So my beloved bug turned 50 this year, and to celebrate I'm gonna strip it down and give her the paint job she deserves.

Started today by removing trim, wings etc.

I knew it had been resprayed battleship grey before with a basic mask and spray job, so I'm uncovering original Anthracite paint everywhere, which is kinda nice. I feel like I'm seeing the real deal under the dull grey.

Also finding some dreaded rust, but I expect that for a car of her age!

Wish me luck! No turning back now!!

a shot of where I finished today. So much more to do. Loving it though.

good luck. ( i'll pull my pants back up)

Happy birthday

I almost dreaded looking at this thread with that title.........nasty images of poolsides and people my age sprung up unfortunately.

Glad to see the car getting the treatment!

Anthricite seems to be the new black!! Looks good dude.

nice colour for a 62

Started to remove paint today and found the dreaded bog all over the left hand side. In places it was almost an inch thick!

The metal under the bog is seriously dented and rusting in places.

Looks like I will be seriously testing my welding skills. Can you buy full panels to replace these?

Front panel

.

.

Rear Qtr Panel

We're so so sorry to see your discovery of the dreaded rust and filler on your car.
We can imagine your feeling very disheartened right now.
If you need some cheering up have a read of our '68 German bug thread.
You're not alone.

Others on here will be able to advise better what is available.
Here is a start though.
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/wolfsburg_new/body_sheet_metal/bug_sheet_metal/bug_body_sheet_metal.cfm

Thanks Carl & Emily - checked out your thread, ur '68 is coming along nicely, and is in good hands by the look of things.

Quote:

Originally posted by Carl and Emily We're so so sorry to see your discovery of the dreaded rust and filler on your car. We can imagine your feeling very disheartened right now. If you need some cheering up have a read of our '68 German bug thread. You're not alone. Others on here will be able to advise better what is available. Here is a start though. http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/wolfsburg_new/body_sheet_metal/bug_sheet_metal/bug_body_sheet_metal.cfm

Poor buggy, you just really never know what's under the paint sometimes until you start digging at it.
Best of luck mate. What color you going to go with?

Thanks smithy. Planning to put it back to its original colour - Anthracite.

After the depressing bog find yesterday I had to do something productive today, so in the couple of hours I had free (whilst the missus took the kiddie winks out of the house) I stripped back one side of the floor pan and the centre tunnel and gave it a coat of protective paint.

I'll finish off the other side and the underneath next...

.

mmm shiney..

I have a nos panel that will replace that rear wheel arch section (its the part that #26 in Catalouge attaches to.) Genuine VW spare part. Nth Brisbane 0422983260 Marcus

Good luck!

PM sent marcus

It will be good to see you finish what you started & It will be nice to see it all back together.
Good for another 50 years.

Where are you up to with this?

Progress report please.

Update 12/08/12: Cut out and removed the passenger side lower pillar, welded in a new bit of metal. Need to practise my welding skills but it's in place, feels strong and the door fits!

will need a light coat of filler to hide my shabby welding but otherwise I'm pretty stoked with the result

also stripped back the floor and gave it a coat of protective paint. Was probably not the best time to do, given the amount of bodywork left to do..

Continuing to strip paint and bog, repairing sections as I go. Am using a heat gun to remove the paint in combination with a strip it disc and manual sanding.

I've removed the lower section of the rear qtr panel and replaced it with a repro panel from justkampers. This whole section had a lot of bog in it and is pretty beat up, so will need a lot more work to get it anywhere near straight, but the panel had replaced a section that was beyond straightening out.

As I was stripping back the rear quarter panel I was aware of the fluffy insulation sticking out under the headliner (around the window) and recall thinking that I should probably remove that before welding anymore.... well I forgot and it caught alight! Not a nice feeling to look up from welding to see the inside roof of my car ablaze! Thankfully I had a fire extinguisher on hand so it was put out pretty quick! My wifes response to the smoke and smell took a little longer to put out

the result of the headliner going up in flames! Some scorching on the inside and some paint bubbling on the outside (which is fine as it's gonna get removed soon anyway)