By Easter a 74 Superbug should be sitting in my carport. Still not sure why...
Can anyone help me with the history and info about these Sunbug labelled convertibles I can remember first seeing in the mid 90's. I'll add some photos later.
74 superbug convertible, oh what have I done!
Good question, I guess every car has a purchaser at the right $, what's that at the top hinge on the drivers door? damage or a reflection?
I see your from Peterborough, I went through there in the buggy on my way home from WA (or was it on my way to WA ? 🙄) in 2012, I seem to recall a statue of a dog that was a renowned train traveler, if I've got the right place.
I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!
I'm happy to say it's a reflection. Lets just say that thetrip to Sydney to pick it up will cost a lot more than we paid for it. If worst comes of it it may become a parts car, but I'd rather get it up and running for a bit of fun.
You would most likely have come through here on the way east west if you went via Broken Hill. Glad to here you spotted our local legend, Bob the Dog.
Well, about 3000km, a slightly cooked motor, a lot of junk food and some creative intersection manueveres, the sunbug is now in the yard. I'll put some trip pics up later.
A question for Sydney residents,... getting onto the south bound of the Hume from the Northern Road... no traffic lights! Across 3 lanes of traffic! WHAT THE FUCK!!! My appologies to anyone who had to deal with my lights flashing, hazards on, block each lane till they all stopped trick.
My picture is in the dictionary under insanity. Despite the look of it, there may be a plan. Will let you know when I work out what it is.
Already have a good motor, who knows where to get a good gearbox. Preferably in SA.
wombatventures wrote:,... getting onto the south bound of the Hume from the Northern Road... no traffic lights! Across 3 lanes of traffic! WHAT THE FUCK!!!
That's pretty funny! 😂
I seem to remember using the "Force" a bit like that about 20 years ago, in exactly the same place........
And I'll second the "nice place Peterborough" thing too. Oh, and Morgan and Burra too.
I've always thought crappy unloved old verts would be good with a flat ally roof joining 2 roll bars together, and a baby Baja kit.
Then again I live in amongst the rocks like you do......🤪
Yep it's a Sunbug Conversion from the 90's. The beauty of it is whatever we do to it won't result in the changing of an original Convertible. It's already been changed from original so now it can be customised to what we want. I love restorations, I'm in the process of two at the moment, this one just gets to be different.
Hey Modnrod, Morgan's our camping hangout. Great Spot. I like the Alloy roof and the Baja idea. Not sure about this one but maybe another.
Had the swag out Oldschoolguy, bloody beautiful night with the stars out and not too much dew. Rosie the Dog, see the first photo, gets the middle of the pillows every time. Travelling is the best part of owning a car, reckon on building a teardrop trailer for the bug and the kombi. Then the ute can stay the work bus.
wombatventures wrote:Had the swag out Oldschoolguy, bloody beautiful night with the stars out and not too much dew. Rosie the Dog, see the first photo, gets the middle of the pillows every time. Travelling is the best part of owning a car, reckon on building a teardrop trailer for the bug and the kombi. Then the ute can stay the work bus.
🙂👍
"The best trophies are stone chips"
1969 1500 Beetle "Otis"
2008 Golf GTI
Had a friend who was a panel beater who restored a Sunbug a few years ago. I'm into factory cabs myself but here is a link to some of the pics that might be useful to you. There are a few showing the extra strengtheners that were put in underneath, and the door tops.
Cheers Matara.
I've got the same Sunbug conversion sticker. I'll chase out the photo later.
Saw another one on trading post a few weeks ago.
If your friend knows anything about the conversion mob I'd be grateful for any info.
Who knows, oneday they might be rare enough to be worth something.
As it is we didn't go looking for this one, just ended up being a joking bid on ebay. We both want an earlier full bodied bug as well. And to get the Kombi on the road.
Reckon Rob might be right though. Could turn out to be the rough bug that that grows into a cool butterfly. If not just a fun way to get to the beach.
wombat do you any of the history of the sunbug, mainly was it ever a QLD car? I do remember in the 90's Gold Coast were cutting the roofs off Beetles,Suzukis,Minis and all sorts of cars 'To have Fun In The Sun', rental convertibles were all over the Gold Coast
Shaun,Part-time secret snake relocator,full time reptile keeper and small collector of ugly projects bugs ...🤪
No idea Deadpan. The bloke we bought it off does rubbish removal and got it as a scrap cleanup.
I've tried looking up sunbug conversions on then net but all that comes up is about the VW Sunbug which seems to have been a gold painted US promo version. Found some info on a mob on Paramatta Road who used to do conversions. Need to trace that one down further still.
I remember seeing these cut bugs in the 90s when I was travelling around, and I recall an article in a car mag about them. As I still have almost all of my old mags I hope to hunt that down soon.
Could be there is a Gold Coast connection. Although Steves' friends has t,he same Sunbug Conversion sticker in the same place.
Been busy with a million projects since the last post. The bug is in the carport, have stripped out most of the interior. Looks like the seats have come from somewhere else. The runners have been welded onto the original T shape runners. Debating whether to clean up and re-install or repair the runners and put original style seats in. Will reserve that for when I clean up the pan.
So far I've found a couple of rusty pinholes in the pan, will know more when I get it apart to and clean.
A couple of weeks ago I came across a youtube video of a roller frame a bloke had made for when he split his Karman Ghia from the pan. His was wood...
I've made one up similar from steel. Will be completed later this week. Will add photos when I get more time.
Over the weekend I've been knocking dents out of the old hubcaps for our Kombi, can anyone give me some tips on cleaning up the scratches and small dents. We're thinking of getting them re-chromed to have a good set. Have 4 old rough ones for when we go bush, that's in the future when it's back on the road.
While ripping out the interior I found the novel replacement seat mounts. A bolt and nut welded together and to the seat runner and base of the non standard seat....Hmmm! Dodgy or what!
