What should I do with this Super Beetle?

[Tim Hancock]

Wife's non-mechanically savvy brother from Texas hauled this early 70's Super Beetle up to us from Texas. Afew years ago, he and his then teen son, were going to "fix it up" and repaint it. Unfortunately they sanded to bare metal in many spots then proceeded to spray THE WHOLE car (including mirrors, door handles etc) with rattle can primer.

The car is an auto stick and I got it running just for kicks last year, but it obviously needs a ton of work, however the only problem rust is in the battery box area of the pan. I had 2 beetles as first cars and did a bunch of work to them, living in Ohio, most beetles on the road back then had rotted floorpans and door post columns/pillars where they attach to the floorpan. This one coming from Texas, IS SOLID.

While I need another project like I need a hole in my head, my mind keeps envisioning a stripped out fat and wide "sports car" type project, or a fake BajaBug look (it has the struts up front, so it would not make for a very good "real" Baja bug).

It is just sitting behind my hangar patiently waiting for the next chapter of it's life. Should it go to the junkyard, or should I dive into it?

[widebody911]

Pimp it on TheSamba and get out from under it while you still can.

A couple weeks ago I dragged home a '61 and '74 bug - got 'em for free, but they're not worth the hassle. The '74 is reasonably complete, straight and dry, but the engine is seized up.

[304065]

Junk it. 2,000 headaches later it's still a '70s Super Beetle. Expend your finite number of hearbeats on an MGA, Jaguar XK120 or Aston.

[legion]

What kind of responses do you think you're going to get on a car enthusiast's board?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thom, is that singlecab a robin egg blue? What year is it? My 63 crewcab was that color, such great memories.

[Tim Hancock]

Mods feel free to delete this duplicate thread.

[fingpilot]

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
Wife's non-mechanically savvy brother from Texas hauled this early 70's Super Beetle up to us from Texas. Afew years ago, he and his then teen son, were going to "fix it up" and repaint it. Unfortunately they sanded to bare metal in many spots then proceeded to spray THE WHOLE car (including mirrors, door handles etc) with rattle can primer.

The car is an auto stick and I got it running just for kicks last year, but it obviously needs a ton of work, however the only problem rust is in the battery box area of the pan. I had 2 beetles as first cars and did a bunch of work to them, living in Ohio, most beetles on the road back then had rotted floorpans and door post columns/pillars where they attach to the floorpan. This one coming from Texas, IS SOLID.

While I need another project like I need a hole in my head, my mind keeps envisioning a stripped out fat and wide "sports car" type project, or a fake BajaBug look (it has the struts up front, so it would not make for a very good "real" Baja bug).

It is just sitting behind my hangar patiently waiting for the next chapter of it's life. Should it go to the junkyard, or should I dive into it?

[fingpilot]

Now we've got the mods permanently confused.

All of this from Barbados with a Fast Sattelite connection.



Now, what was the question?

[Tobra]

cut out the rot, weld in a new battery pan and put it together.

try go here

Super Beetles Only

Dimensions of a SB are incredibly close to those of a 914. I can tell you, they can be made to handle fantastic, no good for a baja bug though, shame to cut it up for that.

[The Gaijin]

'71 Superbeetle and an Economy tractor in the background. Man, that brings back memories...

[Tim Hancock]

Originally posted by fingpilot
Now we've got the mods permanently confused.

All of this from Barbados with a Fast Sattelite connection.

Thanks for fixing my mess fingpilot!

I keep getting interrupted at work while doing my daily Pelican routine!

[scottmandue]

With the cult like following the beetle has I would think it would be worth something to somebody. 70's is pre smog in Calif (no smog test) if nothing else sell it cheap or gift it to someone that needs a project car. IMHO it is has some value and shouldn't be thrown away.
YMMV

[fingpilot]

Wait a minute.... I fly for a living, and the guy FIXING the planes keeps getting interrupted here by WORK?????

Tim. Get back to work...... JK.... I'd be honored to fly what you work on.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally posted by fingpilot
Wait a minute.... I fly for a living, and the guy FIXING the planes keeps getting interrupted here by WORK?????

Tim. Get back to work...... JK.... I'd be honored to fly what you work on.

Airplane work is on weeknights and weekends, unfortunately I have to work a day engineering job primarily for the health insurance and other benefits.

[competentone]

Where is the Super Beetle?

I thought all Super Beetles had the curved windshields?

[Tim Hancock]

Not the early ones, note the strut barely visible in the front wheel opening and the rounded bottom of the trunk. The later ones also had roundish shaped taillights.

[thrown_hammer]

Send it to me.

[legion]

Can someone educate me on the various versions of the Beetle?

I would think a later Super Beetle would be superior to a "regular" Beetle, but Tim seemd to imply they are no good for Baja Bugs.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
and I got it running just for kicks last year, but it obviously needs a ton of work, however the only problem rust is in the battery box area of the pan.

Screw a piece of plywood under the battery, get some masking tape and spray cans and make an "Art Car" out of it. A ladybug motif might work well.

Works on Geo Trackers too.

Zebra Car - It's done!!



http://www.jlcollector.com/273.html

[thrown_hammer]

Originally posted by legion
Can someone educate me on the various versions of the Beetle?

I would think a later Super Beetle would be superior to a "regular" Beetle, but Tim seemd to imply they are no good for Baja Bugs.

Alot of people think that. The strut front suspension while "better" when new tends to wear out quicker than the standard beetles beam suspension. A standard Beetle has a simpler and stronger front suspension.

I think for a street car the Super would be okay but I have heard rumor that even those have issues. But I don't know for sure. My Beetle is allergic to asphalt.

EDIT: Seriosly, send it to me.