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74 superbug convertible, oh what have I done!
wombatventures - April 2nd, 2014 at 01:27 PM

By Easter a 74 Superbug should be sitting in my carport. Still not sure why...
Can anyone help me with the history and info about these Sunbug labelled convertibles I can remember first seeing in the mid 90's. I'll add some photos later.


wombatventures - April 2nd, 2014 at 07:02 PM

Here are some photos of the Superbug Convertible


donn - April 3rd, 2014 at 11:33 AM

74 superbug convertible, oh what have I done!
Good question, I guess every car has a purchaser at the right $, what's that at the top hinge on the drivers door? damage or a reflection?
I see your from Peterborough, I went through there in the buggy on my way home from WA (or was it on my way to WA ? :rolleyes:) in 2012, I seem to recall a statue of a dog that was a renowned train traveler, if I've got the right place.


wombatventures - April 5th, 2014 at 06:16 PM

I'm happy to say it's a reflection. Lets just say that thetrip to Sydney to pick it up will cost a lot more than we paid for it. If worst comes of it it may become a parts car, but I'd rather get it up and running for a bit of fun.
You would most likely have come through here on the way east west if you went via Broken Hill. Glad to here you spotted our local legend, Bob the Dog.


wombatventures - April 15th, 2014 at 09:22 AM

Well, about 3000km, a slightly cooked motor, a lot of junk food and some creative intersection manueveres, the sunbug is now in the yard. I'll put some trip pics up later.
A question for Sydney residents,... getting onto the south bound of the Hume from the Northern Road... no traffic lights! Across 3 lanes of traffic! WHAT THE FUCK!!! My appologies to anyone who had to deal with my lights flashing, hazards on, block each lane till they all stopped trick.


Craig Torrens - April 15th, 2014 at 09:35 AM

you drove to Sydney for THAT ?! :spin::lol:


wombatventures - April 15th, 2014 at 01:04 PM

My picture is in the dictionary under insanity. Despite the look of it, there may be a plan. Will let you know when I work out what it is.
Already have a good motor, who knows where to get a good gearbox. Preferably in SA.


ian.mezz - April 16th, 2014 at 07:59 AM

wow, isn't it just a chop job one , not a real vert ????


modnrod - April 16th, 2014 at 02:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by wombatventures,... getting onto the south bound of the Hume from the Northern Road... no traffic lights! Across 3 lanes of traffic! WHAT THE FUCK!!!



That's pretty funny! :lol:
I seem to remember using the "Force" a bit like that about 20 years ago, in exactly the same place........

And I'll second the "nice place Peterborough" thing too. Oh, and Morgan and Burra too.

I've always thought crappy unloved old verts would be good with a flat ally roof joining 2 roll bars together, and a baby Baja kit.
Then again I live in amongst the rocks like you do......:crazy:


wombatventures - April 16th, 2014 at 07:07 PM

Yep it's a Sunbug Conversion from the 90's. The beauty of it is whatever we do to it won't result in the changing of an original Convertible. It's already been changed from original so now it can be customised to what we want. I love restorations, I'm in the process of two at the moment, this one just gets to be different.

Hey Modnrod, Morgan's our camping hangout. Great Spot. I like the Alloy roof and the Baja idea. Not sure about this one but maybe another.


matberry - April 16th, 2014 at 10:55 PM

Good luck with your project.

Good idea Modrod

ps. yeah I know this ones a real vrt bt what the hey.. :) Enjoy the build whatever you do


modnrod - April 17th, 2014 at 05:27 AM

Yep, like that!
:D
:tu:


wombatventures - April 17th, 2014 at 08:28 AM

Hey Matberry!
Now that rocks! My Missus driving to work in that would be a laugh! She'd love it!
:lol:
Park it in the main street! Cool!

If You Guys keep giving me ideas I may need a warehouse not a shed!


wombatventures - April 21st, 2014 at 01:17 PM

Thought I'd add some shots of the trip back from Sydney. Make this into a build thread.


wombatventures - April 21st, 2014 at 01:23 PM

Camped out on the Hay Plains. Before heading home to drop Becs Bug in the yard.
Should Be into the Carport by next week.


oldskoolguy - April 21st, 2014 at 09:21 PM

Nice photos, I love the morning mist over the paddock on the Hay Plain. Sleeping in the car, there's nothing like it!


wombatventures - April 22nd, 2014 at 08:15 AM

Had the swag out Oldschoolguy, bloody beautiful night with the stars out and not too much dew. Rosie the Dog, see the first photo, gets the middle of the pillows every time. Travelling is the best part of owning a car, reckon on building a teardrop trailer for the bug and the kombi. Then the ute can stay the work bus.


oldskoolguy - April 22nd, 2014 at 09:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wombatventures
Had the swag out Oldschoolguy, bloody beautiful night with the stars out and not too much dew. Rosie the Dog, see the first photo, gets the middle of the pillows every time. Travelling is the best part of owning a car, reckon on building a teardrop trailer for the bug and the kombi. Then the ute can stay the work bus.

:):tu:


matara - April 22nd, 2014 at 04:08 PM

Hey wombatventures,

Had a friend who was a panel beater who restored a Sunbug a few years ago. I'm into factory cabs myself but here is a link to some of the pics that might be useful to you. There are a few showing the extra strengtheners that were put in underneath, and the door tops.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/porsche356a/sunbug/IMG_7394_zps7314a7d1.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/porsche356a/sunbug/IMG_7395_zpsa0607560.jpg

Cheers

Steve


oldskoolguy - April 22nd, 2014 at 05:34 PM

Neat :tu:
You might have a little diamond in the rough there Wombat!
Rob.


wombatventures - April 22nd, 2014 at 06:26 PM

Cheers Matara.
I've got the same Sunbug conversion sticker. I'll chase out the photo later.
Saw another one on trading post a few weeks ago.
If your friend knows anything about the conversion mob I'd be grateful for any info.
Who knows, oneday they might be rare enough to be worth something.

As it is we didn't go looking for this one, just ended up being a joking bid on ebay. We both want an earlier full bodied bug as well. And to get the Kombi on the road.

Reckon Rob might be right though. Could turn out to be the rough bug that that grows into a cool butterfly. If not just a fun way to get to the beach.


Deadpan - April 22nd, 2014 at 06:42 PM

wombat do you any of the history of the sunbug, mainly was it ever a QLD car? I do remember in the 90's Gold Coast were cutting the roofs off Beetles,Suzukis,Minis and all sorts of cars 'To have Fun In The Sun', rental convertibles were all over the Gold Coast


wombatventures - April 22nd, 2014 at 10:05 PM

No idea Deadpan. The bloke we bought it off does rubbish removal and got it as a scrap cleanup.
I've tried looking up sunbug conversions on then net but all that comes up is about the VW Sunbug which seems to have been a gold painted US promo version. Found some info on a mob on Paramatta Road who used to do conversions. Need to trace that one down further still.
I remember seeing these cut bugs in the 90s when I was travelling around, and I recall an article in a car mag about them. As I still have almost all of my old mags I hope to hunt that down soon.
Could be there is a Gold Coast connection. Although Steves' friends has t,he same Sunbug Conversion sticker in the same place.

Cheers
Terry


wombatventures - April 29th, 2014 at 08:30 PM

Parts hunting begins.
Drivers Window glass is smashed. is the Super Beetle door glass the same as the earlier glass?


wombatventures - June 1st, 2014 at 07:46 PM

Been busy with a million projects since the last post. The bug is in the carport, have stripped out most of the interior. Looks like the seats have come from somewhere else. The runners have been welded onto the original T shape runners. Debating whether to clean up and re-install or repair the runners and put original style seats in. Will reserve that for when I clean up the pan.

So far I've found a couple of rusty pinholes in the pan, will know more when I get it apart to and clean.

A couple of weeks ago I came across a youtube video of a roller frame a bloke had made for when he split his Karman Ghia from the pan. His was wood...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG29Jjkrrlk. 
I've made one up similar from steel. Will be completed later this week. Will add photos when I get more time.

Over the weekend I've been knocking dents out of the old hubcaps for our Kombi, can anyone give me some tips on cleaning up the scratches and small dents. We're thinking of getting them re-chromed to have a good set. Have 4 old rough ones for when we go bush, that's in the future when it's back on the road.


Carl and Emily - June 4th, 2014 at 06:12 PM

It's cool that you're giving this thing a second chance.
Good on you.
Look forward to following your build.


wombatventures - June 12th, 2014 at 07:43 AM

Finally catching up with putting some of the build, or in this case Unbuild, photos on here.
So here we go...

First frost of the year hit before we got it under cover.


wombatventures - June 12th, 2014 at 07:48 AM

Got the back veranda empty enough to give the Dub a home...
Then Stripped Her top off.


wombatventures - June 12th, 2014 at 07:53 AM

While ripping out the interior I found the novel replacement seat mounts. A bolt and nut welded together and to the seat runner and base of the non standard seat....Hmmm! Dodgy or what!


wombatventures - June 12th, 2014 at 07:56 AM

Bought another Kombi the other day too... this one goes realy well, awesome for chasing the dog. Kinda cool way to deaden AA batteries...