Interesting oval on ebay SDV 551 · International Vintage Volkswagen Forums

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mrsherbie
pre67vw Junkie Topic Starter

18 years ago

I dont like links to ebay but I think this looks really interesting:

'55 oval

Is that a Britax? sunroof, obviously added later, but I dont think it detracts from the car at all. Great plate, and history too. Looks like its been painted in split medium brown, nice 😃

"it'll wreck the patina you haven't worked so hard to create" - 50Karmann

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djkeev
Regular

18 years ago

Hi,

Can't see great detail but the roof looks like an original 3 fold ragtop. They used them from their introduction in 1950 and changed them in 1956 (three different ragtops that year actually) until they developed the style they used in the USA from late 56 up thru 63 and the standard model used in the rest of the world from late 56 thru 67.

You all know of course we American's are "special"

:roll:

The cover looks "loose" but maybe it just isn't latched up tight, also the dappled sun makes for some funny textures on the car.

Dave

"If you don't have the time to do it right the first time, when will you find the time to do it over again later?"

2splits
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

That car looks like it could be a 56 with a 3 fold added.

Heating vents look later on the floor. 56 and up tailights, but thats not a real indication as is the 56=57 steering wheel.

Edited by user 18 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Kevin

-51 Split Rag
-58 Ghia Cab with Okrasa
-57 356

'50 Karmann
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

Chris's 55 oval is - SDV 90.
Must be a very similar aged car.

2splits
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

It does have ribbed doors too. But those pans are causing me issue.

It probably is a 55 just with a bunch of wrong parts on it and a switched our chassis/pan/heater channels.

Kevin

-51 Split Rag
-58 Ghia Cab with Okrasa
-57 356

mrsherbie
pre67vw Junkie Topic Starter

18 years ago

Are you lot are all wearing beer goggles? That sunroof does'nt look like any Golde we have :?
Looks more like they have ordered a sunroof cover for a Golde and it doesnt fit because its not a Golde roof.

I dont know ovals very well, so would'nt have spotted any of the odd parts, I just think is a nice car for someone and it is still a very cheap so far. I would certainly be happy to own it....(If I didnt have a new oval..soon! :D)

Anyway Kevin, 'floorpan' is a swearword in our house :lol:

"it'll wreck the patina you haven't worked so hard to create" - 50Karmann

Ovalbug
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

The sunroof looks exactly like the Britax weathershield that my Ghia Coupe has.....aluminium channels that are screwed and pop-rivetted to the roof hole......another give-away is the perspex air deflector (visible in the Ebay pics) that is pushed up once the sunroof is open,exactly the same style as mine. :wink:

Edited by user 18 years ago | Reason: Not specified

'63 Karmann Ghia RHD
'72 1302LS Karmann Cabrio RHD

mrsherbie
pre67vw Junkie Topic Starter

18 years ago

The sunroof looks exactly like the Britax weathershield that my Ghia Coupe has

"Ovalbug" wrote:

Ive never seen one up close but I thought they had the windshield. I think having a British sunroof in a british car is a really nice feature, ex-factory or not, in some ways more historically interesting from a uk beetle point of view, I would hope to see it end up making over 5-6k regardless of paint condition, although I have no idea what the underside is like. Its not a car I remember ever seeing before, and what a great no. plate, ditto Chris's, even better! :shock: 😃

"it'll wreck the patina you haven't worked so hard to create" - 50Karmann

mrsherbie
pre67vw Junkie Topic Starter

18 years ago

My 63 has Britax seatbelts made in NZ fitted from new, they have chrome clasps with the address in NZ where they were made moulded in. I met another very original 62/3NZ beetle in the uk once that was also complete with its odd parts like mine, but a year later the new owner had removed and swapped lots of things including the belts, and put lots of new shiny repro items and accessories on the car. History gone instantly.
I think the old Britax parts are very cool on cars if they were period fitted.

"it'll wreck the patina you haven't worked so hard to create" - 50Karmann

Ovalbug
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#10

The sunroof looks exactly like the Britax weathershield that my Ghia Coupe has

"mrsherbie" wrote:

"Ovalbug" wrote:

The Britax weathershield is a decent sunroof in my opinion, this oval is being discussed over on another forum and is getting a fair bit of flak just because its not a Golde roof :?:, who cares, correct parts or not it looks like a nice car, just hope it goes to a good home........... :wink:

'63 Karmann Ghia RHD
'72 1302LS Karmann Cabrio RHD

48REME
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#11

This may well be THE very Oval that started my fascination with vintage VWs... I remember (and will never forget) a brown sunroof oval with an SDV registration parked on the forecourt of The Avenue, in Bedford Park, West London. Me and my childhood friend often walked by it, coming back from school and we were amazed by this unusual, matt-looking old beetle that looked like it came from outer space with its oval window. It then moved a few streets away in Chiswick and just before its owner decide to leave London, I'm sure he mentioned he was moving to Exeter.
This was about 20 years ago. Could this be the very same car?! Maybe if the owner is reading this, he may be able to confirm the car's West London origins if it is the same... 🙂

tman
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#12

Could this be the very same car?! Maybe if the owner is reading this, he may be able to confirm the car's West London origins if it is the same... 🙂

"48REME" wrote:

Amazing! I think it may well be the same car. One of its previous addresses was The Ave, Chiswick from May 87. Not sure yet when it left Chiswick.
Edit: At some stage the owner moved to Eastbury Grove, Chiswick before selling the car.

I've only just started going through the mass of receipts and history this car came with, I'll update if I find anything else.

By all accounts the chap in Chiswick (Peter) started restoring it. I have a letter sent by its pre-87 owner to Peter congratulating him on the work he was doing.

Would be great to hear what you know of this car!

Edited by user 18 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Andrew
195x Deluxe oval Beetle
Binz Doublecab

Chris
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#13

Congrats on buying the car, looks very nice. 🙂

What are your plans for it ? i.e keep it stock, replace engine with 1200 unit, etc.

As previously mentioned my reg number is SDV90.

Chris

A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day.

tman
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#14

Hi Chris

My aim is to get her back on the road, hopefully within the next 2 months so that we can go to RTTS, Volksfest, Vanfest (etc) in her.

I really like the look and 'aurora' of early Beetles and I hope that slowly but surely I'll get her somewhat closer to what she should be. I'll probably start a thread here at some stage looking for advice/guidance once I start work - the discussions here tend to be from, ummm, mature and balanced folks (unlike some other forums)! ;)

Assuming that there's nothing major wrong with the current 1600cc engine, it will be staying for the time being. In time I hope to find a suitable circa 1954 1200 engine.
In fact, I'm really looking forward to the shows this summer so I can begin tracking down whatever bits I'll need.

SDV90? wow, that's pretty darned close. Mine was first registered 9th May 1955 with a manufacture date of May 1954. When was yours registered?

Edited by user 18 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Andrew
195x Deluxe oval Beetle
Binz Doublecab

Chris
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#15

I'll probably start a thread here at some stage looking for advice/guidance once I start work - the discussions here tend to be from, ummm, mature and balanced folks (unlike some other forums)! ;)

"tman" wrote:

You obviously weren't her when we had the 'Off Topic' forum then :lol:

SDV90? wow, that's pretty darned close. Mine was first registered 9th May 1955 with a manufacture date of May 1954. When was yours registered?

"tman" wrote:

According to the birth certificate : - built on 06/04/55, left the factory on 07/04/55, the country of destination was VW Motors Ltd, London. Date of first registration 22/04/55.
Apart from that I know little about the car. I do know that it was once owned by the guy that edits the Historic VW magazine, Mike Johnson. He sent me a couple of pictures he had of it back in the eighties.

If you're taking it to shows, don't forget Stamford Hall :wink:

if you register for the historic VW display, you and your passengers get into the show for free!

https://www.stanfordhallvw.co.uk/displays.htm

"six-o-one" wrote:

Edited by user 18 years ago | Reason: Not specified

A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day.

48REME
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#16

Hi tman,
This is definitely the car: I remember the name Pete and that when it left the Avenue, it went to live near a street called Devonshire Road in Chiswick. I checked Eastbury Grove on Google maps and it's right next to Devonshire Road!
I'm sorry I didn't have a camera then to make what would have been a precious period photo for your car's history. All I remember is that it was quite matt and old but in good shape overall...

tman
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#17

As previously mentioned my reg number is SDV90.

"Chris" wrote:

Just noticed SDV 90 in the background in a black & white picture in Ultra VW magazine (Jan '08), lovely car from what I can see.
Edit: The picture was taken at VW Action around 1978 - can scan it for you if you're interested.

Edited by user 18 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Andrew
195x Deluxe oval Beetle
Binz Doublecab

'50 Karmann
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#18

lovely car from what I can see.

"tman" wrote:

:lol: Not any more,
Wonder what happened there then

Chris
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#19

lovely car from what I can see.

"'50 Karmann" wrote:

:lol: Not any more,
Wonder what happened there then

"tman" wrote:

Money :cry: Wemen :twisted: Lack of people getting back to me :roll: Out on my mountain bike over the weekends :oops: Best friend spending time doing his house up instead of kicking my arse into gear 😳

C'mon guys, give me some encouragement !! Andrew, You can start by scanning the picture and letting me see it :wink:

A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day.

'50 Karmann
pre67vw Junkie

18 years ago

#20

C'mon guys, give me some encouragement !!

"Chris" wrote:

First golden rule of any restoration is

Be prepared to spend some money :lol: :lol: :lol:

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