I am restoring my wife's new 1979 Microbus, and I am now really keen to replace my '89 Pulsar with an air-cooled VW.
But I can't decide which one!
I want a daily ride, I expect reasonable fuel economy though I do want to have great performance. I want a restoration job, not something already done. I want to be able to say, "I built that," and beat most people off from the lights. Ideally I'd love for it to be able to do wheelies from a standing start but that conflicts with being a daily ride and fuel economy. I drive over 100km nearly every day on rural roads.

What would you suggest, which year, and why?
Bring all you personal preference baggage and lay it out. I like the idea of sitting right up the front in a bus, but I like the idea of having a bus and a beetle in the carport. I like the extra space and styling of the type 3 as well, in all its various shapes.

i'm bias so i'll say a type 3!!

they are great cars, easy to maintain, look sweet as have good room and if you want economy and performance, throw an EJ20T in it!! mind you that defeats the aircooled bit!!

my 2 cents.

aaron!

Bug. more common. easier to get parts for. not so heavy and better on fuel. less complex to work on and more well known by your average mechanic.

Go an Lbug 1974-75 1303, or a 1976 1600 bug. Look for rust in the rear roof pillars and the front door pillars. The 76 is harder to get. The 1303 is fairly common and a nice car. I'd only go a 1500 or an early 60s if it was VERY low milage and in immaculate condition as you need a daily driver.







p.s. Lbugs make good rally cars too

I like the rally idea (some times I will take the 'scenic' route to work, around 40 km of unsealed roads through state forests and private property -
but I don't think much of the big padded black dash...

and yet, if your noggin hits it, you'll be sooo much happier than if you were headbutting the solid steel jobbie in other beetles.

Lots of bits available, LOTS of awesome dirt roads round your way.

If you really want a restoration job, be prepared to spend a lot of $$$. You can reduce alot of cost doing work yourself, but buying an already restored car still works out much cheaper.

Since you want a daily driver, it's probably better to get a already restored one, or find a good low mileage one.

If you restore one, it will take a fair amount of time, and if you need it as a daily driver, you may be pressured to get it running/working, rather than taking your time and doing it right.

But if you keep your pulsar until you finish your future car, then restoration is the way to go, if you really want to do it.

As for choice, I'm also biased, so I would say bug. There seems to be more parts for L bugs around, but I still prefer the style of the 1500. A 76 1600 is a good choice if you can find one though.

I will be keeping the Pulsar as I fix the new VW, most certainly. The restoration on the '79 Bay is going really well, and I am doing as much of that as possible. Only the interior re-trimming is being sent out.
I am definitely leaning towards a bug. I would love to pick one up for a few hundred dollars and take to it with the grinder, then welder, grind again, then paint, and send out for a new leather interior.
On the other hand a new bus could be set up as the camper... A square back looks great and has a tonne of space... a bug and a bus would be a great pair, and I am leaning towards the bug anyway...

square = tonne of space...mmm, not quite sure about that. it has more than a beetle, but wouldn't compete with a corolla wagon.

That's what my next work car's going to be a super with a EJ20T in it.

Super's are good for a daily driver.

Quote:

Originally posted by type3kid i'm bias so i'll say a type 3!! they are great cars, easy to maintain, look sweet as have good room and if you want economy and performance, throw an EJ20T in it!! mind you that defeats the aircooled bit!! my 2 cents. aaron!