I am trying to sell my 1970 beetle. Not that many people seem interested in buying it, possibly because I am asking too much money, possibly because I got the interior trimmed in blinging orange and it only appeals to those hard of sight. Today a very nice chap turned up to view it (the phrase, "I'll be honest I don't really know what to look for in an old car was mentioned" along with "I've always wanted a beetle and now I can finally get one"). All going well. Took it for a test drive, started first turn of the key, and today was not a blue smoke day. Still all going well. Its sunny, we cruised round for a bit. People turned and smiled. Small children pointed. Nice man says oh, this is exactly what I am looking for. Lovely. What a great little car. So the beetle decides now, as we make a right turn in front of a speeding lorry is the time for the ignition barrel to fail, leaving nice man (driving) and me (scared passenger) directly in its path... Somehow we all survived, but I'm glad I was wearing my brown trousers. I pushed the best I could into a layby, and using nothing more than a bic biro, fixed the the barrel that being a reproduction part was soft as dairylee and had twisted so it no longer made adequate contact. As the back of the beetle was hanging into the road still, we got lots of abuse and helpful suggestions about where I should be putting my car from passing motorists. From this point forward both alternator and oil lights were flashing on and off, and it cut out at every junction. Occasionally the dynamo ( a brand new recon unit that so far has been faultless) whined. I then drove the nice man back to my house, where he literally ran away. He has taken the 100m record sprint time off Usian Bolt. Once he was gone I went out and drove round the block and it was fine (as it was before the test drive). I've just popped out now, still fine. My beetle is an idiot.
Today I started recommissioning my 67 bug. I now have a 4 feet long list of stuff to make it ready for its mot. It's a very love hate relationship
It's currently on eBay here http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/1970-VW-Bee...3A14b32bed15d0aa18f10d7a13fff030c1%7Ciid%3A13 I'm in Chester.