Thinking about restoring a Classic Beetle

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
48,986
5,604
136
I have an opportunity to buy a semi-working classic beetle for pretty cheap (>$1k). I've never done a car restoration project before and it seems like an easy and fun way to start out, plus it'd be a cheap second car to drive around (work & school are both less than 20 miles away). I did a bit of research...a brand-new 1600cc air-cooled engine is around $2300 and a disc brake upgrade is around $400, so if I wanted to make it a little newer and nicer it wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. I can do my own paintwork (airbrushing).

Thoughts? :)
 
redgtxdi

redgtxdi

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2004
5,464
8
81
need more details. Year? Condition?

I can't remember if it's archived here or not but I had a '63 that made the cover & centerfold of VW Trends magazine back in the day. I miss that thing often!
:(
 
Thump553

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,822
2,609
136
Talk to a few former bug owners first. I had one for 2-3 years, and my dad had a '56 when I was a kid. Some things to keep in mind:

1) if you live in a cold area, VW heaters are a joke at best, and dangerous at worst. It's an air cooled engine, the heat is captured by a shroud over part of the engine and/or manifold (I don't recall). Two problems-if there's an exhaust leak in the manifold, you have an excellent chance of sucking carbon monoxide into the passenger compartment and (2) less serious-but VW has no sort of fan or anything to move that "hot" (quotations intentional) air. You have to leave a window rolled down a bit to help suck the "hot" air through the system, but if it's 20 or below you'll be doing good to even defrost the windshield.

2) To me, at least, this was a frustrating engine to work on-you can see everything but I always had a hard time getting a wrench or screwdriver on anything due to interference with other components or the engine bay. OTOH, I had friends who were wizards at working on VWs-they could swap an engine on a VW bus in a half hour (which was a real problem if you parked your bus in a dim corner of the campus parking lot-come back to a "new" crappy engine).

3) VW bug is basically a 1930's design, highly revised over the years. Today's econoboxs put it to shame as far as fuel economy, interior space utlization, comfort, trunk space, etc. That said, the bug was generally a pretty fun car to drive, unique in that the windshield was pretty close to your nose.

Personally, if I got my hands on a old bug and had the time and inclination, I'd make a kit car or dune buggy out of it.
 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
48,986
5,604
136
Originally posted by: Heller
only if you put Hackintosh in it.
Click to expand...

Oh, it will definitely have a carputer :evil:
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,512
22
81
Yup, the heater is definitely a joke. You get lukewarm air that is only being pushed by the cooling fan at the engine; there's no separate ventilation blower. On the other hand, they have great traction in the snow. You freeze to death, yes, but you have traction.

ZV
 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
48,986
5,604
136
Originally posted by: Thump553
Talk to a few former bug owners first. I had one for 2-3 years, and my dad had a '56 when I was a kid. Some things to keep in mind:

1) if you live in a cold area, VW heaters are a joke at best, and dangerous at worst. It's an air cooled engine, the heat is captured by a shroud over part of the engine and/or manifold (I don't recall). Two problems-if there's an exhaust leak in the manifold, you have an excellent chance of sucking carbon monoxide into the passenger compartment and (2) less serious-but VW has no sort of fan or anything to move that "hot" (quotations intentional) air. You have to leave a window rolled down a bit to help suck the "hot" air through the system, but if it's 20 or below you'll be doing good to even defrost the windshield.

2) To me, at least, this was a frustrating engine to work on-you can see everything but I always had a hard time getting a wrench or screwdriver on anything due to interference with other components or the engine bay. OTOH, I had friends who were wizards at working on VWs-they could swap an engine on a VW bus in a half hour (which was a real problem if you parked your bus in a dim corner of the campus parking lot-come back to a "new" crappy engine).

3) VW bug is basically a 1930's design, highly revised over the years. Today's econoboxs put it to shame as far as fuel economy, interior space utlization, comfort, trunk space, etc. That said, the bug was generally a pretty fun car to drive, unique in that the windshield was pretty close to your nose.

Personally, if I got my hands on a old bug and had the time and inclination, I'd make a kit car or dune buggy out of it.
Click to expand...

Hmm, yeah I do live in New England and it does get pretty chilly here. My father-in-law restored Beetles when he was young, some I have a good resource there. However, one of my main concerns is safety and after watching the crash test video on Youtube I'm not convinced this is the best car to go with. I don't like the idea of my body being part of the crumple zone, haha:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UKf4dsn9Zs0

The idea of an EV Conversion has grown on me though. Let's see if I can find a car with airbags to play with...haha.
 
Thump553

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,822
2,609
136
Originally posted by: Bignate603
If you're in the north east check on the floor. Beetles rusted to pieces from th bottom up.
Click to expand...

Quite true. I knew of many student-type Beetles (meaning dirt cheap, just above dead car) that had plywood panels & multiple car mats in the rear seat floor area.

On the safety issue, the Beetle is lightyears behind modern cars (way before airbags, for one thing). One significant safety concern is for years they had the battery in the passenger compartment (under rear passenger seat, which just clips down). In a rough accident you had a heavy projectile full of disfiguring acid in the passenger compartment, not the best of situations.

 
L

LennyZ

Golden Member
Oct 24, 1999
1,557
0
76
A properly functioning beetle heater will roast you.
Most don't work properly due to leaks or missing equipment.

If i still had mine today i would convert it to electric.
Very easy conversion.

Safety wise you would be safer in a yugo.

 
Engineer

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Originally posted by: Bignate603
If you're in the north east check on the floor. Beetles rusted to pieces from th bottom up.
Click to expand...

Yes they do. Nothing like driving down the road and having your battery fall through the floorboard (because it's under the back seat)...:eek:
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,370
8,494
126
do it right, media blast it with rice husks or similar, then cut all the rusted out bits and weld in new steel.
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
I have 2 beetles, a 70 with an aftermarket ragtop and 71 super. They are great cars and are very easy to work on. The 70 was my first car and that's how I learned to work on cars. Parts are plentiful/cheap. A fixed-up one will turn heads. You live in a cold climate but for me the heater worked EXTREMELY well for here in LA. Rust under the car can be easily fixed with replacement panels and preventable. You don't buy a car like this for safety and the gas mileage is great even for today. I easily got 30+ mpg. www.thesamba.com is a good site to start learning things from and asking around. They are great cars.
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,541
920
126
Originally posted by: Thump553
Talk to a few former bug owners first. I had one for 2-3 years, and my dad had a '56 when I was a kid. Some things to keep in mind:

1) if you live in a cold area, VW heaters are a joke at best, and dangerous at worst. It's an air cooled engine, the heat is captured by a shroud over part of the engine and/or manifold (I don't recall). Two problems-if there's an exhaust leak in the manifold, you have an excellent chance of sucking carbon monoxide into the passenger compartment and (2) less serious-but VW has no sort of fan or anything to move that "hot" (quotations intentional) air. You have to leave a window rolled down a bit to help suck the "hot" air through the system, but if it's 20 or below you'll be doing good to even defrost the windshield.

2) To me, at least, this was a frustrating engine to work on-you can see everything but I always had a hard time getting a wrench or screwdriver on anything due to interference with other components or the engine bay. OTOH, I had friends who were wizards at working on VWs-they could swap an engine on a VW bus in a half hour (which was a real problem if you parked your bus in a dim corner of the campus parking lot-come back to a "new" crappy engine).

3) VW bug is basically a 1930's design, highly revised over the years. Today's econoboxs put it to shame as far as fuel economy, interior space utlization, comfort, trunk space, etc. That said, the bug was generally a pretty fun car to drive, unique in that the windshield was pretty close to your nose.

Personally, if I got my hands on a old bug and had the time and inclination, I'd make a kit car or dune buggy out of it.
Click to expand...

You can put an oil heater in those. We had one when I was growing up (upstate, NY) and it broke down on us in the middle of winter once. The oil heater kept the car nice and toasty until the tow truck arrived.

Yeah, the stock heating system is horrible.
 
Thump553

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,822
2,609
136
Back in the age of huge American cars with tail fins, my father (who was politically slightly to the right of Barry Goldwater) bought a new '56 Beetle for his daily commuter. He would put one of those electric bathroom heaters in it and had an outside electrical outlet switched on the inside of the house. Fifteen minutes before he left for work, he'd flip the switch and had a reasonably warm and toasty ride to work. But he parked in a parking lot, so he froze on the way home.

This the same car we occassionally used as a family car, for a family of six. My sister and I rode in the back behind the back seat, where you might fit a briefcase or two. We were skinny little tikes.
 
Dr. Detroit

Dr. Detroit

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2004
8,290
750
126
I love old beetles.

Engine) 1835cc with dual Webers
brakes ) drum to disc conversion

gut the interior and buy all new seals/weatherstripping


 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
48,986
5,604
136
I know it's a terrible car safety-wise, but that doesn't make me want it any less...I'm still considering picking it up. On the mod list:

-Electric conversion (~50 mile range, perfect for work/school)
-Disc brakes
-Appearance overhaul (bodywork, paintjob, new rims, chrome trim, interior work)
-Power upgrades (doors, windows, hood, sunroof) with remote entry
-Carputer & Stereo
-HVAC system

I have a lot of ideas...if I picked it up, it would be a project car/second car, so it wouldn't have to be reliable at this point in time. I'm thinking the upgrades will run in the $6,000 range when all is said and done...the HVAC is about $900 and the EV conversion is roughly $2500. Add in the bodywork, electronics, component upgrades...but it'd be sweet having a Classic Beetle that plugs in at night :D
 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
48,986
5,604
136
Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
If you want some 'better' help go to VW Vortex and post on the forums, everyone will love it and be VERY helpful!!
Click to expand...

Well for under a grand, even if it turns into a pile of garbage and never goes anywhere, I can always turn it into an awesome grill for my porch :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom