So a Fat Chick in pretty good order then.

None are best left alone! I would pick a "perfect" original 1500 over a ratty 1976 model for example. (Others might want the 'rat'!) Some may be better than others DEPENDING on what you want to do with it. Some comments...

There is no 1600S in '74?!
There is no 1600L made in 1976. In Aust. it is "the Unnamed Beetle", despite appearing as a '76 L in some official lists.

Stock S/bugs (L or S) are great highway cruisers (esp. L model): aerodynamic, good boot space etc., but can be understeerers in tight corners... beware. Of course the Racing crtowd can now "fix" the understeering issue...

If you drive "hard" (as I may have once) -- & want to corner fast & true -- avoid swing axle models. They're fine for drags. If you drive "normally" or just to Club events they're fine too!

I think the pick of the bunch is the semi-auto beetle, or the 1976 Australian 1600 beetle (post-L model). These have the otherwise unavailablke combination of front discs/IRS/beam FE.
But if you like the "Big" front, go for a late "L" model (maybe late '75 with rack & pinion s'box - also relatively rare).

There are some good books around on "Australian VW's", & "rare models world-wide" - may be worth a look.. Can't recall exact titles

Happy (Re)searching! Gotta go! Go well - go Air-Cooled Engine!

[ Edited on 14-12-2006 by ACE_76 ]

Al, if you cant find one here on AVD you just arent trying.

This one is not very stock, but for what you get its an absolute bargain:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=54785 

Thanks for the help guys it's realy appreciated,and thanks for the link david777 --do you know the car ?--

aaahhh Ace 76 so thats the riddle of the 76 thanks mate I could'nt work that out atall, so is the 76 a 1600 ooorrrr a 1300 I have posted the same Q in my U2U duurr sorry mate,
Again thanks,
Cheers , Al .

Yes, all true 1976 Australian-sold beetles, I believe (ie. not including any late L bugs that may have been sold on into 1976), were 1600's - there were no 1300's available in that model. All 1300's that were sold alongside S & L model superbugs (from about 1970 to 1974-ish?) had beam front & SWINGAXLE rear. These late 1300's should be a great choice too, provided you don't mind a swing-axle rear.
The 1976 1600 as made was supposed to have a few other (minor) oddities, as produced. They were written-up as being the only unbadged VW ever (except fro the 'VW' in middle of hubcaps). Not that leaving the badges off would have anyone scratching their heads...

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/VOLKSWAGEN/BEETLE/details.aspx?_...

Looks like a late 1300 (swing axle model). You can tell from the first 3 digits of chassis no. (if it's original), 1st digit is 'type 1', 2nd diigit is 'beetle sedan', 3rd digit is last digit of year of manufacture. So a 1976 bug will be 116 ... ... ..., 1975 will be 115 etc. Ithgink Superbugs (1971-5)may have 3 as the 2nd digit. So presumably a 1300 will have a 1, as does the 1976 (which is not a superbug). DOes that sound confused/ing?

I have a 71 super that's my wife's first car. It's a two owner that's never taken a hit, she is rust free for the most part with the exception of a slight section of floor pan than has had a ruff fix up. Its stored at my parents as we don't have room for it nor the need, I built a 1641 for it many moons ago and its got some nice bits (kadrons, scat linkage, 009, dress up kit). I put a new set of rear brake shoes and a new master cylinder in her last month and she has just had a buff as it needs a new home. It's a great little car that get along, its not a show car but the paint is shiny and she is all there. If you have been looking at any 71'ish bugs then you will know that a lot of them are rusty (rear quarters, A pillars, batter tray etc) so this is a good basis for a resto or a tidy daily. She ran out of club rego about six months ago but if you were interested I am happy to get her re-registered. Car is at Chermside and I'm guessing worth around 2500~3000.

Cheers Stephen

Thanks for the imput guy's,:bounce

ctefeh thanks for the link mate.

ace76 Hi John, --hmmm -so what do you recon the car on the link actualy is ?? 1600L in the add certainly dont match up with 1300 engine lid--or is this part of the secret modifiers code har har--reminds me of the last time I was in the Emirates and had some "Rolex" watches touted to me as "GENUINE ORIGIONAL AUTHENTIC ---copy's---". ooooh yar.

555bug you have u2u.

Cheers all , Al .

Dash is not '76 1600, they were black vinyl with black painted glove-box lid.

Clearly not a superbug dask (L or S). Probably 1973-75 1300, don't know exact last year made - 1975? 1300 not available in '76 (unless old stock?). Doesn't matter necessarily - it looks nice. 1300's had swing axles & drum brakes all round. You need to get them too tell you the chassis no. (now this becomes the VIN). It's under rear seat in middle & on the aluminum ID plate in front b/hind spare. The plate will also have official the Month/Year of manufacture eg. 5/76 for May '76 You should always checkj that all such details match, or if not that there is a legitimate reason (eg new chassis). Before early '70s some states did not record Chassis No.

that one on car sales is a late 71 or early 72 1300 thats had a hit up the arse and been repaired with a 76 decklid,gaurds, valance and bumper
it may have a 76 IRS pan under it which makes it a 76 on the rego papers but its defiantlety an earlier body



just to clear up any confusion
vw aust stopped building 1500 beetles in 12/70 and replaced them with superbug S in 1/71 as the deluxe beetle but also at the same time offered the 1300 pov model flat screen with drum brakes and swing axle
it was feb or march 73 they stopped building Sbugs and started Lbugs and they ran till mid 75, same with 1300s as well so it was early 76 by the time they all sold then the 76L was the last off the line

its only Lbugs that have 13x vins
Sbugs were 11x same as standard beetles

ive got one of the last 75 1300s beetles i;'ll be selling shortly i'll stick it on here as ive got a freind eyeing it off to hack up for a trike which i dont want to happen

[ Edited on 16-12-2006 by DUB74L ]

:bounce Ah-- Ha thanks for that .sssssssssssuuuuuuuuuuuuussssssseddddddddddd.

Orl lookks right xcept 76L was 2nd last off the line.
then the unknown '76

There's a nice 75 L R7P under "4sale 75 L bug N-NSW" in a car yard. Looks good! Mucho closer.

yea i put that up belongs to a mate
i think its a bit exy but thats what there goin for
just let me know if u wanna know anything more abiut it

there was only one 76 beetle
VW called it 76L which confuses alot of ppl even tho it was BJ flatscreen

-Joel

[ Edited on 16-12-2006 by DUB74L ]

Hi,
The so called L beetle was actually a 1303S beetle and wasn't made as a 1976 model...
The 1976 Model beetle [non super] had disc brakes, flat windscreen. flat dash, IRS rear end with CV joints and 1600 engine.
This model was actually sold into 1977 until they were all gone....
Some say it was the best beetle...??

cheers

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug 

yeah thats the one VW marketed as the 76L runout/unknown/badgeless model

it was called an L even tho it was Bj flatscreen IRS

[ Edited on 16-12-2006 by DUB74L ]

Still looking bump,
thought I was going well for a deal tilll-----------------------
:repuke
*had a front hit that's been poorly repaired.
* has rust comming through.
*It has heads on it the engine builder says are unsuitable
* clutch is stuffed
* brakes and wireing are defectable-- the list goes on an on-
And thats only what I know about without a serious
drive.
:repuke
Damn and not to say 76ers that are actualy 71/72ers pointed out previously on this post.

Praps I should re-post this in chit chat and rename it-- "BELIEVE IT OR NOT" or" stranger than fiction" who knows anyway folks STILL LOOKIN.
Cheers , Al .

[ Edited on 21-12-2006 by BASHOdi ]

i got a 72 sbug for sale in reasonable condition
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=25966 
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=46168 

yes mate it is its mustard yellow.

Thanks barls you have u2u:bounce

i've got a couple of tips for you:

1. pay attention to private messages that come to you via the forum (and read the whole way through threads) so that you need not be surprised about things when you "find them out" later, nor be so quick to blow off the forum crashing as being a reason for you not seeing the messages.

2. don't mistake people saying that things were pretty much as they expected as "yeah i knew about everything that was wrong with it" when it was really meant as "yeah i did expect to find out that a few things were wrong with it that i wasn't aware of previously".

if you follow those ones, you're sure to find what you're after without too much hassle.

ps. there is no malice in this post. just trying to clear things up. i really hope you do find the car you are looking for. you seem like a nice enough bloke and you deserve to find a machine that fits your needs.

[ Edited on 22-12-2006 by cray ]

Andrew I would realy appreciate it if you would stay on topic if you're posting here and start a new thread in chit chat if you want to offer advice I'll be happy to look at it,
Thanks mate , Al .

no worries, sorry mate.

however, as far as beetles go, i'd recommend the 1500, but that's only because i prefer the look over the bulgy guards and 70s style big plastic taillights and whatnot. that said, when tastefully modified the later models can look pretty schmick. the "german look" is really starting to grow on me these days. :thumb