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Gabriel’s VW Keys & Locks
Every VW has a key. Some have more than others do. When your VW was delivered from the factory, one key unlocked everything you needed to unlock. Over the years, though, Â many parts have usually been changed, and one key may not work all your locks anymore. Or, suppose you lost the key to your car, and had to have a new one made. Perhaps you just bought a project Split or Oval, (or Type II or Type III), and it came without any keys whatsoever. Whaddya gonna do?
Gabriel Garcia, of Gabriel’s Keys & Locks, got into his profession purely by necessity. He had bought a 23-Window Bus, and with that Bus came five different keys to open and lock everthing. He took all the handles and switches out and began to take them apart and play with them. Soon, after a few attempts (and broken locks) he had one key fitting all the locks on his 23-Window Bus. Â Soon, after telling all his friends what he was able to do, they all wanted him to do the same thing with their cars as well. From these humble beginnings Gabriel’s VW Keys and Locks was born.
VW Trends paid a visit to Gabriel in Stockton, Calif., to view his operation and throw him a few curve balls, just to see how good he really was and if he could really make a key from mailing order, as he claimed he could.
Gabriel has key blanks for every VW from 1936 to the mid-1980’s. You need an original “Huf” brand key for your Split? Â No problem. Gabriel has lots of them. How about an “SG” or “SC’ profile key for your Oval? Sure, how many do you need? If VW made it, Gabriel can make a key for it. His collection of original VW key blanks is impressive, to say the least. Suppose you have a VW like Gabriel’s 23-Window Bus, which takes almost a half dozen keys to open everything up? No big deal, just send gabriel your door handles, “T” handle, ignition switch and whatever else needs a key, and you will get them back rebuilt with one key fitting everything. The guide pins loose or shot in your 1967-one year only Sedan door handles? Piece of cake for Gabriel. Maybe you got an original shifter lock with no key-which everyone says can’t be broken into and re-keyed? Send it to Gabriel. Gabriel has been known to make an order over the phone and “two day express” mail a key to South Africa! If you are at a show in the california area, you will probably find Gabriel set up in the swap meet area, making keys to order. Anthony De la Torre, aka “Cub” from Hardtop Sedan at the swap meet and it didn’t come with any keys. C.B. Performance, found out just how good Gabriel is at the Sacramento Bugorama. Anthony purchased a very nice ’67 Hardtop Sedan at the swap meet and it didn’t come with any keys. He simply took the door handle off, gave it to Gabriel (who was set up right near the area where Anthony bought the car), and in 10 minutes he had a car that would lock and start with the same key.
Here’s another example. My good friend russ Hare had just recently bought a 1960 Beetle Convertible and he was quite happy to find that one key worked the door handles, the ignition, the glove box lock, the hood release lock, and the “T” handle decklid lock. Unfortunately, one day at work, Russ found himself without a key. I got Russ on the phone while I was at Gabriel’s VW Keys and Locks and Gabriel told Russ where to look for the lock code number, which Russ found and relayed to Gabriel over the phone. Ten minutes later, I had a key to take home to Russ, and true to Gabriel’s expertise, that one key fit all the locks and ignition switch on Russ’ Vert.
Gabriel can usually offer a 2-3 day turn around time and can really get moving if there’s an emergency, such as a car without keys stuck in a neighborhood where you don’t want the car left outside. He can “next-day air” you a key, if you have a car that needs to be at a show that weekend, or something of that nature. If it has tumblers, Gabriel can fix it.
As a side note, Gabriel does not do Chevys, Fords, Hondas or anything else. He does VW keys, period. No house keys, no padlocks, just VWs.
If you have anything of a VW key nature that needs to be attended to, whether it is just a spare set of keys for your pride and joy, or you need a key made via mail-order to get that project car started, Gabriel is the man for the job!
-as it appeared on the 2001 December issue of the VW Trends Magazine article by Dave Cormack[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″]
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I would like to rekey the ignition and driver side only how mush would this cost ?
Gabe ‘I have a 57 bug and the original key that works in the ignition and the engine lid. The drivers handle is pitted and I think the lock doesn’t seem to work. I have a nice original handle, Is it possible to key that lock with the key that fits the other lock on the car? What would it cost?
Gabriel, Lemme know how the locks are coming along. k? Later! G
Hi Gary, they are pretty much ready.
Gabriel.
Hi James, yes, as long as the replacement handle is OG we could keyed alike, we charge $25.00per lock to be keyed alike, plus shipping.
Gabriel.
Hi Isidoro, we should be able to help you with that, what year and model VW you have?
We normally charge $25.00per lock to be keyed alike, plus the cost any key blanks and shipping.
Gabriel.
I have a 1970 VW bug I have a key to the do same key with VW stamped into it I have one that fits the glovebox the nearest I can tell does nothing has vW carved into it. cut out of the key and I have one that does my dads address BW stamped into it I would like to get copies of all the above have the same VW logos on them or In them
Gabriel did a fantastic job on my keys. I was going out of town on a camping trip in my bus and realized that I only had one key. He made me a new one and got it back to me before my trip.
Thanks again Gabriel !
Dave
Thanks Dave! I’m glad all worked out.
Gabriel.
I have a 66 beetle. What you need from me beside ignition key and door handle? Do I just mail them to above adress?
We need a key code so we could cut a key.
Gabriel.
Gabriel,
I have a ’67 VW Beetle. My key works in the ignition and both door locks. My question is: I can turn the door handle lock paddles with any of the house keys, even if the key isn’t inserted all the way in.. This can’t be normal is it?
I have a 72 Baja with no keys for the door locks. I’d like one key to do the whole car, but separate is okay too. The key for the ignition is also a generic style.
How much would it be to match the door locks to the ignition key and have two keys cut with the VW logo?
Or how much just to make keys for the current door locks?
Hi Trevor, in case you still need the VW keys, we have them and we could cut them by code for you.
Gabriel.
Hi I thought I would give this a shot since you have a front seat listed. I’m looking for a rear bench seat that would fit my 56 panel, got any ideas? Thanks Greg
Keep checking on TheSamba.com
Gabriel.