My Beetle and I have been together since the 7th September, 1992.

• 1966 1300 Deluxe

• Indigo blue (or is it Volkswagen Blue?)

• Grey basket weave interior with a white perforated
headliner

• First registered in 1967

I purchased the car in September 1992,

I am the 3rd owner.

For the last 10 years or so, Old School Cal-Look Beetles have set my heart on fire....

My history with the car

The early 90’s...

When I purchased the car in ’92, the car was close to stock, except:

• Lowered – AVIS adjusters in the front beam, rear splines turned, one piece glass, and a short shift – the work was completed by the 2nd owner, Michael.

• Chrome 356 replicas/175 Klebers... it handled well

• The original 1300 engine had been replaced with 1500 single port – My dad and I added a Holley bug spray carb, Bosch 009, S&S extractors/aluminium silencers: this upgrade really improved the mid range power.

• The interior was almost stock – grey basket weave seats with grey cards. The second owner had added a Grant steering wheel, a number of Picol gauges, and a cool brushed aluminium gear shift with a pool ball for a handle.

The car was a loads of fun!

The lowered stance, the KYB shocks ensured I could take on the twisty bits. However, I did learn about sudden lift off oversteer, while chasing a Charger, down to Brooklyn (old Pacific Hwy, NSW) in the wet! The car was fine, my ego dented.

The mid-90’s:

Time for more power, stronger brakes and bigger wheels.

The engine, brakes and wheels were upgraded:

• Porsche Cookie Cutters: 15x6 - from a mate’s ’77 911

• VVWS front disc brake kit & Type 3 rear drums – 5 x130 Porsche

• The ubiquitous Stan Pobjoy 1916 “standard” - Kadrons, 040 heads/40mm & 35.5 big valves, T-Bird exhaust with a hotdog muffler.

• Standard gearbox – it easily revved to 6000 RPM in 1st & 2nd.

• 1997 VW Nationals Drag Day @ Oran Park, the car ran a best time of 9.97... my little sister was behind the wheel! I like to think it was her 45 kilo frame that achieved the time!

More changes followed:

• In 1998, while living in Fitzroy, VIC, the transaxle was replaced by Mr.Bug. The new gearbox had been built for a Formula Vee and was gathering dust in their showroom, untill I arrived with a broken axle and a shot transaxle.

• The new gearbox:
1st: 3.1 2nd: 1.93 3rd: 1.26 4th: 0.89 final 4.125.
Basically a 1500 gearbox with a tall 1st & 2nd.

• In early 1999, the car was re-painted in Indigo blue. I look back now and think: “the patina was fantastic, I should have left it!

• To prevent the annual replacement of the exhaust system, the rear end was raised, slightly.

Early 2000s

• February 2001, the Pobjoy engine suffered a broken big end, uhmm... this destroys an engine (maintenance every 5000 miles should have been a priority)

• The engine was re-built by Bob Whymm and Andrew Dodd – fully balanced, semi-hemi big valve heads, same carbs & ignition. Plenty of low end torque, but not as quick as before (the low compression?)

• The interior was replaced with used bright red seats with white piping and a baby seat.


By 2003, I was married with a new born son in Newport. It was “decided”, the time had come to say goodbye to my VW. It was parked on Pittwater Road, Newport, with a For Sale sign in the window.

I couldn’t let my car go.

I told potential buyers why they shouldn’t buy the car or I simply didn’t return phone calls to interested parties. The ’66 Beetle is part of me

Mid-naughties (2005)

In early 2005, I decided it was time to transform the car into a Cal-Look Beetle

• Removed the bumpers and installed cheap T-Bars.

• Removed Vitiloni mirrior and replaced it with a chrome Bullet mirror (now a broken rusty piece of s@%!)

• Cleaned the underside of the car and discovered the floorpan was painted a steel grey colour from Clayton, and the paint on the front bulk head was like new!

• The only rust was in the bottom of the A-pillars and the bottom of the doors. A garage, TLC and 3 owners do wonders for a car’s health!

My blue ’66 was taken off the road in February 2006 – a leaking fuel tank, rust, a new job, and divorce, had blown a hole in my enthusiasm to create an old school Cal-Look Beetle.

2015...

My Beetle has been out of action for 9 years.

During this time:

• The engine was removed (sits in Andrew Dodd’s workshop)

• The rust was removed from the RHS & LHS A-pillars

• Tunnel repaired near the peddle cluster (in the ol’ days the local garage use to cut the tunnel open to provide easy access to the clutch cable)

• The L&R turn signals were removed from the section just forward of the doors and the holes filled

• The after market side mounted aerial was removed and the holes filled.

• Bottom of both doors repaired – rust removed and new steel welded in.

• Beaver tail repaired

• New paint applied to the repairs.

• Engine tinware repainted

• Loads of new stuff collected over the years:

- Wolfsburg West Fuel Tank
- Dual Weber 44s/manifolds – CSP
- CSP Python exhaust and heater boxes
- CSP centre mount cross linkage
- Pertonix II distributor, coil and leads
- Porsche Fuch – 6x15 rims
- Flat 4 Fuch – 5.5x15 rims
- Stainless Steel Bullet mirror
- German running boards
- Early 60’s front turn signals
- Set of red Konis
- German Square Weave carpet kit
- Modern equivalent of the beige Mohair style headliner
- Cobra Classic seats
- Flat 4 steering wheel and gear shift
- Oval style Plastic sun visors
- RHD rubber floor mats
- TMI rear seat covers and door panels
- Engine bay rubber and rear window rubber – German (of course)

Now, I need to really stay focused and finish the car.

February 2015

The car is home, temporarily. It has been cleaned & buffed (thank you Bruce @ Sands)

I need to finish the easy stuff, well, the stuff that’s supposedly not too difficult for a lay person:

• Put the dash back together

• Check the electrics, EG: indicators, headlights, speedo lights etc. (I think I can)

• Tidy the engine bay and boot (damn you show queens in VW magazines!)

• Fit: running boards, front turn signals, DS mirror, rubber floor, fuel tank

• Call a tow truck

• Stay focused

I will try to keep the updates, photos and commentary coming.

Zayus

PS: f*&$, I hate one piece glass.

Great story!

Keep going!

Cool story. I remember seeing this at Dodd's many times over the years. I'm in mona vale so I hope to see this tearing around the northern beaches soon.......

Great story mate

Sweet car to boot

Stick at it dude, that's a sweet little bug you got there.

Ps can I ask where you found RHD rubber floor mats? My 67' needs some and all I can find new is LHD stuff.

Great thread!!

I am in Manly Vale with a '67.

Did you do your rust repairs yourself or get it done somewhere locally?

Cheers