TheSamba.com :: View topic - What do you type 3 experts think of this car?

Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:15 pm

I found this 65 Squareback in the classifieds and it looks pretty awesome but I'm wondering if some of you guys can tell me what looks good/not good about it.

What gets me is that he's asking almost $8k but then rates the condition as "Fair". Is he trying to get the buyer to pay for what he dumped on collectibles over the years or is this a good deal?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1290661

Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:24 pm

Take into consideration that this car is previously restored. It may be rust free. that is a BIG plus. If you have ever restored a car, that translates to HUGE savings. As far as accessories go, they add up, don't ask me how I know, but they add up. If you really want the car, shoot him a decent cash offer. this car was a looker, what we call a usedtocould! and maybe it could again!

Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:29 pm

x2

and you can get rid of some of the accessories once you buy it

most people dont awant that much crap on it

Id be interested in the side scoops and the tach holder :wink:

Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:44 pm

I remember this car from AZ shows and it used to be super nice so unless it is really messed up, I bet it would look worlds better with some clean-up.

Of course the seat(s) will need some work.

Competition Engineering has a good reputation for engines, although it's probably 10 years old now?

Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:00 am

EverettB wrote: I remember this car from AZ shows and it used to be super nice so unless it is really messed up, I bet it would look worlds better with some clean-up.

Of course the seat(s) will need some work.

Competition Engineering has a good reputation for engines, although it's probably 10 years old now?

Yeah, that seat is a little messed up in a weird way. Maybe the owner has really sharp shoulder blades or something. Also, for a re-paint, the roof looks a little rugged under that roofrack. But isn't that the legendary "patina" everyone looks for?

The 10 yr old engine doesn't sound so bad since it sounds like the owner mostly drove it to shows though it's odd that he didn't choose to post a picture of it.

Or of the car from the front with the hood closed or of the dash for that matter. I'll just email him for some pics I guess. Problem with it going any further is I'm on the east coast which isn't exactly around the corner from Phoenix.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:30 am

The bumpers with towel bars are worth $1500 alone. Sleep Extenders on the seats = $300. Better buy it before you lose out on it! :x

Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:52 am

needlenose wrote: EverettB wrote: I remember this car from AZ shows and it used to be super nice so unless it is really messed up, I bet it would look worlds better with some clean-up.

Of course the seat(s) will need some work.

Competition Engineering has a good reputation for engines, although it's probably 10 years old now?

Yeah, that seat is a little messed up in a weird way. Maybe the owner has really sharp shoulder blades or something. Also, for a re-paint, the roof looks a little rugged under that roofrack. But isn't that the legendary "patina" everyone looks for?

The 10 yr old engine doesn't sound so bad since it sounds like the owner mostly drove it to shows though it's odd that he didn't choose to post a picture of it.

Or of the car from the front with the hood closed or of the dash for that matter. I'll just email him for some pics I guess. Problem with it going any further is I'm on the east coast which isn't exactly around the corner from Phoenix.

If you get serious and need someone to go check it out in person, I'll go see it for you.

Get him to send you some more photos... feel free to email them to me if you want me to review them too.

I looked at the photos again and I think I see some spots where the paint has some issues, possibly even down to the primer? That seems very strange unless it has been parked out side in the full sun here for years and years.

Top of fender

Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:53 am

Mike Fisher wrote: The bumpers with towel bars are worth $1500 alone. Sleep Extenders on the seats = $300. Better buy it before you lose out on it! :x

Only if the bumpers are originals, I don't think they are.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:17 am

EverettB wrote: I remember this car from AZ shows and it used to be super nice so unless it is really messed up, I bet it would look worlds better with some clean-up.

Of course the seat(s) will need some work.

Competition Engineering has a good reputation for engines, although it's probably 10 years old now? X2. I saw it in person a few years ago and was blown away by it. It's just a shame that it was allowed to sit in the sun. The quality on it a few years back was excellent, but who knows what lurks under the skin. The only part that would make me worry is why would Bob let is sit out like that when it was an excellent car? Was he just bored with it or did it develop some problems.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:19 pm

I like $4500 based on current rat look and condition of accessories. if every thing was in great shape $18,000, if it was a 64 or 64 1/2 with push button dash and fully restored to perfection with correct nos parts $25,000 +.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:37 pm

Thanks for all the feedback and advice so far guys. I've put a call in to the guy and now I'm waiting to hear back.

Everett, thanks for the offer! If he sends me more pictures, etc. I'll send them on.

And T3man...$4500 would be beautiful but I can't imagine a seller backing 3k off his asking price. Though where the $7483 came from, who knows?

For $4500, there's also this poor car that's been in the classifieds since June of last year!! Looks beautiful (though I don't prefer red) but it doesn't run:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1148826

Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:24 pm

needlenose wrote: Thanks for all the feedback and advice so far guys. I've put a call in to the guy and now I'm waiting to hear back.

Everett, thanks for the offer! If he sends me more pictures, etc. I'll send them on.

And T3man...$4500 would be beautiful but I can't imagine a seller backing 3k off his asking price. Though where the $7483 came from, who knows?

For $4500, there's also this poor car that's been in the classifieds since June of last year!! Looks beautiful (though I don't prefer red) but it doesn't run:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1148826

Bob's car (the blue one in AZ) was a super nice car, chock full of accessories but it looks like it has been neglected for quite some time...makes me wonder what is really wrong with the car.

The Minnesota car looks pretty clean-although I wouldn't go near an FI car as they don't appeal to me. The price isn't bad if you are willing to mess around with the FI to get it running.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:36 pm

Tram could have that Minnesota car running Good in a week.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:45 pm

If this is your first type 3, I would strongly recommend a later model like that '69. Long run, I think you will be much happier. The 65 probably needs to go to someone that will work on the cosmetic issues, and preserve it completely original and un-touched.

At least thats what I keep telling myself, I want to buff it out and slam it on Raders. I'm glad it doesnt have a sunroof

Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:51 pm

Erik G wrote: If this is your first type 3, I would strongly recommend a later model like that '69. Long run, I think you will be much happier. The 65 probably needs to go to someone that will work on the cosmetic issues, and preserve it completely original and un-touched.

At least thats what I keep telling myself, I want to buff it out and slam it on Raders. I'm glad it doesnt have a sunroof

If you read the ad, it was resprayed back in 97 (the paint is now 15 years old, or close to it), so it's not orginial paint. Yes it used to look beautiful, but why was it parked in the sun, and left to rot? It makes me think it's got an expensive problem, that needs to be fixed. :roll: The 1500 club could probably have it up and running in no time, but what is really wrong with it? It's going to probably need all new seals (unless it stays in a dry area), just to keep the water out. I've seen what the Texas sun does to rubber and plastic parts, and I think the AZ sun is probably just as bad. :o You can't quite go off the right tail light housing seal (in the picture), as they all start doing that after 6 to 8 months. :shock: But the rear hatch seal coming out, and looking like it's sticking it's tounge doesn't help it. Plus it'll need seat covers, a hood seal (looked like it was starting to crumble), 4 tires (as they're probably over 7 years old, and maybe dry rotted), and things start adding up. More pics (including some of the engine) would be helpful.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:08 pm

Not everybody has a garage to store a car. I think it's presumptive to assume there is something expensive to fix, unless you have knowledge that proves it's the case. Of course, everyone wants to talk about "it must have something wrong with it" potentially keeping people away from buying it, but has anyone called or written, let alone seen it in person, in order to ask?

I had a '65 squareback, 100% rust free 99% original (late model highbacks) given to me because it was faded and the wife saw it as an eyesore. It was parked in the woods for years where and because the guy's sister "broke the trans". It was the shift coupler...

Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:24 pm

Mind if I ask who this Tram fellow is? I also saw him mentioned in that amazing thread about the '71 Squareback Texas field-find.

As for the '65 in question....if all it needed were new seals all around and the price was right I'd have no problem with it, especially considering that the only other Squareback within a few hundred miles of me is this rust bucket:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1281849

The more I look at the pictures, the more the car kind of looks like a younger relative got a hold of it, made a bit of a mess, and had to give it back to the person now selling it. If you look at the "front view" picture, it only has one windshield wiper!

Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:23 pm

needlenose wrote: Mind if I ask who this Tram fellow is? I also saw him mentioned in that amazing thread about the '71 Squareback Texas field-find.

As for the '65 in question....if all it needed were new seals all around and the price was right I'd have no problem with it, especially considering that the only other Squareback within a few hundred miles of me is this rust bucket:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1281849

The more I look at the pictures, the more the car kind of looks like a younger relative got a hold of it, made a bit of a mess, and had to give it back to the person now selling it. If you look at the "front view" picture, it only has one windshield wiper!

Tram would be me. And I'm going to say it: From what I'm seeing here, for $7483 or whatever random- number price it is today, you're getting a $2000 Squareback with $5483 worth of accessories.

If it can be proven to properly run, drive, stop, not leak, and be rust- free, the price would go up exponentially. That car has been unloved for some time now, and we need to know why. I think that if I were serious about this car, I'd take Everett up on his offer, pay him $100 or more depending on the inconvenience factor for him to do it, have him do a prepurchase go- over, and wait for the results... or just forget it.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:36 pm

Erik G wrote: Not everybody has a garage to store a car. I think it's presumptive to assume there is something expensive to fix, unless you have knowledge that proves it's the case. Of course, everyone wants to talk about "it must have something wrong with it" potentially keeping people away from buying it, but has anyone called or written, let alone seen it in person, in order to ask?...

I have a 2 car garage that my wife parks her daily driver in 1 side of. The other side is for my projects. I also own 4 type 3s, so unless it's getting worked on, they ALL park outside, especially IF I have customer work in the shop. Why I think it's an expensive fix, is because it continued to recieve neglect, otherwise someone would have cleaned it up some more, and maybe even tossed a few bucks at it (to help it sell). You could be right, and the only thing it needs is to be driven, but personally it looks like it was rode hard and put away wet (right where it sits). I also realize that not everyone is an auto mechanic, so it might be just a small thing that needs attention. I don't know, and neither does any potential buyer (like the OP).

Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:07 am

I agree something is weird here.

I wonder if its got paperwork issues -- a lost title or something that would keep it from being driven and basically left to stew in the sun...