/A/N wrote: |
That nasty hippie one was still there as of 2 weeks ago. The other one.....wow! It lives out in Rockaway all year long? |
That I don't know. I've seen it out there a couple times but I don't know if the guy is a local. Nice car though. Has a red interior if I remember correctly. |
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ataraxia Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 4504 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 5:39 pm Post subject: Re: New (to me) 1965 1500S Variant(!) |
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sjbartnik wrote: |
What's the go-to source for 6V replacement bulbs these days? And what's the deal with wattages, seems like VW spec'ed 6V 18.5W for brake light bulbs/turn signal bulbs but it seems like what's out there now is all rated for 16.8W. I have 1129 for single filament, 1154 for dual filament, and 81 for the fender-mounted side parking lights?
(the comparable 12V bulbs are 21 watts, I'd love to find 6V 21W bulbs if they exist out there.)
Also, while generally speaking I hate LED lighting, especially in an old car, I'm thinking it might not be a terrible idea to have LED lighting for just the brake lights in this car. Anyone know of a good 6V capable 1129 replacement that has LEDs not just rear-facing but in all directions so that the reflector housing is properly utilized? |
You can find most of the 6 volt filament bulbs at Wolfsburg West. I bought a complete set of bulbs from them.
I have some super/stupid bright LED bulbs that I use for brake lights - they're 6v / 12v compatible but they're not cheap.
Here's the thread, starting where I installed and photographed the output:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...p;start=62
There's plenty to read before that post as well.
Keith's car is very nice and close to original stock...great find for sure! If you wind up needing early parts - feel free to get in touch. |
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chaosisme Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 1256 Location: Orange County, Ca
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to the Sea Blue '65 Squareback club! _________________ '65 1500 S [quareback]
'68 FI Sunroof Squareback
'70 Westy
OCT3 - Orange County Type 3's |
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t3kg Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 2712 Location: Los Angeles
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