"My 1950 HOFFMAN Split Window Beetle"
Not a Trailer Queen, this Split is built to drive, while still looking stock.
First: If you don't know what a HOFFMAN car is, scroll up and click HOFFMAN Registry and read about it. Next this car is a STANDARD model. As you noticed there is no chrome. Early Beetles came in Standard and Deluxe. Standard was the basic model with no chrome, no body moldings, Cable Brakes, and basic interior, where Deluxe had it all.
Back in 2010 I bought this car from Chuck Pisconski in CT. I did a full body off restoration on it. I wanted to keep it looking stock original, yet I wanted to be able to drive it to any show in any state without having to trailer it like most of the splits you see. And with all the modifications I never heard one hobbyist who didn't love it.
Back in 2010 I bought this car from Chuck Pisconski in CT. I did a full body off restoration on it. I wanted to keep it looking stock original, yet I wanted to be able to drive it to any show in any state without having to trailer it like most of the splits you see. And with all the modifications I never heard one hobbyist who didn't love it.
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Let the fun begin by removing the body so it could be reworked and finished top and bottom. Yes this car started out as a Hardtop but we will get into that a little further down. Do you like that TIRE rotisserie for the body ? Old Tires.
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This is the original chassis and front end. The Transmission is from a 1967. I used the shorter axle tubes from the original Non Synchro 1950 trans. 67 trans had the larger bellhousing for the 200mm Flywheel. The Rear Lever Shocks were sent out and rebuilt. The car is now 12 Volt as I made a custom cover for the larger 12 Volt Battery with side cut off switch. The entire brake system is new including new German Cables for the brakes. How does it stop? You have to press the pedal alittle harder but if they didn't work Volkswagen wouldn't have used them from the 1934 prototypes into the 60s.
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The Engine: Complete brand new 1600cc Dual Port. Carb rebuilt by Tim at Volkzbitz. New alternator since it's now 12 Volt. New HD Heater Boxes and a custom single tip EMPI header system to give that original look when the lid is closed..
Now to the trunk: The Spare/the Tires. They are 15" Radials, not 16" with Bias Ply which came on Splits. This car is for driving and I wanted the radials for better handling. The spare tire tool kit is perfect with all the correct tools. The Gas Tank has been powder coated and sealed with a new reserve. In the case and under it are the jack and basic tools.
The Interior: Starting with the dash. It has an N.O.S. Steering wheel and USA Speedo. Under it is a VW reserve gas lever. I now have a VW cruiser pedal over the original Large roller pedal. In the left glove box I have a JVC CD Stereo. I have to have music when I drive. Behind the back seat is a large trunk. This holds all my extra parts should I ever need to repair something while out on the road. The Trunk also doubles as a speaker box for the stereo. Under the dash there is another interior light and switch. And a cigarette lighter socket for charging my phone. The wipers are from a early 60s but I have the thin original wipers. What a joke they are. See that tiny toggle switch in the left glove box? That is to switch from the Semaphores, to the normal directional lights I wired in. When driving nobody knows what a semaphore is or to look up there.
The seats and door panels are covered with the original German cloth imported and sewn by Lenny Copp at West Coast Restorations in CA. And the carpet is German Square Weave. The center hump has the original Standard Only rubber mat that only goes from the shifter up to the front. Rear hump has the short piece of carpet also only on Standards. The right hand dash pod should be blank, but I added the Volkswagen script and 100,000 Km Badge because I like it.
The seats and door panels are covered with the original German cloth imported and sewn by Lenny Copp at West Coast Restorations in CA. And the carpet is German Square Weave. The center hump has the original Standard Only rubber mat that only goes from the shifter up to the front. Rear hump has the short piece of carpet also only on Standards. The right hand dash pod should be blank, but I added the Volkswagen script and 100,000 Km Badge because I like it.
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The Sunroof: My car was a 100% finished show car, and already featured in the April 2017 issue of Hot VW Magazine, and a multiple Concours show winner. When I told friends I was going to cut in a sunroof they pleaded with me not to do it until they saw the finished job. All my cars had a sunroof and I really wanted one. Have you heard of Grumpy's metal in CA. They made a 100% correct perfect 3-Fold sunroof kit for this Beetle. If it wasn't I wouldn't have done it. You can't tell it didn't come that way.
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I hope you enjoyed the quick journey of my Split. When you hit the Lottery, make me an offer I can't refuse. Now go and buy a ticket, $$.