Anyone still driving their VW daily?

[67rustavenger]

I've been daily driving my JavaGreen 67 most days.
The car runs great and is a blast to drive. Lots of thumbs up and the occasional arm punch make it all worth driving a vintage VW.

When I walked out to my car this afternoon for the drive home. I found my Son in Law's Audi EV parked next to my car.

The Audi lives on a cattle ranch and even if he washed it everyday, it would look that dirty just from driving the gravel roadway to/from work.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!

[67rustavenger]

Attended a Bonneville World of Speed pre-party lastnight. I arrived early and claimed a prime parking spot inside the shop where the host was sponsoring the party and showing a movie later in the evening (The Worlds Fastest Indian), a great movie for a Bonneville primer.

As time went on, things got a little busier and the cars added to the shop ramp were Steve Marriot's 12 second Yellow dune buggy and a really sweet SC parked on the ramp. Of special note is the 65 Notch sitting on the street just outside the shop entrance. That car was a treat to walk around.

On display at the shop was the Monster Buggy that will be running at the Bonneville World of Speed this year. The owner is trying for a record in the 128-138 MPH speed class, If I understand the class rules.

All in all, we had a great time and loads of fun in a very cool private shop with tons of cool things to look at at every turn of the corner.

I drove home at the wee hour of 12:30am. The car ran great. But I did notice that the AFR was reading dead smack in the Stoic range. Not a great situation. But thankfully it was a very cool drive home and the car didn't give me any grief on the drive.

More to follow, my car, different event today.............
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!

[67rustavenger]

Continued...........
So after three hours of sleep. I woke at the early hour of 4am, my normal waking time during the work week.
Made a pot of coffee, watched the F1 Qualifying and F1 race, It was time to head to Church with the family.
Today was the yearly outdoor service and picnic. The Father presented a great sermon after which we ate tacos, hamburgers and deserts until we were stuffed.
I drove the JG 67 again to Church.

At 2pm I was feeling the late night bedtime/early rise hitting me and decided it was time to head home for a nap. Yea, right!
I started the JG and it came to life as usual. Then 15 seconds later it died, as if, the electrical power had been cut. No amount of cranking would start the engine.
Thankfully my daughter and family were still at the park. I asked her for a ride home to pickup my Tundra and tow bar to drag the JG home.

I'm too beat to work on the thing at the moment. So I'll wait until tomorrow evening to figure out what is causing the engine to not start.

Sorry if these two posts are long and boring, but they reflect the highs and lows of driving these old cars and our love for them.

I had a great weekend, I hope you did as well.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!

[scrivyscriv]

Stop showing the ugly side of owning and old car! It’s all only fun and enjoyment!!

The little nuisances are more frustrating now than when I was a kid, probably because I’m so used to pretty reliable vehicles. A breakdown seems so much worse now than it really is - most of the problems are pretty simple, aren’t they?? The ignition cut out on my 71 bus one time, on a busy two lane with no shoulder; ended up it was just a dirty fuse. (Found only after I took the ignition apart)
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[Cusser]

The wire back to the coil in my 1970 burned up on my way home from work back in the late 1970s, and I had a carpool rider. I quickly determined what was wrong, took a coil of wire from the trunk, and ran it over the roof of the VW (the roof edge held it in place) back to the coil, and continued on my way.

Nowadays, I do know the trick of tapping into a tail light wire....
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[67rustavenger]

I didn't have any tools to add a female connector from the tail light wire to the coil.

[onwardtothestars]

[67rustavenger]

[Adriel Rowley]

Interesting how different views. I used to be worried about breaking down, now have due to my own stupidity, realize not that bad. Plus, have carried a new coil since first got back on the road, thanks to a friend giving me one.

Neat trick about using the plate lamp, thank you for sharing.

Guess added bonus the wire broke to the lamp and fixed it with a spade connector. Will add a jumper wire into the tool box, think even have some double spades so could have both the coil and the light.
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Please consider I am Autistic, so I process information differently and still working on social skills. Thanks.

Dad's 1964 Beetle purchased September 1968.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9252810#9252810

1971 Sunroof Squareback with Fuel Injection
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=219811&highlight=squareback+rejuvenation

[ppilotmike]

Back from coffee. The weather has been real nice the last couple weeks. I do all my running around in the beetle!

[ppilotmike]

Getting on towards winter and it was a beautiful morning. Fall colors were a bit lacking this year.

[ppilotmike]

Well the 2025 season is finally here! I’ve been taking the bug to coffee every morning now for a week or so and using for my daily needs. Went down to the beach park so I could walk out on the pier and watch a freighter go by.

[EVfun]

[LowLifeSteve]

Recently rescued this '58. It had been sitting for the last 15-years rotting on the coast of California. This is going to be a drive while I restore project and has some issues, but after plenty of electrical and mechanical attention, I have been driving it daily for the last month and I absolutely LOVE being back in an early bug compared to my '70 bug DD. My office is 11-miles each way, 2/3rds of that is freeway, no radio, no technology, no distractions...just the familiar smell of horsehair and gas fumes.. lol.
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'58 Bug '70 Bug '69 Baja Bug

Fix it, Drive it, Break it, Repeat.

[slave1pilot]

My coworker told me to drive Ol’ Herb to work today because he is driving his truck that he built
So I did just that.

I also Live close to work and enjoy the undistracted driving I get with an old Bug
Just man and machine
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Currently:
1959 pan with a 64 body and a 63 ragtop grafted in Herbie replica
Previously:
1967 Beetle
1968 Beetle
1970 Beetle

[scarabee]

That's a great idea! I was thinking of encouraging others at my workplace to come to work in their classics once a month.

[slave1pilot]

Thanks
My boss has a 70 chevelle and another coworker has a 60’s truck
I’m trying to get wveryone to drive them on the same day
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Currently:
1959 pan with a 64 body and a 63 ragtop grafted in Herbie replica
Previously:
1967 Beetle
1968 Beetle
1970 Beetle

[ppilotmike]

Took the bug for a ride today so I could check the progress on the river queen . She sank last year and was later recovered to the shoreline.