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Bettle750
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2024
Posts: 11
Location: Portland, OR
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 Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 11:47 am Post subject: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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I’ve been searching the forums for a while and have only posted a little bit… I notice a lot of threads about people’s projects, so I thought I’d post my own. It’s been over a year since I scooped up my Super. It’s a 1972, it was very original when I got it, which is a major reason I was attracted to it.
I’m workshop-less at the moment, so with the help of a local air cooled mechanic and a rental garage, I’ve got my beetle setup to where I can pretty much daily drive it. Aside from general motor maintenance required for something that sat in a desert for years, we’ve also rebuilt the transaxle, suspension, brakes, and all fluid lines. I’ve replaced most of the rubber, rebuilt the fresh air fan, replaced the old bent wheels with new ones, and put in a nice stereo. Sometime in the future when I have my workshop, I’ll look into new carpet and more engine work.
For you VW sleuths out there… this was sold to me as a Baja Champion SE. The original wheels were long gone, and there is marring on the glove box door that could indicate that the badge was removed, but aside from the paint code, I’m still trying to confirm it. Obviously the Baja stickers are fake and stink of mid-90s pep boys. I’ve mostly removed the word Baja now, but kind of dig the roughed up decals, just as I dig the roughed up paint. Anyways, any other Baja indicators are welcomed, I’ve been searching here and there.
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1972 Super Beetle
Last edited by Bettle750 on Mon Jul 07, 2025 4:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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vamram 
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2012
Posts: 7996
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 12:47 pm Post subject: Re: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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Nice find! And nice work getting it on the road! The sticker's not that far off.
https://davidsclassiccars.com/volkswagen/524945-19...miles.html
The Marathon wheels are nice for their originality, but what you have on there now probably fills the wheel wells a bit better.
Here are mine, painted black and w/steel beauty rings, which I think add a nice contrast.
_________________
"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke
“If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.”
Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!
'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...languishing since 2022.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!! |
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DUNGBTL
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2022
Posts: 509
Location: Ashland, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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Nice…love your patina on the silver…big fan!
Here’s my ‘72 Super…as found…
Towing home from Colfax Cali to Ashland OR (Mt Shasta in background)…
And during restomod…showing off my awesome roof patina (wet sanded and polished)…
‘72 Super are great imo…best of the old (classic windscreen and dash) but with 20th Century suspension (struts and IRS)  !
Enjoy your bug…it’s a keeper!
J. |
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67rustavenger
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 11031
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 2:02 pm Post subject: Re: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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Nice car.
Is this pic from Woodburn this year?
_________________
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!
Don't let your bad ideas remain, ideas! |
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Bettle750
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2024
Posts: 11
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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| 67rustavenger wrote: |
Nice car.
Is this pic from Woodburn this year?
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Sure is… grabbed a show ticket because the price seemed right, but was very unprepared for the lack of shade and dipped out early.
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1972 Super Beetle |
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67rustavenger
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 11031
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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| Bettle750 wrote: |
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
Nice car.
Is this pic from Woodburn this year?
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Sure is… grabbed a show ticket because the price seemed right, but was very unprepared for the lack of shade and dipped out early. |
Ya gotta bring your own shade to that event.
In my case this year, I used the awning on my Eurovan. While my racing buddy used his Easy-up canopy to keep cool in between drag race rounds.
A wide brimmed straw hat helps too.
That particular Bug Run this year, had the largest turn out of any year that I have attended.
_________________
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!
Don't let your bad ideas remain, ideas! |
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Bettle750
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2024
Posts: 11
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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| 67rustavenger wrote: |
Ya gotta bring your own shade to that event.
In my case this year, I used the awning on my Eurovan. While my racing buddy used his Easy-up canopy to keep cool in between drag race rounds.
A wide brimmed straw hat helps too.
That particular Bug Run this year, had the largest turn out of any year that I have attended. |
Let’s hope it grows next year. I’ll be prepared next year… feel like I missed out on socializing, learning, haggling, etc
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1972 Super Beetle |
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Bettle750
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2024
Posts: 11
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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| vamram wrote: |
Nice find! And nice work getting it on the road! The sticker's not that far off.
https://davidsclassiccars.com/volkswagen/524945-19...miles.html
The Marathon wheels are nice for their originality, but what you have on there now probably fills the wheel wells a bit better.
Here are mine, painted black and w/steel beauty rings, which I think add a nice contrast.
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I do like the black paint on the wheels. I keep my eyes out for deals on wheel sets so I can bring it back to ‘stock’ but as you mentioned, I also like how the new wheels fit… and the baja wheels plus center caps aren’t cheap.
Hopefully I have a workshop by the time I have to replace the front end bushings again, because then I may try to lower it a bit which may need yet another set of wheels 
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1972 Super Beetle |
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Buggeee
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 4929
Location: Stuck in Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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| DUNGBTL wrote: |
‘72 Super are great imo…best of the old (classic windscreen and dash) but with 20th Century suspension (struts and IRS) !
Enjoy your bug…it’s a keeper! |
^^^ X2 ^^^
I love the way my 72 Super Duper handles. The first bug I ever bought as a kid was a 72 Super and it had the cleanest windows in the whole world! Hahaha
When I got back in as a grump I started there again and built the car I wanted to build... for me!
BTW I used Energy Suspension poly bushings and really like them. For lowering I've got all Topline stuff and the fit is perfect.
That SE Baja edition is a great car for all kinds of reasons. Drive 'em if you've got 'em!!!!
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Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out) |
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Bettle750
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2024
Posts: 11
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 9:55 pm Post subject: Re: My ‘72 Super Beetle driver/project |
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| Buggeee wrote: |
BTW I used Energy Suspension poly bushings and really like them. For lowering I've got all Topline stuff and the fit is perfect.
That SE Baja edition is a great car for all kinds of reasons. Drive 'em if you've got 'em!!!! |
Really love the stance you achieved! Going to save that for future reference. For now, I’ve replaced the suspension with stock parts so I can enjoy the car while I figure out future plans. Thank you for sharing your build!
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1972 Super Beetle |
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