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What is a good \'starter\' Beetle

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Kris Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Aug 2005 ·

#399721
Hi, have recently rediscovered a love for beetles. I want to learn how to maintain/tinker on it myself. Any opinions on a good model to start on. I was thinking of a 65 or 68 Thanks

Kris Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Aug 2005 ·

#399735
😊

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#399737
ok mate i think the best beetle to start with is the one that you can get that is not in too bad a condition. and dont worry if you dont get a reply to a thread for a couple of hour cause on the weekends most people dont come on till night time and welcome
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

Kris Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Aug 2005 ·

#399741
Thanks I orininaly wanted a 65 but was told the 68 has better Steering. Am looking for a copy of John Muirs idiot guide, but thought this site could be an invaluable source of information as well. My husdand has an EH so thought it was my turn to have a project.

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#399742
I aggree with barls. Any good 'starter' beetle would be one that is not banged up really badly. Otherwise, it would be pretty stressful for a new owner with limited experience to try to fix up the ever continuous amount of problems.

If you get a reasonable condition beetle, you won't have to cope with to many probs and you get the opportunity to slowly learn the issues and maintanence required etc. as time continues, rather than all at once.

Model wise, well, personally they're all good. From what i have seen, all pre 70 beetles tend to have subtle differences here and there, and the running gear isn't that much different (For eg. Chassis is all the same), except for the drive train and engine and all, which are interchangable between em.

The only difference I see taht u may want to think about with the models, is that pre 70s have torsion bar suspension, while post 70s have McPherson struts. That difference is really only needed for concideration if ur thinking of going offroad, but yeah, all beetles are good, and improvements like u said, steering and all, or perhaps engines and running gear can all be swapped and matched and interchangable between all the beetle series models, with no or very lil' easy modification. (well, I'm pretty sure, plz correct me anyone if im' wrong).

Any is good, go for looks i say, and cause its a project (as u mentioned), u can improve the running gear as u complete it. So surf around, look at images.

Actually, best way to do it, is to go to www.busselecta.com, and click on bug selecta in that site, and select what u want ur bug to look like. its like a bug facade emulator kinda thing.

Plz, i say again to anyone out there, plz correct me if im wrong.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#399757
mynameischris88 wrote:The only difference I see taht u may want to think about with the models, is that pre 70s have torsion bar suspension, while post 70s have McPherson struts. That difference is really only needed for concideration if ur thinking of going offroad, but yeah, all beetles are good, and improvements like u said, steering and all, or perhaps engines and running gear can all be swapped and matched and interchangable between all the beetle series models, with no or very lil' easy modification. (well, I'm pretty sure, plz correct me anyone if im' wrong).

Plz, i say again to anyone out there, plz correct me if im wrong.
dont worry i will it only the sbugs, from late 71, and lbugs that have strut front end. as there was 1500s and 1300s that still had the beam front end.
the wheels are not all interchangable as they change stud patten from a wide 5 to a close 4 and they both have different size spindles as the years went on. this is not to say it cant be done its just harder.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

Kris Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Aug 2005 ·

#399772
Thanks for the advice guys, now I just need to find one 🙂

saintlywhitetigeress Slammed & Awesome Dubber

87 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#399837
when i was looking for my bug, i just checked out the trading post each week and night on the net until i found what i was after, everytime i passed a car yard i also scanned them just in case. you will find one if you look, mine isn't the colour that i wanted but i wouldn't sell her for the world. i am the most happiest when driving down the road in my 68 bugnn[ Edited on 21/8/2005 by saintlywhitetigeress ]

Robo Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,491 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#399849
70 on's the go. 12 volt electrics, twin port motors, better suspension, brakes ect ect!
Rob...
Boxer Power
Member of DMLRK.....Die Mittler Lebuns Resto Komeradschaft

uberhitzt Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#400548
I found that the best type of beetle, comes with an engine..... (see avatar) :cry

I really do wish you good luck in finding the perfect beetle.

Kris Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Aug 2005 ·

#400585
lol, Thinking I want a 65-68 pref white with disk brakes.

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#402165
Kris wrote:lol, Thinking I want a 65-68 pref white with disk brakes.
Pre-68 had drums. Get a post-68 car. Everything is better for a beginner, from balljoints to doorhandles... I like older VWs, but the later ones are just a more sophisticated, relaible, easy to fix, easy to drive car all round.
Pay your debts, CxxT