I recently purchased a bug thinking it would be a great project to fix up on the weekends. Will it be too expensive to restore?

Its a 61 with a 1600 dual port engine.

I have just found that the front seats are welded to the floor pan.

The front guards and the engine cover are fiberglass.

The floor pan is covered in surface rust, easy enough to blast off.

I took it for a road worthy, and the only issue is the link and king pins.

The paint is a home job.

I have set the timing, valves and rebuild the dizzy, and the engine runs fine but blows alot of white smoke when my foot is down, and the rear seal is slowly leaking (Not enough to drip, just make the bottom wet)

I bought it for 2.5k and I have sunk about $700 in since.

Is it worth the resto? or should I give up and look for another?

Narrr !
you should give it to me !

Every Bug is worth working on Mate.
Engine repairs are generally pretty simple.
It all depends what you want your car to be, the body looks sound enough, the body kit is ok, easy enough to change if you want. Parts are out there.
All car restorations cost money, take your time shop around for parts, keep an eye on this forum, parts come up all the time. Go to a few shows, there's always people with parts and good advice.
Best bet, go over it with your eyes open and write a list of what you think you need and what you want to change. Then jump on the web and find out prices. Take your time working out a plan.
Most of all , ask questions here, no question is too stupid.
Also, where are you based?

Thanks guys, i'll persevere. I'm in Goondiwindi QLD

Plenty of Beetle gear just up the road in Brisvegas mate.

Also make sure you come to the Warwick Drags - lots of contacts to be made and some parts on the Sunday. Also quite a few VW enthusiasts in the Warwick area.

Take encouragement from the comments above mate, I think it's worth the effort.
If restoring is the aim you could recoup some of the cost by selling the fibreglass parts, wide wheels etc. and buying real steel bits.
Body wise it looks good from the photos, and if it is an easy roadworthy pass you can drive it as you are working on it.
In my opinion if it's registered and tidied up it is worth a bit more than you paid for it so far.
Anyway, by that time you'll probably love it too much to sell it

Sometimes you need to walk away for awhile to see the progress you've made...have a break...have a think and keep going....
Most people have probably questioned do I keep going or like me why did I even start, but at the end you'll be glad you did it...

Hi
You have bought a much better beetle than many other people have bought and probably paid much more than You did...

Each VW enthusiast likes different things with beetles...
some like as it looked from the factory??
some with a mixture of parts from different models etc..

Just keep an eye on the engine overheating in the hot summer months..
the scoop over the engine vents may suck in enough air?
I have seen people cut holes in the rear wing to let in more air...
You will see many early model beetles with vents put into the engine lid so the larger than original engine can breathe and get enough cooling air..
I would sell the engine lid and both bumpers... [that's Me]

get yourself two wiper arms from a 1968 beetle, which has the same shaft size, but the arms have stronger springs and better late model wiper blades... I also prefer beetles to have the blinkers on the top of the front guards... You can have the narrow early type or the later wider type which were used from 1964>on..
I also prefer the use of the original number plate lamp on the engine lid, again narrow earlier model or the wider one from 1964>... {thats Me]
Another item I have recommended to many people who have done just that.... replaced the steering shaft for a collapsible shaft from a 1968 - 69 - 70 NON super beetle.... for safety reasons...

I think You may have got yourself a bargain there...
its just that most VW people don't like fibreglass parts... some do...

cheers

LEE

Keep it and go for it mate!
I'm only 14 and i've done king and link pins before

Now 1st thing You need to do is check the rear axle rubber boots, to see they are NOT leaking..
2nd thing You need a grease gun and a tube of lithium based MOLY grease to lubricate the front suspension, You need to do this with the front of the car jacked up.

You also need 2 tappet cover gaskets [2 used but buy 4 for spares]
plus an engine oil change gasket set [1 used but buy a lot for spares 5-10]
these items are NOT expensive]

cheers

LEE

It looks really good as is and it was a good buy. As said- do some minor maintenance and enjoy it.

You are so close to being able to drive it.
So do just that.
Make sure you really like early beetles before spending any more $ on it.
Enjoy it for what it is.
If you don't like the fibre glass stuff you can change that as you go.
Congrats.

I would get the roadworthy and rego first, then start driving it and decide what changes would suit you first. Sometimes people go for small changes like making the gearshift tighter, or making the indicator turn off. The little cheaper things can make it more enjoyable while thinking about the bigger picture.

We have had out current Beetle for 11 years. It was solid with no rust, but very tired when we got it. I changed the window rubber seals, running boards and bumpers in the first 12 months, just to get it looking and sealing better. With maintenance over the years, including tyres, battery, windscreen, brake master, calipers, cables, driveshaft CVs, distributor, shockers, steering pin, ec. I put new front seat trim on about 4 years ago, then new engine a year ago, and respray 7 months ago, and finished full interior retrim 4 months ago. I was collecting all the bits over the years, including 3 second hand mint replacement fenders, as I knew three of the ones on the vehicle were FULL of bog.

The whole time, it has been the daily driver. Done 70,000 miles in 11 years. The bigger picture may have taken a long time, however it is now pretty close to a fully restored vehicle. With nothing needing replacement for a long time hopefully.

Thanks for the encouragement guys i'll get her on the road and then restore her to her former beauty.

Thats the way Mate.
Keep us posted as you go, we are all VW Voyeurs!
Ask questions when you need too. There are smart people here on the forum who will have good answers.
Good luck and enjoy.

I'm in total agreement with the majority of feedback.
Get the repairs done to get it on the road, and enjoy it!
Much better to slowly work on doing small changes on a car that you can actually use, rather than try to shoot for the stars on something that will just sit in the backyard rusting and in parts for 10 years.

I need to follow my own advice too... hahaha

Count me on that one Flexyspex...
So many projects so little time!