New owner of a 412LE Variant

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Stevosquare
Posts: 47
Joined: 12th August 2012 - 10:37pm
Location: Southport, Merseyside

New owner of a 412LE Variant

Post by Stevosquare » 11th August 2019 - 10:32am

Hi all

I’ve been on this forum for ages but only just bagged myself a Square back

Picked it up yesterday and drove 275 miles from Norwich to Southport. Love to say it didn’t miss a beat but it developed a bad Mis-fire. Still it made it and I really do love the car.

It does need both door bottoms sorting. Although if I can find a drivers door that would be even better. There’s a few other bits like really terrible brakes and gear change (compared to my ‘72 Karmann Ghia).

It’s a SA import so pretty solid underneath and I must say the ride quality is better than many brand new cars I’ve driven - superb.
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1973 S.A 412 LE Variant red.
1972 U.S Karmann Ghia Coupé (Type 14)
1972 S.A 412 LE Variant Blue.

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broady_6
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Joined: 13th January 2009 - 8:55pm

Re: New owner of a 412LE Variant

Post by broady_6 » 12th August 2019 - 3:19pm

Looks like a very lovely motor with just the right amount of project. Few weekends work will see it right. And there is a huge amount of knowledge contained in these pages to help you along the way.
The sultan of swing

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Stevosquare
Posts: 47
Joined: 12th August 2012 - 10:37pm
Location: Southport, Merseyside

Re: New owner of a 412LE Variant

Post by Stevosquare » 12th August 2019 - 5:10pm

Thanks. It’s nice and solid but in real life it’s 50 shades of red!

Just got to find the missing bits like the under dash drivers side tray, adjuster knob for the seat and find a way of repairing the cracked dash top.

Interesting to see the SA LE’s did without the petrol heater, heated rear window, rear armrest and seat back pockets. To make up for this they added pop out rear windows. Suppose you can’t have it all!
1973 S.A 412 LE Variant red.
1972 U.S Karmann Ghia Coupé (Type 14)
1972 S.A 412 LE Variant Blue.

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937carrera
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Location: North Yorkshire

Re: New owner of a 412LE Variant

Post by 937carrera » 13th August 2019 - 10:24am

Welcome, I'm delighted that the car has a new owner that will appreciate it.

Cracked dashboard tops can be repaired with some special filler and creativity to recreate the texture, then coloured (resisting the temptation to use the word painted)

The brakes should be decent enough, I would start with simply disassembly / clean / reassembly of the calipers, then a bleed through with fresh fluid. Gearchanges are a bit like stirring porridge at best, but take a look at the linkage and specifically the plastic bush at the base of the gearstick

Instructions here viewtopic.php?f=26&t=8712
David
1974 412LS Variant
1973 412LE 4 door Fastback / Saloon

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JSR-69
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Re: New owner of a 412LE Variant

Post by JSR-69 » 13th August 2019 - 4:22pm

Yes the brakes take a bit of getting used to. But, as David says, with a good clean through and fresh fluid properly bled, they will stop you when you need them to.

Judi R
Judi R
1963 Beetle (awaiting restoration)
1972 Karmann Ghia (sold)
1972 412 Variant Auto
1974 412 5-door Variant project

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Stevosquare
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Joined: 12th August 2012 - 10:37pm
Location: Southport, Merseyside

Re: New owner of a 412LE Variant

Post by Stevosquare » 13th August 2019 - 6:21pm

Thanks for the replies and advice. Very useful.

I suppose the gearchange just takes getting used to. I have a quick shift on the Ghia so I’m probably spoilt with it.

If anyone has a spare MPH Speedo, tailgate interior panel or the little underdash tray please let me know.

Also a pic of the nastiest part of the car- drivers door. Trying to find someone skilled to sort this out for me.

Cheers

Steve
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1973 S.A 412 LE Variant red.
1972 U.S Karmann Ghia Coupé (Type 14)
1972 S.A 412 LE Variant Blue.

Chino
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Joined: 5th January 2014 - 5:39am
Location: Stockport

Re: New owner of a 412LE Variant

Post by Chino » 15th August 2019 - 10:48am

If you're struggling with the door repair, my friend runs Garage 87 in Stockport...bit of a drive for you, but he works primarily on aircooled stuff mechanical and welding, might be worth a chat with him if you arent having a any joy.

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Stevosquare
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Joined: 12th August 2012 - 10:37pm
Location: Southport, Merseyside

Re: New owner of a 412LE Variant

Post by Stevosquare » 15th August 2019 - 7:23pm

Thanks a lot Chino. Stockport is only 50 miles so I’ll bear it in mind if I can’t get a local body shop to spend the time it needs on it.
1973 S.A 412 LE Variant red.
1972 U.S Karmann Ghia Coupé (Type 14)
1972 S.A 412 LE Variant Blue.

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