Tell me about 69's

Mudpump · Samba Member Joined: May 11, 2007 Posts: 750

I'm looking at a 69 Bug w/1500 motor. Different years have difference things about them. Anything I should know about the 69 year bug? Difficult to get some parts? etc

morymob · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:28 am Post subject:

Lots o parts around,68-71 probably best series of the later yrs,IMO.

fmartin_gila · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:45 am Post subject:

I have a 69, now has a 1600 SP engine after last rebuild. Have never had any problem finding anything I wanted for it.

Fred

Zach Thomas · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:37 am Post subject:

I've never had any issues finding parts either.
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dirtkeeper · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:45 am Post subject:

69 is my favorite year... thats what mine is..mostly Wink

I felt it is the best year cause it has all the modern upgrades but not all the fussy extras and smog stuff.

IRS, ball joints, better bumpers, nice lines, high back seats, larger windows,not too many accessories, smog stuff or weird vents on the rear side window panels.

of course bmw M3 seats and a 59 rag top welded in top it off (along with all my other personal upgrades$$$) Very Happy

they didnt come stock with the offset oil cooler which is an improvement. think those showed up a few years later

rgm440 · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:05 am Post subject:

[img]

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

My favorite bug of all. Stock & strong[/img]
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Plantman · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:57 pm Post subject:

Some of the parts are '68/'69 only. Turn signals and tail lights. Good used lenses fot the front turn signals are getting harder to find. The high back seats are wider at the head rest and are a pain to see around when looking back. I put '71 seat backs on, they are a bit narrower than the '68/69. I like my '69 also. I do wish I still had my '62 ragtop though.
David
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'69 bug & '71 Ghia

andk5591 · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject:

I believe that 69 was the first year for the IRS. Other things have already been posted. All in all easy to find parts and they are relatively inexpensive.
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ANSAracingb · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject:

I'm a big fan of 69's....
oh, and the '69 VW that I own is pretty nice as well. Laughing

In the pic above, though, I noticed that the car has vents on the decklid. My beetle has the original decklid and has no vents. I know VW is famous for split years, did they make some '69 sedans with decklid vents?

69 Jim · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

dreadnotmusic · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject:

The only thing I can't find for my 69 is a nice set of front turn signal lenses.

It's a great year. I really like the unique mix of stuff on the 68/69's.
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69rulz · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject:

i got a bright yellow 69, i got a 1500 too, the only thing i dont like is the bumpers i looovveee the overrider look, ima bout to get some, paint em black, and put em on, u can put a bunch of stuff on these cars, its not hard to find parts

Mudpump · Samba Member Joined: May 11, 2007 Posts: 750

What's the best route on an engine for these? The engine is OK but it's original and getting close to rebuild time. I'm not interested in a performance engine so I guess it's either rebuild the 1500 or go to SP1600 or DP1600? Pluses and minuses?

tuna · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:25 pm Post subject:

Here are some other facts on the '69 model year:

* mid-69: the tenth-of-a-mile digit (in white) was added to the speedometer.
* Inside window cranks are '68-'69 only (with the chrome disc) and are expensive when you find them
* First year of IRS on the manual transaxle.
* Sedan decklid unique to '68-'69 with no vents
* first year of locking gas door on front quarter panel
* first year of rear window defroster
* taillight housing only used for '68-'69

I'm sure I'll remember others, but this is what I can recall in the >20 years that I've owned my '69. Smile

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Fitz. · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

I like your car, Tuna! Thinking my '68 will need some wheels and a stance-alteration this spring...

Oh, and I've owned a '68 and a '70. The former is my daily driver, and the latter is 20 years gone. Both are/were great cars. I can only assume your '69 is going to be as good. No smog crap, better heat than earlier cars. Only thing I dislike is the highback seats, though from a safety perspective, they're a good call.

Oh, and another small, random difference: '69 is the first year of a red oil-light.
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bugninva · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject:

the front footwell vents moved for 69, and 69 had remote levers on the A-pillar.
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jhicken · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject:

If you need a rebuild, stick with the 1500sp, it was one of VW's best motors. I'm a fan of '69's as well, I picked mine up last summer.

-jeffrey
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69 Jim · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject:

^^^Nice^^^

Fitz. · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:05 pm Post subject:

Seconded. Very nice.
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69 Jim · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject:

69's are a great year imo:


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