Is this bug worth it?

[SDBus]

Hi Samba land, I need someone's honest opinion. I am looking to trade my car for a bug. It's a '62 ragtop bug on a '66 pan. From the pictures, the car looks VERY complete and restored (though a few years old) however it is sitting on a '66 pan and has a salvaged title because of it. From the pics, everything looks very solid and in good condition. Any input? What do you think this car is worth?
Thanks again

[doc1976]

in my experience there is many reasons for a slavage title besides that. normally if a person swaps body and pan they keep the title from the pan and register it that way. either way, once a VIN has a salvage title there is no way to get a regular title for it as far as I know. and ANY vehicle with a salvage title is worth less because of it.

[zozo]

I think if you're happy, and the other party is happy, the rest is meaningless. (Provided everything is legal)

[SDBus]

Thank you both. I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with it. I really like the car.

As far as the salvaged title goes, if everything SEEMS solid, are there any unseen things that would render this car unsafe or that should make me stay away all together? (What issues are beyond repair?)

[Maddog209]

[bagged59]

Kinda hard to tell without knowing what kind of car you currently have, and without pics of the bug. 92 geo metro for a clean, somewhat molested solid beetle, of say go for it! If your driving a nice reliable Honda or something and this bug has a whole host of problems you're not ready for, I'd run the other way. Also depends on your knowledge of these cars. They involve a lot of time and know-how (or $) and if its your only mode of transportation, you need to be prepared for that.
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My 61 project- shaved, bagged, all original because it doesn't look like yours:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=460969

[SDBus]

Well, I've got a 2001 Acura TL. It's got 250,000 miles on it. Still runs great but I feel like it's not going to be long before things start to go south.

I've only seen pics of the bug but it looks VERY nice. I'll post some pics when I get home so I can get a couple more opinions.

This will take over as my daily driver. I am aware of the maintenance needed to keep a bug healthy and am not really bothered by that.

As far as backup vehicles, I've got a '62 ragtop project (which is more project than I can take on right now) that I put up for sale and a '67 bus (which I love but) that I've decided I might sell as well. So, for the time being I've got some backup.

I just really want a nice ragtop bug. (I would just keep the ragtop I have if I had a garage to do the resto work in)

[pdivizzle0112]

funny, mine is also a 62 body on a 66 pan. probably salvaged because the original 66 body was destroyed. purchased from a junkyard, then did a good ole body swap. i really wouldnt worry about it. the majority of the bugs youll find out there have had about 500 lives anyway

[SDBus]

I think I might just keep my car and get to working on the '62 ragtop that I already have. I'm going to do what little things I can until my lease is up and I can move into a house with a garage. At that point I can start ripping it apart and turn it into what I want it to be. Mission right now, make it a rider. Maybe I'll post some pics and turn this into a build thread instead. Thanks everybody for the input.

[SDBus]

Here's my bug. It's a start but she definitely needs some work.

[youngnstudly]

Hey, it rolls and runs, that's a start! Ragtops are sweet too!

I always wrote off cars that were listed with salvage titles until my father explained to me that in his trade (autobody/collision) there are MANY cars that are borderline and they never become salvage title cars. Afterall it's just a couple of dumbasses arguing over the car's damage, and I can assure you that the adjuster knows damn near nothing more times than not. Plus way back when, VW's weren't worth crap so even semi-minor damage could have ment they were written off. Put 2 other guys in that situation and they might agree the car isn't all that damaged. Think of all the VW engine cases that had only slight wear on them that all the Gene Berg types hucked in the trash! Pretty much the same idea!

Andy
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Vintage Volkswagens: When you're not swearing by them, you're swearing at them

[SDBus]

Thanks Andy. I actually didn't do the trade. I ended up just keeping My Acura and I'm going to fix up this ragtop that I've already got. I was going to sell this one and trade my car for a nicer one...

One of the things that really deterred me was the fact that it sits on a '66 pan. From what I understand, that's a b/j front end and a b/j front end is much kore difficult to lower and get a decent ride out of. Since I would like to drop this thing to the ground I figure I might as well keep what I've got.

Just need some motivation. I ordered a couple parts, maybe that will help...

[doc1976]

[6Kabrio7]

I have a salvage title bug. From everything i've read you cannot change anything about a California salvage title unless you change the VIN with another chassis. I know this to be fact there are some really junk bugs for sale out there with clear titles compared to some salvage title cars i've seen. If your keeping the car it does not matter but if your planning on selling or flipping it I would get something with a clear title.
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67 Convertible July 67 Yukon Yellow
67 Sedan May 67 Zenith blue

[63type1]

Some states give cars a salvage title if the car was stolen and recovered regardless of any damage.
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'63 ragtop