TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1972 Formula Vee Super Beetle --Build Thread--

Tue Nov 29, 2011 2:22 pm

I won't go into the story in full...so...long story short; A 1972 Super appeared at a house on my street in early 1992. At that time I was about 3-4 years old. After about a year the car stopped being driven and was just left to rot in the driveway. Living on a dead end we were forced to pass by the car every day, I looked at that car every day for 18 years. This IS the VW that got me into VW's so you can imagine how extatic I was when I finally bought him! Like a movie, before the tow truck and I drove off with my new purchase, the previous owner said "Oh hey, just so you know.....his name is Wilbur." I like that, an ugly name for an ugly little car.

^These are a few Polaroids from a coulple days after I bought it in March 2010.

v Here is what he looks like today. I just started the teardown recently.

Surprisingly not a huge amount of rot back here despite the gallons of water soaking every inch of insulation.

Natural Dub art.

Definately more to come so stay tuned. I will also be starting a youtube channel soon

Tue Nov 29, 2011 2:47 pm

Found something kinda strange the other day when I took the back seat out. I have never seen it before, it looks like a child seat harness put in either by the factory or the dealer. The carpeting and fringe on the back flap matches the color and fringe of the carpeting behind the back seat. It doesnt look like a hack job either, the carpeting was sewn into the hard particle board backing.

The buckle has no VW stampings. From what I can find child seats have existed since the 60's but child seats laws didnt really start until the late 70's and the seats weren't frequently used until the mid 80's. Maybe it has another use. Anybody have this on their bug?

Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:05 pm

That is a strap to holds seat in the down position. Check out the 1972 owners manual under the technical section and you can see directions for use.
Cheers

Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:44 pm

Wilbur. Sounds like the PO still had feelings for the car. What is your plan for him? Any plan for the paint color?

Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:58 pm

Thanks Fin, that makes a huge amount of sense now haha.

Yeah Lobotomy the PO was still kind of attached to him. I mean it only took her like TWELVE damn years to eventually sell me the car :lol: I will be doing the car in its original Sumatra green exterior and tan interior. I will also be restoring and adding back on the Formula Vee stripes, and other FV options that the car originally had, like the under dash tape deck.

Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:38 pm

Hopefully the rest of the car is similarly solid; great for a North-East Beetle.

The rectangular panel behind the rear seat backrest is intended to cover the rear luggage area under the rear window. It flops down flat against the backrest out of the way if you place something tall back there.

Have you been to the two big VW meets in CT, Litchfield (at Harwinton Fairgrounds) in June, then the Bug-A-Fair in Terryville in August? Both are north of Waterbury. There is also the event in July from the CT VW Association, usually held in North-Eastern CT. The first two events typically have huge swap meet sections with many aircooled parts.

Thu Feb 02, 2012 6:00 pm

I finally made a youtube account for the project cars and what not.

Should have some new pics up soon.

Thu Feb 02, 2012 10:07 pm

So we had 2 awesome 60 degree January days and I was able to get some stuff done.

Pulled the engine a few weeks ago.

The incorrect 1300....anyone need one??

My bug defies physics.

So happy to see nice clean metal after I pulled out all that soaking wet carpet. Only one small hole about the size of a pea.

Now time for the rust

Its swiss cheese all the way up to the seat tracks. Drivers side pan is spotless.

Drivers side channel is totally clean except for this rear section. Dont know if I should patch it or replace the whole thing.

Passenger channel is scary bad! The quarter panel has totally seperated but isnt rotted that far up.

More to come soon! Keep an eye on my youtube account for some videos and junk. http://www.youtube.com/user/Dasherfox

Sat Mar 24, 2012 6:37 pm

That is cool man keep at it and you will have a very nice and reliable car.

Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:15 pm

looks great! I will be following this one.

Thu May 03, 2012 4:34 pm

Okay, making a bit of progress...not a lot, but some. All bolts are out that hold the body to the frame so that is my next big step...along with pulling the wiring. Loooots of rust and old body damage to deal with, blehh.
Driver door broken down, original and rusty.

Pass door, I think its from either a 73 or a 74.

Empty frunk

Bad spot. This is gunna suck to splice in.

Some old body work. Ground out a bunch of bondo.

Huge gap from a rear collision. From engine bay.

Gap from luggage area.

Damaged area in wheel well. I'm guessing I have to heat it up and then pound it back until it sits flush with the edge of the firewall. Gonna be a biiiitch!

Hope to have more updates soon as the good weather is starting to show its pretty little face.

Thu May 03, 2012 10:13 pm

I definitely want to follow this thread. I'm excited to see what he looks like after all the hard work has paid off. It's cool to know that my car has an identical twin!

Fri May 04, 2012 10:49 am

Glad you like it Lowenhart, hope mine looks as good as yours at some point! Funny, I'm getting Rivi's for mine as well. I think the sumatra green was only used from late 71 to early 73 on beetles. I've seen a few sumatra green 72 supers...acutally all the ones I've come across are supers =P Everyone I know thinks its ugly...I kind of like it, haha :D

Fri May 18, 2012 5:09 pm

Been lazy recently =P Ripped out the headliner and junk and a few other odds and ends.

Now, I saw this 8 track player bracket under the dash when I bought it, but never really inspected it. The little wood strip is what holds it tight to the bottom of the dash...seems legit.

After a bit of research, it looks to be the bracket from a Craig (possibly model 3137) 8 track tape player. I don't have the player, but will definitely be looking for one.

Don't think its original, but it could be close. The Formula Vee's did come with the optional 8 track so who knows...I mean the whole FV package was installed by the dealer, maybe the local hi-fi gave 'em a good deal on the Craigs. :lol:

Sun Nov 11, 2012 9:39 pm

Been going really slow, mainly due to having no time away from work and shtuff. Had a few really nice days so we plunged right in!

Should have some more shots of the body and all its rusty glory later this week.

Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:29 pm

Tearing into the pan.

There used to be bolt holes here. Thought I had a totally rust free drivers side. Not bad though, this seems to be the only spot on the whole driver side.

Pass side is better but still nice and crispy.

Why don't they name shocks cool things anymore? If only they were Delco Pleasurizers XD

On a side note, I picked up this awesome Formula Vee steering wheel for a steal at the Litchfield show this summer. Needs a bit of resto but nothing major.
This'll totally be the icing on the cake eventually.

Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:49 pm

I both admire your ambition and pity you. I just bought a Super this week and have had 35 other VW, mostly bugs and I would scrap a car like that. I really admire you guys that will take a car like that and turn it into something good. I walked away from a car because it had rust in one strut tower and a rusty package area.
I can't wait to see what you will do with this car. Good luck.

Tue Dec 25, 2012 1:00 am

Nice grab, with a little work this Super should turn out nice. I'm no expert on Beetles by any means, still decently new myself (the past couple of years), but you might want to do as much research as you can if your wanting to go with all the factory Super Beetle FV options. I also have a '72 Super with the FV package, it's the yellow with black stipe and black interior. Yours being green more then likely had the white stipes. Oh not trying ruin anything, cause the steering wheel you got is awesome, but its not a '72 FV, maybe one of the year models affter that though.

Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:15 pm

Quote: oldmopars

I both admire your ambition and pity you. I just bought a Super this week and have had 35 other VW, mostly bugs and I would scrap a car like that. I really admire you guys that will take a car like that and turn it into something good. I walked away from a car because it had rust in one strut tower and a rusty package area.
I can't wait to see what you will do with this car. Good luck.

Thanks oldmopars! Oh believe me, if there wasn't as much sentimental attachment to this car as there is I would not be fixing it. I was really upset when I found the frame head rust, but it really isnt that bad (thats what I keep telling myself haha)

Quote: ZachK85

Nice grab, with a little work this Super should turn out nice. I'm no expert on Beetles by any means, still decently new myself (the past couple of years), but you might want to do as much research as you can if your wanting to go with all the factory Super Beetle FV options. I also have a '72 Super with the FV package, it's the yellow with black stipe and black interior. Yours being green more then likely had the white stipes. Oh not trying ruin anything, cause the steering wheel you got is awesome, but its not a '72 FV, maybe one of the year models affter that though.

I am definately putting some of the original FV options back on. The car came with the white (you are correct) side stripes, wood grain dash accents, wood grain shift knob, and bumper over riders with impact strip. I'm also going to throw on the Rivi's, cocoa mats, and gravel guards. Don't know if it was installed at the dealer but there was a bracket for a period Craig 8-track player under the dash, that is totally getting re-installed. I want this thing to be so 70's its not even funny!

Also, the steering wheel is 199% a 1972 Formula Vee option. Here it is in the 72 FV broshure ---> http://www.webwrench.com/airaccess/1972/pg07c.jpg
The wheel will fit any post 72 hub, but I'm pretty sure this wheel was only offered until 73.

Fri Jan 11, 2013 9:23 am

Cool job man, don't run out of steam!! I know about emotional attachment to cars and it will make you do things man....things....thing..... :twisted:

But anyway will follow your progress :popcorn: and wish you the best, Samba peoples are great at helping out.

PS
I had a 72 Super :bug_red: , 04 Mex :bug_blue: and currently own a 72 standard there awesome!