Hello everyone

here's my 76 Beetle. Last of the Aussie breed. Restored about 6 years ago with all the bits I like. Hope you like it.

Matthew

nice job dude

welcome to the 76 club! That's the first one I've seen with a red interior. I've also never seen that steering wheel on one before. Is it a genuine VW item? Maybe off a Mk 1 Golf, I heard they share the same steering column, or at least hub.

Cool !
Love the red interior

Oh - welcome

Thanks for the comments. Red's my favourite colour hence the carpet. Yes the steering wheel is off a golf I believe so same spline.. smaller wheel as well so nice size that my legs can fit under! I wrapped it in a leather cover as well and stuck a wolfsburg crest on the centre.

Actually you might appreciate my story of restoration. I work for the airlines so I fly to the States regularly... So regularly I had a PO Box in Pasadena LA. I ordered all the parts online from Cip, Wolfsburg West, OE VW, etc..and had them shipped to Pasadena. Then when I was in town I'd pack it all in my suitcase and bring it home. It took me about 3 months to get it all home.. I could only bring home so much per trip or I'd incur duty.

The biggest item was the running boards and probably the reproduction horse hair pads for the seats! You should have seen the customs officer's face when I put them through the X Ray! Ha!

The seat covers are reproduction in original weqve pattern and I had the carpet set done locally. I replaced pretty much everything.. even the plastic caps over the door hinge bolts! The tail pipes are stainless steel, still look new 6 years later. I can highly recommend them.

Anyway. Too much to list. Thanks for looking

Looks really nice! Love the story of bringing parts back!!

Here are some more pics. I was very happy with the seat covers. Most everything in the engine bay was replaced.. i had to track down parts for the thermostat linkage but we got there in the end. The brand new distributor was a find a the time..keeps the low end torque. Air cleaner.. new.. carby..new..exhaust, heat exchangers.. new.. I even tracked down a replacement valve for the spare tyre windscreen washer bottle.. if only I'd remember to put water in it!

I tracked down some clear indicator units for the front bumper bar from some obscure place. I ended up using the reflectors out of the original units in the new ones.. old ones were crumbling away unfortunately. I like the look though..retro/modern?

The plastic chrome headlight rings had had it so I bought some new metal ones and had them re chromed in Dubbo! The guy there still does it the old fashioned way so it should outlast the car.

Last thing I had done was the brakes.. new everything, including master cylinder, drums,rotors, backing plates AND the little rubber plugs for the inspection holes.

Must be time for a new project.