User Panel
Posted: 5/2/2016 8:28:23 PM EDT
I was recently given a 1971 super beetle, lightly modded, in almost-but-not-really-running condition. I'm torn between a proper restoration or going for the Cal look. I'm open to other ideas, but Baja is out.
This will probably be a fair-weather funmobile, but it may go to my little daddy's girl (12 y.o. right now) who wants to learn how to wrench on a car. Give me some inspiration GD. |
|
|
71 was the start of curved windshields yeah? Slam it, get some wider fenders and run wider wheels.
|
|
Super Beetles are nice but the older style front end is easier to work on and take abuse well.
Vdubs are getting hard to find. Restore it or go the Cal look. I keep my eye out for a decent 65 or 66 for a Baja bug. There used to be a ton of them, now, nada. |
|
|
|
|
Quoted:
Super Beetles are nice but the older style front end is easier to work on and take abuse well. Vdubs are getting hard to find. Restore it or go the Cal look. I keep my eye out for a decent 65 or 66 for a Baja bug. There used to be a ton of them, now, nada. View Quote This. I prefer the original Beetle to the Super. |
|
Ditch the Super with MacPherson front ends....go beams and slammed with some Empis 5's.
Then go crazy with the motor...at least 1776cc with duals. If I had more garage space, Id have another Type 1. |
|
Quoted:
71 was the start of curved windshields yeah? Slam it, get some wider fenders and run wider wheels. View Quote 71-72 were flat windshield, small taillights, regular bumper, early front struts. 73 was curved windshield, large taillights, regular bumper (one year only rear fenders). Late front struts were a mid year change, so there ate some oddball 73's with a weird front structure. 74 up was curved windshield, large taillights, 5 mph bumpers, late struts. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
|
My first car was a '73 super beetle convertible. Loved that car.
|
|
|
I had 2 of them, a 6 volt one, and a 12 volt one.
Neat cars, but I was glad to get rid of the second one. I'd had enough. Having to hold your hand on the windshield to melt the ice so you can see, gets old after a few times. |
|
|
What I know of the car:
Wide 'glass fenders all around and no running boards Flat windshield. The curved glass would have been later that year or 1972 model I think Porsche 924 wheels (phone dial I think they are called) Single carb setup with (supposedly) all parts for twin carb (not sure what flavor) Front discs on adjustable struts No obvious rust, but I think the floor pan has been replaced Front seats are tan corduroy from a SAAB and have to go. Missing back bumper and tail lights. I think I have the elephant-foot lights in a box of parts. Bad 2nd gear synchro Sticking valve. I plan on tearing the engine down and starting from the ground up. I've never done transmission work, so I don't know if I should rebuild myself or swap for a rebuilt. I cut my teeth on water-pumpers in the 80's and 90's and never really considered a bug, so I don't now much about them. I didn't know about the German look and I'm intrigued. With the collection of parts I've been given, it may be a good option to consider. |
|
Unsafe POS for young drivers.
The ONLY air cooled VW I ever liked that our family owned was the Karmann Ghia. [71 or 72] Still SLOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Horrid understeer. |
|
I guess the next relevant question is: What's the ARFCOM of beetles?
|
|
|
I still play doodle bug with my kids. Extra points for an original bug.
|
|
Quoted:
What I know of the car: Wide 'glass fenders all around and no running boards Flat windshield. The curved glass would have been later that year or 1972 model I think Porsche 924 wheels (phone dial I think they are called) Single carb setup with (supposedly) all parts for twin carb (not sure what flavor) Front discs on adjustable struts No obvious rust, but I think the floor pan has been replaced Front seats are tan corduroy from a SAAB and have to go. Missing back bumper and tail lights. I think I have the elephant-foot lights in a box of parts. Bad 2nd gear synchro Sticking valve. I plan on tearing the engine down and starting from the ground up. I've never done transmission work, so I don't know if I should rebuild myself or swap for a rebuilt. I cut my teeth on water-pumpers in the 80's and 90's and never really considered a bug, so I don't now much about them. I didn't know about the German look and I'm intrigued. With the collection of parts I've been given, it may be a good option to consider. View Quote Sounds like the PO might have been going that way. My 72 KG vert is awaiting a transmission and engine from a 2.0 liter 914, with a flipped ring gear and a 901 nosecone, 944 front brakes, 944 rear trailing arms with brakes, and a Megasquirt system with gutted 36 IDF's for throttle bodies. Of course, it's been waiting over 10 years... Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
|
|
The most important question is how is the rust in the pan ?
Have you put it on a lift or pulled the rear seat? How is the battery hold down. 80/90% of bugs have major deal killing rust in VIrginia any place that has snow is worse. Oh I love the samba for type 2 and bugs |
|
|
|
Quoted:
Slow, noisy, unsafe, and uncomfortable. What's not to love? View Quote The history. The history is to be loved, cherished, and passed on to the next generation. My 1946 Willys is slow, noisy, unsafe, and uncomfortable. I still spent a ton of time and money restoring it, mainly because it was my Grandfather's, but I got to spend a tremendous amount of time with my Dad I otherwise would have pissed away doing something else. Sounds like the OP may do the same with his kid. Now I have those memories to look back on for the rest of my life, and we still talk about it and tinker on it to this day. One day I hope to pass it on to the 4th generation if I'm ever lucky enough to have kids of my own. But other than that... not much. |
|
An old plane or Willy's I get. If I had a daughter I would never put her in an old Beetle.
|
|
Quoted:
An old plane or Willy's I get. If I had a daughter I would never put her in an old Beetle. View Quote I've never driven a Beetle so I can't comment there, but based on driving my Willys the Beetle has to be immensely safer, even one from the same era. Just the time spent together is great, especially since he said she wants to wrench on it. No reason to not have it as a "fun" car restored and get her a more appropriate daily driver when the time comes. |
|
Quoted:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j6160rH8tQ8/UTLjvXLx0eI/AAAAAAAAAQc/hFO3MUz-Zkg/s1600/vw-bugster-01.jpg View Quote That is fucking cool! |
|
View Quote The foreign license plate completes that perfectly. |
|
Quoted:
What I know of the car: Wide 'glass fenders all around and no running boards Flat windshield. The curved glass would have been later that year or 1972 model I think Porsche 924 wheels (phone dial I think they are called) Single carb setup with (supposedly) all parts for twin carb (not sure what flavor) Front discs on adjustable struts No obvious rust, but I think the floor pan has been replaced Front seats are tan corduroy from a SAAB and have to go. Missing back bumper and tail lights. I think I have the elephant-foot lights in a box of parts. Bad 2nd gear synchro Sticking valve. I plan on tearing the engine down and starting from the ground up. I've never done transmission work, so I don't know if I should rebuild myself or swap for a rebuilt. I cut my teeth on water-pumpers in the 80's and 90's and never really considered a bug, so I don't now much about them. I didn't know about the German look and I'm intrigued. With the collection of parts I've been given, it may be a good option to consider. View Quote Post some pics of what you have there! |
|
I floated a '64 Beetle across the South Bosque River twice and lost my virginity in the front seat of it. I was never happier to get rid of a car than when a drunk nailed me in it. I loved it and hated it when I was young and foolish. Today I would like to have one in good condition but I would probably never take it out on the roads in Houston because it would not have enough power to work well in traffic.
|
|
|
View Quote nice !!! appeals to my German side .... |
|
Quoted:
I was recently given a 1971 super beetle, lightly modded, in almost-but-not-really-running condition. I'm torn between a proper restoration or going for the Cal look. I'm open to other ideas, but Baja is out. This will probably be a fair-weather funmobile, but it may go to my little daddy's girl (12 y.o. right now) who wants to learn how to wrench on a car. Give me some inspiration GD. View Quote Yes. I have a 63 Single Cab with a 4" narrowed air bag beam, flipped spindles and the gear reduction boxes removed (67 bug trans.) |
|
|
Bug motors are so easy to rebuild. i did it in my dorm room one time.
If only I could buy a brand new 67 I would jump at it. I have had 4 bugs one van and one camper van. Slow noisy and cold or blazing hot in winter depending on th heater boxes. But I loved um. |
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.