beetlecab Slammed & Awesome Dubber
94 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·
I am a recent owner of a 72 model. i had a 68 years ago and just really think they are great. Thoughts?
Semi-Auto Beetle
pfillery Insano Dub Head
734 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·
I loved my 68 auto. Had it for a year and it never missed a beat.
beetlecab Slammed & Awesome Dubber
94 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·
what colour was it? Not VW Blue?
thebugnut Casual Dubber
22 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·
I found a an Automatic-Stickshift Karmann Ghia for my daughter.
It had been sitting for over 15 years.
We paid $200 for it and all it needed was repair of the solenoid grounding wire in the shifter.
She has been driving it for a year and a half now and she LOVES it.
I have driven it quite a few times and I gotta say that it really is a lot of fun, mostly because it is unique and different to drive.
It had been sitting for over 15 years.
We paid $200 for it and all it needed was repair of the solenoid grounding wire in the shifter.
She has been driving it for a year and a half now and she LOVES it.
I have driven it quite a few times and I gotta say that it really is a lot of fun, mostly because it is unique and different to drive.
DakDak67 Officially Full-On Dubber
208 posts · joined Sep 2011 ·
I've just put a 68 on the road after many years sitting under a tree, I don't mind it , okay I guess.. Nothing special.
pfillery Insano Dub Head
734 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·
I was about to say "what the?" when I saw the price, then I saw USA, that makes it about normal.
You guys are soooo lucky.
You guys are soooo lucky.
thebugnut wrote:I found a an Automatic-Stickshift Karmann Ghia for my daughter.
It had been sitting for over 15 years.
We paid $200 for it and all it needed was repair of the solenoid grounding wire in the shifter.
She has been driving it for a year and a half now and she LOVES it.
I have driven it quite a few times and I gotta say that it really is a lot of fun, mostly because it is unique and different to drive.
pfillery Insano Dub Head
734 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·
No it was white. Awesome car, could tow a decent sized box trailer, was fun to drive and apart from replacing the $6 gear shift front bushing (I was told it was likely the original since you don't run through gears like a manual), I didn't need to do anything to her in the year I had her.beetlecab wrote:what colour was it? Not VW Blue?
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
Beetlecab, a good mate of mine has a soft spot for them and owned a few, one was VW blue 68.beetlecab wrote:what colour was it? Not VW Blue?
It was a real gem, low mileage unmolested car from a little old Italian lady.
Andrew Dodd ended up snapping it up from him at Valla one year.
Poor thing popped back up on ebay last year pretty beat up though.
They are great when everything is working right but they are a nightmare on wheels when stuff starts going wrong.
Many parts are not available new and they changed the design a few times over the years so a few parts dont interchange.
If you come from a manual Beetle the acceleration and fuel economy is terrible with semi autos but they are fun in their own way.
beetlecab Slammed & Awesome Dubber
94 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·
Thanks Guys. I have fond memories of my 68. It was sick when i bought it but given a 1600 motor it turned out to be fantastic. The 72 15 million i have bought will i hope re live the memories. Its at the mechanics now. I haven't driven it yet. I hear all the horror stories of problems but we will wait and see.
Any semi auto owners in Melbourne? thanks Rob
Any semi auto owners in Melbourne? thanks Rob
pfillery Insano Dub Head
734 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·
You missed out on my stash of rare and nos parts I had with my semi auto. Sold most of the early this year when I went back to a kombi. Had things like the factory mudflaps with wheel spats to protect the tanks under the rear guards, shifter boots (rocking horse poo), adverts and manuals etc, spare gearboxes, control units, even a nos clutch actuator mechanism.
Just don't change stuff round on them. Even a slight tweak like re routing an oil line means no go. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Talk to Lee (68autobug) on this forum. He is a wealth of information on the autos. There is also a specialist site vwar.org which is very good. Also there are some of the Bentleys manuals that cover the semi autos very well. Good thing to have.
A lot of people are down on the autos but they are great. Many get ransacked due to the IRS rear/beam front combo, great for buggies etc. and apparently the gearbox ratio is very strong with very low first gear which is good for sand rail buggies etc. if you have the know how to convert the gearbox to manual - it is essentially a manual running through a torque convertor so not hard to do.
Just don't change stuff round on them. Even a slight tweak like re routing an oil line means no go. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Talk to Lee (68autobug) on this forum. He is a wealth of information on the autos. There is also a specialist site vwar.org which is very good. Also there are some of the Bentleys manuals that cover the semi autos very well. Good thing to have.
A lot of people are down on the autos but they are great. Many get ransacked due to the IRS rear/beam front combo, great for buggies etc. and apparently the gearbox ratio is very strong with very low first gear which is good for sand rail buggies etc. if you have the know how to convert the gearbox to manual - it is essentially a manual running through a torque convertor so not hard to do.
DakDak67 Officially Full-On Dubber
208 posts · joined Sep 2011 ·
I've just picked up a bunch of good parts including a gearbox for mine, I'll rebuild the lot and see how it goes. The car was paddock bashed and left to die for many years but everything still works , tough little buggers. My shifter boot is like new , most likely worth more than the car .
matberry Moderator Go hard or go home
8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·
I have just completed getting one back on the road. It was the guy
s Nan's car owned from new. Came to Qld from Tassie and is VERY complete. A joy to drive and engine/tranny were in perfect order. Keep your eye out for a red '69 cruising Brissy southside, fyi. complete shifter boot, flaps etc etc.... 🙂
s Nan's car owned from new. Came to Qld from Tassie and is VERY complete. A joy to drive and engine/tranny were in perfect order. Keep your eye out for a red '69 cruising Brissy southside, fyi. complete shifter boot, flaps etc etc.... 🙂
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
DakDak67 Officially Full-On Dubber
208 posts · joined Sep 2011 ·
YAY ,you can get my shitter working then !! 😂🤪matberry wrote:I have just completed getting one back on the road. It was the guy
s Nan's car owned from new. Came to Qld from Tassie and is VERY complete. A joy to drive and engine/tranny were in perfect order. Keep your eye out for a red '69 cruising Brissy southside, fyi. complete shifter boot, flaps etc etc.... 🙂
matberry Moderator Go hard or go home
8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·
You know where I am mateDakDak67 wrote:YAY ,you can get my shitter working then !! 😂🤪matberry wrote:I have just completed getting one back on the road. It was the guy
s Nan's car owned from new. Came to Qld from Tassie and is VERY complete. A joy to drive and engine/tranny were in perfect order. Keep your eye out for a red '69 cruising Brissy southside, fyi. complete shifter boot, flaps etc etc.... 🙂
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
beetlecab Slammed & Awesome Dubber
94 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·
great responses. Glad there are some fans! Really looking foward to driving the car......Still looking for 15th million commerative key ring. Surely someone has one for sale//// Thanks Rob
EgeWorks Wolfsburg Wizard
602 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·
Here's a plug for a semi auto that I've got for sale if you've got a itch to own one of these unusual beasts:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=107064&page=1#pid999397
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=107064&page=1#pid999397
ctefeh Wolfsburg Wizard
479 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·
Gadzooks...PBB's car!...
There are a few S-A bug owners on here, and myself (Volkenstein over there) and Lee (68Autobug) are mods over on VWAR. We have created a topic (funnily enough) about where to score parts from. EVW in the US "does us proud, guvnor" for actually stocking parts. The rest of the time - wherever you can find them. That's Semi-Auto specific stuff anyway.
Traffic can be a little slow over on VWAR, but to find out more about the beasties, probably worth trolling that board, and also "the old forum" link.
HTH
Ctefeh aka Vlkenstein
There are a few S-A bug owners on here, and myself (Volkenstein over there) and Lee (68Autobug) are mods over on VWAR. We have created a topic (funnily enough) about where to score parts from. EVW in the US "does us proud, guvnor" for actually stocking parts. The rest of the time - wherever you can find them. That's Semi-Auto specific stuff anyway.
Traffic can be a little slow over on VWAR, but to find out more about the beasties, probably worth trolling that board, and also "the old forum" link.
HTH
Ctefeh aka Vlkenstein