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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:22 am Post subject: 1971 Elm Green A/T FI Squareback |
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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. _________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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Geothon Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2008 Posts: 153 Location: Ventura, CA
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69824 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Woreign Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: Crestview FL
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Nice car! And don't let anyone give you any grief about it being a late model! |
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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 11:18 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 11:19 am Post subject: |
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Woreign wrote: |
Nice car! And don't let anyone give you any grief about it being a late model! |
Thanks! You can bet on that! _________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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Tram Samba Socialist
Joined: May 02, 2003 Posts: 22728 Location: Still Feelin' the Bern- Once you've felt it you can't un- feel it.
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Wow. Beautiful... just beautiful! Nothing like an unmolested original!! _________________ Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.
Bryan67 wrote: |
Just my hands. And a little lube. No tools. |
To best contact me, please use the EMAIL function in my profile |
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Mark Shutt Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2012 Posts: 482 Location: Doncaster UK.
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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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 _________________ 1968 1600TL Auto build thread, have a look!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6007222#6007222 |
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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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vlad01 Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2010 Posts: 3069 Location: Australia
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Solid as! you've done well.
I would keep the body original and give it s real good cut and polish and detail. |
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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:50 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 9:05 am Post subject: |
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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?
_________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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Mark Shutt Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2012 Posts: 482 Location: Doncaster UK.
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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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Mark Shutt Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2012 Posts: 482 Location: Doncaster UK.
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Dfasty Samba Member
Joined: November 22, 2005 Posts: 528 Location: north bay,ca.
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Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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the 70 model also has no light.
sweet car. _________________ 70 fastback automatic 06 invader |
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Slow 1200 Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2004 Posts: 2106
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 3:57 am Post subject: |
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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) |
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Bobnotch Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003 Posts: 22425 Location: Kimball, Mi
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 6:13 am Post subject: |
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Donnie strickland wrote: |
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. |
On page F of the Electrical section in the Bentley, they show the wiring for the back up lights, and AT shift cover lights. It even shows which fuse they get power from. It looks like the + wire has a split at 1 light, then feeds the other. The brown wire with the screw (in your pic above) is the ground for both lights (probably has a split for it too, since it's all in a plastic housing).
Very nice, clean, unmolested car you have there. You don't really see those on the east coast. _________________ Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
Tram wrote: |
"Friends are God's way of apologizing for relatives." |
Tram wrote: |
People keep confusing "restored" and "restroyed". |
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one4house Samba Member
Joined: July 18, 2009 Posts: 1121 Location: Sherman Texas
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:09 am Post subject: |
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Donnie strickland wrote: |
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. |
What are the front seat shoulder belts from? Or where did you get them? The stock belts are a hassle, and those look like they go right in with no mods. _________________ My Old 64 Field Find
My Old 66 Squareback
My Old 66 Beetle
My Old 70 Squareback |
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Donnie strickland Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2009 Posts: 2403 Location: Moody, AL
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:21 am Post subject: |
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Bobnotch wrote: |
It looks like the + wire has a split at 1 light, then feeds the other. The brown wire with the screw (in your pic above) is the ground for both lights. |
Thanks Bob, that confirms what I was thinking. Do you know where one could track down those tiny push-on connectors? _________________ 71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback |
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