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Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:29 am

Hi all,

New guy to the fourm here but a long time bug/buggy owner .

Bought my first bug back in the late 80's and for the last 4 years I've been bugless.... until the BUG bug bit me once again.

I've been looking around for an old VW Bug for a summer project, I use to have them when I was young and its sorta nostalgic for me.

I just happened across one setting in an old pole barn/ garage the other day...

Its a 1974 Bug in AWSOME condition.. except for the 1/4 inch of dirt on top of the car, it been sitting for a few years uncovered. It runs, all the floorboards are solid as so are the door posts and fenderwells... all of the places they are known to rot. It has the one piece California window conversion... completely stock 1600 dual port engine, recovered upholstery and its starts as soon as you hit the key.... it even has Porsche wheels on it.

The only thing mechanically wrong was 2 of the wheels were locked up drivers side rear and pass front which was an easy fix and I was able to drive it home.

The one thing I HATE is the color..... its PINK/PURPLE.... but that wont last long.

Pics after we moved a bunch of stuff out of the way just to get to it.....

First daylight in over 6 years

back at my garage

After a long over due BATH

Original miles

The current plans are...
Shave bumpers and trim off the car
Wide body kit
Disc brake conversion
Freshen up the interior
Stroker motor
New built tranny
Paint job
New tires and wheels (big ass radials... 50's on rear and 60's on front.
and a few more other things.

This should be a fun project.

I've already started accumulating parts, I've got my new wheels, a fresh built 1915, a few new mounts, merged header, and a couple more parts on the way and hopefully I'll start the tear down next week.

I'm going to use 66 bug front fenders with early model headlights (best looking of the bunch IMO) that are 2" wider than stock and 4.5" wider rears to clear the 15x10's after I lower the car.

I'm going for a German look with a hint of American muscle.... I even have a window air conditioner with the car.

When I start tearing into the car I'll post those pics up as well

Any comments, questions or idea's will be appreciated.... and I do know how to use a search button (I'm not a total forum newb) LOL

John

Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:10 am

nice find =D>

Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:19 am

Heres a little teaser... the wheels I picked up for it....

15x5 front wheels

15x10 rear wheels

Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:47 am

03OrangeSVT wrote: Original miles

Actually the mileage could be unknown, unless someone matched the numbers. Your speedometer was swapped out from a '68 beetle. The PO did that with my first '74 as well.. although nothing is wrong with using an earlier speedo.

Here's what a '74 speedo looks like.

In any event you have a nice beetle!!

Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:25 pm

nice find! Liking those wheels, nice and simple :D You narrowing the rear or those big 10" wheels gonna be sticking out past the fenders?

Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:05 pm

The rear fenders will be 4.5" wider than stock so they should fit inside of them.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:46 pm

As soon as I read "paint job" on the list of things to do, I sighed of relief.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 3:43 pm

...........i like the purple. xD

Sat Mar 20, 2010 3:49 pm

Wow, that bug "reeks" the "80's". From the graphics, to the mirrors and the running boards.

You've got kind of a "time machine" back to the 80's!

Sat Mar 20, 2010 4:26 pm

03OrangeSVT wrote:

I'm going to use 66 bug front fenders with early model headlights

I'm going for a German look

Any comments, questions or idea's will be appreciated.... and I do know how to use a search button (I'm not a total forum newb) LOL

John

Well John, you asked for comments, so I'd say that '66 fenders and german look don't go well together IMHO. The best german look are late bugs. You own a late, why try to make it look like early if you go german look ? Keep your late fenders, late bumpers, headlights,...and you'll have a nice german look. Your wheels are mega nice. But they don't look "german" to me either. You'd have better chance with porsche wheels : Fuchs, cookies, 17"cup,...
Then paint it grey and put your 1915cc in it and you're done...
Just my opinion though...
You probably already know this thread, but in case you don't :
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=213366&highlight=german

You'll see that most (nice) german look are late models, and often super beetles (73-on)...

Here's a good example of german look to me :

Good luck with your project.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:33 pm

nicee find dude . cool colour too . marmite colour but i like it :D

RAGE

Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:56 am

Nice find buddy...all the best with the project...