Hi All,
After about 10 years in the darkness driving auto modern cars I've managed to wrangle some cash for a second car and it is going to be a beetle.
Looking for some advice on which year model/suspension/engine choice is going to be best. my previous beetle was a 1962 Deluxe which was nice but I'm
after a bit more performance this time around.
The plan is to buy one that is registered and usable as a daily driver and as I slowly collect funds improve it over time. The aim is to have
something that is still a daily driver but can stick with more modern cars on some twisty roads.
I'm not too fussed on how it looks to start with so will be focussed on improving suspension and braking first, engine second then doing the cosmetic
stuff.
was thinking 1972 Super could be the go but keen to hear what you experts think.
Mick
I would choose a 1975 rack and pinion L bug
Has all the good gear
1600
IRS
Disc brakes
High back seats
Dual brake circuits
Etc etc
In addition. They are cheap as compared to an oval and such
Add a set of struts, bushing kit , decent tyres and maybe dual carbs and exhaust and you will have a great handling car.
anything 1500 series onwards if you are after more hp and revised suspension/brakes. Superbugs had disks and struts, 1500 series only recieved disks
in semi auto models but had the old skool shape.
All are prone to rust, that'll be the big thing to watch.
thanks for the quick responses guys.
bizarre, how much extra hp would a dual carb set-up likely deliver?
would love an oval sitting on a 2332cc and porsche rims. only two things standing in the way of that
1. a mortgage
2. domestic happiness!
bajachriss88 - I know the usual places to look for rust in the early model bugs (heater channels, under battery, spare wheel well, around windows
etc).
Are there any extra places that post 1500's have?
e.g I've always been a bit suspicious of the air vents behind the windows and maybe letting water in behind the rear seat.
| Quote: |
Yes Joel
usually by the time it gets to that [in Your pics]
all the end of the rain gutter and next to the rear window could be very rusted too...
LEE
Thanks guys, I've already been able to scrub a few potential bugs off my 'to see' list - a couple because of that rust issue and a couple because
they aren't the right age.
Sounds like I should be keeping my attention on curved windscreen, wide bonnet bugs. Discs, struts and IRS sound like a good starting foundation for
the handling. I could then beef up the 1500/1600 to get more hp and look at a new gearbox to cruise better on the highway, perhaps a porsche 'box -
Live in South West Sydney so the freeway to the City and to Southern Highlands gets a bit of a workout.
Would love to end up with something like the Salzburg Rallye beetles...
http://www.salzburgkaefer.at/images/scannen0029_600.jpg
'76 is my favourite. Lighter weight, IRS and discs.
strut bug, I like struts 
1971 S bug is a nice machine. All the modern driveline with the older look body and interior.
ok... so it sounds like Discs, struts and IRS are 'must have's' I'f I'm going to do slight mods to improve handling/suspension.
Helbus, do 1971 bug's have flat windscreen and wide bonnet? wikipedia and other interweb places have different info on this. Have to say I'd prefer
flat screen if I could get it somehow with Discs, struts and IRS (without having to chop too much of the original car to pieces 
)
The 1302 which I think is what hellbus is saying is all the goodies but older style with flat windscreen?
'71s could be either struts (with discs) or torsion bars (with drums unless replaced). All '71s had flat windscreens. All of the strut models had
the big fat ugly long bonnet and the torsion bar models had the sleek stylish nice looking bonnet.
Don't read overseas web sites as Australia was different.
Our current '71 is a 1302 'S' model, which is the 1600 twin port, strut, IRS, disc etc drivetrain, and we have the flat screen, steel dash, no
headrests on seats, so body looks older.
Our first Beetle was a '70 1300 'Standard' model, and it was 1300 engine, beam front, swing axle rear, drums all round
The 1303 'L' model has the padded dash and a curved front screen and a short bonnet.
You must read the Australian info to get the right info, as Beetles have been different all around the world at different times.
Joel wrote a good article here
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=97238
Starting to sound like '71 and '72 S bugs are the models I should be looking at. flat screen, steel dash, discs, struts, IRS and 1600 twin port.
that's a great article Joel wrote about variants.
Bizarre suggested bushing kit, decent tyres and maybe dual carbs as first mods. I thought a set of Bilsteins, drop the front end and perhaps upgrade
brakelines and cylinders would be other first steps to get the bug planted, cornering and stopping.
Not going to be a competition car but do want it to be fun and stick to the road on the twisty stuff.
Interested on everyone's thoughts on first mods for the suspension that I should be budgeting for before I buy.
if you do get a bug with struts, Can I suggest these.
http://superpro.com.au/find-superpro-parts-for-my-vehicle/vehiclelookup/VOLKS...
best bush manufacture on the market imho. I used them on all my cars now. Best single investment on the suspension system. Makes a massive difference
in handling and road feel without even touching the other parts, in combo with other upgrades they all help each other out to get the best of
handling.
The best bit about these bushes is they last ages. Still running a set with close to 200k and 4 years of hard country abuse and still handling way
better than stock bushes, not one has cracked yet either, I doubt they will anytime soon.
Good luck with your search. 
Topline in California have the Super Beetle suspension market cornered.
You can get everything you need from them, the Urethane bushings he sells are top notch.
They are still perfect in my car after all these years on these roads round here.
all the above posts are good things to consider but,I think personally anything late model that has been repainted is likely to end your marital bliss!unless you can see documented body work you may find out at your expense that shiny is usually shit.Id be looking for some kind of orignal paint car buy and modify that.Doesnt matter any bug can be made to go stop and handle.If you car to look at the lap times for the vw nationals 2013 and check out the lap times of matt berrys blue 58,kl-swinger 2007cc mtor, pretty impressive for what it isnt or embarrasing for the bugs with "all the cool shit" you decideand check out daimo pell "the grouch"both awesome cars in my book.But if hou do lots and i mean lots of home work you may end upwith what you want but my advice is pay to have the vehical totally inspected by a beetle nazi,you want to have a very indepth inspection of any bug lots can be missed in a general roadworth inspection..Buyef beware.Happy hunting and good luck.
some sound advice there^
go buy yourself a paint thickness gauge and go hacks. You will quickly pickup on multiple paint layers and bog with one.
You are better off concentrating on an original condition bug that has not been painted or at least isolated to panels and guards and doors.
original with some rust is better than bogged up shiny POS with chicken wire and expander-foam.
| Quote: |
| Quote: | |
Originally
posted by redubber
Thanks, great advice... am definitely going to go for as original a car as I can find. Hoping to avoid orange as I won't have the dosh for a body off paint job for a while but will take what i can find once i've researched enough to make a decision. Ultimately, a solid car that I can sort the running gear on and paint at a later stage is what I'll be after. Won't be going for a rat-look but a bit scruffy is fine. In fact, scruffy would be fun - disappearing around some bends with a boy racer in a rice burner in the rear view mirror of my scruffy bug sounds like fun to me. |