[schakravarthy]

A Beetle spotted at a garage in Mysore.

[thebulletboy]

An Oval bug has been on my bucket list of cars to own for a long time.
Early this year, two cars (1955 and 1961) that have been resting for 20-odd years, came up for sale in Goa, and I just had to have them!

I believe the oval has been seen before on t-bhp.

Pic courtesy / copyright : JayD, Nathan, Reuben



Batwing steering wheel, Dehne accessory fuel gauge


Mother nature had begun the reclaimation process
The ridge on the door is a feature of 1955 and earlier cars.


The only thing slower than a bug is a snail!




Original 36 horse engine. Single tail pipe


Heart tail lamps! Intact !!


Rain, Rust, Goa!

[smsrini]

Originally Posted by thebulletboy

An Oval bug has been on my bucket list of cars to own for a long time.
Early this year, two cars (1955 and 1961) that have been resting for 20-odd years, came up for sale in Goa, and I just had to have them!

I believe the oval has been seen before on t-bhp.

Both getting restored or one for a donor car ?

[KartikeyaL]

Originally Posted by thebulletboy

An Oval bug has been on my bucket list of cars to own for a long time.
Early this year, two cars (1955 and 1961) that have been resting for 20-odd years, came up for sale in Goa, and I just had to have them!

I believe the oval has been seen before on t-bhp.

Congratulations Thebulletboy, I hope you bought both and are restoring both.
Sent you a pm sometime back.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by thebulletboy

An Oval bug has been on my bucket list of cars to own for a long time.
Early this year, two cars (1955 and 1961) that have been resting for 20-odd years, came up for sale in Goa, and I just had to have them!

Batwing steering wheel, Dehne accessory fuel gauge
Attachment 1535093

Congrats on a great buy. I'm sure RHD 55s must be pretty few in number. I think the Dharmasthala car is in similar configration.

Loved the fuel gauge - but don't miss the steering wheel grip - also a cool period item. Is the car still 6V? I notice it also still has the straight dimpled gear lever, many Goa cars upgraded to the cranked unit. Interestingly yours is another car with fender turn signals and no semaphores - do check if they've been welded up.

Looking forward to updates on the restoration.

[manishalive]

Awesome stuff Pankaj, oval is real rare and that too RHD, would love to see this in coming weekend and then the number is just nice, but should have been 1947 or 1955 for much more drama . I am loving all the original bits as well too.

[thebulletboy]

Originally Posted by smsrini

Both getting restored or one for a donor car ?

In my opinion, even though the 61 has far more rust than the 55, neither of the cars qualify as, nor require a donor car.

Originally Posted by KartikeyaL

Congratulations Thebulletboy, I hope you bought both and are restoring both.
Sent you a pm sometime back.

Thanks Kartik! Yes, I have purchased both, and hope to restore them both.
My apologies. I seem to have missed your PM. I have sent you a few leads now.

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Congrats on a great buy. I'm sure RHD 55s must be pretty few in number. I think the Dharmasthala car is in similar configration.

Thanks Karl! Yes, the Dharmasthala oval appears to have a single tail pipe (which would make it 55 or earlier), but it has the later snowflake tail lamps (If the tail lamps are original to the car that would make it a late 55, if not it could be earlier). Need to check some hard to change features to precisely date the car.

Here's a side-by-side grab of the 55 and 56 manual (Some of the differences that I have noted so far are the steering wheel, the ridged door, the gear lever, heater vent in footwell and the heater knob on the tunnel).

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Loved the fuel gauge - but don't miss the steering wheel grip - also a cool period item. Is the car still 6V? I notice it also still has the straight dimpled gear lever, many Goa cars upgraded to the cranked unit.

The car does sport a 6V flywheel and starter, though that could've still been run with a 12V battery. Will check the bulbs to see what battery it was last running on.

Yes, as you mentioned, most of the parts (including the gear lever) in this 55 have largely remained unchanged.

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Interestingly yours is another car with fender turn signals and no semaphores - do check if they've been welded up.

Looking forward to updates on the restoration.

No semaphores just like on your car! Will need to check this whenever I eventually strip off the paint in the future.

Will start a thread once there is sufficient progress on the car.

Originally Posted by manishalive

Awesome stuff Pankaj, oval is real rare and that too RHD, would love to see this in coming weekend and then the number is just nice, but should have been 1947 or 1955 for much more drama . I am loving all the original bits as well too.

Thanks Manish! One can never have enough drama in one's life I guess!
Most welcome anytime.

[schakravarthy]

Spotted today morning in Bangalore,

[gowda79]

Spotted this 1969 VW Beetle come to life. No guesses from where i found this at

[flotsam]

Originally Posted by thebulletboy

In my opinion, even though the 61 has far more rust than the 55, neither of the cars qualify as, nor require a donor car.

Bulletboy, I am sure you will be interested in these photos of your 1961 VW GDA 2428. It was originally grey as seen in the photo taken in 1983-84; and then painted orange in around 1986-87. My dad owned the car between 1983-87.

[thebulletboy]

Originally Posted by flotsam

Bulletboy, I am sure you will be interested in these photos of your 1961 VW GDA 2428. It was originally grey as seen in the photo taken in 1983-84; and then painted orange in around 1986-87. My dad owned the car between 1983-87.

Fantastic! You just made my day!
If you have any more photos of or information on your dad's car pls do share.

Also, if I may trouble you a bit more, could you pls email me the scans of these pics on thebulletboy at yahoo dot com ? I'd be much obliged.

Thanks much!

[sankar009]

A beetle somewhere in Kerala.photo shared by friend on facebook

[kishorelal]

IIRC have seen this car in cochin a few years ago,but it was in pretty bad shape then.

[ariesonu]

Found this (under restoration) Beetle in "numbered" by-lanes of Chembur.
If someone knows her, then pls share more details.





Regards-Sonu

[schakravarthy]

An under restoration Beetle