Progression of the '74 Super Beetle
 

Well, last night I got a new project car. It's a 1974 VW Super Beetle. As far as old bugs go it's pretty rust free and has only around 80,000 original miles on it. I'll try to get some pics of it this weekend so I can let you see it. It was originally sold by Douglas Volkswagen here (bought out by Speedway many years ago). The paint is pretty tired, front fenders and trunk lid are dented, seats are toast, and it needs brakes and a windshield, but the original engine runs pretty well. The guy I bought it from drove it half way across town last night with next to no brakes and no e-brake.....crazy bastard. So far the plan is to restore it like original so I can do the cheap collector plates thing. Any REVscene autobody mechanics out there looking for a winter side job? The best thing about bugs is that lots of stuff is available cheap. This should keep me out of trouble for years!

Awsome, i had a 67 bug for years when i was a kid (yes i was under 16,i used to drive it off road). In the 10 or so years it was in the family , we never even did any matinence on it.

When i was 14 my dad and i turned it into a sand rail, went for another 5 years like this, with 2 different engines.

But yeag, aftermarket is abundent .and cheap, you should have any problem finding parts. plus they are prolly the easiest cars in the world to work on.

I'm so jealous! I love oldschool beetles, I wouldnt mind picking one up one of these days

Thats cool Cornell! I inherited from my mom her '68 Beetle. White with the black droptop. Its absolutly immaculate, 10,000 original miles, original gas heater, they are quite the machines!

Good luck on the build! Were going to be selling ours come spring time.

G

Cornel if you need parts give me a shout in pm's my buddy has a few fenders/seats/other misc parts left over from his bug!

Your my hero...

Beetle = Favourite car since I was 10

Miata = My desired project

I want pics PICS!

i owned an orange 72 supper beetle for a little while never drove though.

kick ass! .. I love the ole aircooled bugs...

I have plans eventually to do a bug based Hotrod.. just way too much stuff in it's way :lol

if I didn't have a Datsun stewn across the shop, I'd definately seriously talk with you about bringing it up ... actually I may have room for it if your serious.

I've got a 2 bay shop with a paint booth and it's equiped..PM me and we can possibly work something out...

so long as the major body peices(aka main cab and belly pan) aren't rotted with big holes .. it shouldn't be all that hard of a restoration, and as you said. there are parts EVERYWHERE for them

Nice!
I delivered pizza's in Toronto in an early '70's superbeetle back in the day. Awesome car's, especially in the snow! They'll go anywhere. Great fun!
Nice score Cornell! :)

I bought my first '64 beetle in Jan. '73. It had the 1200 with 40 HP and I drove the wheels off it. Then in July '74 I bought a '73 Super Beetle with the 1600 engine and it was awesome. Unfortunately after only 3 weeks I rolled it at 70 MPH in the Rogers Pass and totalled it. I hadn't even made my first payment on it. After that I got a '73 Plymouth Duster which I drove for a year. All this while my '64 beetle was sitting abandoned behind where I worked in Calgary. After I got rid of the Duster I went to get the beetle going and it fired up right away. They're amazingly simple cars that go anywhere and cost next to nothing for fuel and maintenance. That and they're just plain fun.

Maintenance is killer on these, more often than not. A few decades of neglect, ancient parts, rust, etc. You can get replacement stuff for most of it still, but be prepared for a long shopping list and a lot of work. There's still quite a few clean Beetles around town, but they're getting tougher to find in any condition these days.:(

You need to do this:
http://www.rorty-design.com/content/beetle.htm

as cool as that is... I love the 3.5 rover (aka tiny alum buick V8)

I think he wants to do a full OEM resto for collector plates

I've been eyeballing that conversion but with an Audi 5 cylinder diesel, it's the same tranny as the plans were made for. I think it would be a riot with 150HP and 300lbs/ft of torque!

As for a complete resto: very cool and very cheap to have a round.
Grant

Well, I got a few pics of the beetle today. As you can see, it needs a little work. ;)

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...346_1_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...346_2_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...346_3_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...346_4_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...346_5_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...346_6_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...346_7_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...346_8_full.jpg

And finally the interior which is really ratty. Does anyone know if I have to stick with the original interior color which is gray for collector plate status? I'd sure rather re-do it in black.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...346_9_full.jpg

pretty sure u can change it, my old man has a 55 chev pick up with collector plates, and the interior has all been redone from beige to black, no problems

i think they look more at body panels/motor and tranny, interior color isnt going to be an issue, you may even get away with an upgraded stereo system in it as well, I know my buddies mom's bug has an aftermarket stereo and still has the collector plates, just hide it in the glove box ;)

I'm lucky with this one because it does still have the stock radio which is something I know they're sticky about for collector plates. That and for beetles of this era this was my favourite colour. I think I got a pretty good deal too for only $400.00. I'm estimating it'll take about another $8000.00 to fully restore so this could end up taking awhile. Hard to believe that these sold new for around $2500.00.

wow that was a good deal, if your doing the work yourself you'll come in under that $8000, just have to attend alot of swap meets in the spring/summer and hagle for parts

edit. this is 2turboz

I have been in that V8 beetle that is around town. That was a scary ride! Actually every time i have driven one i have been scared.

It all depends on who you get to review your car for the plates. Years ago all you had to do was send in pictures and they were pretty half assed about it, but it seems to be getting more stringent over the years.
They are VERY picky about the exterior color being a stock color I know this for sure. The interior color they are usually less picky about. I'm not sure if they require it to be the original color or just one that was available originally. Might be something to give them a call about.
Also be aware that with collector plates you can't use the car for going to or from work/school or go into the downtown core with it. Chances are you won't get pinched by the cops for it, but something to keep in mind.

yeah .. exterior color.. and period/stock panels/interior... but I think interior color is pretty open to factory avail colors

as for restoring for around 8K... I'm pretty sure I can help you drop that cost down .. I'll throw you a PM .. cause the car doesn't look that bad (I know reality can be very different...)