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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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 Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:41 pm Post subject: Larry's 67 Bug restoration |
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I am restoring this car for a good friend of mine.
Larry (the owner) has owned this 1967 Lotus White Beetle, or should I say it has owned him for 42 years. He bought it when he was 16 way back in 1970 from the original owner and was instantly bitten by the Bug. It only had 19,000 miles then and he had to negotiate the lady down to $900.
Larry drove this car as a daily driver for over 300,000 miles and wore out 3 speedometers doing it.
Fast forward to 2003, the Beetle was vandalized by some thugs right in front of Larry's house. They jumped all over the hood and caved in the roof, then flipped the little car over on it's passenger side.
When Larry saw his beloved 67 on it's side for the first time he was devastated as you can imagine. Being a VW guy through and through, he was literally heart broken. Unable to afford the repairs and unwilling to part with his old friend, the Bug went into storage until 2011.
This is where I come in, Larry and his wife have become good friends with me and my wife and through conversations I learned that Larry was a VW guy and heard the story of the 67. I've been a gear head all my life and a VW guy most of it, plus my first car was a 61 Beetle. I've owned a few VWs through the years but had gotten away from them until recently. This is due in part to Larry's story...his Beetle has reignited my passion for these wonderful little cars and I've went as far as buying a 58 Ragtop project.
Anyway, I couldn't let his 67 stay in that 150 year old warehouse any longer. I talked Larry into letting me restore it...so here begins the next chapter. The Build...
_________________
1956 Oval
and a barn full of VW parts
1956 Oval build thread
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
1962 Single Cab Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7959298#7959298
1967 Beetle Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=495269&highlight=larrys |
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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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hurley62579
Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2009
Posts: 202
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Welcome back. Quite the story behind thats thing. Besides the vandalism looks like a pretty good slate to start with. Keep us posted on the progress. |
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webberjames95
Snorkelstang Finder
Joined: January 18, 2011
Posts: 1091
Location: Pullman, Washington
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AlmostOriginal
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2011
Posts: 98
Location: Southern California, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:14 am Post subject: |
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Not a bad looking bug! I can't believe some one would vandalize the poor thing. Anyways, good luck with the restoration! I'm going to try and follow along.
_________________
My '65 Beetle "Herb". Originally Panama Beige. His forum (for now) - http://bit.ly/AbcyLC
California YOM Guide & Stories http://bit.ly/x8izYR
Looking for Catron Motors items and 1963 California plates #NHF 447.
| kombi kid wrote: |
| I asked god for my first VW, I know he doesn't work that way so I stole a bug and asked for forgiveness! |
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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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bill may
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2003
Posts: 14160
Location: san diego,ca
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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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russ c
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2010
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:33 am Post subject: |
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nice keep it going  |
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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Rust repair begins.
The right rear body crossmember was toast, so it came out as well as the floor pan and right side heater channel.
Rear crossmember welded in as well as right side pan half and heater channel.
The original package shelf was swiss cheese, so a new shelf was located. The old shelf was removed, the area stripped and rust treated.
There were some rusted areas on the inner quarter that needed metal fabbing before the new luggage shelf could be installed. Luckily the rear body mount was still strong.
New metal fabbed, welded and seam sealed.
New luggage shelf welded and seam sealed.
Quarter back together and solid again.
Engine compartment looking spiffy again.
_________________
1956 Oval
and a barn full of VW parts
1956 Oval build thread
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
1962 Single Cab Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7959298#7959298
1967 Beetle Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=495269&highlight=larrys |
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KStier
Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2011
Posts: 20
Location: Hopewell, NJ
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Fast progress...looking good |
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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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GB2S
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2003
Posts: 1011
Location: Omaha
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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How are you going to fix the roof?
Geoff
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1963 Ragtop |
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Fifty-Eight Rag
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Location: St. Louis, MO
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Fifty-Eight Rag
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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Fifty-Eight Rag
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Joined: September 07, 2011
Posts: 936
Location: St. Louis, MO
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veedubcrazy
Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2005
Posts: 2130
Location: La Porte, Tx.
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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I swear I am looking at MY pix I took redoing my '67. Keep at it...
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1967 Deluxe Sedan |
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