Project Myrtle: Jim’s Baja Bug Build

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by JamesLey, Sep 8, 2019.

  1. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Everyone please say hello to Iris’ little sister and next resto project, Myrtle!

    A ‘73 beetle, so a year younger than Iris. She’s destined to be our off-road Baja Bug rig.

    I won’t be starting on this for a little while yet as I need to finish up Iris’ interior first, but watch this space.

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    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
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  2. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    Nice one James, looking forward to this build :)
     
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  3. Lazy Andy

    Lazy Andy Supporter

    Consider the watch thread button pressed!
     
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  4. The shell looks in reasonable state, good luck! :thumbsup:
     
  5. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    It looks pretty good I reckon.
    It was the perfect purchase for me though; a project the guy had for 5 years and not really done much with it.

    It's full to the roof with bits, and I still have the glass and another set of doors to collect off him at some point. Oh and there are two engines with it, a 1200 and a 1600! Both turned freely and didn't seem to have any end-float, plan will be to use the 1600 if it looks good.
     
  6. Shouldn't this be "Jame's Ley Sand Scorcher"?

    Looking forward to seeing what you do with this.
     
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  7. Considering how light a Baja should be, it should go like a rocket with a decent set of carbs on it.

    When you're done I'd love a run out in it :)
     
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  8. Hmm, @JamesLey is it a standard model? Looks it...from the way the bumper slots are in the front valence?
     
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  9. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Yeap. Supers aren't supposed to make great bajas due to the strut front.
     
  10. Sorry, not quite what I meant. I am not making myself clear, mea culpa. I didn't mean versus a 1302/3. Look at a front wing at Heritage for your year model versus Iris, note where the bumper iron slot is? Iris has a slot on the body, just like pre67 cars. The Heritage wing will have the slot on the wing itself. As I understand it, this means she was a standard model, slightly lower trim spec, better purchase price etc.

    The reason I ask is, if your wings are decent and original, I might be interested in buying them, as you won't be using them on a Baja.
     
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  11. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Gotcha now! I have a full set of wings that will be going spare yes.

    No idea if they're original, but from what I recall they're in pretty good nick. Do the originals have any tell-tale signs (stamped?), or is it the case that repro ones will look obviously crap?
     
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  12. Another way to say this is it was originally a 1200 :thumbsup: rather than a deluxe 1300-1500
     
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  13. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Exactly that yes!
     
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  14. I'll know if I can see them, or a photo. Selling them won't make you a rich man, but every little helps :)
     
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  15. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    I'll get some pics for you when I'm next down the unit to start organising it all.
     
  16. Thanks, just to save you hassle, if the rears are tombstone lights then they're too modern, just photo the fronts. Tho' if you want to know if they're originals, or not, happy to look all of them over.
     
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  17. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    I managed to get a full day down the workshop today starting to strip down the bug.

    Bonnet and dash area stripped.
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    Most of the panels at the front look solid in the right places but it needs all of the usual places which rust out on these. The areas that are bad (spare wheel well) will be getting chopped out for the baja kit anyway.

    Rear all stripped out, I just need to pull the loom through. Some numpty cut through the loom when they repaired the quarter panel so we’ll need a new loom.
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    The luggage panel is generally in good shape but has started to go on the O/S:
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    And has had some bad repairs along the bottom edge:
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    I’ll repair these rather than replace as the surrounding metal looks good, and this is a baja so doesn’t need to be perfect.
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
  18. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    The first of two road trips this week to collect parts for the baja project. This evening's journey, a 150 mile round trip up to Membury Services to meet Graham from fbivw to get the baja kit. A lovely chap, and he had this corker in tow too!

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    Last edited: Feb 24, 2020
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  19. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    The Second road trip of the week over to the keeper of parts, @davidoft.

    Got a good condition drivers door, napoleons hat and arch repair.
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    A family trip this time so stopped in at a farm shop for pumpkins and goodies.
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