My new '57 Ragtop project

I finally have one! I have been on a soft hunt for an oval ragtop for quite a while now. In fact, it played a big part in why I sold my '63. I knew in my heart that what I really wanted was an oval rag but it was always a matter of price, timing or just finding the right car. Last week I was in Portland getting supplies for my restaurant and a guy that works there noticed my VW shirt and asked me if I was into Volkswagens. I told him, of course, that I was and he said "Well I've got a couple of old bugs that I'd like to sell. They are both '57s and have that small rear window. One of them has one of those canvas tops that fold back and the other one is a regular one. But, I want them to go together". I almost pooped when he told me the price he was asking as this sort of thing never happens to me. Let's just say that I'm buying an oval sedan and I'm getting a free ragtop with it. So I go on Wednesday to pick them up. The only thing that sucks is that I have to make two trips into Portland to get them both which is 78 miles from here. Oh well. I'll still be smiling like a crazed lunatic. Pictures will follow!

That is awesome. Looking forward to the pics...Kyle

This thread is useless without pictures!!! Sorry Greg I could not help myself!!!

   

I know, I know..... Pics will be posted tomorrow. Gotta keep ya hangin' a little bit!

Congratulations! I know where you could pick up a few boxes of old VW mags if you need some inspiration. Now down to brass tacks. What are you going to do with the second oval. You still have my number in case you need to get in touch with me right? right???

I roll out early in the morning but I'm so excited, I can't sleep and it's pissing me off! 

Mike, I'm going to assemble the second car and put it up for sale and yes, I still have your number. Let me know if you're interested.

Pictures pictures pictures please post some pictures!!

Ok so here we go...

Wow! What a day! The alarm went off yesterday morning at 6:50. But of course with my excitement the night before, I wasn't able to get to sleep until almost 2 o'clock so I was a little tired. I whacked the snooze button a couple of times and then drug my ass out of bed. I grabbed my 11-year-old son and out the door we went. We drove into Portland and went directly to U-Haul to grab the trailer. Their computer system was down so I spent well over 45 minutes there. Got the trailer and headed over to the guy's house. Now, keep in mind that I had not seen these cars in person until I pulled up yesterday. After the discussion I had with the guy last week, he sent me the following pictures and this was all I was going on. So anyway, these are the pictures that were sent to me and we'll start with the Sedan:

Now I was told this car was an all original, rust-free California car that was a complete car that just needed to be assembled....

And the ragtop...

And a few more...

So now you're seeing all I saw up until yesterday morning. I showed up with trailer in tow and cash in hand. I wanted to crawl all over these things as I wanted to make sure there were no surprises like there was with my '63. The gold car just happens to be the closest one walking up the drive so I start there. The rear of the car looks ok. No sign of major impact or anything. This "original rust-free California car" needs pan halves on both sides. It was hit pretty good on the right front corner at some point. The wrinkles went back into the wheel-well pretty far back (see picture). The 4-tab hood was gone. And when I asked him where the rest of the parts were, I was told that the guy that he bought the car from still had them and that he had no idea what was all there. So in addition to the "original rust-free California car", the "complete car, just needs to be assembled" is up for debate also. So as the car currently sits, there is no; glass, trim, dash instrumentation or trim, bumpers, taillights, headlights, license plate light housing, running boards, door handles, and the only front seat I've got is a driver's side '65-'66. Bummer.

Moving onto my inspection of the ragtop, I have to tell you, that it was one of those "love at first sight" kinda deals. I was really trying to keep my emotions in check but I was really digging on this car. It's a legit original car. It's never been bumped on either end. It's got all of it's original panels. It's got damn-near everything it came with from Germany except it's Wolfsburg crest and it's headlights. I was told that it was a little rusty but it was a little rustier than what was explained. One area in particular was never mentioned and I almost pooped when I saw it (picture coming up). The car came with some of it's original documents which pushes me over the top on a deal like this. I did some dickering (from the original price that I was excited to have heard in the beginning) just because there were some surprises. They accepted and we moved along with the deal. The guy is getting ahold of the previous owner on the extra parts for the gold car and will be delivering them to me out here on the coast. All in all, I'm very happy.

So I loaded up the gold car and ran it over to my cousin's house in Milwaukie. My plan was to try and not hold up this guy all day while I ran one car all of the way back to Seaside and then come back and grab the other one. So I dropped the gold car off at my cousin's and then ran back to grab the ragtop. My son and I grabbed some lunch in between and hauled the ragtop into Seaside. Drop it in the garage, go to the bathroom, my son doesn't want to go on the second trip but my daughter does. LOL! Load her up, head back to my cousin's to grab the gold car....blah blah blah. Anyways, we're home, both cars are in the garage.

Here are pics of the gold car on the trailer...

And some of Abby...







Ugh....


Ouch!

And here was my surprise. This is above the gas tank and the tank is rotted out up top here too!!

Back to some cooler things!!

Tool bag with one Hazet wrench


Original matching Oregon plates with VW dealer frames


And my favorite part....the original bill of sale!


Abby was purchased on April 15, 1957 by Donald Cavender. Mr. Cavender traded in his 1954 Chevrolet 2 Door Sedan towards the Volkswagen. The selling price of the Volkswagen was $1765.00. Mr. Cavender received $1000.00 trade in value on his Chevrolet and put down an additional $300.60 towards the car. After taxes and fees, Mr. Cavender financed $604.44 to which he was to make 12 equal payments of $50.37 beginning May 20, 1957 (which, why is there no interest?). The car was paid off in full, April 18, 1958.

Now how cool is THAT??!!!

And lastly, Abby's original owner's manual

Very nice indeed. so you think that you can hold on to it for longer than a year!!

Hey! I resemble that comment!

For your information, I own a '53 Chevy 210 Club Coupe that I've owned for 21 years so BAM!
That just happened.

 

Uh so.....we are talking vw's here not chebbys!!!

  

very cool

get to work

Very soon. I promise.