Just before Christmas our 1303 was vandalised, it had the roof & bonnet trampled in.
I bought this 1303 from Dave Becker in 2007, it had average paint but for its age it was virtually rust free, so after it was damaged we decided to give it a full respray, our insurance company paid to fix the roof & hood, I paid for the rest.
Its in getting a new hood lining now, so I will start putting it back together soon.
My other 1303 was getting close to going to the get painted, this has put it back a bit, but Im very pleased with the results from the panel beater, so I will be taking my other 1303 to him as well.
Steve
Just got it home from Dave Beckers house
I lowered it and fitted some Subaru wheels to it and a 944 rear end
Fitted a new front apron with a mesh vent in it and a 2nd hand bonnet, thanks again to Dave Becker
Welded up the extra wiper holes
Roof being fixed
Quick visit to home for some rust proofing before the hood lining goes in
trickysimon 路
Nice work 馃憤
That white sure is BRIGHT
1303Steve 路
Hi
Thanks, its the factory Crystal White, very bright.
Steve
Bizarre 路
Damn that looks nice
Love a square cut bonnet 馃槏
Is that a late apron i see??
Planning another water cooled??
555bug 路
Steve, did you move the wipers from LHS to RHS? I was thinking of doing this on my 60 馃檪
Craig S 路
I love the wheels on it.馃槏 What size rims and tyres do you have??
Only problem is I'd feel guilty making my 1303 look the same, I'd just have to paint it a different colour from my faded crystal white.馃槑
1303Steve 路
Hi
The square cut bonnet was for my car but I have a better on in the shed.
The car needed a new front apron, I bought this one from overseas years ago, but the vents looked like they were cutout with an angle grinder, so I cut the yukky vents out and fitted a mesh section; just in case, maybe an oil cooler for the 1776 first off.
The L bugs came with both LHD and RHD drive wiper holes, I just had the unused ones filled up.
The wheels are 17x7 55ET all round, tyres are 205/45x17 and 215/45x17
I really like how nice the white looks, we thought about a change but decided to stay with the white
Steve
Joel 路
well didnt that come a treat
gotta love a crystal white 74L 馃憤
crystal white seems to really discolour as it ages worse than most
mine looked even worse, then rolled outta booth as bright as yours just has, i thought it was the wrong white
those LHD wiperholes stick out like dogs balls, that looks really clean with them filled in
i didnt have the heart to fill mine in
Gwendolyns Master, mine and steves bug have ended up fairly similar already especially both with kamei spoilers, i dechromed abit since this pic to help set them apart 馃お
go on, one more we can start a club 馃槀
1303 路
Looking good Steve, there is nothing quite like a clean, low 1303. Youve got everything right with that one, stance, wheels and attitude.......love it.
How is your 1303 going? are there in pics on here anywhere??
Cheers
Paul
Craig S 路
I must admit Joel that those pictures tempt me to keep it white (and my wife liked the look of Steve's son's freshly painted one, when I was just trying to show her how good the wheels look). I still have a lot of work to do to earn membership of that exclusive club though.馃憤
Cheers
Craig
1303Steve 路
Hi
Thanks for all the nice comments.
I think the factory paints really yellowed with age, hopefully it keep its colour like Joel鈥檚
It was a last minute decision on the wiper holes, glad I did now, I also had the holes for the L letter welded up so it will just have a 1303 badge now.
Gwendolyn鈥檚 Master, get your car painted and along with Joel we could do weddings.
Thanks for your comments Paul, your car always had the right look as well.
The other 1303 was close to going to the paint shop, its been put back a bit now, I really only have to fit the new spoiler, fit all the mudguards, finish of the air conditioning plenum, fit the front apron.
Steve
Craig S 路
With the state that my interior is in, the Mother in Law would definitely be relegated to my car in a wedding procession 馃榾
Looking forward to seeing further progress on both the 1303s
1303Steve 路
Hi
I've had it back from the trimmer now for a while so I'm busy putting it back together.
I also fitted an extra brake light in the tail light base.
Steve
izac 路
that looks so sweet!
colonel mustard 路
I have an L-bug (1973 -1600cc), but I must say honestly, I hate the tail lights, they are probably my least favorite beetle tail light.
Bizarre 路
To each their own
I also have an L Bug. Daily driver - actually my company car
Give me the large visible elephant foot over an early 6V tail light anyday
BTW Steve
LOOKS GREAT!
hellbugged 路
yeah looking good Steve, (and also hope the young fellas putting in his share)...... always loved your work and style, another one to go on the "watch for updates list"
Daimo
1303Steve 路
Hi
Car is getting there, but I'm doing a Simpson desert trip over Easter so I need to get the Prado ready before I play with the VW.
I bought some brighter Phillips halogen reverse lights, they are 50 watt as opposed to the stock 21 watt.
I love the big tail lights, actually I haven't always, in 1973 I was going to buy a new Beetle, the big tailights were one of the things that put me off, the other was that they wouldn't sell me a black one unless I waited months for it.
Steve
TruebelieverVW 路
Looks fantastic Steve.
Got to love those L Bugs.
John
colonel mustard 路
I still dislike the L-bug tail lights, and plan to change mine when i get my car repainted
These are what i want. I also want the front indicators gone from the guards and into the bumper. I like what i like, not what is correct 馃榾
love what you have done though, quality stuff there 馃檪
VWCOOL 路
Inspiring work on the L-Bug, Steve
...and put some shocks in the Prado. I think you already know what brand!
1303Steve 路
VWCOOL wrote:Inspiring work on the L-Bug, Steve
...and put some shocks in the Prado. I think you already know what brand!
Hi Glen
I'm trying to keep the costs down, Koni?
Steve
VWFREAK 路
It's got me buggered how you two fit in a beetle 馃檯
1303Steve 路
Hi
Yep where fair lumps of lads, David is 6' 7 in the old money, I'm 6' 1. I fitted Honda seats to it and I made them lower and the adjustment is set so that the sets go all the way back and touch the rear seat.
We have a Prado that he just squeeses in and a temporary 89 Corolla that is a tight fit as well, so far the Beetle is the most roomy car we own.
Steve
Camo 路
Steve,
A little of topic (sorry son of Steve), but how are you going with the other 1303 gearbox/engine modification (should read - making the bastard fit modification). You need to update with some new photos over on Club VeeDub site.
cheers, Kevin
1303Steve 路
Hi Camo
That has come to a stop until I get my Prado ready for our desert trip and this car out of the garage, I'm hoping to have the white car ready for the Pitstop cruise in May, then after Easter I can get back into my car.
Steve
STIDUB 路
hi steve, where did you find those reverse lights? i had a look around a few shops a few hours ago & came up with nothing...
1303Steve 路
Hi
They are made by Phillips, my local parts shop ordered them in for me, I will get the part number for you.
Steve
colonel mustard 路
Can't wait to see this in the flesh on the weekend 馃檪
DaveCarter 路
HAHA yeah it will be good to meet some people off here
vanderaj 路
This resto looks awesome!
I am looking for any one of the various post '70 models to become my occasional daily driver, but now you've converted me to the 1303 bug cause. I think I have to have the elephant's ears!
Andrew
colonel mustard 路
vanderaj wrote:This resto looks awesome!
I am looking for any one of the various post '70 models to become my occasional daily driver, but now you've converted me to the 1303 bug cause. I think I have to have the elephant's ears!
Nice ride you got there Steve 馃槈
I also did a welding job on my 1303 L bug. I had the vent welded up because i found every time it rained it seemed to drip right on my foot. I'm thinking of actually going back to the panel beaters and getting them to also weld up the extra wiper holes and the wiper washer hole because the wiper washer doesn't even work. Stoping that rust is a major priority up here in Cairns so filling those holes in should at least stop any major issues plus it will look a whole lot smoother!
colonel mustard 路
the wiper washer needs to be there... I think its a legal requirement....
just get a motor for it, fix the pipe and check the wiring... it needs to work so you can clean the windscreen.
filling the vent is a good idea, as is the spare wiper holes...
Craig Torrens 路
what times did it do at warwick ?
colonel mustard 路
10.8..... I think. Dave got a trophy... Craig, you will soon learn i have a terrible memory for times... 馃檨
1303Steve 路
beetleboy88 wrote:Nice ride you got there Steve 馃槈
I also did a welding job on my 1303 L bug. I had the vent welded up because i found every time it rained it seemed to drip right on my foot. I'm thinking of actually going back to the panel beaters and getting them to also weld up the extra wiper holes and the wiper washer hole because the wiper washer doesn't even work. Stoping that rust is a major priority up here in Cairns so filling those holes in should at least stop any major issues plus it will look a whole lot smoother!
Hi
Thanks for posting all the photos Colonel.
This car is really Davids now, but I get a kick out of working on it.
A friend who's wife owns a 1303 made a catch tray for the water coming through the vent, I'm going to do the same thing and I will post a thread on it.
The washers can be made very reliable with an electric motor on the stock washer bottle.
Craig, the motor is a 1904 cc, its pretty mild, don't want to make it too quick for a P plater, it did a 10.8 @? and drove all the way up and back under its own steam, David won the slower air cooled bracket.
Andrew, Ive owned flat screen bugs all my life and have had 1200s up to 2.1 turbos, this is my 1st 1303, I'm amazed how well a curved window bug goes through the air on the highway.
They are not without rust issues, find a good one and keep it, the strut cars do suffer from shimmy, this one doesn't, the secret is urethane bushings and stronger front springs.
Steve
colonel mustard 路
The stronger springs i have... lowered too... 馃檪 But all new bushings are on the cards... in a few months. 馃檪
beetleboy88 路
colonel mustard wrote:the wiper washer needs to be there... I think its a legal requirement....
just get a motor for it, fix the pipe and check the wiring... it needs to work so you can clean the windscreen.
filling the vent is a good idea, as is the spare wiper holes...
If the wiper washer is a legal requirement i guess i will have to keep it 馃檨 At the moment my wiper washer nozzle is just sitting very loose with the plastic tube pushed into the hole in the car. I guess i could cheat and just silicon the wiper nozzle down so water wont get in the car?? My wiper washer has never worked or been used in the 2.5yrs I've owned her. I just give her the windscreen a good wash when i pull into a servo 馃槈 As for the unused wiper holes....I will get them welded up before the wet season kicks in for sure!!
colonel mustard 路
1303Steve wrote:Thanks for posting all the photos Colonel.
I kinda broke them, but will repost when I get a chance....
whoops. 馃檨
