Volkswagen 1200 Karmann Cabriolet. Spending a long time in a meadow turns out to be less than ideal.

Beetles generally thrive in nature. However, spending years in a meadow isn't ideal for this species. Marnix Kraaij rescued a Volkswagen 1200 Karmann convertible that had been left to deteriorate in the South Dakota countryside. With the expertise of a biologist, he embarked on an extensive restoration. Everything is perfect, down to the original imperfections. 

If the schedule permits, which is partly a matter of setting priorities, Kraaij heads to the quadrennial International Bad Camberg Vintage VW meeting in June. There, in 2019, he spotted a Volkswagen 1200 Karmann Cabriolet.

Imported from the United States, where it had once been pulled from a pasture in South Dakota by someone from Arizona. A bit of a mess, but complete, and it came with an extra, year-correct litter box, salvaged from a Beetle parked next to it. Partly because of the matching engine and transmission, I thought it was worth it. Further analysis followed after disassembling the purchased Beetle. "In contrast to the litter box, the front of the car was actually quite good, and the box girders were also solid, except for the convertible-specific reinforcement sills on the underside." 

Tree on shed

For Marnix Kraaij, nothing beats authentic bodywork, so he tried to salvage what he could. “I couldn't avoid buying new, high-quality imitation rear fenders. The front fenders were full of dents, probably from being hit by cows, but with a lot of patience, I managed to get them straight again, using minimal filler. I also spent countless hours repairing the bent hood frame, which was damaged at the owner's house in Arizona when a tree fell on his shed.”

Experts don't always agree on the order of spraying the bodywork and installing the wooden parts for the soft top, but with a classic Volkswagen 1200 Karmann Cabriolet, there's no question about it. "The frame contains several wooden segments, which I had newly made: the end beam above the windshield, the crossbar above the rear window, and the lower edge that needs to be nailed to the rear of the body. The latter should be done before spraying the car, with the nail holes being tinned in between. This often goes wrong."

Industrial engine

Technically, it's not all that complicated, and it becomes even easier when you can pluck the moving parts from an industrial engine with few running hours. "Of course, I checked everything, replaced the bearings and pushrods, overhauled the alternator and carburetor, refreshed the starter motor, and completely replaced the ignition. On the gearbox, I only had to install new bearings and pay particular attention to reinstalling the swing axles in their sockets, with gaskets of the correct tolerance and a certain tension.

I replaced all the wear parts on the chassis all around. I only needed to replace the wiring harness from the center of the car to the rear, all in the correct colors. From the workshop manual, I knew how to connect the interior lighting so that it stays off when the soft top is down and the doors are open; otherwise, the hot bulb could scorch the fabric. That's how it works when a Beetle is lucky enough to be rescued by a Crow. An unthinkable situation in nature, but in the automotive world, there's tangible proof of this. 

(The photos continue below.)