Introducing my first air-cooled vehicle and also my first VW!
Since i was a kid i have always had a soft spot for beetles, but found myself entering the Datsun scene when i was around 14 and had started racing a Stanza at hillclimbs etc.
Fast forward 6 years and many cars later, i found myself falling for beetles again. I did a bit of searching for a while and then kind of forgot about it and decided i didnt need any more cars (i had too many cars already). But then a few months later i met a fellow datsun enthusiest who told me he has a beetle that he was thinking of selling. After seeing a photo i just had to have it!
After looking at Fonzie in person i knew i had to have him! and a couple of months later he was registered in my name.
The car had been sitting under a tree in my mates yard since it became unregistered in January 2014 and the key had also been lost so the engine hadn't been started since then. So i took off the front door handle and took it to a locksmith who was able to cut me a key using a code that was found on the handle.
The fuel hose from the fuel pump to the carby was completely cracked and would have leaked everywhere, so the first thing i did was replace that and replace the fuel filter, which i will later relocate so its not on top of the distributor. Also the handbrake wasnt working as the button had flown out, but i watched a video online and managed to pop it back in.
I added some oil and tried to get it running but it would turn over but it wouldnt start or even try to start, so the first thing i was to do was an ignition system overhall. (family owns an autoparts shop so this was relatively cheap). I bought a new coil, new points, new condenser, new rotor button and new dizzy cap.
After pulling the dizzy out and revamping it, i turned the key and it ran beautifully.
I was so excited to take it for a drive and i was smiling the whole way down the road!
I purchased some new window winders, as the old ones were broken, a suction mounted vase for the dash, an 8-ball gearknob, some new clear front indicator lenses, venetians and a new handbrake boot.
Here are some before and after shots of the front indicator lenses.
List of things to do:
Tighten rear passanger wheel bearing
Fix generator (battery not keeping charge)
Fit venetians
Fit front visor
New door seals
Lift up on hoist and check over bushes etc.
Tighten front bumper bolt
New steering wheel
Install Radio
Full polish
Fix dents
Heres some photos of my other cars for those interested:
1979 Datsun Stanza GX
1966 Nissan Cedric
1979 Datsun Stanza Coupe
1979 Datsun Stanza Coupe
travm182 Learner Dubber
2 posts · joined Jan 2015 ·
