1964 Beetle, Sunbaked. My Texas Panhandle Field Find

[one4house]

So, about a year or so ago, I was rolling through the middle-of-nowhere Texas around the spot that my Dad calls home. We have a set route that we take to and fro to get from the country to the big city. On the day mentioned I said "let's go the other way." Good thing I did.

The other way found us on an unfamiliar road used to get to the nearest small town. It was on this road that I said to my dad, "what is that?" As I pointed into the distance.

My Father said, "What is what?"

It was a beetle in a field. We had binoculars, but it was too far off to tell if it was anything worth scoping out. We drove to see of we could get a better vantage point, but the landscape and fencing kept it a secret. Was it early or late? Was it a bucket or a jewel? Most importantly, was it worth saving?

I instructed my Dad to use his Texas charms and do a little recon. After a couple of weeks, he was able to get his phone number to the landowners' wife. Time past, we heard nothing and assumed it was not for sale. We moved on......until last weekend.

I'm in Austin enjoying SXSW and I get a call for my father. After 8 months, the landowner stumbled across my Father's phone number that he had lost a few months ago and wondered if we were still interested in looking at the car? Hell yeah we are interested in looking!

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. What we found was a 64 Beetle that looks mostly complete. It was previously owned by a VW mechanic who parked it in the late 80's, in the middle of a cow pasture, and never touched it again. It sat there and waited for some random stranger to come along and bring it back to life. I am that stranger

Everyone, meet SB. My Granada Ruby Red 64. I have my work cut out for me, but I will have her back on the road as soon as I can.

These are all the pictures I have currently. The channels and floors are still a mystery although my Dad says the dry Texas climate did them a favor. I only see one spot of rust that worries me. I also see 30 years of patina that somehow survived all of the strange Texas weather.

Edit: link with 80+ pictures of recovery and car.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3scmv7LTNgSeDluOXZxS1A2dGc&usp=sharing

I always wondered how people, in this day and age, were still finding untouched jewels. Sometimes, it just takes a turn down an unfamiliar road and a lot of luck. They are still out there. I now know.

Before anyone ask, NO! I will not be painting it. Of all the cars I find in all the places, it is the same color as my current daily, Rusty.

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My Old 64 Field Find
My Old 66 Squareback
My Old 66 Beetle
My Old 70 Squareback

[Volktales]

Cool find. Cars in fields like that around here have the bottom six inches dissolved! Love the funky replacement turn signal lever. Looks like a fun project.
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1974 "Restfalia" Camper 2000 cc EFI 2001-
1970 Beetle first car, rotten, yard art 1985-
1966 Sunroof Beetle, restored 1998-
1964 Ghia, ongoing project 2007-
1962 Beetle Beryl,original paint survivor 2012-
1970 Savannah Beige Beetle 2012-
1992 16v GTI, 100% stock 2006-
1991 "Terseo", wife's old daily 1995-
1969 Chevrolet CST/10 (family owned since new)
1965 Gold Corvair Monza 2021-
1966 and 1965 Monza 2022-

[one4house]

[rcroane]

Love it.....have you tried turning the engine over yet?
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'65 Sunroof Bug

[one4house]

[Cali_Army_Guy]

Man that's awesome. I wish I had the space, and time, to be able to justify picking up stuff like that. Good luck with it and keep us posted.
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2015 VW Passat Wolfsburg Edition
1966 VW Beetle - Sold

[Bug-nut]

All I can say is, take TONS of pictures as you work on it and get it fixed up. I'm continually kicking myself for not doing that when I worked on my Austin Healey. I promise you won't regret it. Oh by the way, SUPER nice find there! Like previously mentioned, that's an interesting turn signal switch. Aftermarket maybe? Also the ice pick handle on the drivers side door. And I'm so jealous of the pop out windows. Keep us updated! They are only original once!
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1959 Fjord Blue Volkswagen Beetle
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

1962 Austin-Healey Sprite

[fly2kads]

Congratulations on the field find! It looks like a good one. Bring it out to some of the DFW area shows once you get it running!

[one4house]

[one4house]

[one4house]

There are far to many pictures to try and post individually. Here is a link to a gallery with every picture I have. I would like people to look it over and see what we have.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3scmv7LTNgSeDluOXZxS1A2dGc&usp=sharing

Overall, I am shocked with how good it looks. There are a couple of rust spots, but, overall, it has been amazingly well preserved. I can't believe that it sat in a field for so long and did not become one with the earth.

Looks like it was last registered in 94. 22 years off the road. 22 years in a field. 22 years of Texas Panhandle sun baking. I am excited to get it back on the road.

Looks like some half pans and general rebuild and I can have it on the road. [/url]
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My Old 64 Field Find
My Old 66 Squareback
My Old 66 Beetle
My Old 70 Squareback

[one4house]

And before anyone makes a comment about the trailer used to move the vehicle, it was only used because the car was being moved 4 miles down a dirt road from one field to another. No highway speeds we attained. It was a simple farm to farm move.
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My Old 64 Field Find
My Old 66 Squareback
My Old 66 Beetle
My Old 70 Squareback

[Thor_orr]

In one of the pictures is one of the wheels is four lug? Looks like the the LR maybe? That seems odd should be wide five.

Either way nice find hope you get her back on the road in short order!

[one4house]

[63Ragtop NZ]

and a ice pick door handle on the drivers side?

nice find man.


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If you can't join them, beat them!

[grandpa pete]

[gt1953]

Bring it to the Texas Classic would love to see it. Yes I am heading there from Arizona.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[one4house]

[vwnut1]

Awesome "field find"! Appears to be solid, would you mind sharing the purchase price?
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1957 VW Oval Resto Mod

[one4house]