Keeping our bugs battle scars

[71beigeSB]

We are working on our first husband& wife project. I bought her a 71 super beetle as a wedding gift. We in the process of breaking it down to access the damage. So far the front apron & rear section to firewall need replaced/reworked.

Its in good shape outside of that. It was in dry storage for bout 9 years. So heres the kicker. My wife decided to not keep it original. She has decided this will be her "rat rod". Color scheme is bubble gum pink & satin black split at the chrome line. This will be a rattle can paint job. I asked if she was for sure.

We cant decide if we should fix all the little dings & dents or leave them be & just fix the major things i mentioned?

[green71volks]

Personally, i can't see spending all the time, effort and money fixing all the little damage if your just going to rattle can it. If you get a ding in it now, you won't be nearly as upset as you would if you have spent 10 grand on body work and paint.

[71beigeSB]

That was our thought but we have a few nab sayers round here. I wentthe same route on my 64 belair. She earned em she got to keep em.

[Mike Fisher]

wet sand/wire wheel dents-rust/filler/rattle can primer/paint/enjoy!
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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

[Bart Dunn]

What they said. I want to know how one gets away with buying a beater super beetle as a wedding gift. That's the real story here.
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Not enough car seats fit into my:
'58 Beetle convertible
'58 Beetle sedan

[71beigeSB]

She fell in luv with it when we went to look at at. She always wanted a bug. The fact we get to work on it together was a bonus.

We didnt see the back damage till a week later. Overall Id give it a 7. Its what she wanted lol

[Matt K.]

Here is what i say.....I have a 64 El Camino that i drove every where when it was in primer. I enjoyed the hell out of that thing.............Then i painted it, which now it looks bitchin........................but i rarely drive it. Food for thought.
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This is my 21st year in the Auto Body/Paint Game!
*Take a look at some of my custom paint: http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/mrpaint_2006/ .

[gtodude2]

So I must agree with the others that posted to leave the battle scars! I just finished a body off resto of my car in less than 6 weeks. I could have made it perfect, but I didn't. I did that for a reason...this little car earned each ding and dent throughout it's life..it's 43 years old and should have some war wounds.

I smoothed out the few major dents but left the smallies. Here is a couple pics of the finished product. Well minus the wetsand and buff which I am doing this weekend.

Everything on the car was done by myself, my wife and our 6 kids. Is it perfect, NO, do I want it perfect? NO! I am going to drive this car every day and I'm sure the wonderful snowbirds will add their fair share of dings to it.

I wanted something to drive and not worry about rather than a "show" car that I'd be worried to drive it. These cars were meant to be driven, so have fun with it, leave her battle scars, and drive the piss out of it.

Now I did opt for basecoat/clearcoat vs. rattle can or single stage paint, but that was mainly due to the crazy South Florida Sunshine. If I lived in a milder climate, rattle can or single stage, it would have been. Hell in Michigan I finished many Bugs with the ole rattle can. I usually would shoot a couple coats of primer, hit it with 600 grit, then I'd shoot a couple coats of semi-gloss base, sand it with 1000 or 1200 and then shoot the final coat of gloss. If I got her a lil dry, I'd lightly mist the area again. After all was done, I'd hit it wit some 2000 grit and buff it out.

I was amazed at the results that I could produce teen/twenty-something.

Here are the pics of the 69 Royal Red Sedan I will have as my DD...

[71beigeSB]

before

Almost done with dash


Put some trim back on

Im slowly get her back together. Waiting on some seals & to paint the fenders
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The deeper I dig the Worse it gets.....
71 Super Beetle stock 1600 dp
rattle can Pink & Black