1971 Elm Green A/T FI Squareback

[Donnie strickland]

Recently my Bug got smashed by an inattentive driver:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...ht=bye+bye

I spent some weeks mulling over a replacement car, and thinking if this might be the time to finally go the Type 3 route. I've been driving Bugs since 1984, and always liked the Type 3s, but didn't ever go that way because I always ended up sticking with what was familiar. But I had been lurking on this forum for the last few years, reading up on Type 3 stuff just in case that day ever came...

I began checking Samba classifieds, and Craigslist for Alabama and surrounding areas. I was looking for something specific: a Squareback for a daily driver, and preferably an automatic so my wife would be more likely to drive it. She can drive a stick, but she doesn't stay in practice and is "always afraid of doing something wrong with the shifter and I'll tear something up".

So I found a 1971 Elm Green Square on the Pensacola Craigslist. It was for sale by the grandson of the original owner, who bought it new in Mobile in 1970. The price was too high for me, but I watched it over the next few weeks, and it steadily came down. When it reached what I felt was the right level, I called to set up a meeting so I could look at the car. I rented a trailer, and my brother and I left early Saturday morning on the 4.5 hour drive (he has a 1-ton Dodge van with a 360, perfect for towing).

Upon arrival I found the car to look as good as advertised. The owner had a folder full of receipts from day 1, where work had been performed on the car. He had recently had new tires put on and all the fuel lines replaced, along with 4 new injectors, and oil change/valve adjust/points/plugs/trans fluid. I drove it and found it to start and run well, and the transmission shifted fine.

We loaded it up and headed back to Alabama:

Back at the house:

I've got the trim piece for the right front fender. New clips are on order.

There's no rust to speak of, as the car was garage-kept all its life.

(Yes, I've got the screw for the headlight ring.)

The car was bought with no radio, so it has the antenna block-off plug:

The interior's in pretty good shape too. I'll clean the carpet and see how well it cleans up.

Unmolested fusebox:

The rear cargo area mat's a little stained:

The mandatory engine shot (a new intake boot's on order):

Broken kickdown switch:

Driving impression? TOTALLY different than a Beetle. And that's good! That's what I was after. The wife says she might take it away from me. I told her we might have to find her a Fastback.

A few issues --
1) There's no switch for the fresh air fan. The car had A/C installed in 1974, and then removed at a later date. Perhaps the switch was removed when the A/C was installed?
2) Broken kickdown switch. I'll have to round one up somewhere. Does anyone know of a suitable substitute?
3) Engine lid seal is looking a little dried out. Who makes the best seals?

Thanks for looking!

PS I've got a Bentley manual ordered.
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71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback

[Geothon]

Looks very solid, especially for the East Coast, enjoy! Any idea why it was repainted?
Engine comp seals: https://www.westcoastmetric.com/browse.php?categoryID=906

[EverettB]

Wow, you scored on that, I always like cars from the original family and a known history.
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[Woreign]

Nice car! And don't let anyone give you any grief about it being a late model!

[Donnie strickland]

Thanks Everett!

Geothon, the grandson said he remembered it being repainted once. There's no sign of any collision that I could tell. Here's the spare tire well:

And the paint sticker behind the jack, with another inspection sticker dated 1970:

I'm going to give it a couple of coats of wax and I think the paint will shine up pretty well.
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71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback

[Donnie strickland]

[Tram]

Wow. Beautiful... just beautiful! Nothing like an unmolested original!!
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Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

[Mark Shutt]

incredible condition! car like that just don't exist over here, very jealous!!

I did wonder about the aircon, there is a 2nd hole underneath the timing hole where the after-market aircon belt would have been..

enjoy you're new car
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1968 1600TL Auto build thread, have a look!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6007222#6007222

[Donnie strickland]

Thanks Tram! And Mark, you are correct about the 2nd hole. The car still has the 2-groove fan pulley from when it had A/C.
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71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback

[vlad01]

Solid as! you've done well.

I would keep the body original and give it s real good cut and polish and detail.

[Donnie strickland]

Been fixing a few odds and ends this week...

The original seat belts had to go. I installed replacements in the front:

And lap/shoulder belts in the back, where my 8-year-old son rides:

I've driven it every day since I bought it, and continue to be more pleased each trip. And I must say that at 36° this morning, I love Type 3 heat! I did have to tighten up on the heater lever as it would tend to creep back down by itself.

This weekend I'm going to try and get time to wax it really well and put a good shine on it.
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71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback

[Donnie strickland]

I disassembled the shifter console to clean the contacts for the neutral safety switch and reverse lights, and also to see why the console wouldn't light up at night. As it turns out I have the wires for the console lights, but no bulbholder. I'm not even sure how it would mount, and the Bentley's no help here. Anybody got any pics of it?

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71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback

[Mark Shutt]

I didn't know it was supposed to light up! I don't think mine ever did as there's no extra wiring provisions for such a feature..
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1968 1600TL Auto build thread, have a look!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6007222#6007222

[Donnie strickland]

I was a little quick on the draw --

The bulbholders were under the bottom side of the console. I had looked for them mounted to the body of the car.

Close up:

Bulb out of its holder:

Does anybody have any pics of their intact wiring? There are two bulbholders but I only have wiring for one. I can wire it up so both will work, but I'm just curious as to how it looked originally, and I'd rather go that way.

Mark, yours is a 68, correct? Maybe those didn't light up yet.
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71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback

[Mark Shutt]

yes a 68, it has a solid chrome plate that has the PRN321 on it.

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1968 1600TL Auto build thread, have a look!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6007222#6007222

[Dfasty]

the 70 model also has no light.
sweet car.
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70 fastback automatic 06 invader

[Slow 1200]

my 71 does have both lights wired and working, although they were not connected when I first got my car not that they are bright or anything

nice car, my fastback has the same cork upholstery, it rocks mine has low backs though (euro model)

[Bobnotch]

[one4house]

[Donnie strickland]