Hi guys new to this web site and looking for some opinions on restorations. I have found this beetle that is I am pretty sure 1955 beetle it is rusty and looks a bit sad it has been sitting in a paddock grazing with some other sad looking cars. I am very tempted to ask the owners if I can have it but need to know if I should just save my money or is there hopein the old beetle . I have been looking at it sitting there for the last year and only just had a closer look last week and realised it was an oval with semaphores and all, help me What do you think?
Thanks Emma:sandrine
just make certain you have very big pockets before you think about such a project
Get it!
If its complete get it....55 and earlier bugs have a lot of hard to find parts, so if its all there and you dont mind spending a little to get it right.....it will be worth it in the end.
N!
PS welcome to the site.
StenGuns wrote:Get it!
agreed!
you only live once. might as well own an oval.....
kai:duh
I have a 54 you could buy, complete, only needs very minor work for rego, cheaper than resto...
But i'd say get it...
thanks i was thinking that even if i got it I could at least put it under cover and if the jobs to much im sure someone else would be keen I have a 69 and 70 beetle so another one wouldn't hurt wouuld it?
Sounds like a lot of work... Leave it there,
Oh, better let me know where it is though...😉
hehehehehehe......
I hate to admit it, but man, I think you're right....
get it before someone esle does .... or you might regret, if you can have it real cheap go for it, seems like ovals are in demand but no one is willing to pay the price for it so if it is a bargain jump it and like you said if you can efford to keep it undercover in storage, even better....
sorry but your on the wrong side of Australia might just have to keep it for myself
at least bring it home, then you can decide what you want to do with it.
another beetle saved is a good thing.
if you want to do a full resto, be prepared to spend some $$
but don't let that scare you off.
what sort of $$$ am i looking at .
I hate to be like a smart-ar$e with the "how long is a piece of string?" comment as I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from such a resto - especially someone new to the forum....its great you are asking questions, there is a lot of great knowledge on here!
How much depends on what sort of job you want done. For a full resto you can spend $3000-10,000 plus on paint with or without rust repair....another $1000-3000 on interior....another $1500 on basic engine rebuild.....then there is all other misc brake and suspension components, rubber seals.....The list would be too long if I tried to think of all aspects of such a resto (I know as I am about 3/4 way through a full resto which I care not to add up how much I have spent, and am yet to spend).
All you can do is give it a go! Just don't add up your receipts unless you enjoy depression :P
You can honestly spend as little or as much as you want to, and the finished product will reflect that (as well as how much work and time you are willing to put into it as well).
Best of luck...welcome once again.
put it this way,
if you want it like a new car, expect to pay new car price to get it to that condition.
just do it to the best of your ability, and finances.
I'm sure you will love it just as much if you spend $3000 or $30,000.
Thanks I guess i am looking at the fact that if i was to buy a new car i would be spending thousands on something that has no character atleast this way I would be spending money on something that i would enjoy
Thats a good way of looking at it emma. You can spend 10 to 15K on a souless 3 door hatch or the same money on rebuilding a 55 Beetle and really stand out in the crowd. All depends what you want. You will sacrifice the convience options like power steering and air cond ect. But when you stop at a set of traffic lights in your 55 you will be the centre of attention. Grab it.
ovals are rad. so geddit!
im drunk... amd its 2 43 am... my cosuin tim rocks
Mmm if you can get it for nix (seeing as it is sitting in a paddock) then it might be worth it. Although I'd look to see how bad the rust was and how hard it would be to fix it.
Jon
It's no good "throwing good money after bad". It might be too far gone with rust etc to save/restore. I spent $1000 on fixing rust in a $300 shell 15 years go when I could have got a 'good' shell for $800. Do the maths...
Pay your debts, CxxT
Starting with the best possible shell/pan you can find for such a full resto will always save you money in the long run as mentioned above.
