Will late model beetles survive?

I did a quick skim of the cars for sale section last night looking for late beetles, 1500/1302/1303. I was surprised to find there were very few in there. Lot's of type 3s and kombis, lots of early model cars, but only 3 or 4 late model cars in NSW.

What's going on? Are they few and far between? Are AVD people not interested in them?

There's a lot of talk about ovals/58-9s and 60s bugs but not much about later cars. There seems to be lots of early cars, I know there were more of them made, but not many late. Also, many people seem to be using late cars as parts cars for early models. Technically, the 1303 is the best beetle ever made, but there seem to be precious few being restored on AVD.

Will late model beetles survive? Are they dying out? Are ratrides to blame? Is it just a current trend? What do you think?

My brother and I used to buy VWs from the Trading Post. Like Toranas and Galants, there were two or three pages of them. Now there's two or three...

I know about your brother. Most of those VWs are still parked at his (and many other peoples) houses. 🤪

So they are dying out are they?

Hi

The kids dont seem to want them as much as they used to and many were turned into choptops, so the numbers are thinning rapidly. The message is, save a bug if you can.

As far as late V early bugs, I can remember a time when Ovals and other early bugs were just dumped on the streets because nobody wanted them, now they are sort after, I guess the same will happen with late bugs in time.

Steve

most of the late beetles I see are most of the beetles I see, & they are everywhere, just being used as the normal daily hack I could not possibly count the number in my suburb but that quickly think of seven,

not for sale can mean the owner is happy with what they have, & that it gets sold/passed on in family, with being advertised

I have trouble finding a per-70s bug around here on the road.... heaps of laties too!

Tis y i haven't much interest in em... to many here!

Of course they will survive.

yes a diffent sort of dubber has them than the old skool pre 67 type person

I reckon that they fall into two types.

1) the daily driver brigade. Late beetles are CHEAP to run. You dont pay $400 for a set of tail lights. Bumper bars can be bought for a carton of beer. these cars are handed on for kids to grow up on. To some degree these are not worth selling

2) the second catagory is the guy who wants a serious handling car.
When you say "late" i assume you are mainly meaning supers. Just refer to europe and the german look and Kafer Kup look. be it road or track the "late" beetle makes a better option.

What ever - they will probabally be more modified than earlies but i cant see why they wont survive

pete wood wrote:I know about your brother. Most of those VWs are still parked at his (and many other peoples) houses. 🤪

I just buy more houses!

I have a 1974 1300. Took me a very long time (over a year) to find one that was a 1974 model and that was in reasonable condition for a reasonable price. I am currently in the process of restoring. I have seen a lot of late bugs that are in really good condition.

I have a 1303 which I am restoring, and I havnt seen as many advertised as the early beetles. However, driving in and around Canberra I see many more late beetles than early ones. Maybe its because they are great 😀 (not that I'm biased on anything :P:thumb😵

[ Edited on 11-10-2006 by bugluv ]

Have to agree bugluv ..... 74 was a great year

I've recently sold a 73 with a good body and clapped mechanicals, which is about to be Bajaed. Is that considered to be a survival characteristic? It'll probably be loved for years as a Baja.

pete wood wrote:What's going on? Are they few and far between? Are AVD people not interested in them?

Will late model beetles survive? Are they dying out?

its probably just a matter of people who have them are keeping them... and probably most are daily drivers in reasonable condition.

as mscabrio said we hunted for ages for ours - coz it had to be a 1974 white beetle... so we looked around and couldn't find anything till we found the one we are rebuilding now.
I think they will survive as people like them for their handling etc

from what i've seen they tend to rust more (or at least in more places) than the earlier ones. maybe it would be a good time to find a decient one and store it for 10 or 20 years. well seeing as there porb won't be much petrol left then maybe not.

The problem is they will disappear quick.
Wreckers are getting more money for scrap with parts off these cars than what people want to pay! If you owned a shop and had a door on the rack for 2-5 years and only have some mug want to pay $30 tops.What would you do?
Sad thing is heaps of it ends up scrap metal.
I have seen both VW shops near me send it all as scrap metal. Or it ends up outside in the rain and ends up stuffed and becomes scrap.
It just takes up to much space and no one wants to pay for it.
If you have an interest in vws and think you will be playing with them for some time, I think you should be collecting your self spares because you just dont see 6 volt beetles in the trading post anymore! And soon later beetles.
:cry

With the popularity of Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Ferwood etc, all them fat chicks are dissapearing.