Just got the welcome pm and couldn't reply and felt a little rude if I don't introduce myself. I bought my first VW about 30 years ago, when I was 15 (guess that makes me ancient). It was a 58 bug with original paint and 36k miles on it. Sad to admit that it ended up a baja by the time it was sold. Also has a 64 split Kombi a manx, 2 other beetles and 1 other baja and a type 3 wagon (beach machine) and a tube buggy with a 12a. Unfortunately don't own a VW atm but my son just picked up a 61 bug with a 1600 D.P so the bug has bitten again. Cheers Wayne.

Welcome Wayne,
Good to hear your getting back into the 'madness' that is veedub ownership, wouldn't be anywhere else! Curious about the type 3 beach machine, any old photo's? I had a squareback over 20 years ago that was driven across the simpson desert by the previous owner. The original SUV I reckon.

I have old school photos of the type 3 on Fraser in about 92. Maybe I could scan them or take digital pics of them. It was a 71 or so model and the IRS gearbox had too tall a diff ratio for sand. She went okay if you kept the speed up but needed taller tyres (they were about 29"diameter roughly) and IRS Kombi box. I took the Kombi up the beach in the eighties (it was only worth $700 then) and with 165/15 radials and 1835 DP it was a lot better even with 7 people in her.

Sounds like you have a big VW history, especially off-road. I love the looks on 4wd owners faces when you meet them along tracks that are supposed to be'4wd only' in your humble kombi. Some people even get a bit shitty.........dont know why......maybe they spent a fortune on their cruiser to go bush or beach and your their in the same area with your 2wd.

G'day Wayne and I guess from your description I am ancient also

Don't you wish you had some of those vehicles now, they would be worth heaps.

Anyway, I am also doing up a 61 Beetle and am probably bias but I think these are the best year model

Kev