Newbie in Byron Bay, few questions..

[timbertricks]

Hi all, just signed up and had a look at some of the awesome Splitties on here

I've wanted a Splitty for years now, i moved here from the UK in '05 and bought a VW Corrado over with me, sold it earlier this year. Not new to VWs but never owned an Aircooled version yet

I've moved up to Byron after years of Sydney and 1 year in Melbourne, i'm looking at starting my own business as a Cabinetmaker and would love a Single Cab Split as a company vehicle to have sign written and use a for deliveries etc..

I'm not quite ready to buy one yet (unless one turns up for $10k which is unlikely!!) but want to learn a bit more about them, so heres a few questions i have, would greatly appreciate any help/advice from you guys

1 - Were any Splitties Aus delivered, or are they all imports?

2 - Whats the 'thing' up on the inside front middle of the cab roof/windows?? Where a sunroof control/interior light would be in an ordinary car!!??

3 - What is the size of the tray on a SC? And roughly how high is the tray floor off the ground with stock ride height?

4 - What motors did the SC come with, and what would you guys say the one to go for/most reliable would be?

5 - Is the treasure chest a big drawer (i saw one opened up like a drawer in a pic on here) or just a lift-up lid storage area?

6 - I've noticed different rear windows on the SC's, is that a model year change, if so what year did they change?

7 - I've seen some with tiny little round rear lights, do they have rear indicators too?

Sorry for the dumb newbie questions!! Hope to hear from you guys...

Matt.

[kombi1976]

Welcome to DSK, Matt.
Good to have you aboard.
To answer your questions:

1. Early buses pre-55 were private imports in many cases due to local laws, post '55 they were dealer imports and then Oz had it's own factory first assembling total knock down cars from the Hannover plant and then fully manufacturing them from the ground up. This included Beetles and Type 3s as well. The factory was eventually shut in the 70s due to union machinations.

2. That would be the fresh air duct that comes through the holes in the lip at the front of the roof.

3. SC owners??

4. SCs originally came out with a range of motors, the largest being a 1500cc single port but most air cooled VWs thesedays have had 1600cc dual port motors fitted because they are more powerful and common. Chances are that any SC you buy will have a 1600cc rather than a smaller motor.

5. The chest is a lift up lid storage. The draw is a custom job but there's no reason why you couldn't fabricate your own draw to fit in there.

6. Window sizes changed in about 1962 from the smaller window to the larger wide window size that continued on into the Bay windows.

7. Early buses until about 57 or 58 have single tailights as they used semaphors as indicators. Then for the next few years buses here in oz had double tail lights on each side, a indicator and brakelight respectively. Finally in about 1962 they moved to the larger oval shape tail light also used on '68-'71 Bay buses. Most people with early buses fit motorbike or similar indicators to the back and front as other drivers just don't look for semaphors these days and your asking for a traffic accident.

There are a few answers. It's a dead cert someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Hope you find a SC in your budget.

[warb]

welcome mate.

3 - What is the size of the tray on a SC?

oh now, here we go, prepare DC bash in 3..2...1..

[Dutchy]

gday n welcome, theres a nice sc for sale in the for sale section...near you, great value.

[timbertricks]

Thanks for the welcomes and the answers!! Definately shed some light ona few things!

Hope someone can tell me the tray size though

I've seen 2 SC Splitties on here for sale in Byron that look good, but, as i said, can't afford one yet. I've seen a good looking '72 low light SC up for sale in Byron that i'm going to see on Sunday, but i really want a Splitty.

Anyone here imported a SC from the US? I wonder what sort of valueation they get from Aus customs? Wouldn't want to spend a shed load on import tax but if i could get a nice LHD for a good price landed i'd consider it...

Thanks guys

[StenchOfGoat]

Dont think SC rear window size changed when busses did. (or did it)
As for single tail lights, can anyone elaborate on the year this changed? I always thought we went to doubles in 59, but I know of a fairly original 60 that has singles???

[dmb]

Australian built single cabs never changed rear window size. The later ones had the high roof with the cooling air ducting down each side of the rear window, so they kept the smaller window to the end of production. Overseas single cabs got the larger rear window in 1966, along with the different cooling air vents over the rear wheel arches.

Tail lights were the single tail lights with centre brake light up to 1957. Then the single brake/taill lights up to early 1960. Then double lights, indicators above and brake/tail lights below up to late 1961 (Australian built ute that is). Then the combined indicator/brake/tail light to the end of production. The semaphores also moved from above the belt line to below for 1957 model year.

The tray is approximately 2.7 metres long and approximately 1.4 metres wide, though I am sure someone will measure it properly and correct me if I am wrong, I am just estimating off the top of my head.

[Kombi Trip]

welcome on board.

3. 2650 x 1560 or so
and 900 ish off the ground

[timbertricks]

Thanks for the info guys, i was guessing the tray must be around that, pretty good size really

Thanks for the info on the rear lights and windows too, and, i never realised there was a difference in roof height either, is there an easy way of spotting the difference between them?

Also, i probably shouldn't ask on a Splitty forum, but what do you guys make of this low light SC? Seems very clean and original, i'm going to have a look on Sunday, any things you guys might advise me to look out for?

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/pri ... 7&__Nne=15

Thanks again

[kombi1976]

For a Bay it looks nice but.......it's not a Split.
Eventually you'll regret it.
Plus as soon as you use it for a work truck if it is that straight it won't stay that way.
It's your call, but whatever you do actually inspect it.

[matara]

Welcome to dsk

I have a 55 single cab, and its amazing how versatile it is, especially with the treasure chest!

You should have a look at http://www.dropgates.com for some info on single cabs

Cheers

Steve