Hi all! finally on this forum thanks to admins after trying a million times to get registered.

I've just picked up my first ever bug and first ever vw.
I thought I would make a thread to follow my progress as well as have a base to hopefully learn as much as I can about my bug and vw's in general! I recently picked it up from Sydney (I live in Brisbane) after seeing it advertised one night.
Made the call and left for Sydney that very same night.

Previous owners had it advertised as a 63', a recent trip to a mechanic has it as a 61' 'Standard'. edit: Revised back to possible 63 'deluxe', gotta love this place

#5316389 (under back seat)

It has been converted to 12V and according to engine#AD061497 is a 1600 engine.

If anyone notices anything different or unoriginal/swapped parts or anything about the year, feel free to call them out, I'm trying to learn exactly what I have.

My plans for it [for now] are to get it roadworthy and mechanically straight, and use it my daily.
I currently drive an 88 bmw e30 [320i] and will probably sell that once the bug is rego'd to fund more fun stuff for the bug

Hopefully I can get to know this forum well and make use of the huge amount of knowledge and info that's here.

As she sits right now.

Congrats on your beetle ownership. Looks like a good starting point. Non correct items I can see from photos. front indicators, front seats, side mirror, front and rear bumpers (standards had blade bumpers) wide wheels, steering wheel. Keep focused and good luck.

Standard I dont believe had a glove box lid

and I think 61's had 50/50 tail lights

I like
61's - birth year

Oh..... g'day and welcome

The mechanic was a bit off, that chassis # like the seller said makes it a late 63 not a 61 and it's also a deluxe not the standard model,

Body looks good and solid, how are the pans?

welcome
You have mentioned 2 good points.
1 that you have already been and had it checked over
and 2 that you going to get it back on the road asap.
As a lot of people seem to buy OK VW and just rip them apart and ark them. never get them on the road or if they do it takes them yeeearrsss.

Thanks guys, already all this info coming in, love it
The mech only had photo's to go off, so any extra info is great till he gets his hands on it. Who knows what's original and what's not on this thing..

The floor pans are good with zero rust under the driver and pass side carpets looks good. Small repair job has been done on the left heater channel, the right is perfect.


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There's a little rust along the bottom of the doors, nothing too crazy.
The engine runs and drives (well...drove it off a driveway and onto the trailer :p)

In the next couple of weeks it's getting taken to 'Custom VeeDub' in Stafford,Bris to get a thorough going over, make sure the engine/gearbox isn't going to spontaneously blow up and get a list of what needs done for rego and what can wait.

It'll need a new wiring loom as the prev owners decided to rewire, and leave all the old wiring through it, so it's a bit of a mess (spent hours trying to get the brake light switch working only to find all the wires i was hunting weren't connected to anything...) Plus it'll be nice to know all my connections are fresh. Should help with troubleshooting any problems later.

Managed to get indicators, headlights (highbeams only) rear light's, interior light, dash light and brake lights working though, so a little success.

The glovebox has been added on, someone's screwed on some butt hinges and a magnet latch, but cosmetics can wait for now. Apparently the wheels have been widened, and I'm not sure on the ride height. It seems a lot lower than any bugs I've seen since picking it up.

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It looks like someone had done the hard part for me. The previous owners assured me it was a 6v, 1200cc. I'm not so sure.

Engine#AD061497
12v ignition coil
12v solex carb
Either way it runs so I'm happy.



(imageshack is a pain..)


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Hi and Welcome.

A 61 would have the bonnet latch on the left and the fuel filler also. But I am only talking about the body here, which could be on a different floor pan. Hope that helps.

Kev

I hadn't thought about a mixed floorpan/Body. The bonnet latch and fuel filler are on the drivers side.
So it's possible that the chassis number is from a 63 floorpan. but the body is a 61?.
There are no holes in the front or rear for the bonnet support struts, so either the front and rear pieces are mixed model (if tney are removable), or they are 'standard' body parts, which if had blade bumpers wouldnt need support holes?


There is no plate on the body in the front well to check so I only went off the number under the seat. I can see this getting confusing quickly.


The only tag in the front.

Could be a standard? maybe chrome trim was put on later? what does the hood lining look like?

The hoodliner is quite thickly foam lined on the actual roof, and seperatly joins with black on the sides down the b pillars and around the rear window, it doesn't go down the front windscreen though, that is bare metal.

Pic

Take a wire brush or some steel wool to the tag where it says chassis number and see if that matches the one on the chassis.

But a few points, standards didnt even start till late 62, and the spring loaded hood hinges were mid 62 as well.

Looks to have a full headliner, fuel gauge and tank with sender, dash trim, side and hood metal strips chrome door trim and smokers window.

May just be one of the many deluxified standards, it is lacking front heater outlet slides and front and rear ohshit handles.
After 50 years these cars have been through all sorts.

Engine is early 71 1600 Superbug engine

The quick check from 61 to 63 would be the number of hinge bolt holes in the body for the door hinge bolts / screws ,a 61 or earlier will have 4 holes and a 63 will have only 3

It does have a spring loaded hood, both sides.
I'll take another look at the front tag behind the spare tomorrow, but it does look like there's nothing stamped after 'Chassis#'.

I just went out and checked the hinges. 3 screw/bolts.

Congrats on your car! Peter at CVD is a great guy and will look after your car well He's my "go-to" for anything that stumps me. Welcome to the forum and I hope to see the car out on the road soon

Update/Damage report!

Car is currently in with Peter at http://www.customveedub.com.au/ 

The mechanical to-do list:
Axle Boots
Wheel Bearings
Exhaust
D/s Link pin / Steering rack (may be able to remove enough play without replacing)
Shocks
Brakes

All the stuff I was kind of expecting so I'm happy with that.

Compression test was done yesterday and came back perfect . Stoked about that. Was expecting a call saying the engine and gearbox is toast. But all is well
Full service has been done and work has started!

I've decided to let them do the new wiring loom. I did want to tackle it myself to get to know a bit about wiring in general, but since this is going to be a daily I'd really like it done right. As well as any of the work that requires a hoist, might as well get it done while its up there.

Looks like i'll be doing all the door/fender/lid rubbers myself as well as new window felt channels and the interior which was the plan. I'm just happy knowing that it's not a write-off or had any hidden chassis/accident damage.

If Peter is getting Andrew to do your wiring, you are once again in good hands

So the bug has started blowing a rediculous amount of blue smoke on idle and at revs , we were hoping it would burn out but no luck.
Compression is good and it runs great so it looks like it'll be in and getting the rings done..waah!
Had to happen right after going to the gc meet..all those bugs just made me want it back even more.