I'm looking at purchasing 72 Beetle and would like some advice please.

The car we are looking at has a 1500 engine, I am a nuff nuff when it come's to the pro's and con's of various VW engine's. Is the 1500 a good donk or should we keep looking for a 1600.....your recomondations??

The car will be a daily driver around town.

Thanx
Osc

Oscar

The 1500 is not original for a 72.

That said - big deal.

If it doesnt blow smoke, leak oil or have end play (slop when you pull hard on the belt pulley) it is fine.

Look for rust. Biggest killer. Especially round the rear window, rain channels, A pillars and TOO much in the floor.

Super are good. Lots of safety and generally cheaper. Look for play in the steering as well. IF they say - its adjustment. Well get them to adjust it!

Body is more important than mechanicals.

Barry

You can always get a bigger engine down the track, but replacing and cutting out lots of rust is something thats not so pleasant.

and alot of town cars have much smaller capacity engines than a 1500. if youre using it to be stuck in traffic (as tends to happen around town) and going slow speeds, why the extra power and fuel consumption?

check for rust around the passenger A pillar at the bottom (lift a bit of carpet if u have to) this is a major rust problem area.......make sure engine runs well.....ask for log history if they have it......check for oil leaks after a good run and that it doesnt blow smoke........supers are great cause they have decent enough brakes (for a VW) and better suspension and the 72 is good because they have the lights switch on the steering colomn in stead of the dash but dont have the ugly curved windscreen of the 73.......good luck with your purchase:thumb

I prefer standard beetles to supers..
a 1500 engine , in good condition is a good engine.
Just check for rust as the others said...
First impressions of a Beetle in fair condition is that its in Great condition...
RUST is the biggest problem if this Beetle has spent most of its life out in the weather.... The front suspension of a standard beetle is Very strong, much stronger than the struts of a super beetle.
Check under the mats,carpet for rust, and under the back seat where the battery is.
Most VWs do leak a little oil from the engine, thats why they are called oil drippers, they were designed that way.
This Car would have had a 1300cc engine originally.
Best of Luck.... Lee

we had a 72 super and it was a great car and the 1500 is a fine motor. like everyone has said look for rust and also take a fridge magnet with you and place it all over the body to see if it has any bog and body damage. Also the are a strong car as my wife found out when a women pulled out in front of her while she was doing 80km/h car crumpled in about 2 foot on the passenger side. Just make sure it has good seatbelts

Thanx for the information.

The Beetle I'm looking at has a 1500 badge on the engine lid (maybe its not a 72)??, also it has what looks like gal water pipe bent up for bumpers, I guess a bit like buggie bumpers....are these standard??

Hey supers rock, just make sure it is a super ( could it be a late std with torsion front end? if its a 1500?) another place to look for rust is in the boot above the fuel tank where the pod attaches to the fire wall, u have to put ur arm rite in there to feel it, of the 12 supers i have inpsected in the last year 10 had rust here and it leaks down into the foot well .

supers are good fun cars to drive

they are called towel rails and its definetly not a superbug im thinking 66>