I had a neighbor growing up who worked at a VW dealership since the 50s, had a 57 deluxe sunroof Beetle and he too did that, every detail and receipt carefully logged until he passed in the 80s. He was really a cool guy, when he built the house, had the garage built double deep so what appears to be a 2 car garage is actually a 4 car. A guy I know bought the 57, did a really nice job restoring the bug, won a few shows and got magazine coverage then sold it. :(

Sounds about right since it was pretty much lawn mower technology.

All of the "what it would cost today" calculations are BS on this thread. A 356 was not the equivalent of a $35k car today, for chrissakes...that would be an average priced new Toyota today. Or a very, very cheap new PU truck. What did a new PU truck cost in 1964? It wasn't $5300...it was more like $2100.

The price of a new 356 was near the top of what cars cost at the time. A new Cadillac was around $6k and a new Ford or Chevy was $2500 to $3500, depending on model and options. The Porsche was a VERY expensive car at the time, something that has never changed for that brand.

These inflation calculators are wildly inaccurate. You need to look at the relative cost of various items people bought and how much of their income they consumed, at the time, not compare to now when there is so much more $$ in everyone's bank account and home equity, etc. How many millionaires were there in 1964 in America? How about now?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623866263.jpg

$182 for the Am/FM radio?

If I use $5,124 in 1964 dollars, I get a 2021 equivalent of $44,495. I used this website:

https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

I noticed that too. I guessed it's because it had FM.

I plugged $182 into the inflation calculator and got $1,580. If it was a Blaupunkt Frankfurt, it was probably worth it... That was the sweetest AM/FM car stereo I ever heard in the '80s. Plus "technology" was more expensive years ago, like TVs. I'm sure radios were more spendy in the day. Here's a 1964/65 listed on eBay:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623882364.jpg

I believe it has the original factory radio. It worked when I bought the car. I disconnected the speakers and have not re-installed replacements yet but will keep the radio as is. I have a small portable speaker that takes a flash drive I can use for tunes if I want. Mostly I just love listening to that engine though.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623885589.jpg

I removed it to clean, inspect, and document it not long after buying the car......

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623885589.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623885589.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623885589.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623885589.jpg

I also bought another engine for it - although it's incomplete. I have a pair of heads - which need rebuilding - and a brand new set of NOS pistons and jugs. Some other parts too like the fan shroud and alternator stand, etc. Was going to build a whole new engine but got busy with other projects so will probably sell these at some point.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623886112.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623886112.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623886112.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623886112.jpg

The electric sunroof works as it should also. And I've kept the car the original 6 volt.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623886112.jpg

That address is still in business as a VW dealer in Cincinnati ! Amazing.

I wonder how the 1964 version sounds? I wonder what it would cost to recondition it. The later ones are stellar. I had one like this and I still miss it...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1623886325.jpg

That's cool! I think I will mail them a copy of this invoice, just for kicks. I bet they would love it. Thanks, Joe! SmileWavy

My speakers - the ones that came with the car - weren't that great, IMHO. But the sound still came through OK. You know with radios - having a decent antenna is also very important - so I probably need to look at that as well.

Following up....I did reach out to this dealership through email to the Vice President including a copy of the invoice and pics of my car. Here's what he wrote back. Pretty cool - I had no idea of this man's background in the area when I sent him this note. Goes to show you just never know. Car people are everywhere!

============

Barry,
Thanks for sending me the invoice and pictures. I do love car history and enjoyed looking at your email. I sent you a link of all the dealerships in Norwood, Ohio. I have been at this store for 32 years and was the owner of #3 for 26 years. This VW dealership was started in the 50’s by Charles Raymond Hassan and as you can see owned Raymond imports where your car came from. He also had #9 on the list and #11 was his Toyota store. Mr. Hassan also had a Porsche Audi dealership in the Palm Beach Florida area that he sold back in the 90’s. This store was a Oldsmobile store before VW and was owned by the Schmidlapp family. They also owned the 3804 address. I sent a postcard from that same 3804 Montgomery Rd. address.

NORWOOD AUTOMOBILE DEALERS

Hope you enjoyed what I sent too!!!!

Tim Marsh

Very cool

Thanks, Byron! I think so too. Small world! I forgot to show the postcard image he sent me.......

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1624059140.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1624059140.jpg

Here is what that $$ would buy in 1967:)http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1624153024.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1624153024.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1624153024.jpg
Baz, keep posting pictures of your 356.