Hi all As you probably I have been viewing beetles recently and am sure I miss the less than obvious bits. I always look at heater channels, A posts, hinges, floor pans, gutters, straightness etc but those are the only real weak spots I know of. Does anyone have any good tips for me when viewing pre 74 bugs, no earlier than 66. Cheers in advance. Malc
i would suggest having a really good look at the frame head, inner front wheel arches and under the spare wheel well, these are all common areas that rot through. If the frame head is gone then you're into big resto money, but like anything with these, everything is repairable if you have the time and budget!
Framehead, what am I looking at when checking the framehead, Could you give me a simple check procedure please @vwbusbits?
What happened to you wanting a round windowed mongol beetle that people buy by mistake when thinking all beetles are cool then realise they bought the wrong one when people laugh and snigger have you finally seen the light
Basically it's the very front of the chassis, essentially under the bonnet area and is where the front beam assembly bolts up. Easiest way to check is under the front end of the car on your back, but you can also put the wheels on full lock and look in through the wheel arch area. You will notice this area is relatively flat and on the o/s is where the brake master cylinder etc is normally located.
& while you're there note the tiny bit of flexible fuel line that will be one of your first replacement jobs, along with the bit by the NS rear arch & the tiny piece in the engine bay..... Make sure the rear seat springs can't short the battery out when someone sits there even when just viewing & I think you'll find the chassis number under there, on the centre tunnel, for the paper trail check. Good luck....
Cheers all I am asking in very simple terms ( I do know most of this tbh) but my lad is reading it too and I know he will go looking himself so keep it simple and hopefully he won't drag me halfway across the country to look at an absolute scrapper-- been there and done that already.
I haven't committed to anything yet Neal, I am reluctant to part with my hard earned - I don't want to much hard work this time. 1302s, or even 1303 sports wil all be considered,, at the right money of course
This will do if the auction ends within my budget http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1973-VOLK...8053073?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a89af09d1
It isn't a case of either of us really wanting one tbh, I have never liked bugs they don't really float my boat, but they are the cheapest to insure by a country mile ( £658 compared to £2700 - £3300. I can maintain it and he does like the aircooled. I would rather get him a cheap tidy Micra k11 as they are pretty bomb proof. insurance is £2900 first year on a £900 micra!
This ^^ is true Malc unless you get a really cool stunning early one and only use it for pootling around and going to the odd show in summer in, we ain't used Lou's for months and then only go for nice drives in it
Cool is nothing to do with it at all Neal, cost of insurance and tax exempt is the main factor, Oh and it has to be pretty solid. I can do the rest easily.
You missed my point, here's the bottom line, they're rubbish, ( unless you've got a real cool looking minter coz then you dont mind the hassle ) we've got one it's a nice one but it's still rubbish, it's cost us loads, i'm always doing something to it, they've mostly been owned by young lads/lasses who thrape them coz they don't know how to drive and look after them, buy one for a daily driver and in six months you'll wish you had'nt Just saying
Weeel. If you've done your sums Malc, then fine. I would've thought a Mk2/3 Golf or even an older Polo - they're a hoot, and never go wrong. Beetles are cramped rot-boxes that are sh*t to work on...IMHO.
another pearl.....unless you've set you're ceiling price pretty high, a pre 73 Beetle is going to be a bag of sh*t, with countless issues IMO. As a first car, you want something you can trust....cheap to run/insure ...and above all, safe to drive...if he's anything like me when I was 17, I drove like a d*ck, and had a few narrow escapes....Think about it Malc....you're his dad...do you want to be getting the "I've broken down" 'phone call every other week? By all means a nice old beetle would be great to own and play with, but in my sincere opinion, I'd advise you look at other models for a first car...MK2 or 3 Golf, MK 2, 3 or 4 Polo....better still a MK 4 Fiesta, Ka (1.1) or Mk 2 Focus (1.4)...plenty of choice...cheap and reliable....Admittedly, it won't be the coolest car on the drive, but who cares....plus if you do go for an old Beetle, you'll probably peck his head continually about oil, gear changes, etc. etc.....your first car is your first step towards independence....however much he loves you, he's not going to feel like it's his, if you keep fretting about it
this is also true, late bays ar'nt cool, Some splits and lowered earlies are but not our lates, but our's are better for camping
