Posted by: pre67vw - 01 June 2016 16:01:49
This car has been posted on here before - it's a split dash Karmann that Yan Rami imported from Egypt. As you can see, it's been 'updated' to look like a nice 70's bug, but a lot of the good bits are still there. Correct ribbed doors, one piece windows with aluminium frames, dash (although slightly butchered) Hatch over gearbox for example and the hood frame. But obviously quite a lot is also gone :( [br] It's now in my garage and I'm working on getting it roadworthy and also undoing all the modifications. I've also been collecting parts for some time, but if you see something I need that you have cheap and want it to be part of history in the making then please let me know :thumbup: [br] [INSTAGRAM]https://www.instagram.com/p/BF9J6LyJZNv/[/INSTAGRAM][br] [INSTAGRAM]https://www.instagram.com/p/BF4VONwpZGM/[/INSTAGRAM] [br] [INSTAGRAM]https://www.instagram.com/p/BF4UgCUJZEt/[/INSTAGRAM][br]

Posted by: AW - 02 June 2016 12:29:45
Nice and good lock with the project :thumbup: Got an inner and outer steering column etc that might help and a brown dash pod in brown. If you are going to replace the glove box liners then give us a yell on you old ones :wink: AW

Posted by: pre67vw - 02 June 2016 19:00:42
Thanks AW. I have steering column and dash pods. I probably will change the glove boxes, but you won't want these ones as they're home made aluminium ones.

Posted by: pre67vw - 02 June 2016 19:02:02
I don't think it'll be ready for Lavenham :-)

Posted by: AW - 02 June 2016 20:11:04
[quote=pre67vw;61097]Thanks AW. I have steering column and dash pods. I probably will change the glove boxes, but you won't want these ones as they're home made aluminium ones.[/quote] They would be fine as they are for the Beast:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Andy W

Posted by: pre67vw - 17 March 2017 17:48:51
Not done a great deal on this, I've been happy to have a little break from working in the garage over the winter. But last weeked ripped off the old valence and mocked up the rear just to get a little enthusiasm going... [ATTACH]9212[/Attach]

Posted by: Fiber Split - 18 March 2017 15:09:00
Looking good and now is the time to start work on them again. Keep amassing parts for mine. Did you take the alloy glove box pods out ??? if so got any photos as could be interested in them :wink: Andy W

Posted by: JD - 23 March 2017 21:48:45
That´s really cool. Looking 10x better already, just for having the right bits on it.

Posted by: pre67vw - 01 July 2017 20:17:37
I thought it might be interesting to post about some of the 'upgrades' this car has had. The doors have been updated to use later door handles, but more impressive is that it has electric windows and central locking! [ATTACH]9220[/Attach] [ATTACH]9222[/Attach]

Posted by: JD - 12 February 2019 18:40:17
This thing[i] must[/i] be finished by now?:rofl:

Posted by: pre67vw - 13 February 2019 07:23:42
[quote=JD;61512]This thing[i] must[/i] be finished by now?:rofl: [/quote] No not yet, but there has been a bit of a development. It turns out it's a little older than I thought, it's a '49!

Posted by: JD - 13 February 2019 09:16:44
[quote=pre67vw;61515]No not yet, but there has been a bit of a development. It turns out it's a little older than I thought, it's a '49! [/quote] Jeepers! Lucky you. Well, you always wanted an early one. How many 49s are there supposed to be? Not more than a couple of dozen are there?

Posted by: pre67vw - 13 February 2019 09:37:38
There’s not many, and this one could possibly be the oldest. I’ll post some photos later and explain.

Posted by: pre67vw - 13 February 2019 18:48:44
So... Having lost its numbers in its long hard life, it's been difficult to date the car. Definitely no crotch coolers because the inner footwell panels are intact, no ashtray in the dashboard, so we thought it was an early car. After pulling some carpet out and assessing various things, I noticed that the fuel reserve lever hole is offset to the right (and the curving swage line goes all the way over). This was changed in Aug '49 when the large fuel tank was introduced - which means that this was a small petrol tank car! Also note that there is no indent for a RHD dimmer switch. I then had a closer look at what was cut away to make way for the 70's petrol tank and sure enough you can see where the flat panel at the side of the small tank has been cut and folded over. So that has changed things somewhat. I have recently bought a small tank from Ritchie at KK, he said that in his 30 years of trading VW parts, it's probably the 2nd small tank he's had, which shows you how rare (expensive) they are. [img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1824465.jpg[/img] It currently appears that there are no other surviving small petrol tank Karmann Kabrios and if thats the case then this would be the oldest surviving (barely) model. :o

Posted by: JD - 13 February 2019 19:23:29
Some proper Howard Carter style excavations going on there. Is there any doubt that it was a small tank car? I suppose we´ll never know how it ended up in Egypt. Still thank heavens for the desert climate, if not for Egyptian coachbuilding techniques.

Posted by: pre67vw - 13 February 2019 19:39:20
[quote=JD;61527] Is there any doubt that it was a small tank car? [/quote] Not to me no, the fuel reserve lever, extra metal near the petrol tank explained by the small tank. Also, the passenger side door still had a split window mechanism in it with '49 markings on it, unfortunately the drivers side was not a split mechanism but something with a built in motor. No ash tray, it all fits. There is also something strange going on around the back, behind the rear seat post/rest, there's a strengthening piece I've not seen on any other kabrio and it looks factory.

Posted by: JD - 13 February 2019 21:52:42
Well, it makes you wonder if it´s a pre production car I suppose? What´s that flashing down the sides of the front bulkhead? Egyptian stuff?

Posted by: pre67vw - 14 February 2019 17:59:19
[quote=JD;61537]Well, it makes you wonder if it´s a pre production car I suppose? What´s that flashing down the sides of the front bulkhead? Egyptian stuff?[/quote] The pre production cars had semaphores in the front quarters, there's no sign of anything in the front quarters and you can see where the hole has been welded up in the rear quarters - so definitely not a pre production car. What flashing are you referring to?

Posted by: JD - 14 February 2019 20:33:12
By flashing i meant the metal(?) strip that runs down between the front bulkhead and the front quarter panel.

Posted by: pre67vw - 15 February 2019 15:20:28
It's the edge of the inner strengthening panel

Posted by: pre67vw - 04 June 2020 17:37:20
A little update on the car... [attach]9451[/attach]

Posted by: brille52 - 05 June 2020 18:27:54
I have seen some more photo : WoW ! You`re doing such an incredible great job - congrats ! She will became a real jewel and I can`t wait to see the cabrio driving down the road with the top down ! Best of luck and keep going !

Posted by: pre67vw - 05 June 2020 18:33:13
[quote=brille52;61890]I have seen some more photo : WoW ! You`re doing such an incredible great job - congrats ! She will became a real jewel and I can`t wait to see the cabrio driving down the road with the top down ! Best of luck and keep going ! [/quote] Good to see you back! Thanks for the kind words. Still a long way to go, but it feels like progress. I hope you and the family are well!!

Posted by: Rich Oakley - 17 May 2021 13:40:01
Any updates for the forum Rob?

Posted by: pre67vw - 17 May 2021 17:25:15
[quote=Rich Oakley;61958]Any updates for the forum Rob?[/quote] Well looking at that photo from a year ago, it doesn’t look like I’ve done a lot. But will post something soon.

Posted by: pre67vw - 08 March 2023 10:56:24
Doing some research on the development of the Karmann Cabrio, I have found some letters that I had stored away when I was looking into Hebs - makes for some very interesting reading (to me anyway): (translated) [quote] Date: 25th June 1949 Convertible type 15 (Karmann)     The VA has so far received the following 2 test vehicles:            15-1      Delivery on 3/6/49                          Current milage 6,382 km            15-2      Delivery on 8/6/49                          Current milage 5,834 km During the short testing period of only 3 weeks, approximately 32 causes for complaint were found. Some of these points are serious and concern the doors, back and folding top of the Karmann type. The floor and front reinforcements that both Karmann and Hebmüller required in accordance with our suggestions yielded relatively positive results in the comparatively short test run. This evaluation, however, is subject to the reservation that the test run distance is still relatively short. Test runs of the Karmann type, insofar as it differs from the Hebmüller type, could only be started recently and yielded clearly negative results during the short testing period. This fact has forced me to decline responsibility for constructing and selling additional type 15 convertibles of the design that has been delivered up to now, until a sample vehicle in which these weaknesses have been sufficiently remedied can be tested to enable us to prove that customers can expect sufficient durability from this convertible body. During a meeting with Dr. Feuereissen, Mr. Orlich and Mr. Schick, it was determined that under the present circumstances, selling the Karmann convertibles with the current defects in the door, back and folding top is out of the question. We have decided on the following so as not to lose even more time: 1 - Test runs will go on for the two test vehicles 15-1 and 15-2 to continue testing the durability of the reinforced floor and front. 2- In addition to the 25 demonstration vehicles already ordered, Dr. Feuereissen will immediately order an additional type 15 sample vehicle. Karmann will give top priority to the production of this vehicle, which will already include the improvements required for the door construction, back and bow of the folding top in the series fabrication type. Test runs will begin as soon as the vehicle arrives, i.e. before the end of the month. As with type 14, test runs will continue until the vehicle breaks apart, in order to ascertain the total service life. 3 - The VA will try to cover a test run distance of 5,000 to 10,000 km with this vehicle by mid-July. If the improvements presently required for Karmann prove to be sufficient, we will immediately OK production of the 25 demonstration vehicles. I expect these 25 vehicles to be available for the Sales Department by 1/8/49.[/quote] So in summary, two test cars had already been built, another test car was then required and then 25 demonstration cars were to be supplied to the Sales Department on the 1st Aug 1949. From the details of my car including the small fuel tank and the lower rear body mount, it must have been an early July '49 body that was used. I think there's a strong case that it's one of the 25 demonstration cars. I have also found that all of the Karmann strengthening panels are handmade and not pressed - it would certainly be interesting to see the details of the museum car body number 107 (Chassis number Sept '49) to see if they were using pressed panels by then.  A couple of detail photos - one of the rear firewall in the engine bay [attach]9557[/attach] and the 2nd is the hole for the rear window winder which is clearly cut by hand (and quickly, this car needed to be done!) [attach]9558[/attach] And could this possibly be the 25 cars being delivered? Absolutely no proof whatsoever, but there is a number in each window - the cars are quite early as there is no swivel mirror or crotch coolers. Plus it would probably have been a big occasion for Karmann, big enough to take a photo? [attach]9559[/attach]

Posted by: TRS63 - 09 March 2023 05:37:59
Now this is a great discovery and something making this car even more special ! thanks for sharing, I also love such history "Details". Cheers from Stuttgart, Antoine