Anyone clued up about beetles?

[trigger]

I'm the highest bidder on this little gem at the moment

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160329144675&_trksid=p2759.l1259

 

Thought It sounds pretty nice and would make a good starter classic, Plan is it to sell Mrs Trigger's Puma and her have this as a daily and for shows at weekends, She also likes it which is a bonus!.

 

Should look at it really but what do you think?, are the 1500's good for everyday use? Should i be worried about a front end rebuilt (I spend 4 years working in a bodyshop but i still can't make up my mind!) or am i just talking crap?

I haven't really got much of a clue on these, I'm more of a Ford man myself but can't afford one.

 

My other opition was to buy this on RR for £500

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=FSW&action=display&thread=58647

 

And spend a Grand getting the bodywork sorted but the rattlecan black and the rotten gutter rail put me off.

[reallyloud]

I think there might be a well known forum for this type of car......I had a few in my youth. You can't really compare them to anything else to be honest, they're totally unique in character, both good and bad. The 1500cc is probabily the best model if you're a VW purist - the later 1302S and 1303S 'super beetles' had 1600cc engines with a mcpherson strut front set up, but features a bulbous front end. Bits availability are never a problem, I had mine in the early 90's and due to their popularity, specialists popped up everywhere - fortunately only the better, more reputable ones survive.I'd like one again, not really for the scene or the fashion, but simply for the unique driving experience. They were pretty easy to work on, generally well built and quite tough little cars. I'd steer clear of other people half finished resto jobs, unless its had serious money spent on it. Get a good one, and you won't lose a penny when you get tired of the occasional wayward handling and fairly basic comfort.

[trigger]

I think there might be a well known forum for this type of car.......

lol, Yeah I was thinking about posting on that site but wanted a non biased view, Plus I'd probably just get slagged off or something on there as it can seem a bit bitchy at times.What's the best model to go for then?, would the 1500 be best or should I'd try of an 1302 or 1303?Not really into the scene myself or making a fashion statement, I'm not exactly cool nether!, Just after a first classic which you can use everyday that won't cost the earth to keep on the road.

[shite_meister]

I work for a classic car restorers and have seen and been in quite a few beetles, if you look beyond the fashion part of them they are actually quite a decent classic, everything is available (although there is alot of crap made for them quality-wise) and as previously mentioned the experience of driving an air-cooled rear-engined flat-four car is just a little different.Although not the same car/engine, my 1600cc air-cooled camper never caused me any problems in the engine dept and always suprised me just how rapid it felt as I thought they'd be really slow so I'm sure you'll fine a 1500 Beetle just fine, I drove a 1966 1300cc last week and didn't feel like a snail.You would have to check the front end really well and take it from there, it could have been fairly minor damage that only affected the outer panels-check the floor pan and surrounding areas at the front.The blue one would be a nice one to go for-it looks like a little peach, certainly better (without seeing it) than the black one and I reckon you will always sell one of those fairly easily if you deceided it wasn't for you.What is the max you'd pay for it? or would you B.I.N?

[trigger]

Not sure what it's worth TBH, Thought £2500 wasn't to bad though would like to pay less.Trouble is I'd like to sell the wife Puma before I brought it, Anyone want a V reg Puma 1.4 for £1500?!

[garethj]

I wrote this on Volkszone a few years ago: http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/announcement.php?f=12

 

As said above, the biggest worry is usually rust, but it's neck and neck with previous owners' bodges - years of trouble there for you....

 

The 1500 is the best to have, I've had 2 1500s and they're a nice mix of old and newer Beetle, although I preferred the look of my 1961 Beetle

[VWPowered]

looks nice and clean that, just give it a real good going over underneath especially the floor and heater channels

[dollywobbler]

Yup, I'll admit to liking Beetles, though I'll often rant about them because the whole 'scene' thing does my nut. Drove a perfectly original 1966 Beetle this year and it was very pleasant. Lots to like - though I prefer my classics to be practical and a bit more fun.

[reallyloud]

Having owned both superbeetles (1302/03) models and a similarly aged 1300 - which is more like the traditional beetle, I would go for the 1300/1500 model - simply as its easier to sell on and if you wanted to, possible to add the earlier and prettier bodyparts. The 1302/03 series - the S signifies the twin port 1600cc is Volkswagen idea of trying to modernised the car for the 70's - they did a reasonable job. Disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, added safety features as well as slightly higher spec. The 1303 had a curved front screen, which loses the original metal dashboard and it has those ugly looking 'elephants feet' rear lamps. Rust wise I found that the areas behind and under the rear seats, heater channels (sills) and inner wings were the key bargaining points. The non 1302/03 models have pretty gruesome rot at the front end too.Go for that 1500, it looks quite good and unmolested and you could get a reconditioned 1600 lump and fit it in, if fancied a little more power without losing too much in mpg.

[dollywobbler]

You see, I think a 1303 Beetle is the ultimate Shite Beetle. Anything no-one likes instantly give it kudos in my book!

[trigger]

Cheers guys for the responses, They have helped, I want to go and view it really but trying to get my old man to come with me as a second pair of eyes.Hopefully I will be able to view tomorrow as the old chap is at a BBQ today (Cheers dad).I have emailed the owner and it does sound nice, The work was done 18 months ago and he hasn't really used it much in the last year, only 400 miles since last MOT so hopefully it's not rusty yet!.

[j-j]

Anything no-one likes instantly give it kudos in my book!

100% may approach to cars too!

[Andrew353w]

I worked for a VW dealership in the 1970s & early 80s and worked on a few of these, but newer ones than yours! That said, the basic principles haven't changed much since a certain Mr Hitler asked Mr Porche to come up with something his people could drive along his newly-built "autobhans"... A 'J' reg one might be on 6 volts, which some see as a problem-I disagree! All the bits and bobs are available, with the priviso already made about the quality of some. In short, Beetles are great, simple, reliable and above all, useable classic cars. You'll never be short of advice to help you if you do have a problem, either. Just thought I'd leave you with this tale: At the garage where I worked was a guy who owned a "C" reg (1962?) Beetle. We serviced it every 6 months, as regular as clockwork, and every time the customer picked it up, the salesman tried to sell him something new, like a Golf or Polo (this was in the 1980s.) The Beetle owner made the same reply every time: "the day my Beetle doesn't start, I'll buy a new car!" It NEVER didn't start... That's reliability!Andrew353w

[Station]

I've never really liked them, but wouldn't knock them, and I suppose wouldn't mind a quick own to see what they're like.I noticed Richard Hammond said they were shite. He's a prick who knows nothing.

[Volksy]

I've had quite a few of these, and Transporters and Type 3's.Mechanically they are very simple. And if properly maintained are pretty reliable. The 1500 engine is a good unit, more torquey than the later 1600. Twin induction port heads on the 1600 crack, and some of the 'recon' engines quality seems to be a bit iffy.The main battle with VWs is rust. they rust in lots of places. The front suspension beam, and frame head (the front of the backbone chassis). Floors rot out, as do the heater channels - Like a complex sill which also sends warm air from the engine to the cabin. As they have such a strong following, pretty much every part is availiable, and good quality repair sections of most, if not all of the rot spots.That one will be 12 volt. post 67 bugs all were.I had a 1303S, and although disliked by the purists, was great daily transport. Always by the best one you can afford, and watch out for bodged up examples. A great book to read is John Muir's 'How to keep your volkswagen alive - a step by step guide for the complete idiot' Its well worth a read in its self, but covers most if not all the faults and what to look for.

[bigstraight6]

I've owned a few Beetles in my time, a '74 1300, and a '71 1200, way back when between 1987 and 1991, and at that time when I was very much into anything aircooled VW and the scene thing was only just starting to happen, the 1500 engine was the one to have

[Rocket88]

Had a few back in the dim and distant past.....check what everyone else has mentioned, make sure all the belts are in good condition, and they do like a drink, you won't get much more than 25 mpg, in my experience.

[trigger]

Thanks for the advice guys, I never went for it in the end as i wasn't sure if it was what i wanted, The funny thing is the buy it now price was £2500, Reserve was £2200 but it ended up selling for £2550! Anyway, Bumped into a chap i know at a car show today that got 2 of them inculding a stunning black 63 model which he's just restored, well he's told me about a lady he saw today that's got a 68 model in her garage that's been there for 8 years.Her next door neighbour was the first owner and who brought it new in South Kenya (It's RHD though) and shipped it over when he moved here in 1978, And she brought of him just before he died and left it in the garage since.She said it's very dusty and need a new heater channel as it rusted out but the rest is very good, It's got full history and even has a book with details of every fuel stop it's made.So i might give her a ring in a bit, God know's what it's worth, She just needs it gone but wants it restored and not modifed in anyway she told my mate.