Currently in search of my first beetle, due to my budget I'm restricted mostly to bugs in the 70-78 year range however I'm more keen on earlier bugs.

Is it possible to mix and match panels from different years to make a later bug look earlier?

I have seen a few people dropping earlier shells on later floor pans but would the mis matching vin's cause any drama's with registration/legalities?

shouldnt be a problem as it would be registered as the later pan year ,the body hasnt got a number as such , am looking at doing similar with my 69 body ,putting earlier front guards etc but still using the short bonnet ,as there is a lot to do to get the latching changed , back decklid is easier as you can change the rear valance to be removable ,then use the earlier valance , most people call them wrong-uns, its just that i like the earlier look ,but i like my semi -auto as well , i looked on Volkzone and got a few threads about it all , but as some will say ,if you havent got one yet best to just start with an early
http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=861929&highlight=late+beetl...

yeah I'd like to tart with an early but they are out of my price range, they do pop up from time to time in a state of disrepair but I need to buy something that's running, plenty of late 70's examples going for around the $3500 mark with only minor things needed for rwc but not much earlier than that.

I know of a 65 ish for 2500 -3000 very clean orig paint , contact "okrasa power" on here its in syd

The Euro's have their "Standard 1200" model. It looks basically like a big window (eg 1970s or so) complete with air vents behind the side rear glass, but with early sloping headlights, long bonnet and early 2-colour small tail lights.

Put on the guards and lights you want them tell everybody it's a special import.........

One thing you will have to watch if re bodying is the body will have to meet the ADRs for the chassis, eg if its after 1/73 it has to have a padded dash, after 12/74 needs charcoal canister, 10/71 needs reverse lights and highback seats etc to be legal

Make sure if you do wanna go that way you get a Beetle not a superbug, the vast majority of 70s bugs in Aus are Superbugs as people wanted bigger engine, disc brakes and better suspension.
They dont make early look bugs easily or well, front bonnet sits higher, guards dont swap etc.

Also the 72onwards bugs with the bigger back window really dont look right when people try to make them look early.

Quote:

Originally posted by modnrod The Euro's have their "Standard 1200" model. It looks basically like a big window (eg 1970s or so) complete with air vents behind the side rear glass, but with early sloping headlights, long bonnet and early 2-colour small tail lights. Put on the guards and lights you want them tell everybody it's a special import.........

yeahI'm aware of the difference between superbugs and regular bugs.

rule of thumb is if the spare tyre sits flat, it's a super.

maybe I'll have to piece one together, you know find a chassis and fix that up while looking for a body.

I'm in brisbane so there's not a great deal of them available for sale in my price bracket, just have to see how I go I suppose.

Just on ADR.

A collapsable steering wheel and laminated front window goes in at some year as well.

Newt

Beetles never had a laminated windscreen in Australia.

Seat belts could be a problem.

Interesting - what happens now with Beetles.

My winscreen man said it was illegal for him to instal a non laminated front windscren.

Newt

You'll be hard pressed to find many VWs still with original windscreens.
In the last 14 years I've put 3 windscreens in mine thanks to rocks.
The rocks usually bounce of the bonnet straight into it.

Even if they don't get badly chipped or cracked by rocks they are usually so badly etched after 4+decades that driving at night is like trying to see through news paper.

What about coupes, do they do laminated fronts (and can they be sourced locally)?

Cheers

Newt