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Tue Nov 18, 2003 7:32 pm

I have located a 57 Beetle parked in the woods behind some buildings. I am presently attempting to locate its owner and purchase it. I may be jumping a bit ahead, but I am wondering if my towbar which fits 60's and 70's model Beetles will fit this one too. Anyone have any idea? I haven't been able to get under it to see if the setup of the front end is the same. Thanks in advance.

Tue Nov 18, 2003 7:33 pm

any more vehicles back behind them buildings. lets share the wealth.

Tue Nov 18, 2003 10:39 pm

yup, it should work :)

Wed Nov 19, 2003 12:27 am

Give me the location and ill check for u :D......... No realy

Wed Nov 19, 2003 4:02 pm

Thanks for the info Del. And you other guys......you really made me chuckle...........Yea, I cannot believe that I have found this vehicle.......its like one of the articles that you read about in the magazines. All the windows are intact, the dash is unmolested, it has the engine in it minus the carb, with the round oil bath air cleaner sitting on top of where the carb mounts, I was able to turn the engine with my hand, so it's not siezed up, it has both taillights intact as well as both front turn signals intact, the steering wheel is missing, the seats are actually in good shape, the right headlight assembly is inside the car for what reason I don't know, it has all four hubcaps, it has some type of sport shifter with a T-handle that is broken off, both windshield wipers still there, the headliner is falling out (it is furlike....is this original?), it doesn't appear to have been wrecked, although there is a small (very,very small) dent in the rain channel above the drivers door, the spare tire well is rusted completely out. I pulled up the front drivers floormat and there was rust there, but I couldn't put my finger through it. I haven't been able to see under the car as of yet. The running boards are rusted where they meet the body of the car and I am afraid that the heater channels are shot. I was told once a few months ago that if the heater channels are shot, you might as well throw away the body. That might be true for a late 60's or 70's model since they are plentiful, but I cannot imagine that would be true for a 57. Anyone have any thoughts on this. The rest of the body is in too good condition to not try to restore this thing. It was last inspected by the state in 1980, and the neighbors who live nearby say it has been parked where it is for close to 25 years. I am currently trying to locate its owner and have a call in to the person who ownes the land and the buildings where it is parked behind. I feel that it is obvious that no one has intended to restore it........I would not store a car I intended to restore under a bunch of large trees in a wooded area with no protection.........
Wish me luck guys....keep your fingers crossed that I locate its owner. A real dream come true. Again, thanks for the laugh on your answers and thanks Del for the comment on the tow bar.

Wed Nov 19, 2003 4:03 pm

Thanks for the info Del. And you other guys......you really made me chuckle...........Yea, I cannot believe that I have found this vehicle.......its like one of the articles that you read about in the magazines. All the windows are intact, the dash is unmolested, it has the engine in it minus the carb, with the round oil bath air cleaner sitting on top of where the carb mounts, I was able to turn the engine with my hand, so it's not siezed up, it has both taillights intact as well as both front turn signals intact, the steering wheel is missing, the seats are actually in good shape, the right headlight assembly is inside the car for what reason I don't know, it has all four hubcaps, it has some type of sport shifter with a T-handle that is broken off, both windshield wipers still there, the headliner is falling out (it is furlike....is this original?), it doesn't appear to have been wrecked, although there is a small (very,very small) dent in the rain channel above the drivers door, the spare tire well is rusted completely out. I pulled up the front drivers floormat and there was rust there, but I couldn't put my finger through it. I haven't been able to see under the car as of yet. The running boards are rusted where they meet the body of the car and I am afraid that the heater channels are shot. I was told once a few months ago that if the heater channels are shot, you might as well throw away the body. That might be true for a late 60's or 70's model since they are plentiful, but I cannot imagine that would be true for a 57. Anyone have any thoughts on this. The rest of the body is in too good condition to not try to restore this thing. It was last inspected by the state in 1980, and the neighbors who live nearby say it has been parked where it is for close to 25 years. I am currently trying to locate its owner and have a call in to the person who ownes the land and the buildings where it is parked behind. I feel that it is obvious that no one has intended to restore it........I would not store a car I intended to restore under a bunch of large trees in a wooded area with no protection.........
Wish me luck guys....keep your fingers crossed that I locate its owner. A real dream come true. Again, thanks for the laugh on your answers and thanks Del for the comment on the tow bar.

Wed Nov 19, 2003 4:13 pm

hey sorry to bring you down but thats actually my oval. It was in way too good of condition to restore in 1980 for me tastes so i figured id leave it in the woods for 25 or 30 years then go have a look at it. Thanks for the update.
it sounds like its just about ready.

Wed Nov 19, 2003 4:13 pm

hey sorry to bring you down but thats actually my oval. It was in way too good of condition to restore in 1980 for me tastes so i figured id leave it in the woods for 25 or 30 years then go have a look at it. Thanks for the update.
it sounds like its just about ready.

Wed Nov 19, 2003 4:18 pm

go back to the car, get the vin# and go to the DMV to find the legally registered owner. Also find out if it was stolen. If you have problems at the DMV, try calling the DMV multiple times, you will get different people answering the phone, and one of them is bound to tell you the info by mistake. If that all dosent work, tow it to your house and put a lein on it. It is obviously abandoned, so A lien will work. If it was in CA I could help as I have an insider that can run any plates or Vin's, but only for California.

Good Luck

Thu Nov 20, 2003 7:16 am

sweet find. i believe a tow bar that fits torsion bar front ends will work with any year beetle. supers use a different bar.
i've used my tow bar on a number of different beetles with a torsion bar front end.

Thu Nov 20, 2003 8:22 am

Hey aniforos if you get lucky and become the owner I have a Carb out of a 57 Oval sitting in a BOX. It worked fine when I took it off the car. Make me an offer + shipping and it yours! I'm talking what you think is fair!

Fri Nov 21, 2003 3:25 am

Hey aniforos,
Get some pics. I love seeing pics of cool finds. Especially when they are mine.