Vice Grip Garage finally tries on a VW Beetle!

[67conv]

One of the internet's most successful and entertaining "will it run?" automotive adventure guys is Derek Bieri, and his Vice Grip Garage series. However, his interests and his featured cars have always been 99.999% "American" iron, usually a pickup truck or a derelict muscle something or other.

I think he tinkered on a 80's Honda once, outside of his 'Merican-car comfort zone.. Imagine the shock of his first encounter ever with a VW - when he acquired a 1974 Beetle parked for nearly 40 years! He says he's never even touched or sat in one before! I found myself "helping" him by talking to the TV..lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiZ-XsR1gnM
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1967 VW Convertible, owned 35 years.
1957 DKW 3=6, owned 21 years.

PREVIOUS: 1972 "Baja Champion SE" Spec. Edition Beetle bought NEW @ Pierce VW in Denver; 1979 Super Beetle Convertible bought NEW @ Downtown LA VW; 1967 type 1 savanna beige; 1967 Porsche 2.0 911S; 1973 Porsche 2.4 911T; 1963 356 T6 B Cabriolet; 1964 356 SC sunroof coupe; 1972 Type-3 Squareback; 1968 + 1969 Type-3 Fastbacks; 1987 Vanagon GL Weekender

[APPLEGREENVW]

He looked clueless in that video. He should have done some research before making the video. Part 2 shows the engine running on 2 cylinders.
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Parts for sale https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?username=APPLEGREENVW

02/76 Beetle sedan

[NJ John]

I think he was purposely going in blind. Or some of it was faking. I hope he gets “the bug”. There will be a part two.
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[halfassleatherworks]

Typical of someone that's never had a carburetor before, just crank and crank to try to start it. I am not saying he does not have the knowledge or experience but he made himself look like a fool.

[sambuc]

[hobthebob]

Yeah, he's a pretty knowledgeable guy, but he was definitely ragging on the beetle for most of the first episode. He's a MOPAR guy through and through, so a little foreign job like that isn't in a guy's repertoir.

[KTPhil]

[MTT3107]

Just watched those videos.... Not impressed...
When it comes to engines, there's probably nothing more simple and straightforward than a VW engine..
Shouldn't be so much trouble to get it to run.

On many of these "parked x yrs..will it run ?" videos the guys will mess around with the old breaker points, cleaning/filing them, or trying to get it to run without even cleaning the carb..

When I got a used engine for my bug, before even trying to start it, I replaced plugs, wires, breaker points, and rebuilt the carb.
I mean, all that stuff costs next to nothing, so why bother with all the old crap ?

And I laughed out loud when I saw him trying to loosen the axle nut with vise grip....
I guess he had to try that because of the name of the channel...

[Chinaclipper]

Say what you may, I watched both of the videos and enjoyed 'em.
Derek is, indeed, and entertainer. No swearing, no drinking, no drugs, how can ya beat that? Seems like a family man too. Hehehe He reminds me of my childhood/high school friend Rand, who is no longer with us, so I suppose I MAY be a little biased...
I always enjoy his work, and with the VW I especially enjoyed it.
Kudos to you Darryl, and rest in peace Rand.
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China Clippers Official 1971 Super Beetle Project!
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728089&highlight=

[Schepp]

He definitely knows what he’s doing with a Chevy!
The foreign cars not so much.
I’ve been watching him since his beginning. He’s great entertainment. Especially the older videos.
I’m not surprised to hear he had trouble with a VW. I’ve not had a chance to watch yet.
It seems 80% of his videos are old square bodies.
He’s kinda lost some of his charm now that he’s mainstream. He’s got a big fancy shop now. It was more relatable when he was working out of a two car garage.
I still watch him from time to time.

[Root_Werks]

Watched a few of his episodes and liked them so far. VW Part 1 & 2 were pretty good. He's entertaining and some of his finds are certainly cool and interesting.
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When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee?

[NJ John]

Just watched part 2. I watch pretty much all his videos. I hope he takes the beetle further and doesn’t sell it. Maybe he’ll catch the “bug” like so many of us.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[APPLEGREENVW]

[APPLEGREENVW]

[APPLEGREENVW]

[sambuc]

[mukluk]

[Schepp]

His best videos are when he first started doing them out of his 2 car garage. He was genuinely funny to watch.
I still watch from time to time. He's living his dream, can't hound a guy for making it happen.
We'd be doing the same if we had his personality and guts to quit your day job and go for it.
As with a lot of these guy that hit it big, they sell out. I could care less for his TV show Road Worthy Rescue.
I am proud of him for doing what he loves for a living.

[sambuc]

[kb9jlo]

I was thrilled that Derek got a bug. It reminded me that I've always wanted another bug. My first one was a 72 super that my wife "modified" by getting T-boned in a parking lot. Had to put in a steering box and made it the most ugly looking thing, Cut the front fenders back (they were both mangled) and sort of made a baja looking thing. With bigger tires. Put a header and mufller on it. Did the brakes. Had a guy help me put a clutch in. Put accelerator cable, clutch cable in it. Never could get the carb right.

Now Derek has reminded me why I have always wanted one.

I'm older now, a lot older, but I think I might try again if I can find something with decent pans and heater channels - that I can afford of course.

I love VGG. I have learned and relearned so much.