Well after selling my '71 Dual cab and living without an air cooled VW for a few months. It was time to start looking for a new toy.
I would have prefered a earlier bug but I didn't want to spend too much..so after a few weeks of looking I found my '73 advertised for $1400...
I actually looked at this car in the dark and offered the guy $1200 which he took.
The car is solid with very little/ no rust, its had a bit of a hit in the front in its life and was fixed a little rough.. but overal a great buy
So far I've:
Replaced 2 tyres
fixed the windscreen
new door rubbers
new ball joint
new shocks
new carpet kit
and I have new seat covers on the way..
Barty63 ·
a few more pics
Barty63 ·
Last few as you can see I have a little helper most of the time I am out working on the car.
beetleboyjeff ·
Aren't those little helpers just the best.
TorxKiwi ·
Love the photo of the apprentice. Awesome.
bugsandoil ·
Good to see the old one in the garage and that new stuff left out in the cold,...
More people should treat their elders that way.😂
dubster ·
did you fit the retractable seat belts yourself? If so how easy was it to do?
Barty63 ·
The bug has only kicked one of the new cars out for the drive way.
the belts aren't retractable. i the fitted re tractable belts before nd it isn't a massive job.
i have now fitted new carpet nd the tmi seat covers arrived today. once they all go in I'll put up some more pics.
Joel ·
dubster wrote:did you fit the retractable seat belts yourself? If so how easy was it to do?
Buy a pair from a VW supplier and bolt them in, piece of piss 👍
Barty63 ·
So I've done a little bit to the bug in the last few months since I have owned it...
Thought I'd post up some updated photos of how she sits now..
Barty63 ·
And one of how the seats came up
pod ·
wow for the initial outlay you've got yourself a bargain,have fun and enjoy her 👍
Barty63 ·
I've recently done a little bit of work on the bug and lowered her a little and added a roof rack and visor...
tar76 ·
Looking good!
TOPCAT69 ·
Nice ride , just a quick question .Is it a 1973 with balljoint front end and how did you lower the front?I'm in the process of picking up a 1973 bug but it has a curved windscreen and the dash has a little ledge over the top of the speedo and large taillights (elephant ones).cheers TC🥷
Barty63 ·
Mine is a '73 1300.. so 1300tp engine, balljoint front end and swing axle rear with 4 wheel drum brakes..
So to lower the front I ust talled dusters into the front beam..since these pics I've also dropped the back one outer to spline.
You sound like you picking up an '73 L Bug which is a very different setup to my car...You'll run front struts like a more modern car..
haccc ·
What did you do with the old timber grain steering wheel?
TOPCAT69 ·
cheers dude🥷
Barty63 ·
The old wood wheel is sitting on my shelf doing bugger all. don't think I'll be using it either.
haccc ·
do you know what diameter it is
Barty63 ·
Its 35 cms across.
haccc ·
It would look good in the Sabre
haccc ·
PM sent
haccc ·
Thanks scot
Barty63 ·
Just a new pic with the bum lowered a little now.
Still Think the front needs to come down a little though.
Barty63 ·
So after not doing much on the bug I've finally got the ok to fix up the front end. I had trouble with the new balljoints I had fitted (they were super tight and steering wouldn't self centre and still are, after a yr of driving).
So I figure while it's apart I might as well lower it some more.
So drop spindles will go on and thinking of narrowing the beam and still run stock 165/80 tyres (because that's what I have and they are new).
So . Had a look at the net and there is a few cars that run like this with 4 inch narrowed beam and I kinda like the look they have going on.
So question is, what kind of clearance issues will I run into with stock tyres? Just headlight buckets? And what else do I need to think about. Do I need to narrow that much etc etc...
want to hear from people with experience on this kind of stuff.
Barty63 ·
So this is how my car sits now.
Standard beam no adjusters and just drop spindles with 145's
I have just wrecked a '65 bug so have a stack of early bits and peices including a set of towel rail bumpers, guards, lights and panels..
So next plan is to swap over all the panels to early stuff bonnet and decklid included. I need new front and rear lower panels anyway. and then just spray the new panels to the colour of the rest of my car.
I'll then probably run 4 stud sprintstars or gasburners.
I know alot of people dont like late cars with early panels but oh well I like it lol..
I also am gather bits to put together a 1600sp engine. as I seem to have also accquired a couple of sp parts and engines..
Will keep people posted if anyone is interested
oldskoolguy ·
Looking very good. I like that you have kept the paint and panels as it came, little dings 'n' all. Character👍
Great pictures.
Barty63 ·
Few update pics
Barty63 ·
Updates....
oldskoolguy ·
Nice. Looks like a good honest car. I'd drive it! 👍
Craig Torrens ·
Looking good.
If you replace the rubbers under your taillights as well as your guard beading (they look to be painted ?) it will look a lot sharper.......and it just takes the focus off it being a respray 😉
Barty63 ·
All definitely on the todo list.......
I'm about to bolt together a 1600sp for it hopefully over the Christmas period
Rubbers will probably be next on the list..
Barty63 ·
I'm not if I've said this before on this post...but the aim of this car is to kinda prove u can still enjoy old vw ownership on a budget..
And still have a cool fun car to cruise around in..
Even once I put together my 1600. I'd be lucky to have more than $2.5k in my car. Largely to buying the right car at the right price..and picking up things along the way either cheap..or swaps or through friends made in the vw world.
I get an absolute kick driving my car..sure there's earlier bugs, faster bugs, cooler bugs..but my car fits my needs perfectly.and that's what it's all about.
oldskoolguy ·
Barty63 wrote:I'm not if I've said this before on this post...but the aim of this car is to kinda prove u can still enjoy old vw ownership on a budget..
And still have a cool fun car to cruise around in..
Even once I put together my 1600. I'd be lucky to have more than $2.5k in my car. Largely to buying the right car at the right price..and picking up things along the way either cheap..or swaps or through friends made in the vw world.
I get an absolute kick driving my car..sure there's earlier bugs, faster bugs, cooler bugs..but my car fits my needs perfectly.and that's what it's all about.
Yup, I agree with that.
Barty63 ·
So I had a bit of time over Christmas to finally put my 1600sp together...
The engine came to me free attached to an old army fire/water pump with about 40hrs on the hr meter..
After pulling it Down it had water sitting in number 3 cylinder... So I found some reco'd sp heads for $180 and a good second hand cylinder from a friend up here.
A gasket set and some new rings for Christmas and we were in business...
I also picked up some extractors for $10 lol
So all up the engine owes me a few hundred dollars and runs strong so far...
Barty63 ·
Few more of cleaning up etc..
Barty63 ·
Finally looks like an engine
And all in and running..
Hopefully it continues to run as strong as it feels now.
The 1300tp that was in the car was a solid engine... But that extra capacity really makes a difference
Barty63 ·
Just added a beam and lowerd the back down a little more to.
Pretty happy with stance just need to figure out the front shocks. Lowered ones seem too short, stock ones bottom out..
Other than that I'm very happy..
Next is some early low backs have all the bits just gotta cut and weld em up..