Bye Bye, Bug

[Donnie strickland]

Thanks everybody for your thoughts!

I shudder to think what would have happened without seat belts. As most of you know the 66s didn't come with them new, but they did have the mounting points, filled with plastic plugs from the factory, so putting in belts is a straight bolt-in. I installed the front lap-shoulder belts 8 years ago.

And the backup lights are still good!

[hitest]

Sorry to hear about this Donnie- I hate the thought of something like that happening to the bug I've had for 16 years.

A longtime friend in my car club taught me this regarding show cars: It's not the VW that makes the owner cool- it's the owner that makes the car cool.

The same can be applied to an accident victim. If I were in your shoes- I'd find a similar era bug and transfer some of the most appreciated parts over to it. Have your son stretch out on the pavement with you when you trade pea shooters to the new car. Have him help you wire in those backup lights. Watching him get excited over the new car will make the transition seamless.
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[6Kabrio7]

Get another car if you get insurance money there are plenty of driver condition bugs out there.
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67 Convertible July 67 Yukon Yellow
67 Sedan May 67 Zenith blue

[Donnie strickland]

I had somebody drive me today, just to look.There's a VW shop fairly close; it's where I bought my '66 back in 1997. He has a few really solid cars (including a '73 convertible) but all his pre-68 stuff is going to need the usual rust repair stuff.

My attorney says it'll be a few months anyway, so I'm just getting an idea about prices and condition right now. Checking Samba classifieds and Craigslist, etc.

[747frieghtdog]

About 10 years ago I got rear ended by a drunk driver in my Oval, long story short, the insurance company thought they were going to use JC Whitney and cut a check. I had screaming matches with them on the phone and they finally came around once I emailed them classified ads from TS for W lids, bumpers, etc.
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55 Oval

[gp98]

Hi all, I know this is an older thread but just reading and saw where OP stated insurance company stated "was going to be a couple months"!
Happened to me few years back, sitting at red light and kid just got license that day rammed me. Massachusetts ins. law gives them thirty days to settle or you can go to court and file for up to THREE times estimated damage. I got $1,800.00 check for $600.00 dollars damage.

Everyone check your local laws/regulations!
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1972 Super Beetle
1961 Dune Buggy,2010 Larz Anderson Class Winner
1971 BSA Lighting
1969 tin top westy

[Donnie strickland]

The "couple of months" was for the medical bills, not the property damage. The car's value was settled within a month.
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71 Elm Green FI A/T Squareback

[shortride]

This is one of the reasons I hate to drive my '66 around town. We've got some real dummy drivers around here and I would absolutely cry if that happened to me.

The worst thing that has happen so far is I watched my radio antenna mast come out of the base and blow by my driver-side window this morning.
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Pearl White 1966 Sedan

Retired US Army - 21 years 11B40, 173rd Airborne Brig. - Vietnam Combat Veteran

[bluebus86]

with the injuries, your looking at a $100,000 insurance case, assuming the guilty party has that kind of coverage (if not, then assume you have enough un-insured motorist protection to cover the remainder.)

It is very important to have excess un-insured /under insured coverage, just in case you hit by someone that has no or little insurance.

A dumb bitch spilled her can of orange soda while coming up to a red light on an expressway, and slammed her fucking Ford Explorer into my little 914 while I waited at a red light. totaled my car, and caused me to have surgery to repair my arm. Good thing I had a $100,000 policy for under insured drivers, cause the bitch only had a $30,000 policy (state minimum) so my policy covered the $70,000 difference. What a cunt she was, told me it was her third rear ender accident!!! If I were king she would be forced to drive a golf cart with no door nor seat belts for the rest of her miserable life. No more real cars for her.

I'd get an attorney on this one ASAP. you need representation to get what is due you for the car, the injury bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You also will be owed a replacement rental until you can find a suitable 66 Bug to replace what you had taken by the cunt that hit you. You should be owed travel expenses in your search for a replacement Bug, it is not like you can just walk into a dealer and buy a new one.
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Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information

Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022

[Donnie strickland]

[Martin Southwell]

I have a number of Beetles (hence looking at this section) but am restoring a 47 at the moment, and always say to people that I wont really drive it when restored, for purely the reason(s) we see here. Some say I'm being over dramatic, but it's always a possibility.

Those early 3 spoke steering wheels are lovely to look at, but aimed directly at your chest, with no short column, or dished area to provide some leeway for movement. For the record I have a 58 Standard model with the same 3 spoke steering wheel, so they did extend into this period of interest.

[Jon Schmid]