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Dank24
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2014
Posts: 12
Location: Orange County, Ca
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 Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 6:56 pm Post subject: the cost to build a simple daily-driver Baja Bug? |
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Hi Guys,
I'm new with this kind of stuff. HELP ME. Budget is at $3,500.
I have been looking though the classifieds and getting some ideas on what I would like to do with a baja bug. I have questions for you all.
Suppose I find/buy a rolling 60'-67' baja bug with no motor for, say, 250?
Now, I would like a simple baja with back seats and drive it as a reliable daily-driver. Let's say, I buy a rebuild 1776cc single port (want to keep it as stock as possible) along with the upholstery, 26"-28" tires and maybe a matte black paint job?
Would I be able to make my budget of 3,500?
OR
DO I JUST BUY A BAJA READY BUG and RISK IT INTO HOPING IT WONT BREAK DOWN AS MUCH?
I would love to hear your advices! Have a good day!! |
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Brian
Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8339
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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Buying the motor will be majority of your budget.
I would buy a prebuilt one, save up for if something happens to the motor. It's the cheapest way to go. A simple baja can be had for cheap if you can do all the body work, tube bending, welding and etc.
The route I took was to buy a cheap pos and slap some tires on it and then try to break it.
_________________
Wash your hands
'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper
Only losers litter |
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KrAzY-BaJa
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 1409
Location: Sacramento CA.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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you should be able to find a good running reliable beetle/baja for about 2k then as needed use the extra $ for anything you want to personalize- paint,tires ect.. making a simple baja "fiberglass fenders" is cheap
_________________
70% of what you buy is something to start with.
ForYotaWagen: A Ford/Toyota/Volkswagen http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4871576&highlight=#4871576 |
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HERC
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: Menifee
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 6:59 am Post subject: |
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Playing devils advocate. For 1500 bucks more, you could have something pretty bitchin. Look around and keep adding to the fund
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Herc |
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andk5591
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005
Posts: 16822
Location: State College, PA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:04 am Post subject: |
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Exactly - unless you HAVE to have the car today, keep saving money until you find the right car and you will have the money for a nicer car or a bigger budget to fix/modify. Be patient. Took me 6 months to find my 65 bug, but it was worth it.
Complete decent cars end up being cheaper than something you have to build/fix.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone 1914. Ex wifes car.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Ex-wifes car.
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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HERC
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: Menifee
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HERC
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: Menifee
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DHale_510
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2010
Posts: 418
Location: Nampa Idaho
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 9:02 am Post subject: |
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the cost to build a simple daily-driver Baja Bug?
This is not enough information. Is your daily drive 20 miles or 200 miles? Is it to San Diego or Scotty's Castle? Does simple mean pretty and reliable or just plain cheap? Will you start from a partial car or a bare shell? Do you want all new, top quality stuff or someone else's used up treasures?
If all you want is a short range commuter, maybe a cosmetic Baja works, but a full fendered car is better in most ways. Buy an early 70's Bug and put a tune up, brakes, shocks and tires on it. This fits the budget.
If you want an occasional commuter and occasional light weight off roader, then a standard travel, stock motored simple Baja may be the thing. It likely needs the same stuff as above and cost about the same whether you cut up a sedan yourself or buy someone else's. The budget is less predictable here as the options are very tempting.
If you want to go deep or fast off road, then a wild long travel . big motor car is the thing, and it will cost lots more than your budget.
As for building budgets, do your homework with the online catalogs and the books out there starting with Hibbard's work.
A fresh engine will cost from $1K to $4K.
A fresh transmission will cost from $1K to $2K.
A set of shocks cost from $150 to $1K.
Wheels and tires cost from $500 to $1500.
Interiors cost from $100 to $2500.
Fenders, decks and bumpers for a Baja cost from $1k to $5K.
Paint costs $50 to $5K.
So maybe your budget will work, and you will definitely find these estimates very simple. I never can build to my estimates either, but it is a start.
Dennis |
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HERC
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: Menifee
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 10:13 am Post subject: |
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Well, leave it to Dennis to let you know your woman's ugly. 
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Herc |
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ORANGECRUSHer
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2006
Posts: 3695
Location: West Coast (Michigan's)
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:15 am Post subject: |
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that's a good question,
I'll let ya know when I get done spending money but I don't think that'll be anytime soon. Hope you weren't in a hurry for that answer.
_________________
Brian H.
OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes |
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Dank24
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2014
Posts: 12
Location: Orange County, Ca
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:28 am Post subject: |
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| Okay thanks for all the advice! One more thing. My VW friends are telling me it's better to get a '67 or under for better value and the value of the car stays. Is that correct? That way I can sell it for the same price in the future? |
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Brian
Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8339
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:35 am Post subject: |
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if you take a car and go full baja it doesnt matter what year it is.
well unless its 57 and under. thats a whole different issue. 67 and under are swingaxle and 65 under have link pin beams, that's all you should care about for offroad use. Search "baja bugs for virgins" mal did a great write up for beginners
_________________
Wash your hands
'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper
Only losers litter |
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wyattsdad
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2014
Posts: 79
Location: Coventry CT
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Buy one that is mostly done then go from there. Get an irs car. Can always put a conversion beam on much easier than swapping swing to irs. Travel as far as it takes to get it. |
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5847
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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All of the above is good advice.
Brian says to check Mal_Evolent's Baja Bugs For Virgins. That''s very good advice. The knowledge is important. A Baja Bug isn't a car you take to the dealership when it has a problem.
wyattsdad's advice is very good too and is basically what I would recommend, whether you build one yourself or buy one already built.
SoCal is chock full of Baja Bugs already. There is little sense in starting from scratch to build a "new" one. To start off, and especially for a DD, a radical Baja is not a good choice. Get your toes wet before you dive off the tower into the pail of water, ya know?
My 58 Baja has over 800,000 miles on it, many of those as a daily driver. It can work, though many these days will tell you otherwise.
In fact, there are a couple of Bajas sitting in my back yard right now which the owner of is talking about selling. I'm about to move and they both need to find new homes. One is a 64, the other is a 74. They would take a little work to get them daily driver ready, but at WAY below your budget. So if you want to know more, PM me.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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Max Welton
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 11143
Location: Black Forest, CO
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Brian
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Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8339
Location: Oceanside
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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 11143
Location: Black Forest, CO
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EnjoyNukaCola
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2014
Posts: 510
Location: Santa Clarita
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Back in April I saw that car online for 4000. I was going to look at it but I was sick and I had finals that week. It was pretty nuts but very impractical even for a Baja Bug. No speedometer, just a tach. NO side windows at all and the mirrors mounted inside and out. This guy just bought it to turn a profit I had seen it pop up in a different place not even a month later. |
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Dank24
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2014
Posts: 12
Location: Orange County, Ca
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, I'd like something like that very much but is it reliable? For me, i don't judge it by its cover. |
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Brian
Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8339
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2014 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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One thing that I would judge this car off the cover is, it looks sturdy. Note the bend on the lip of the front wheel. How did that happen? Probably driving hard.
But in reality, there is no way to know that other than knowing the health of every metal bit on it
_________________
Wash your hands
'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper
Only losers litter |
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