Hi
This is my first volkswagen its a 1974 L bug. I have named 'him' Mr Basil. He needs work and that is happening slowly - at the moment just concentrating on getting him up to daily driver (only needs new tyres and different steering box put in). then will see what happens and where the vw 'disease' takes us. We are hoping to get him painted and I want to get a new interior etc.
Any ideas welcomed, and any suggestions on how to do things more cheaply especially welcomed!
Bizarre ·
Very nice
The only suggestion is a set of lowered struts to take the gap away from the top of the wheel.
A simple job and it makes them look tough
barry
CHADMYSTER ·
reminds me of Boris before his makeover. Good luck with your ride
bugluv ·
Thanks 🙂 I will look into lowering him - depends how much I think I can spend just on that (LOL). Hopefully i can find someone in the ACT experienced in it who can help 🙂
MISS VDUB ·
Yay, another L bug!
Welcome Bugluv and Mr Basil! Barry is right, the lowered struts do look good, but can come at a price, unless u can manage to get a second hand pair, and you dont want to go putting big wheels on like me.
Ash x
bugluv ·
so I'm guessin finding a 2nd hand pair is v. difficult 😀 Will have to do a bit more research on how they change handling + comfort
bugluv ·
Well its been a while. Have recently installed a purple steering wheel in Mr Basil and upgraded the stereo. We have hopefully lined up a painter and will be hopefully installing new front suspension. In the interim he has had flower stickers placed on him, which won us an encouragement award at the ACT autofest in 07 (yay!). I will post some pictures as progress begins 👍
pete wood ·
how about this instead...
Bizarre ·
Glad to see your still in there.
You have a great car there.
Excellent work on the award 😉
68AutoBug ·
Hi Sarah,
Your 1303S or "L" Beetle looks great....
You could try polishing him or Buffing His paintwork to a nice shine....
You would need to use a product like Meguirs or mothers polishes...
there is one for dull paintwork
then another
then another for the shine....
and even another for really shiney finishes....
don't forget to polish the bumpers and hubcaps to stop them from becoming rusted...
You might find a useable dash mat if you keep looking around....
keep an eye on ebay....
nice bug
i think that paint is well beyond buffing
looks exactly like mine did when i bought it
and mine was in canberra with the original owner till 93 to and had very similar rego.
they seem to stay very solid there for some reason
mine didnt have a spec of rust in the body which is very unusual for an Lbug
the cheapest and easiest way to lower would be get some empi adjustable struts
george at classic has them $200 the pair from memory and another $200 for the insert
a good idea cos i would bet ur old struts are getting pretty worn and they fully adjustable too so u can go lower or raise fairly easily
bugluv ·
Thanks everyone,
We have tried cut & polishing the paint but I think it is beyond it 😂 No matter as we bought the bug with the intention of painting 🙂
We are actually having V-force struts installed, along with some other suspension work, so that should lower the car & make for a much more comfortable ride! Figured there wasnt much point paying for a shiney new paint job before we get the mechanicals up to scratch (or should I say down to scratch, as he will be lowered 😂 )
Today & yesterday involved a spending spree at some Sydney vw shops... we bought:
- Pop-out windows
- Doorcards
- Rooflining
- Carpet
- Trunk Liner
- Dynamat
- Parcel shelf (vinyl)
- Indicator stalk
And various other little bits and bobs that we needed. Seems like its all coming together at last!
bugluv ·
Well Basil is being prepped for paint now that most of the mechanical work has been done 🙂 Here are some photos:
VWCOOL ·
Gee you're not messing around, are you! Sweet!
Bizarre ·
This is gunna be one sweet L
The body is near rust free and the wheel /suspension package............😵💫
Cant wait till its finished
1303Steve ·
Hi Sarah
I met your mum & dad the other day at the bug in, they are as keen about the car as you, and your dad beat me at eBay the other day, grumble grumble. 😂
It looks much more GL now, you will have to put a post on Germanlook.
Steve
bugluv ·
😂😂😂 I guess all the VW excitement is contagious. 🥷 Gotta be quick on ebay 😂🥷
Mick058 ·
Well done on the build! Looking sweet, love the cup wheels.
Any secrets regarding engine??
bugluv ·
I'm still thinking on that one. In the interim the engine is remaining stock with the teeny additions of a 009 dizzy, electronic ignition and extractors. I'd love to put a type 4 engine in or even just a 1776. Depends what I can find and afford really. I'm considering an overseas trip at the end of the year before I start uni, but theres also the possibility of taking a trip at the end of my course and putting a new engine in now 😉😉😉
the tell it how it is guy ·
Nice ride. Cant wait to see it finished.👍
BillK ·
Neither can I !!! 😂
(aka Bugluv's dad!)....😉
bugluv ·
Getting ready for paint, inspecting rust etc.... poor Basil looks naked without his flowers 🙁 but will look very handsome soon 😀
You can see the struts installed more easily in these photos... old wheels on for painting so new ones dont get damaged.
68AutoBug ·
HI,
You have spent some serious money on Your 1303S beetle.
make sure You insure with Shannons or similar
so You can insure it for what its worth...
also
where the rust is under the bonnet and engine lid
-the metal strip that holds the rubbers in...
You can take those metal strips off as they do attract rust
and then You fit Mexican type rubbers
which just push onto the edge of the engine lid and bonnet...
Shannons dont insure drivers under the age of 25 though...
bugluv ·
68AutoBug wrote:HI,
You have spent some serious money on Your 1303S beetle.
make sure You insure with Shannons or similar
so You can insure it for what its worth...
also
where the rust is under the bonnet and engine lid
-the metal strip that holds the rubbers in...
You can take those metal strips off as they do attract rust
and then You fit Mexican type rubbers
which just push onto the edge of the engine lid and bonnet...
Hi Lee,
thanks for the tip re rubbers and metal strip, will check it out.
As far as Shannon's go, I would love to use them for insurance and have spoken to them about it, but they said they would not insure anybody under 25. So thats a bit of a shame really. I'll have to try and find another company who will insure to an agreed value.
sarah
1303Steve ·
Hi Sarah
The cars looking good.
I have 2 bugs insured with Shannons, one on laid up cover and the daily driver. While my sons is on his Ls he's covered by my insurance with Shannons but with a higher excess if he's driving. When he gets his Ps in November the car will still need to be in name with him as a nominated driver, he's under threat of being cut out of the will if he so much as puts a mark on the car. Maybe you could get your dad to insure your car with the same setup.
Steve
Mick058 ·
thats odd, i'm insured with Shannons and im 24.
I was also insured with them on my first bug (third party though) at 19 years old.
bugluv ·
I might ring them again - it was at a stall at a show that they told me I couldn't be insured. I have a quote from NRMA which seems very reasonable (compared to other places). They will insure the car for an agreed value which is nice. I tried 'justcars' but they wont insure the car for more than $3000 with a premium of 2k 👎 The NRMA premium would be less AND an agreed value so seems the way to go at the moment.
The thing I like about shannons though is the way you can get your car back if it is written off. I dont think NRMA would do that. Im hoping never to write off the car though 😂
As far as having it in dads name with me as a nominated driver - I will be moving out to go to uni next year so don't know if that can work. Living about 10hrs apart might be stretching the 'designatd driver' option 🥷
1303Steve ·
Hi Sarah
I don't think the NRMA will allow lowered or even slightly modified cars. Living away from home should be no hassle with Shannons, where are you going to uni at?
Steve
bugluv ·
Armidale (University of New England) or Uni of Sydney........ probably Armidale because rent is cheaper 👍😂
1303Steve ·
Hi Sarah
Armidale is cold, it might even be colder than the ACT. My sons in year 11, he wants to go to NSW.
Steve
bugluv ·
UNSW is a nice uni I've done a couple of holiday courses there. Yep Armidale gets freezing at times I think - I have a rellie there who has warned me already 😂
68AutoBug ·
NRMA Veteran.Vintage and Classis vehicle insurance
1800 646 605
and You do get Your car back if its written off...
being under 25 makes a big difference these days..
under 25 = $600 excess
[$300 + $300] [normal + under 25]
I had similar conditions on MY beetle with shannons:
its Not a daily driver - less than 8,000kms a year
driven no more than 4 times a week...
with shannons the car had to be locked in a garage every night... [which it is anyway] I also have a remote alarm,
You can drive it everyday more than 8,000 kms etc
its naturally cheaper the less You drive
Once Your can is painted , it will be worth at least $5000
for insurance purposes..
try both insurance companies...
cheers
LEE
bugluv ·
Thanks thats great! I'll give them a ring 🙂
BillK ·
Many good suggestions re insurance - Will let you know how we go when the time comes - Basil is currently registered and insured in my name with Sarah is a nominated driver.. Its just finding the "agreed value' which is the problem.. The NRMAs Veteran, Vintage and Classic have limits on usage, they say it can not be used a daily driver - as Mr Basil will be...Not to worry...
barls ·
go with shannons i was with them from 19 years of age. they will do an agreed value but make sure you get the salvage rights as you retain the wreck if anything happens god forbid also its your choice of repairer not theirs, even if its not your insurance paying for it. as for the value look at it this way a straight body with an ok paint job is about 3g then a reasonable engine and gear box is 2g. so about 5 grand for a decent bug isn hard
bugluv ·
We re-rang shannon's today... they said something along the lines of "No way will we insure anyone under the age of 25 or with less than 5 years driving experience. We are really cracking down on this rule now" 🙁
68AutoBug ·
I think all insurance companies are the same... now
they don't really want to insure anyone who doesn't have 5 years experience - as they want to know how many times you have been booked and how many accidents for the past years...
same with the green slip
any accidents or bookings and the premium goes Up...
Best of Luck
Lee
PS: You may have to wait until You are 25 to insure your car with Shannons or NRMA Classic car...
68AutoBug ·
1303Steve wrote:Hi Sarah
Armidale is cold, it might even be colder than the ACT. My sons in year 11, he wants to go to NSW.
Steve
Yes, Armidale is one of the coldest places in NSW....
it even snows there on occasions..
some times, its even too cold to snow..😂😂
and BIG below zero frosts.. brrrr
LEE
1303Steve ·
Hi
I just dug my policy out, my excess is $300, nominated under 25 is $400 and not nominated $1500. This may change next renewal?
Steve
bugluv ·
68AutoBug wrote:
Yes, Armidale is one of the coldest places in NSW....
it even snows there on occasions..
some times, its even too cold to snow..😂😂
and BIG below zero frosts.. brrrr
LEE
Thats good news 😀 Give me the cold over the heat any day.. just remind me to make sure Basil's heater works :P
bugluv ·
1303Steve wrote:Hi
I just dug my policy out, my excess is $300, nominated under 25 is $400 and not nominated $1500. This may change next renewal?
Steve
Well they told us that they wouldnt have an under 25 as a nominated driver 🤪 so lets hope they dont make changes to people who already have that set up. Insurance really is turning out to be a major PITA.
We are now considering getting 3rd party fire and theft, and setting aside money to use in an accident scenario instead of paying into comprehensive.
1303Steve ·
Hi
I have 2 freinds who have never insured their cars in their life, ones in his 80s the other in his 50s, they reckon that they are so far ahead now money wise, I'm too much of a fraidy cat to do that.
Steve
bugluv ·
Well thats a good sign 👍 I'd still rather have comprehensive because Basil is going to be driven daily... but not prepared to pay $2000 a year for $3000 cover where the insurance company chooses the repairer and doesn't let me have the car back in the event of a write off. I guess I'l have to keep looking around.
I'm really itching to have Basil finished now so I can drive him around😂
bugluv ·
I've been given a guarentee that Basil will be ready for the German Auto-fest which is the 27th and 28th of September here in Canberra.. yay 😀 Primer has just gone on here are some photos
bugluv ·
🙂 Some pictures sent to me via mobile phone in the past few days
polarbus93 ·
thats a nice job hope it all goes well with the rest of the work. nicole my partner loves the colour looks like i have to go different on my s bug now , but that will be some time found bad rust repair along roof. great job keep it going ..👍
bugluv ·
Basil is now finished 🙂 The colour hasnt really shown up as photos taken at dusk, will try to get daytime photos soon.
trickysimon ·
That looks awesome 👍
Gotta love german look.
Joel ·
hey Sarah gotta be happy with that 👍
good to see another v-force banner flying to
Craig S ·
Well done, Basil looks great.😵
I take it that V-Force put the front spoiler on as well??
You'll have to bring him up to the Nationals in May to show him off.