NGC anyone own an aircooled bug?

[Semper-guzzi]

Back from a long hiatus, was on a 7 month deployment. Was going to buy a second bike when I got back, but bought a 1970 VW bug instead. Dual port 1600. Not fast, bad brakes, but boy is it fun.

[rodekyll]

i put in a career doing those and am currently bringing a barn-find 78 superbeetle up to baseline.  They can be fun, and if you squint just right they're hard to tell apart from a guzzi.

If you need brakes consider the full 4corner dik brake upgrade..

[ritratto]

No Beetle, but i have 1960 Karmann Ghia. Fun little car. Had it fifteen years or so.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I'm looking for one that doesn't have the inner rockers and heat channels totally rusted away...

[Mark Harpell]

Spent most of my career as a foreign car mechanic....did a on of valve jobs on beetles and porsches.....owned a few...had a 64 with 28k on it..and this was my last one...an original Manx on a 65 pan....i rebuilt the whole thing......


Lets see some pictures.......
Rob has one in his shed...dont remember what year it is though....he'll chime in....
I love beetles...

[drw916]

No Beetle, but I have a 1973 Porsche 914 that has been in my family since 1974.  Over 200,000 miles and bone stock except for an engine rebuild 5000 miles ago when the mechanic forgot to put oil back in it!

[ITSec]

Not recently, but back when I was 16 I had a 1961 Beetle with the old 6-volt electricals. What a pain to even find a headlight bulb!

[EldoMike]

Had a VW repair shop back in the late 70's(yeah I'm that old)...still buy and sell one every once in a while...always partial to the buses...

[Sheepdog]

I have a '62 Type I that is an upcoming project. It is remarkably complete and sports a canvas top. I'm looking forward to the restoration. I did a '72 Type II back in the nineties...they harken to simpler times.

[Gliderjohn]

I don't remember what year it changed but before screw on coil wire caps it was not unusual for the coil wire to vibrate loose and the engine just quits. Many moons ago I was riding in a car in the middle of nowhere in the Kanas Flint Hiils country and we ran across a stranded bug in a rain storm. The owner was soaked and staring in the engine compartment when we stopped. I just cracked my window due to the rain and asked what the problem was and he said it just quit. I said check your coil wire, sure enough that was it. He had an amazed look when he saw the problem that I had diagnosed without getting out of the car.
GliderJohn

[Guzzistajohn]

I have a brother in law that has a pretty good buisness rebuilding vw motors (if you take them out) he has a thing that's like new. His bug will leave la 10 ft scratch

[oldbike54]

 Had a '55 model in high school , rolled it onto its side on old HW 20 near Enid OK , we flipped it upright. , waited 10 minutes , drove away .

 Dusty

[wirespokes]

I had a bunch of bugs in my youth and a transporter as well. The first bug I rolled coming home from the movie Bullit. I collected parts to build a dune buggy, but found a body and built a 64 bug instead. Lost number three cylinder in 1971 in the bay area and managed to drive it to my aunt and uncle's place where I rebuilt it. Traded it to a friend for a 66 transporter. Wish I had the transporter still - that was a good van, but sold it to pay off a debt. Was good timing, too, got a good price just at the beginning of the first gas crisis in 73 or 74.  My GF has a 71 Convertible. Nice car and she drives it constantly with no issues, but I've gotten soft when it comes to cars and want a heater, defroster and something fairly quiet. Funny thing is, I never drive except to haul recycling or fetching building materials.

That Manx dune buggy was a big WANT back in those days. I still think they're pretty cool.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I've had: '56, '58, '60, '62 and '73 Beetles, a '70 Ghia and '65 21-window Microbus.

[Jurgen]

I havn't had anything but VW (style air cooled vehicles) since I sold my Studebaker back in '60 (except for my current ride GTI MK6 and Breva 750).  Including a THING, Karman Ghia, Westfalia, 356A etc., currently restoring my original 356C.  Spent some years as VW and Porsche mechanic with many engine OH and valve jobs.  Anything air cooled is FUN and easy to work on.

Jurgen

[ritratto]

Here is my 1960 Ghia.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Here is my 1960 Ghia.

 

[Old Jock]

 :1:

The Karmann Ghia is a real stunner, fantastic thanks for letting us see it

Lucky Lucky guy   

John

[charlie b]

Had a 71 bus.

Blew the engine on it cause I didn't know the redline was passed if you went 70mph in top gear (drafting semis).

Second engine lasted less than a year before a valve bent.

Yes, I thrashed it pretty good.

My wife would love an old beetle.

[sib]

(Thread drift advisory)  Not a beetle, but I had a '65 Corvair.  Great car for those who like to constantly fiddle, because it required constant fiddling.  To paraphrase what is said about harpsichords, you spend half your time tuning it and the other half driving it out of tune.

[brider]

Not long ago, before I diagnosed and fixed the slipping problem on my Cal II Auto, I was seriously considering selling the steaming pile and getting something I'd enjoy just as much, and I could fix myself, and get accolades for driving something that not many people see anymore (like my Guzzi)....a '69-'71 Bug.

I drove a '70 bug for MANY miles, still miss the interior smell and sound of the engine. I'd love for my kids to learn how to drive one.

[Sheepdog]

Had a 71 bus.

Blew the engine on it cause I didn't know the redline was passed if you went 70mph in top gear (drafting semis).

Second engine lasted less than a year before a valve bent.

Yes, I thrashed it pretty good.

That was the last year before the "Suitcase" motors were introduced in Type 2s. 70 mph is a bunch on a bus with a 1600 upright...

[Mark Harpell]

A year or so ago, a 21 window Safari went for over $200k at auction.......would have never believed it....

[BoatDoc]

Had a 66 Bug for about two years in the 80s, then a 76 Camper for about two years after that (should not have sold it) and now have a 78 Bug Vert that I got in 94. It has about 190K on it and drive it a couple times a week. Fairly trouble free. It died by the side of the road three weeks ago for the first time in a decade. Bad coil.

[Semper-guzzi]

Here are mine. Being in socal, you can find man rust free or not much rust for pretty cheap. I gotta figure out how to fix the fuel gage and speedo. Got it up to a gps verified 72 mph. Super fun. Lowered front end is a bit bouncy tho.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Here are mine. Being in socal, you can find man rust free or not much rust for pretty cheap. I gotta figure out how to fix the fuel gage and speedo. Got it up to a gps verified 72 mph. Super fun. Lowered front end is a bit bouncy tho.

Sweet! Maybe I should have my friend, that spends his Winters in San Diego, find me a suitable rust-free fixer-upper and have it shipped east.

[blackcat]

Every now and then I look at The Samba classifieds for a bus or bug.  Personally, I don't want to restore a car as it's probably cheaper to just by one completed by another enthusiasts. 
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1973908

[radguzzi]

Welcome back Kev...!  That is sweet.

Well cool, as you already found out, you are gonna dig that rig.  I see the front end has been dropped.  Regarding the brakes, I installed dropped front axles with disc brakes on the '69.  Much better profile in my opinion and certainly will aide in braking (duh) and handling.

Since these photos were taken I have reinstalled the painted bumper brackets, POR'd the inside of the new premium quality bumpers with silver and I need to finish the interior...  Yeah, been a long term project.   






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Mark,
Nice Manx.

=========

Charlie,
Yes you should...

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Welcome back Kev...!  That is sweet.

Well cool, as you already found out, you are gonna dig that rig.  I see the front end has been dropped.  Regarding the brakes, I installed dropped front axles with disc brakes on the '69.  Much better profile in my opinion and certainly will aide in braking (duh) and handling.

Since these photos were taken I have reinstalled the painted bumper brackets, POR'd the inside of the new premium quality bumpers with silver and I need to finish the interior...  Yeah, been a long term project.   






==========


Mark,
Nice Manx.

=========

Charlie,
Yes you should...

 

[ohiorider]

Nothing lately, but if I turn on the way back machine, I recall owning:

- 1959 Karmann (not Ghia) Beetle convertible
- 1962 beetle
- 1968 beetle
- 1972 beetle

I think I put well in excess of 200,000 miles on VW Beetles.  The 68 and 72 were purchased new, I was in sales, so these little cars had a bunch of miles put on them.

Bob