TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:09 pm

Hi There, I am going to take a look at custom rag top 61 tomorrow and if all goes well possibly buy the car! the car was show winner. I had a 73 for 8 years and somehow familier with vw's but not so much familiar with earlier models. I am educating myself by looking at the forum posts.

One other thing is that it has a larger engine than typical 61.

please take look at these pics and let me know any word of advise. Thanks.

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4240004058.html

Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:13 pm

Sweet looking ride. Look for rust. Personally I am not a big fan of the weber progressive, however if it is dialed in correctly then more the better.
The price from what it looks like seems to be in line.

Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:34 pm

Owner stated its a complete restored car with no rust, maybe some rock chip on the front end. I will look for rust in typical areas like battery area, heater channels and in general under body and under the carpets floor pans, any other rust prone area to look for?

Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:57 pm

Check the VIN/s, and take a magnet to check for bad filler work under the paint. Pay what it's worth to you, not what it's worth to somebody else.

Fri Dec 13, 2013 10:35 pm

littleredwagen wrote: Check the VIN/s

Should both ID plate and Chassis number be the same?

Fri Dec 13, 2013 10:44 pm

Yes,The Vin # on the tunnel under the rear seat should match the Vin # on the ID plate/Tag, behind the spare tire.

Sat Dec 14, 2013 2:25 pm

Came back from visiting the car, all floor pans were replaced, unique car but too much customization for my taste.

I guess search will continue for something more original...

Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:36 pm

kami_sn wrote: Came back from visiting the car, all floor pans were replaced, unique car but too much customization for my taste.

I guess search will continue for something more original...

I think the fact it is at least $2k over priced would be more of a concern :wink:

Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:53 pm

try building a car like that for $12K. You couldn't do it.
Looks to be a real nice car.

Sat Dec 14, 2013 4:12 pm

joe56vw wrote: kami_sn wrote: Came back from visiting the car, all floor pans were replaced, unique car but too much customization for my taste.

I guess search will continue for something more original...

I think the fact it is at least $2k over priced would be more of a concern :wink:

Actually The price was not the concern and owner is Willing to lower the price reasonably. What changed my mind was it has too much customization for my taste! Plus floor pans where not welded very clean to the body.

A nicely restored 61 is listed here between 12-15k, I am wondering if I buy a project car about 2-3k with engine and reasonably solid body spend 10 k to restore would get me a better final product?! Are my figures too off? Can I build a nice car with 10k? Any idea???

Sat Dec 14, 2013 5:35 pm

craigman wrote: try building a car like that for $12K. You couldn't do it.
Looks to be a real nice car.

This makes me laugh. You Never get back what you sink into a project.

No you couldn't build it for the for sale price you correct... But that car is one persons expression and not to all tastes.

Personally I'd not pay that for a custom car. For 12k you could buy a great original 60s bug with change to spend on making it your own.

Just my 10cents

Sat Dec 14, 2013 5:45 pm

Slimwonder wrote: craigman wrote: try building a car like that for $12K. You couldn't do it.
Looks to be a real nice car.

This makes me laugh. You Never get back what you sink into a project.

No you couldn't build it for the for sale price you correct... But that car is one persons expression and not to all tastes.

Personally I'd not pay that for a custom car. For 12k you could buy a great original 60s bug with change to spend on making it your own.

Just my 10cents

x2

never said he do not have that much into it I said it wasn't worth that much those are two different things

and yes I could build a car for less then that because I don't have to pay someone to do the work
and there is a lot of pricey tacky shit on that thing I would never do and/or put on a car :wink:

Sat Dec 14, 2013 7:22 pm

joe56vw wrote: Slimwonder wrote: craigman wrote: try building a car like that for $12K. You couldn't do it.
Looks to be a real nice car.

This makes me laugh. You Never get back what you sink into a project.

No you couldn't build it for the for sale price you correct... But that car is one persons expression and not to all tastes.

Personally I'd not pay that for a custom car. For 12k you could buy a great original 60s bug with change to spend on making it your own.

Just my 10cents

x2

never said he do not have that much into it I said it wasn't worth that much those are two different things

and yes I could build a car for less then that because I don't have to pay someone to do the work
and there is a lot of pricey tacky shit on that thing I would never do and/or put on a car [agreed] :wink:

These quotes compare Redding (I'm assuming CA) with WA locales for restoration. I'd believe the Californian any day. You could duplicate that car perhaps if you are doing the work yourself- but here's a rough breakdown of that car in minimum "I wrote everybody checks" dollars:

Straight ragtop car: minimum $4k (show me one back east)
Sewfine interior (built and professionally installed with headliner) $2800
American wide 5 fuchs: $500 set
Red met 2 stage complete paint done right: $5k
Tires: $600

That car, while not everyone's taste- is a bargain over cost to duplicate. Obviously there are 2-3k in misc. things I left off. If you find a good sunroof car out West- plan on at least $900 to get it to you.

Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:18 pm

Ha! I've been looking at that car on craigstist for awhile.

I agree, too much tweed n crap on it, and the color looks pretty girly, at least in thost pics. Did it look better in person??

I have to ask - how low was he willing to go?

Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:18 pm

The color in person was better than pics but it had imperfections here or there. Had some rock spots too which is normal. Very nice guy and He was willing to go down to 10.5 to 11 but since it was too much customization for my taste I did not negotiate but I am sure if you had cash you could negotiate....

Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:35 pm

That's a pretty cool car. I'd roll it any day of the week.