1957 Volkswagen Beetle

Registration: 698UXF
Chassis no: 1597766

July 1957 Volkswagen Beetle made in the very last month of Oval window production. Probably less than 2000 made after this car as when the workers returned to work after the August shut down all beetles were made with the larger back window.

This car was sold new By Robinsons VW in Graz Austria where it resided in regular use where it clocked up 44000km until the late sixties as documented in the history. At this point the car was moved to a motor museum where it sat until 2003/4.
It was purchased as a job lot by a dutch company called Keift'n'Klok who then sold the car on to a British Gentleman named Andy Suoimen. He drove the car for a short while before taking it off the road in 2005 to begin a full and extensive restoration.

The body was separated from the floor pan and repairs were entrusted to a company called hanover heritage who began letting in new metal which was sourced from rust free donor cars in Australia. At this time the restoration stopped and the car was laid up for a number of years until we stepped in and took over.

The car was transported back to essex and the restoration began once again. The previous metal repairs were re-done to bring it up to an acceptable standard and all genuine VW panels were sourced.
It has the correct style early 4 tab bonnet and full W decklid. Wings are genuine VW and extremely hard to source but provided a far more superior fit over reproduction items.

The Heater channel and rear quarter panels were replaced with genuine VW steel and once all the bodywork was complete it was painted in its original L331 Horizon blue as originally supplied by the factory.
The chassis was stripped and some minor repairs carried out but the floors are the originals as supplied in 1957. It was fully powder coated and then sprayed in gloss black as were all other chassis components such as spring plates. brake backing plates and front axle components. The front beam was re-bushed and reamed to correct specs and all new king and link pins fitted and set up correctly using original VW workshop manuals. All brake components were replaced and all new brake lines made by us. All bearings were replaced and all new seals fitted.
The original transmission was fully stripped cleaned and refreshed. detailed and is numbers matching to the chassis. front axle and body. The engine was extensively overhauled receiving a full line bore. all new main bearings. new piston rings. barrels re-honed. All new silicon bronze valve guides and new valves. Fuel pump overhaul. Full carburettor rebuild using new jets and diaphragms.
All cooling tin-ware is year correct and most is date stamped 7/57 and fully restored. The block however is an earlier March 55 item but is of the correct 36hp type as originally fitted new. The engine was fitted with a new clutch and pressure plate and mated to the fresh transmission.

The freshly painted body was fitted to the now better than new floor and fully refitted with the original doors which had new hinge pins fitted to remove the usual drop associated with beetles along with wings. bonnet and engine lid. All new german quality rubber seals were used for the doors and glass and all other fittings are either original or new old stock items. Wiring loom is brand new built to original VW specs with correct colours used through out. All electrical components are Genuine VW even down to the bakelite fuse boxes.
The inside was fully sound proofed and fitted with a new bespoke wool cloth headliner with the rest of the interior being the original upholstery with some minor repairs carried out and the door cards being re-padded and boarded.
All interior fittings were painted in the correct sandalwood paint and are original to the car.

All exterior chrome is genuine VW and was re-chromed to a high standard. All exterior glass. lights handles are again original VW items. All five wheels are date stamped 7/57 and are painted in the correct corresponding two tone colours then fitted with brand new Firestone f560 radial tyres.
Car has been been set up using later tracking to measure toe and camber angles.

The car was subject to a six page Magazine feature in International publication Ultra VW in November 2015.

A gallery of large high resolution pictures may be viewed at http://www. vandp. net




Office 01375 379719
Richard Biddulph 07967 260673
Adi 07960 781930


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Part Exchange welcome.
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Viewings by appointment :

Prestige House.
9 Globe Industrial Estate. br/>Grays. Essex. RM17 6ST

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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