In the market for a VW Bug- what’s the most Pelican-like forum to join?

[gsxrken]

Thinking about picking up a Bug, but I need to spin up on them first and a good forum is probably the best way to do that. Ideally after I know more, I get a lead on a solid car a forum member owns or is familiar with. I’ve aged out of massive media-blast / rust restorations, but faded paint and tired mechanicals are not an issue for what I have in mind. But that’s getting ahead of myself.
Please let me know if you’ve found an air-cooled VW forum that you like!

[mocha07]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

Thinking about picking up a Bug, but I need to spin up on them first and a good forum is probably the best way to do that. Ideally after I know more, I get a lead on a solid car a forum member owns or is familiar with. I’ve aged out of massive media-blast / rust restorations, but faded paint and tired mechanicals are not an issue for what I have in mind. But that’s getting ahead of myself.
Please let me know if you’ve found an air-cooled VW forum that you like!

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/

[jyl]

Samba!

[yellowperil]

Samba !

[wdfifteen]

I joined The Samba (named after a ‘50s VW bus model). The guys are very VW tech oriented and very knowledgeable. It’s a good place.

[Racerbvd]

Another one for Samba.

[targa911S]

samba

[DonDavis]

I hear Pelican is not too shabby.

[porsche930dude]

When we had vws the biggest thing we needed forums for was figuring out the interchangeability of all the different year parts. There isnt much to them but still alot of tips and tricks you will need to know sooner or later

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by yellowperil

Samba !

THE Samba. Google “Samba” and you’ll get all kinds of crap. Google “The Samba” and you get VWs.

[porsche930dude]

they have a Porsche section too iv bought some parts from there

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

they have a Porsche section too iv bought some parts from there

TheSamba.com is the best site for anything pertaining to vintage VWs. They have an 'Off Topic' forum too, but it's not as active as this one.

[unclebilly]

I went through this a year ago. I bought a 60 Baja.

[masraum]

I don't know if it's for sale, but I found your bug!



https://www.retrorallycross.com/retro-rallycross-drivers/james-harrold/

VW Beetle Turbo RWD

2080cc
Hewland DG300 5 speed gearbox
Custom “A frame” suspension all round
AP Racing brakes
500+ BHP

This 1974 1303S was converted for rallycross by the late Peter Harrold in 1982. 4WD was added in 1989 and in the capable hands of Peter Harrold, who’s greatest success was outright victory at Lydden Hill in 1992, was raced until his retirement from the sport in 1989, but by this time the VW had been taken back to its original 2wd configuration.

Following the death of Peter in 2003 the car, which had been sitting under wraps in the workshops for a few years, was restored by the Harrold team for use in the Retro Rallycross Challenge.

[Steve F]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Most all of us have owned a VW air-cooled of sorts at one time.

Some us still do

[wdfifteen]

Here is a link to a thread about my '65 bug on TheSamba.com

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=715530&highlight=65

Just click on the link. It will get you to the forum, then just start looking around.

[911boost]

Some of the Samba asking prices in the classifieds are a bit high.

I’m a regular on the Bay Window forum there.

[Tishabet]

I'm going to be the lone voice of dissent and respectfully suggest that the best forum for vintage vw is actually thesamba.com

I'm more active over there than over here, site is very tech and diy oriented.

[gsxrken]

Joined up at The Samba (haven’t learned if that name means anything VW related yet) and have spent some time there. It is exactly what I was hoping to find.
Around 1980 or so my dad had bought a type 3 VW and I remember removing the Fuel Injection and converting to a carburetor with him. He wasn’t a VW guy and didn’t have the means (or the internet) to diagnose the FI woes. It’s funny now because with 18 years of 930 ownership I’ve become quite familiar with mechanical FI and could probably easily square him away with it if I could go back in time and help him with it.
Anyway... the prices are not what I recall either. I see a lotta *****in’ about good OEM parts- prices and scarcity- and decent cars seem to be asking for around $10k now. Nowhere near the P-tax, but not petty cash anymore. Bugs seem like they were always $1,800 cars, until they weren’t.
Gonna be a fun diversion!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

Joined up at The Samba (haven’t learned if that name means anything VW related yet) and have spent some time there. It is exactly what I was hoping to find.

In the late '50s VW made a version of the bus for touring. It had a cloth sunroof and a bunch of windows so the tourists could see the Alps. Volkswagen called that version of the bus the Samba.



A Volkswagen Samba