The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk vintage car cooler

i bought this car cooler-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=208113 and am in the process of refurbishing it to use in the 50 next summer. it's pretty complete and by the looks of it, in original condition.

there are a few pieces missing, mainly the louver cover at the front. i've done extensive searchs and have not come across another unit like it. i did a patent search and found they had the original design patent drawing and description, but it is a differant design than this unit.

anybody ever seen one of these before and if so is there any information available on what it looked like new?!?

appreciate any help you can give!

I've never seen a car cooler like that, looks like most of the household swamp coolers of the sixties. The car coolers usually were tube shaped and hung out the passenger window. Looks like a 115 volt power cord from what I could see.

i have one of the window thermador car coolers versions too. works o.k. as long as you're moving. what i liked about this one was it was 6 volt, will plug nicely into my existing switch and will fit pretty well under the dash on the passenger side just like the original heater did. i need to make a bracket to hang it on but that will be easy to do.

the "lamp" cord is obviously an alteration made by some p.o. and has already been removed to make way for some original style wiring.

i'm working on getting all the little dents and dings taken out of it and going through the rest of the unit. found a small hole in one corner that should be easy to weld up and grind smooth before sandblasting and painting it up nice and new.

I've never seen one like that. I notice the PO advises he "restored" it. I guess what he calls restored and what I call restored are two different things.

restored is definitely a relative term. i was just happy it was in as good of shape as it was.

i have it pretty much tore down and have started sandblasting parts and painting. the motor ran pretty good without any work, but i pulled it apart and cleaned and lubed everything so now it runs really smooth.

wish i could find out what the original louvers looked like but if i can't find anybody who knows, i think i'll just make one up.

i'll try to post some pics of it when i'm done with it.

You can still get these thingys on the net. Here is an example:

Kooleraire

and here's the big supplier:

Swampy

I thought about one of these thingys for my flat bed. I could just as easily install a generator and a window unit for cheaper than the real auto air conditioners....

however....

I am a Texan, and the devil said if owned hell and Texas, he'd live in hell and rent out Texas.

So, I just have a rubber fan!

arnswine,

looked at both of those sites (and about a dozen more) but the biggest problem with these units is they are all 12 volt. i'm still running the old school 6 and plan on keeping it that way.

besides, in my opinion, i like the looks of the old metal cooler from the 50's vs. the thermoformed stuff offered now.

as far as being from texas...well, that's just something you'll have to live with