Looking to buy a Beetle

Hi,

I am looking to buy either a 60s or 70s beetle and would like to know from experienced owners here what I should look out for when I am inspecting these cars.

Is rust a major problem in Beetles and where abouts should I focus my attention particularly, in terms of rust?

Thanks

Hi and welcome to AVD Forum....

You will probably get many difference answers to what is the best model Beetle....

I have found that the early beetles are usually more rust free than their late model buddies....

I Myself like Beetles from 1968>on...
they have disc brakes... [most of them]
Ball joint front end..
12 volt electrical system...

then there are the non super beetles...
and the Super Beetles... 1302 with flatish windscreen
and the 1303 with large curved windscreen

You need to check around the rear window... for rust
also check the heater channels which run from the rear mudguard to the front mudguard.. on each side..
bottom of the doors and near the lower door hinges inside
also check around the rubber seal in the front boot and around the engine bay, under the engine lid...
also don't forget to check under the mats front and rear.

Rust can be a Major issue.... depending on how the car was looked after... if you can find one that has been garaged all its life... the car Should be in great condition..

Best of Luck

You should fill in the details under your user name so We know where You are, city, state etc...

Lee Noonan - 68autoBug -- NSW

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

Where yo check for rust:
under the battery, which is under the rear seat.
as Lee said, heater channels.
bottom of the door pillars, ie below the bottom hinge on the inside and doorjam.
on latter cars 68 onwards, the C (back) pillar. the insulation material in there collects water.
bottoms of doors
the against front bulkhead on the outside.

ah heck, try and take someone in the know with you.

are you local? maybe someone on the forum can help you out and look at a car for you.

but there are good cars out there.

vleett,

When I asked a similar question of the forum a few months or so ago I got heaps of different answers, depending on the respodents' point of view.
My preference is for earlier beetles, and I eventually acquired a nice original 66.


I have several other classic cars, some of which I have restored and others I bought after restoration.

My advice to you... buy the best you can afford. A cheap old dunger with work needed, is going to cost you far more than you think. It's cheaper to buy one that is original or has already been restored properly.