Can anyone tell me how much I could buy an oval or a split oval bug for? I really like the split ones like in the piccy below...



Are they hard to come across and how much would I be looking at purchasing one for that is in pretty good cond with no rust? It would be a car my partner and I could restore back to it's original glory. I wouldn't be looking for a little while yet but just thought id quiz you all. Do the ovals have any downfalls compared to the other models that are like 10 years younger?

Thanks guys,

Jo

for an oval in good nick, expect to pay $$. according to some car mags, some mint condition ovals are worth about 10K nowadays... (dont know about that... but they are expensive)
for a split window beetle in good nick expect to pay $$$$$$$$$! (alot more than 10K!!!)

im sure the oval guys will be able to provide you with a better picture

where would I look for ones for sale other than on here?

just cars, trading post lots of those mags.

Mind you split window beetles were never sold here. The only ones here are imports from overseas. Basically the older you go the less comfortable, convenient and useable they get. Stock ovals have no fuel gauge, the wipers are tiny and pretty useless, there is less bootspace because of the hump in the fuel tank. etc. Little things like that. Plus parts prices go up exponentially as you go older too. If you were to do a split window to "correct" standards you would probably be parts hunting mainly overseas remember. An oval wouldn't be so hard.

That's good advice CC - I have been looking on the samba and wondering if anyone has ever imported one? I think the split ones look awesome.

Splits ARE awesome - so are the costs to restore them! There have been some ovals for sale on AVD for under $5K that look pretty clean. I think they have some rust in th body, but from what I read, it was pretty minor and if you get to it straight away, then it shouldn't be a problem. They were 54's as well - so you get the grooved interiors of the door (which i think look that little bit cooler!) and the steering wheels are the (IMO) the better looking Batwing version. Just do a search and lets us know how you go..

ovals.. they are expensive if you want one wif nothing to spend to do up..
but a beetle (mid - late 60's) a bit younger, as a daily driver, may suit as having an older one you may be less inclined to use it day in day out..
then you'd want to get something else to use during the week..
oh the delimmeas of having older, harder to get cars...
n splits well good luck... as i haven't seen many and never really for sale..

check out Dave's oval, think he wants $13k for it, needs nothing doing just been restored and looks awsome.

Andy

even bruce - bryon bus had one recently...needed a little work as i recall, but was about $5k wasnt it?

I have a 68 already which is almost ready to be put on the road. But my mind has been pondering the thought of getting an even older one because I love how they look. So I wouldn't probably be looking to buy one already restored. Just one in good nick, no major rust and a split would b awesome

Would I need to import a split? Or are there a few floating around?

their floating around...but their rare....very very rare

ur better off looking overseas and importing in

I was thinking that bugeyed, I am going over to europe next year fingers crossed for a few months so it might be a good time to do it then? That way I can check then out for myself.

Has anyone else ever imported one?

Mmm...I get so excited when I start thinking about all the possibilities

Check this one out, verrrry noice

very noice....

as for importing...there ahve been thread on it before...check round...i know some of the pplz have done it, very sucessfully.

the main thing seems to be paperwork...and running lotsa lotsa checks...

if it turns out the car was stolen at some stage, even if u paid good/big dollars for it...tough....

was article recently on guys in england bought car off sambe, ran the checks, had it restored, then went to ship it....then found out it was stolen, so it was handed back to original owners....who didnt have to pay anything for it...

apparently one system was state wide...but customs was nation wide....

just check threads, i think kdf king has imported (mite be wrong) so ask round...

Sold mine, had absolutely no body rust, just a little surface here and there...but gone to a good home...

k...help us out bruce..plzzzzzz......do u have a link to ur old thread...so foxy gets an idea of what she can get for her money??

i began the search...but do u have anyidea of how much u dribble in the sales sections?? almost as much as i do in BA....

It vary's. from the one's I looked at (Ovals) it's seems to range from about $1000-$13000. the lower figure is for a complete basket case barn find. The higher for a restored example. Parts are the biggest hassel, 36HP NOS engine parts are almost non existant now and a lot of the running gear, brake and suspension parts are all different to the 58-67 Beetle's, semaphores are also something to think about. My 56 is almost the last year of the Ovals. It is still OK as a town car, but is a bit of a speed hump on the motorways, where 60mph is considered slow nowdays. And you have to take into account it's heritage value. For that reason alone I would not class them as an everyday car (in standard form). There is a fully restored example in Australian classic car magazine for $8000. I have seen some pretty good restored one's for $10.000.
Rob...

I think that it is like all vintage cars, people pay for them what they think that they are worth. You might want to try logging onto carsales.com.au, they have a few ovals from time to time. I have been doing a bit of search of late and have seen some in pretty average condition for around $3000 - $4000 and then seen some pretty HOT looking ones for over $15000.

This is my opinion you might as well forget about a split as you would proberly have to import one from o/s, as they were all grey imports ie mirgrant cars etc, so the chances are little to none of finding one. Ovals would be the way to go. Be careful not to get excited and buy the first thing you see unless it the right one. Theres little chance that your going to find a genuine low klms car for under $5000. When I was looking for one I looked at a few one was advertised as a low klms car for $5000. The reality was a oval that was covered in rained on dirt and moss, and was so rotten that there was a small rust hole in the roof, all of the panels were scrap including the floor pan. It had obviously sat in a garden for many years. $5000 I wouldn't have given him $5 every part was knacked.

Then a few months later I found "MY OVAL" it was an original unmolested 57 that was last reged in 81 and had spent the last 21 years in a shed. Sombody had said they wanted it then changed there mind so I was next in line. I knew that I wasn't going to let it go and brought it. This car is currently been restored and the body came back from the blasters with one spot of rust the size of a 20 cent piece behind the rear bumper iron hanger and the other spot of rust was at the rear of the front wheel on the drivers side all that was needed was to crack a weld on it and it was done. The price I paid for this was Less than the rust bucket before. But was at the time not a total bargin but about the right price for a solid car, just think of all the money saved on cutting out rust out and replacing with good metal.

In my mind there are a lot of bargins out there, and a lot of people who think they have a bargins forsale because they saw one sell on ebay for twice the price of the one they have, If I hear this I just say "well why isn't it on ebay you must be mad not to".

I would myself avoid any restored examples as they usally Cost a fortune$10000+ and dont have the correct parts and you dont know whats under that shiny paint. Original paint is a bonus on any old car.

Take care and best of luck they are still out there



Cheers Nick

i know of a split bought for 20000 dollars
UNRESTORED no rust
goes stops and does what it is supposed to do
so there you go


other option is to buy an oval and put a split rear window peice in it

unless you're a purist you'd be better off putting it on a later pan and running gear but keeping the oval body, interior and stuff... original looking, but alot better to drive around in. you'd end up with a car like dave becker's. even better, buy his and you don't have to do any work and save yourself some bucks!

There is a guy fairly local to me here, well about an hr away.
He has 6 split window ovals for sale.
They start at about $9,000 but have some rust in the cheaper ones.
I have also seen 2 come out of canberra in the just cars magazine for $7,000 and $8,500 unrestored. but that was a while ago.

Get your self a good oval body, bring a split oval rear graft in from over seas and then put it on a late model IRS pan.

Oval for sale, this little Oval is/was a bargain, (on hold), needs work but usable now and goes like a rocket..

Try Kimm at Indain Automotive http://www.kruizinwagon.com.au, he's got a complete, off white Oval, think it's about 55ish. Needs work, but looks good, though will need work. Not sure what he want's but it will be 4k+ I guess, it's an Oval. Saw it on the weekend when I was there looking at my Bus he's doing.

Try Kimm at Indain Automotive http://www.kruizinwagon.com.au, he's got a complete, off white Oval, think it's about 55ish. Needs work, but looks good, though will need work. Not sure what he want's but it will be 4k+ I guess, it's an Oval. Saw it on the weekend when I was there looking at my Bus he's doing.

Theres one on ebay currently. Look here ===>
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10781&item=71665699...

I know os 2 mint 54's, original condition, 8K each.
Let me know if your interested. By the way the 54 is different to the other oval models and parts dont interchange. Just keep it in mind. If you buy a 54, make sure there are a few thing right on it like the bonnet has a little triangle plate under the top badge, the deck lid has a really wide spring and triangle plate on the actual lid and the door pillars have 2 rubbers and the striker plate. The petrol tank is large and square and we all know about those lovely little tail lights. I would say go and look at as many as you can so you get to know what to look for, go to shows and ask people to point out the differences in the different years and if you dont know much about rust repair, buy the most original rust free one you can find (like the 2 I know of) not the ones with flashy paint work. It will save you some frustration.
I bought a 54 on the weekend for $1000. It is not what I would call mint but it has most of the parts and is fairly solid and has had most of the rust repair done. See members rides tomorrow for pics.
Goos Luck, turbo54

Lots of good info guys! I would be interested in one that is original, original paint ect so I would deffinatly keep that in mind. Could you pls tell me more turbo, either on here or email me at pinklady_bug@hotmail.com. That one on ebay is pretty tempting lol

or you can buy my resto 54, with some rust and a few parts missing for 1k

it should be in my sign, hang on

http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=38894&page=2#pid379819 

there you gonn[ Edited on 4-7-2005 by Beerboy ]