Looking For Old VW Beetle

[vwnate1]

It says ' open discussion' so.......

I'm on the hunt for a pre 1965 VW Beetle, not a Hot Rod, not restored .

Just some old Beetle I can tinker with and enjoy ~ one last Bug before I die .

Pretty much it must be complete & run and not have gaping rust holes in it .

I'm in So. Cal. but will travel a bit .

TIA ,

[Idle]

Check out a website called The Samba.

[Angel]

If I may - what is it about the year 1965 and earlier ? I see a lot of ads where people must have the early models, and it feels like the 1970's models are just an abomination to be shunned (I'm exaggerating here) - but I've never understood this. What is it about the 1965s and earlier ?


-John

[vwnate1]

Sadly The Samba is now filled with jerkhoff kiddies and fools who talk a lot and know nothing about old VW's in reality .

I'm not going to pay $5K for a pile of junk that needs more than $3K in repairs to make it a beater .

The deal with the pre 1965 is : the body was changed in 1965 : the windows all got larger , the windshield was curved and so on .

Good things unless you're an old Geezer who thinks driving vintage vehicles is a fun thing to do .

Anyway, I know they're out there here and there and I assume there's some overlap between VW's and Mercedes just as there's over lap between Mercedes Diesels and BMW Air Head Motocycles....

[vwnate1]

I came home from the Hospital in a base miodel 1954 VW Typ I "Kombi" ~ this being the very cheapest VW Van you could buy in the 1950's ~ my tightwad Father bought one in Europe and had it shipped over, when full of six screaming brats it wasn't too cold in Rural New England and the tiny back roads meant it wasn't any slower than any other vehicle .

I was a VW mechanic/owner/lover/junkie/Shop owner in the glory dayze and I miss them very much .

The damned lying thieving kids drove me away and after I gave all my old VW's away to my Son or sold them to locals who I felt wouldn't destroy them by lowering, Hot Rodding etc. I thought I was all done but with age comes ~ I dunno what but I'm looking for some poor old Beetle I can whip back into road worthy shape and putter 'round in .

[pj67coll]

I would like one too actually. You see quite a few around here but most of them have been effed up by morons doing exactly as you described. I'd also like one that's pre 66 (no emissions in Phoenix before 66). So none of that crap to mess with. I actually know of one near where I work that they have owned from new. It's got almost no paint left. The entire surface having changed from the original grey to a light brown though as this is Phoenix there is no actual rust thru anywhere. They had it up on jack stands the other day while they dropped the engine to work on it. I like the idea of something so simple. Any design that can last essentially unchanged from the 1930's to the 2000's is exceptional.

- Peter.

[barry12345]

If like myself a lot of water has gone under the bridge. I drove them many years ago as well.

You might want to test drive one before total commitment to the nostalgia. I have wondered what driving one again would feel like myself.

[Delibes]

If it is nostalgia that you are after, why not a beat-up flathead Harley? *wink wink*

[vwnate1]

Miguel ;

I don't like FlatHeads of any stripe, they're not good for the use I need .

I restored and rode a '65 FH PanHead in 1971 and a '37 EL KnuckleHead when I lived in Guatemala forty years ago and I still have pleasant memories .

I like to ride too fast in the canyons to ever have another Harley unless I win the Lotto and could afford a bone stock 1955 'K' Model .

FWIW, my ' modern ' car is a 1984 Mercedes Diesel so I know exactly how old VW's drive .

I just want one last one to tinker up and enjoy before I fall over dead .

[Kuan]

I would like a VW bus. In fact I would like my old VW bus back.

[vwnate1]

? What year / model was it ? .

I've had so many it makes my head spin thinking about them all .

The split screen versions were not really very good, sturdy and reliable but no fun to do even the most mundane service on .

I think may be my favorite one was a basic 1970 with full seats .

Or maybe my old 1968 # 211 One Ton Parcel Delivery Van...

It was noisy inside but a fun truck .

Most are not aware that all TYP II VW's up to 1961 were 3/4 rated, from 1961 onwards they were all one tonners .

[oldsinner111]

I'd like a bus,with a better engine,or turbo charged.

[vwnate1]

There's a limit to how fast one can safely go in a Typ II.......

I used to scare the beegebers out of my passengers in my '70 with nothing more than good tires and suspension plus a sharply tuned engine .

Never even skidded it much less crashed .

[Bogfrog]

Type II user's manual stated Top Speed and Cruising Speed 68. I drove my 1971 until 1998, when my mechanic retired and some major body parts broke. The lack of anodizing led to problems with rust, but it had front discs and handled pretty well with premium radials. Hours behind the wheel probably contributed to some hearing loss. I believe '71 was the year before the "Porsche engine" was introduced. Always preferred the styling (rounded rear engine scoops, simple bumpers, nice use of chrome) over the later years.

[TwitchKitty]

We have a local guy who has worked on nothing but bugs for 30 years or so. If you can find your local equivalent you are way ahead. He can still make money on them. His customers sell fixed up bugs reasonably from time to time.