Walter's 1969 Beetle
August 10, 2009
Details, details, details. The dash installation is nearing completion and hopefully these photos will provide a preview of good things to come. The dash and steering column look very, very nice and once the new horn ring is installed the steering wheel will be outstanding. The dash looks so much better in the original paint scheme instead of the peeling dealer-applied J.C. Whitney vinyl wood grain. The visors and mirror were repainted, installed, and are ready for another forty years. New visor clips and grab straps have also been installed. Hey Walter, notice your "custom" fuel door release handle is no more!
After carpet most of the remaining interior pieces will follow except for the door components which will need to wait until after paint. Painting of the wheels has begun and hopefully I've figured out a way to do the two-tone paint scheme. A mask has been designed that will allow the two colors to be shot into the confined spaces of the wheel rims. It would be interesting to see how this was done at the factory...
Another detail...the exterior door handles have been rekeyed to the ignition key. The same key will now handle all the locks on the car.
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As
soon as the rear window is installed the carpet will be installed. I am having a devil of
a time with the rear window installation due to window seals that don't fit--but that is a
story for another time. The carpet will be a departure from the original floor covering.
The car came out of the factory with rubber mats with minimal carpet trim. But the Beetle
deserves a little pampering so it will receive the full carpet treatment and look more
plush than it ever has.