Interior Door Handles

Does anyone know of a quality interior door handle to replace the rather cheap feeling versions that come with a new Beck Speedster? There must be something out there better than these, they just feel so wimpy and ready to break at any moment.

Richard.
I use the Empi handles that you can get almost anywhere for about $12. Here's a link.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/window-lift-and-inside-door-handles/p2003283.jcwx?TID=8014524FT2&zmam=15972153&zmas=21&zmac=165&zmap=13283G

A street rod supply will have a few different styles that are secured with a set screw.

Since I have never attended the Carlisle event, am I right in imagining that vendors of this type would be in abundance? Door handles, interior parts such as knobs and bezels, Porsche logos and scripts, cocoa mats, doodads of all types...

Well not exactly..most vendors are british oriented but there are a few scattered german stands. I think this is caused by Porsche and VW shows elsewhere during the same weekend.

~WB

Would the "elsewhere" be closer to my home in Wisconsin? It could save me 1500 mile round trip. Of course, the experience might not be the same.

Nah, they're all east coast located. But there are some parts to be had if you look hard enough. We've all scored some odds and ends along the way.

By the same token, Richard, you could have forty or fifty pairs of eyes helping you look. Not the same as being there yourself, which would certainly be cool, but we're all in the same boat.
Make a list of what all you need, and I'll certainly poke around at Carlisle for you. That's fun for me.

Rich,

I have some NOS split/ribbed early 356 handles. They are much heavier than stock, the chrome isn't restoration perfect but OK, and they are exponentially more expensive that the stock handle, but they are heavier/more solid...
The handles you have are VW Brazil. I also have VW Mexico, EMPI and some aftermarket ones here (stock style) but I would have to say they all feel about the same in construction and they all look about the same in terms of finish.

Rich,

If you can afford them, definitely go for the early VW ribbed handles, those are what originally came on the early 356 and they're lovely. The high ribs add a touch of old world elegance and class.

You can still find original or NOS early Beetle parts around if you look and ask on The Samba, they're much stronger than the repros, better "finished," and the chrome has a nicer look to it.

If you end up keeping what you have, take your dremel and grind away the flash chrome inside the hollow of the handle, fill it with JB Weld/JB Quick, wet your finger and smooth it out, then carefully sand it after it's cured. This changes the "feel" of the handle dramatically. Heavier, sturdier, stronger, and more like a Porsche door handle ought to feel.

You can leave the JB Weld in the natural gray finish (it looks like sand cast metal) or hit it with a touch of metallic silver or just wheel clear.


Looks and feels terrific, a bit of work, but you'll love the results.

Luck,

TC

A few ads for handles:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=606583

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1122967

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=727990

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=397105

Two excellent responses. I guess that's why I'm on this here site for. Glad you guys are watching my back. I'm kinda diggin' the JB Weld idea, it's about time I start doing some of this stuff myself rather than just paying for things to be done (especially after seeing the stock market today!). Carey, I'll have to give you a call just to see what you want for the items you mention.

Perused the Samba sites, and came across a '10 Beck 1600 white and tan, for $37K --??!!-- Outfit in Colorado. Holy poop. What does Beck charge??

Don't know the final answer to that Kelly, but we're just talking door handles here.

Ask and I shall receive...got the set from Colorado. Now I think my door openings will seem more manly. Thanks for everyone's help.

Manly handles -- I wonder what Vince (Cuz'n Vinny) could do w/ that one??

Well, you know, I went and looked/felt my door handles the other day with a much more critical eye, now that there is all this fuss going on, and I guess I'll join the club here and say that mine are, in fact, a bit cheesy: light, and less than, well, manly. May have to fix that too. The deal is, as I understand it, that old bug and/or bus handles are solid and will fit in the replicas no problem. Is that the long and short of it?? or maybe just use the J-B weld approach and fill them in. could do that easy enough, but would be kinda cheating, I'd think.

I got my used VW handles today from the seller in Colorado. They are much beefier, have a little wear to them that should add a touch of elderliness to the Speedster. Once they're on, I'll stick to my earlier remark and say opening the doors now should be a much more manly-experience.