New to the world of Type 3's

[wml9977]

Hello my name is Walter, and I have been lurking through your forums and classified ad's for the past year and a half researching Type 3's. And I think I have finally made up my mind on a buy. I am currently deployed in SWA and would like some feedback on the vehicle I was thinking about purchasing as a daily driver/project. Being that I can’t physically look at this vehicle, I'm asking for some help from this community to give me the good, bad and ugly on this specific vehicle by it's classified ad and photo's. Any input would be much appreciated. Even as far as what kind of question I should be asking the seller or myself before making this long distance purchase. It's just a little scary sending someone in on my behalf to make a purchase based on a classified ad. Thanks in advance.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1276531

[mmadden99]

I would ask how the pans are. Any rust or holes? How is the area underneath the battery? How are the rockers? Has the car spent any time in cold/snowy climate?
I think this car was at the classic but I don't remember looking at it.
Push button start is a bit scary...I would ask if there is anything wrong with the stock ignition. I would ask if he knows if the car has ever been in an accident. I would ask about the electrical....that is always a pain in the ass to deal with.
If you end up with the car I would try to remove that tan paint to see if you can get to the original red underneath. The motor is missing quite a bit, and I am not sure about those aircleaners...could be a indication of other issues

I am sure others will give you some other good advice.

Good Luck!!
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Mike Madden

67 Squareback (Resto Project)
71 Notchback

[ataraxia]

Push button starts in early cars are pretty common, actually.

The ignition on early cars are almost always trashed and bypassed with a push button hack because replacement ignitions are expensive and people cheap out. Replacement ignitions commonly run $250-300 each...and they're a pain in the ass to replace.

I'd focus on the rockers/heater channels and floors, then inner fenders, rear cargo floor, around the windows...check for wrinkled metal at the front apron, take a magnet and check the doors and fenders for bondo (I use a refrigerator magnet because a small amount of bondo will prevent it from sticking). Top of the front fenders (at light bucket and near A pillar) are usually rusted out or in the process. Bottom of rear fenders at the door (near torsion cover) is a problem area as well.

The intake on the car is an old school aftermarket part, IIRC. There was one for sale in the classifieds a while ago.

Pieces missing on the motor should be fairly easy to replace...they're common enough. Check to see if the thermostat is hooked up (they're usually missing).

There are quite a few people that own T3's and live relatively close to the seller who might be able to check out the car for you-hopefully one of them will pop in and help you out.
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http://restoringferris.blogspot.com/

'To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.'

[Mike Fisher]

If you just want your own hot rod to drive and fix up it's probably as good as the next car you spend another 1.5 years looking for? My '67 had a keyed NAPA ignition switch that worked fine.
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http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/mr_bojangles500/
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,71,71,71 AT,72,72 AT Parts
56 & 57 oval ragtop $2,500

[kage]

I'm not the wizard that a lot of these guys are but it looks pretty OK to me, for that starting price. Sorry I'm not nearby to look. Just noticing the interior, it's easy and not too expensive to replace those panels, and he says he's got seat covers? No headliner pics though, I would ask. The big question is rust rust rust. Hope your deployment ends soon and you can get back to important stuff like working on V-dubs!

[KTPhil]

I am in the region, though not local, so I can't go have a look-see. The paint on the side (West Coast Wolfpack) refers to a Ventura County VW group that seems to be pretty active, so at least they know the cars.

Some of the mods are not to my liking, but can be redone for a little cash for the right stock parts (air cleaners, oil breather). I'm not a fan of lowering, either, but on the T3 both front and rear are adjustable.

Non-stock exhaust, and blocked off (or open!) cooling/heater plumbing at the fan shroud means it may not even have heat exchangers, in which case you are looking at $500 or more to set the exhaust right and have a working heater.

Not sure if that is rust in the front trunk at the bumpout for the vents, but if it is, it's a moderate welding job to correct.

Like others posted, I'd ask for photos of the underside looking for rust, especially in the heater channels.

Looks like you need a lot of interior parts (door cards, etc) but those can be found.

I'm confused by the wording: he is "just testing the waters" but wants "serious buyers only." Is he fishing, or does he really want to sell?

I wouldn't pay much over $2K unless it's got absolutely no body issues and a strong engine. I expect you have another $1K to make it a daily driver, another $1K after that to make it reliable and closer to stock, and another $1K if you choose to have it repainted. Do you want to be in this for $5-6K? It may well be worth that on the market, but if you are buying to drive, not sell, this may be more than you expected.

Odd that he is a member for 4 years but this is his first ad, and he has not posted in the forums ever.

Search for Samba members in Ventura County (Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, etc) and have someone take a closer look.

[Jalopywgn]

I made an offer on this exact car a couple of days ago and even though he said to send him an offer, he was firm at $3000. I like the car. I just dont understand the ad much.

[chaosisme]

The front apron looks a little tweaked.
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'65 1500 S [quareback]

'68 FI Sunroof Squareback

OCT3 - Orange County Type 3's

[wml9977]

Thank you guys so much for all the responses. I'll let everyone know what happens. Now all I can hope is that I will be home for a little longer than 3 months for the next 1.5 years. I can see it now, me and my squareback, out and about in the US, searching far and wide for all the components I need to put her back into her natural, beautiful, and stock configuration. Well, i can always dream. Thanks again.

[chaosisme]

[Bobnotch]

[wml9977]

Well i made it safely back to the US, and I'm on the look out for another type 3. Due to the fact that the squareback I was looking into didn't feel quite right. Here is my newest interest only a few hours south of sacramento. Let me know if you guys spot anything fishy about the ad. I should be down next weekend to check it out. Hopefully I can find one before I ship out again in December. Here is the link. Thanks in advance.

http://fresno.craigslist.org/cto/3259654760.html

[KTPhil]

Welcome back, and thank you for your service.

The only fishy things are a bit of a high price, lack of engine pics, and the lack of pics or mention of rust.

If it close enough to drive there and look for yourself, go for a look-see. If you can post more photos of anything you don't understand while there, or quickly before it may sell, then we can give better advice.

[wml9977]

Here is some pictures of the motor he sent me. he said the car as been in storage for the last 5 years and he has started it once a month since and that it has no engine leaks. but he doesnt recomend me driving it from fresno to sacramento. What would it take for me to make this thing reliable enough to drive it home. I dont have access to a trailer or truck at this time. He also said he's in the process of making repairs to the shifter shaft to make it shift smoother.

[Mike Fisher]

Tell him to make it start/stop/shift because you have to drive it home. You can always call a tow truck to finish the trip if you don't make it home.
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http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/mr_bojangles500/
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,71,71,71 AT,72,72 AT Parts
56 & 57 oval ragtop $2,500

[peaceful warrior]

Rent a U Haul truck and trailer, or go down expecting to do some work to make it roadworthy. Personally, I would never drive an unknown car any distance, until I got it home and had time to go thru it.
_________________
"Two things are infinite: The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." Albert Einstein
"Notchboy" says "Man up!"
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65 Sunroof Beetle, 66 13W Deluxe, 66 Type34 Ghia, 68 Westfalia, 77 Adventurewagen, 87 Syncro, 87 Weekender, 89 Westfalia!
TOOB Member #15
Avatar courtesy of Gilbert.
Brian

[Mike Fisher]

I would! We drove my son's '67 square 600 miles to buy my '69 square and drove them both home 600 miles.
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http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/mr_bojangles500/
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,71,71,71 AT,72,72 AT Parts
56 & 57 oval ragtop $2,500

[Bobnotch]