Started this project a little over a year ago. Our first resto of a VW beetle. It went in the paint booth today and could not be happier with the outcome.

Still lots of decisions to make and lots to learn.

Had to share the pics so far.

nice, what is that colour?

It's the orange off a 2012 Mitsubishi lancer.

looks great going to be a nice beetle

from day 1

then let fun begin

insides

started stripping and repairing the bolt on panels, tried to metal finish what I could

after what could be beat out/banged in and welding finished, I file finished what I could, then sand with 80/120g on a sander

then sealed all bare metal off with an epoxy primer, also did the roof at this time

Mmmm metal

let the stripping begin, brought a new rear parcel tray/under seat sheet metal and also front guards, new bar and brackets.
Then pulled the motor out
This being a first for me or my dad, so easy compared to my last few cars, but still must admit to watching a few you tube vids before starting!

once engine was out and wiring moved it was time to remove the rusty section

not to bad with panel removed

looking good!

it all cleaned up good with a clean and strip wheel back to bare, then a coat of copper coat weld through primer

We were lucky enough to borrow a water cooled inverter spot welder, although it would of been cheaper in hindsight to transport car to shop than upgrade to a 3 phase 20A plug

all spotted in, just add a few dabs of mig and all done

Looking good Crispy and I wouldn't stress about upgrading to 3 phase, you will need it again sometime so it will come in handy.

I decided to buy a new door shell, original required more work than it was worth,

The 2nd hand door would not fit at all, so I hoped the new door would fit

once fitted lines were perfect

But not the factory drilled holes for chrome mouldings

So I had to make them fit

By holding a chunk of brass on the back of hole I was able to weld it up with almost no distortion as brass dissipates heat and the mig wire does not stick to it

I did not like the factory mirror location, still haven't worked out were to put it yet

ended up buying 2 new shells, new panels are to good to work with, still filed them up

had to make and fit some patches to sides of foot well


ended up removing most of the shonky welded in nuts and sourced some nice weld in flanged nuts from e-bay in the UK
note this is a good one

Then filed it up and into epoxy

this first photo give a better idea of the condition of the mounting nuts that were left.

doors filed and sanded up ready for some epoxy

also the cowl panel was in good condition