Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

My eldest daughter has decided she wants a 1970's VW Beetle as her first car and its not a car that I'm very familiar with so:

What should she expect to pay for a decent car?

What are the problem areas?

Anything to watch out for?

Any advice much appreciated

clarkson keeps calling 911 a beetle, so a nice 2.2 911S methinks, no seriously try beetle forum or mags, 911 worlds sister mag is a vw mag

Biggest problem is rust , especially floorpan. Look under rear seat in corners. Front footwell areas. Wings are bolt on and cheap to replace, but! the fixings will more often than not pull out of side panel when you try to undo unless previous owners have replaced with stainless fixings. Door post bottoms another rust trap.Engines pretty robust check end float by grabbing crank pulley and push pull if more than a mm or so will be thrust bearings. Exhaust same as 911 for heating, not very efficient ( as fuel economy).
Car pretty cheap to maintain and run providing no major rust. I love them both my children had them as first cars and loved them. Can't emphasis enough check for rust.
P.S dont get one that has been lowered by modding the beam , have seen some pretty poor jobs. Get the drop link kit if she is going down that route
Good luck
Geoff

just thought, speak to paul chare his son is into beetles in a big way and i think he takes more than a passing interest

Yep! rust is the main problem as mechanicals are relativley easy and cheap to maintain / restore. Sills/running boards are a well known rust area. plenty of parts available and plenty of specialists .We had a 74 1200 which my missus used to slide around with enthusiasm! There are a few specialist VW mags around which should give you an idea of what is possible and available! Great for a first car!

Thanks guys

If you are looking for info on VW beetles I would try some of the forums. The biggest online community for VW in UK resides at..........

http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/

There are many more besides this one, and people on these forums are usually very forth coming with usefull information and tips.

Bug prices seem to pretty good at the moment as everyone seems to wanting camper vans. Have a look at the for sale section on Volkszone VZi for a better idea of how much and what condition.

Happy hunting.

Look for all of the above and be careful of the uninserlated terminals that tend to drop off and set fire to the car. Any slak fitting ones shuld be rplaced with inserlated ones.

Bug lesson, maybe I am telling you stuff you already know but the peoples car was designed by professor Porsche when Hittler wanted a car for his super race
Hittler said it should be capable of cruising at 70mph on his new motor ways, simple in design and the designer should look to nature for inspiration and aerodynamics
Originally called Strength through joy KDF the German people were told to save coupons for the reasonable priced car for the masses. Hittlers dream was for everyone to have one ( and to rule the world). When the how to rule the world dream took over all the German peoples hard earned cash went into the war effort. Very few KDF were delivered and the type 1 (never called beetle by VW) was turned into all manner of war vehicles including the kuble wagon, the swimmer wagon and even half tracks. Hittler even used coach built Hebmuler cabriolet as staff car for himself. The Wolfsburg factory was used to build war stuff ammunition and planes I think but the original type 1 tooling was kept in the factory. When war finally ended it was the English that occupied Wolfsburg and it was English top brass that decided to reopen the Wolfsburg factory and give it back to the dismayed German people to give them something to be proud of. Renamed Volkswagon the car went from strength to strength volks meaning people and wagon meaning car
Porsche of course went on to use the running gear to modify and used lights and fittings to build his own first cars, early 356 and now we see the circle of life as Porsche now own the controlling share in VW.

My bug is in paint (Porsche guards red.) 1971 custom rag top deseamed lowered with 356 inspired blade bumpers. I will fit the seats out of my 924 turbo race car to finish the interior It will be my winter ride, tax exempt and classic £130 insurance hope to get her back on Wednesday. I have owned her since I was 17 and now 38 I am as they say well and truly bitten by the BUG
I will be at the club meets with her during the winter after all it’s a Porsche at hart and its better than going in myA4 until my 944s is back out in the summer.
Take this as a cautionary tale.
Pictures when she comes back.

Thanks for all the advice - I'll let you know how we get on

Saw this on the DDK forum and I think it may be Ideal for your daughter.

1999 rhd mexican beetle (classic old shape not a the new one) .. 1600i motor 46k miles with service history running on polished fuchs wheels. should mean rust issues are at a minnimum

http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18876

the price is £4250 - and contact details are 07974579667 01932 873493

Here's that lowered Beetle that I was talking to you about yesterday, Paul. I was mistaken about the white side panels.

Nice looking car - love that interior!!

how did yesterdays viewing go ? was a purchase made

Yep!

My daughter now owns a 1971 Beetle in Marina Blue. Will pick up in a couple of weeks after engine swap and a couple of minor jobs sorted. Looks like I have another project on my hands

She's decided to call it "Bernard"

Massive thanks to Paul Chare and his son Mike for all the help with this one.

Nice one Paul, a classic Bug is a cool first car.