Changes to early vent window glass

As a final bit of the observations on changes introduced in September 1962, as mentioned in the scan of the page from the VW1500 body manual in an earlier post today, there were a number of changes to the vent window glass and chromed pivot frame that it sits in.
The biggest was that originally the locking handle for the vent window was secured to a chromed stud which was permanently riveted through the glass. The head and overall diameter of the stud was smaller than that on the later ones, the hole in the glass was enlarged to accommodate the post September 62 version.
The chromed pivot frame at the bottom of the glass also differed; the chromed stud for the locking handle sat relatively higher up the chromed pivot frame and the leading edge of the chromed pivot frame had a different end profile.
Finally the pivot bar from the chromed frame that goes into the vent window frame had a different profile that eliminated the need for the circlip fitted on the later ones. (although there also seems to be a mid version which has the early prole but later pivot bar with circlip.
The early window glasses with riveted fittings shown here in the first photo are off my early 62 and will be going back on once I have some new locking handles for them sorted out.

Early front vent frame comparisson

Following on from my post about the change to the door glass here are some photos from which you will be able to see the changes made between the pre and post September 62 front vent frames.
The early frames only had one ridge for the locking handle to engage with, later ones had two. Also the shape of the front part of the frame which is hidden within the door has changed as well becoming smaller in size.

Door glass for early cars

If you have a car built before September 1962, chassis number 087078 then take great care of your door glass.  The glass from September 1962 onwards was reduced in width by 2mm and fitted along with an adapted vent window frame - see attached sheet from the 1500 body manual from VW plus photo of early and late window glass stacked on top of each other showing the difference in size.

Drivers door and pain in the glass

I took the drivers door to be repaired and resprayed; it needed the dent I mentioned in an earlier post removing and repair to a small chip in the ridge removing.  I got the door back a couple of weeks ago and refitted it.  The bad news is the dent is still visible; it will have to wait until the end of the summer before I tackle it again as I want to use the car over the summer.
In the process of putting the car back together I wanted to tackle the problem which I kept meeting of the door glass separating from the lifter.  This is happening as the horizontal part of the lifter has rotted, weakening the structure and its grip on the glass.  As a result I need a new lifter - for drivers door on a LHD drive - if you have one then let me know, it must be totally rust free as I have a couple of others that have rust in them already - surface rust is OK but no holes or splits.

External door handles

Back in September 2009 I posted pictures of 1962 model external door handles showing that they differed from later ones by having hollow  backs.
I had by that stage already rechromed a set of later ones for my 62 and have now had the early ones rechromed also.

I will fit them shortly along with the NOS door handle seals I bought across in Germany last year.

50 years old today!!

It is 50 years today since my Type 34 rolled off the production line at the Karmann factory.  Since leaving Germany it has lived in Denmark, South Africa and England.  In August it went back to Germany as part of the 50 year celebrations.  Lets hope it survives another 50 years.

November 2011 update

I just got the speedo back from Speedy Cables. I had to send it to them as 50 miles from the end of our trip to Germany it started screaming like a banshee.

They have stripped it and serviced it using some parts from a spare unit I sent them and then fitted it with a new correct style chrome bezel. Looks great, only down side is they used the case from the spare unit and now my 9\61 stamped case is on the wrong unit - ah well its only me that knows!

They also made me up a new LHD speedo cable; the outer case had split and I wondered is water had got into the mechanism through that opening. The new cable has a hole for a split pin like later cars rather than a circlip but identical otherwise. I'll fit everything back together over the next weekend or so, should be ready in time for the cars 50th birthday on November 20th.

Belated September 2011 update

After the trip to the 50th celebration in GMH I had a number of tasks to carry out on the car. The first was to replace the oil pressure switch on the oil cooler as it had been leaking in a big way; easily done.

Next was to cure the bake light switch on the master cylinder from being affected by rain water. On the drive around GMH water had got into the electrical connections leading to no brake lights. The early cars don't have a stone shield under the master cylinder and no rubber boot was fitted either to seal the master cylinder brake switch from the elements. I sourced a suitable type 4 one from VW Heritage and again solution achieved in about 2 minutes.

On the way over to GMH the drivers door window fell out of its end guide rail leading to it coming out of the window lifter mechanism and jamming half way down. I took the door apart and discovered that the captive nut on the lower adjuster for the window lifter at the doors trailing edge had sheared off. Some quick grinding and welding had it quickly re-attached.

A source of irritation has been a dent which has appeared in each door close to the door locks, so whilst the door was in pieces I thought I would do something about it and also the other door. I decided to call in a paintless dent removal company to tackle the problem. (I had no idea how these could have happened as the panel work was perfect when it left the body shop and I certainly haven't damaged them). After a couple of hours of trying they had to admit defeat - the centre of each dent appears to be a spot weld which fixes the re-inforcing plate behind each door handle\lock and they just couldn't improve\solve the problem. Again no idea why this problem should occur post completion of the car and it looks like live with it or repaint both doors.

Good news is it looks like I will now be able to keep the car so thanks to all those who expressed an interest in it.

Video of T34 cabriolet

Here is a short video of the silver T34 cabriolet seen again at the old Karmann museum at the 50th celebrations of the Type 34. It is a 1961 body on a 1969 chassis\dash. Wonder how many other 'small' volume producers kept unused non series production bodies and turned them into working vehicles 8 years after their intended production date?

Video of the 1600 TC fastback prototype

Here is a short video of the aborted T34 prototype developed in 1964 and never to enter production. Video taken at the old Karmann museum.
An interesting observation is that with its completion in September 1964 the TC appears to have been a year ahead of the existing coupe in terms of engine size which had a 1500 (1493) cc engine and was not increased to 1600cc until the 1966 model.

Video from old Karmann Museum of the Sartorelli 1959 Ghia prototype

Here is a short walk around the Sartorelli 1959 Ghia protoype seen at the old Karmann museum during the 50th celebration of the T34 in 2011. Interestingly VW have it displayed as 1960 on the car.

The badge on the lip of the rear boot has disappeared I think since I last saw the car. Looking at the dashboard instruments it also looks to have a later 160KPH speedo fitted as well - wonder what the original looked like?