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Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:57 pm

I've been a die hard air cooled fan for the past couple years and have been searching for a Notch/Square locally for at least the last two.

Well I finally find one and it is in pretty rough shape. This would be my first project car. I'm currently helping a buddy out with his Mk1 rabbit restore and rebuild so I'm getting my feet wet.

So here's the story, it's been sitting in it's current location for two years. Prior to that the neighbour had tried to start the restoration. He partially disassembled it and it's been sitting as is ever since. It was last on the road in 1992. Our salt air and salty roads have not been kind as you can see from the pics.

I just want some opinions on whether this is a viable project or if it's just a parts car. Where it's a late model and given it's current state, I'm thinking the latter. I just hate to see the only Notch around me rotting away. :(

Thanks for looking!

Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:09 pm

Bobnotch just restored a late notch that was 10 times worse than this one in 6 months! Search for his Thread "Been working on the Notch" How much they asking for this "jewel in the rough"?

Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:10 pm

Yeesh I was good until pic #3 or #4... kind of reminds me of a surgery on TV where you can look inside somebody's body and see their heart :cry:

It looks like the front is the worst of it. Is it possible to get the front fenders off of it and see what is left of the body?

Maybe I have been reading the split bus forums too much lately :roll: but it seems like you should give a shot at fixing it. The nice thing about it being a late body is that you may be able to get a clip for it much easier than an earlier model?

Lots of welding here regardless of the front... Just look at those heater channels.

-Ben

Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:17 pm

:shock: Thank God I live in Ca, about all I have to say about that.

If you have a complete T3 for parts, you can probably do it, or if you're a crackerjack welder and good with an english wheel.

Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:54 pm

Eww... while the split bug and barndoor guys keep proving that no car is "too far gone", this one might be a daunting first-time project!

Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:58 pm

Paging Bobnotch...

Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:23 pm

Really not bad as all that, is it?

Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:29 pm

Reading your replies is like a rollercoaster. lol Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely scour that thread.

I could have the car for $400-500. The current owner mentioned that he has some parts in storage as well. The mileage (not that it really matters) is supposed to be around 32000 miles.

I'm not one to shy away from a challenge... and I also would have all the help I could possibly need from a great local vw community.

As you can see in pic #4 the worst of it seems to be the driver's side floor. My buddy and I are a couple of hack welders... but we're improving steadily... we're currently replacing the pans in his rabbit.

Do I sound like I'm trying to talk myself into it? Yes.

Tue Jul 07, 2009 5:47 pm

You will be a BETTER welder when you get done with it.

Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:18 pm

well it looks like if you get a new front end off a donor car then it would be great... find a rear ended square or fasty... haha

i could do it...

Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:17 pm

its salvageable for sure- if it was near me and I could get it for 300 bucks It'd probably already be in my driveway.

if it was a square or a fasty I'd pass- it wouldn't be worth the effort to me here in Socal-- but on a late notch? one that I can put FI on? YES PLEASE :D

Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:19 pm

Towel Rail wrote: Eww... while the split bug and barndoor guys keep proving that no car is "too far gone", this one might be a daunting first-time project!

You should talk Scott....
I know a certain "Thing".

Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:31 pm

Like others here have mentioned I did one in worse condition than yours. Judging from the pics, yours seems to have the most damage to the front. This is good, because the Notch shares those parts with a Fastback or a Squareback. Also, you might want to pull the carpet up, and check out the floors. If there is rust there, plan on getting some floors from a donor car, or modifying a set from a t-1 ghia. Use the sticky at the top of the forum, and look for rust that is listed there for the year of your car. If you look in my signature, you'll see how bad the 71 Notch was when I started tearing it down, and then the resurection of the same car in the been busy part. My car was right at the edge of either being scrapped, or restored. To many, it probably should have been scrapped, but I saw the potential in it, so I saved it.
Personally I think your car is in better condition, but you've also got to realize you'll be doing a bunch of welding and patching. Good luck with it, and keep us updated, as there are some picture whores here who love to see projects happen in picture form.

Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:40 pm

JSMskater wrote: its salvageable for sure- if it was near me and I could get it for 300 bucks It'd probably already be in my driveway.

if it was a square or a fasty I'd pass- it wouldn't be worth the effort to me here in Socal-- but on a late notch? one that I can put FI on? YES PLEASE :D

Joe, it's already got FI on it. That's a Canadian spec car like mine was. Up under the front hood it probably has a gas heater. 8) The Euro spec cars came standard with carbs, but FI was optional. Canada was like the USA, FI only on the t-3s.

Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:45 pm

Russ Wolfe wrote: Towel Rail wrote: Eww... while the split bug and barndoor guys keep proving that no car is "too far gone", this one might be a daunting first-time project!

You should talk Scott....
I know a certain "Thing".

I guess I need to post pics of my dad's Thing my son and I restored. I know the Thing guys might get a kick out of it, and maybe Scott will get motivated. :wink: Only took us 4 months, and I had to build an engine for it. :roll:

Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:49 pm

Bobnotch wrote: JSMskater wrote: its salvageable for sure- if it was near me and I could get it for 300 bucks It'd probably already be in my driveway.

if it was a square or a fasty I'd pass- it wouldn't be worth the effort to me here in Socal-- but on a late notch? one that I can put FI on? YES PLEASE :D

Joe, it's already got FI on it. That's a Canadian spec car like mine was. Up under the front hood it probably has a gas heater. 8) The Euro spec cars came standard with carbs, but FI was optional. Canada was like the USA, FI only on the t-3s.

If I found a gem like that with the FI already on it so much the better-- but I was already assuming (maybe wrongly) that it'd been converted over to carbs... :cry:

Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:51 am

I'd say go for it. A notch is fairly rare and could make a fun summer toy.
Fixing the car then driving it in the winter is only going to destroy it again.
I would say that without a huge expense it could be fixed to be road safe. To fix it factory correct will cost a bit more due to getting donor car chunks shipped to you.
You can go from this

to

Best I was able to do with my fab skills/tools. Everything welded in. Thank god for seam sealer though!

Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:40 pm

Alright. I'll go for it. I've got a busy couple of weeks ahead, but sometime in mid August I will go take it off his hands. I even got approval from my girlfriend!

Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:41 pm

I'd love to have that car!!

Late notch = 8)

Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:36 pm

My '71 notch was much worse than that. It looks like you have floors. That's good. My notch is now my daily driver. It's not a show car by any means but I did do all of the work myself. Have fun!