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Which Beetle?
stifler001 - February 15th, 2011 at 04:08 PM

Hi guys,

New to the club and new to VW, I'm sure this question has been asked a number of times but I am looking for a VW Beetle project car for a resto and was wondering what year model is the best to start with?

Joel - February 15th, 2011 at 04:34 PM

Depends what you wanna do with it ie. all original stocker, built to handle, baja etc

stifler001 - February 15th, 2011 at 05:17 PM

at this stage i want to mix some old with new, original looking with modern internals. Thought there might be some advantages to a particular year model, like i have read that they changed from 6V to 12v, they added disc brake front ends, and also upped the engine to 1600 dual port. but from what i am reading you can add all of that to an oval model?

LUFTMEISTER - February 15th, 2011 at 07:11 PM

Welcome. You can have the best of both worlds with a beetle. Grab an Oval shell and drop it on to a modern (69 or later) floor pan (chassis). That way you will have 1600 big block (:D) motor,12v electrics, ball joint steering, disc brakes and IRS if you can grab one with it.

ian.mezz - February 15th, 2011 at 07:51 PM

welcome
don't buy a good bug and muck it up, Just buy someones unfinished projects off ebay as there are heaps

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/VW-Volkswagen-Bug-/150563707927?pt=AU_Cars&hash=it...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/vw-beetle-/290534726693?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item43a538...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Volkswagen-Karmann-Ghia-/220739759988?pt=AU_Car_Parts_...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/VW-beetle-vw-bug-vw-WRECK-parts-BRISBANE-/180625933845...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Volkswagen-1500-Beetle-1970-2D-Sedan-4-SP-Manual-/2507...

stifler001 - February 16th, 2011 at 06:37 AM

thanks LUFTMEISTER !!! So ewould I be right in saying that a 69 onwards would be a better option???? Also i have read some post saying to stay away from the super bugs, is that correct?

stifler001 - February 16th, 2011 at 06:39 AM

Hi Ian,

I think getting someones unfinished project is a great option, thanks for the links. If only they were in Syd so I could have a look at them.

Cheers

Joel - February 16th, 2011 at 08:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by stifler001
Also i have read some post saying to stay away from the super bugs, is that correct?


Still makes me laugh every time I see that statement

Let's see, modern strut front end like todays cars have, IRS rear end, disc brakes and biggest engine......

bah, give me a shitty swing axle rear and tractor front end with drum brakes with a smaller engine and no boot space any day :lol:

It's just the people who don't know how to work on the suspension that will tell you other wise, the torsion bar front end thrives on neglect, but strut bugs get wobbles and such if the bushings are worn out.

Just ask yourself why are all the serious germanlookers supers?


The earlier bugs have the look and character and hold their value abit better but thats bout it.
later stuff has all the refinements but just abit dull to look at, well when kept stock anyway
You can update alot of this stuff on earlier cars but if the government get's it's way its gonna get harder and harder to engineer cars with these mods.

stifler001 - February 16th, 2011 at 09:05 PM

thanks Joel, it makes perfect sense. I guess as I have had absolutley no experience with bugs before you rely on whatever information you can find. What year did the supers come out with all the later mod things?

Phil74Camper - February 16th, 2011 at 09:21 PM

Have a read of the Australian Volkswagen history here:

http://www.clubvw.org.au/history/history.html 

Where are you located? If in Sydney you are welcome to come along to a Club Veedub meeting or run and have chat to us and look over our cars. Check the website and keep an eye on the coming events. There are similar VW clubs in other states. You're in for a steep learning curve if you want to rebuild and modify an old Beetle - properly!

Make sure you come along to the VW Nationals in Sydney on Sunday 22nd May - or the VW racing at Wakefield Park, Goulburn, on Saturday 21st May.

waveman1500 - February 16th, 2011 at 10:04 PM

Joel, no offence but as a Superbug owner I wish that I had a torsion bar front end! They are bombproof and my good old 1500 always tracked straight and felt good to drive even after whacking huge rocks in khanacross, tie rod ends working loose and all sorts. I drove that car hard and never spent a cent on the front end. On the other hand, I have never taken my Super off-road or competed in it yet, but the front end has had the front swaybar bushes and all four tie rod ends replaced since I bought it and has been wheel aligned, and I only managed to get rid of the Superbug shimmy for about two weeks until it came back. Yes, there are more things which I need to replace still, and yes it does handle nicely in the corners, but the vibration through the steering wheel is annoying and it's already cost me money and effort which my torsion bar front end never required. Say what you like about their agricultural nature, but they are simply more durable than the Macpherson strut front end.

On all other points about Supers I do agree with you though, they've got everything you could want including better IRS and a wiper stalk on the column.

helbus - February 16th, 2011 at 11:19 PM

I replaced our Super S front bushes and inserts 5 years ago, and the thing handles ace around corners. No shimmy. I would have a Super as an every day driver any day, but only on sealed smooth roads.

Our Super has wipers on the dash.

Joel - February 17th, 2011 at 08:43 AM

Everything from 72 had column mounted wiper switches, it was a saftey regulation overseas, Oz just followed suit.

Waveman, as I said the beam front end thrives on neglect, and Volkswagen owners being the tightarses they are love that.

I've been in a few supers that scared the shit out of me cos owners didnt maintain them.

I've played around with enough supers to know that 90% of the time the 50mph shimmy is caused by the wheels.
You can spend thousands replacing everything in the front end, if the rims don't quite run true or they're out of balance slightly you'll know everytime you hit 50mph


Stifler, anything after 68 is a good choice, the only down side is 99% of non supers have the swing axle read end and 71 onwards ones have drum front brakes, but they are easily swapped over.
Superbugs were made from 71-75 and are most common bugs you'll strike on the roads.

71-72 S bugs have the old flat windscreen and dash and the 73-75 L bugs have the curved screen and big padded dash but both have the strut front end.

stifler001 - February 17th, 2011 at 07:43 PM

thanks guys for all of your information and Phil I am in Sydney and will definatly come to the next meeting. I think i have narrowed it down to the super with the older style dash as I don't like the padded one!
Now all i have to do is find a reasonably priced super as some of the prices people ask are ridiculas.

I am not in any rush as I want to find the right ione but the hunt is on!

helbus - February 17th, 2011 at 10:28 PM

This is an S Beetle 1971 1600 Twin port

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=48798&page=1