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GA1911 Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2021 Posts: 6 Location: The South
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 10:20 am Post subject: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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My wife's father bought this car in boxes about 10 years ago, took it to Tim Baker at Baker Kustoms and Restoration in Dallas, GA. Tim put the car together and built a 1600 for it. My wife's father passed away a few years back, and she inherited the car. While her dad was alive, he took it to shows and drove it quite a bit. We drove it some after his passing, but it was in need of an engine, transaxle, and better brakes, as my wife decided she wanted to start driving it again. So it went back to Tim, and now here it is, a new 1776, freeway flyer transaxle, and disc brakes all around. We are still breaking in the motor, but it is really fun to drive, plenty of power. Looking forward to hitting some shows around GA this spring and summer.
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rcooled Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008 Posts: 2502 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 11:05 am Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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Nice looking car...welcome to the world of old VWs. Most any question you might have about your car can be answered here on this forum.
Any pics of the interior? _________________ '63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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Larmo63 Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2015 Posts: 338 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 3:01 pm Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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I love your old bug but I feel you are missing the whole point of driving one.
They are slow, you take your time and drive like people did in the '60s. If the brakes are rebuilt and adjusted properly, they work really well.
I like my Volkswagens stock, but to each his own.
At least you kept the outside stock looking. _________________ Lawrence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
‘61 Mango Green Single Cab
'62 Pearl White Ragtop sedan
'66 Ruby Red Cabriolet
'86 Porsche 911 Carrera |
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gt1953 Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2002 Posts: 13846 Location: White Mountains Arizona
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 4:49 pm Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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Oh my nice L41 black color! Lets see the interior now. With that engine and brakes uprade, it will be a pleasure to drive. _________________ 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}) |
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aa390392 Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2007 Posts: 3602 Location: So.Cal
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 4:55 pm Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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Larmo63 wrote: |
I love your old bug but I feel you are missing the whole point of driving one.
They are slow, you take your time and drive like people did in the '60s. If the brakes are rebuilt and adjusted properly, they work really well.
I like my Volkswagens stock, but to each his own.
At least you kept the outside stock looking. |
I second this statement..but after dropping my 56 ...I like this as well. _________________ .
getting grumpy & less tolerant!
55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet |
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irvanm Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008 Posts: 609 Location: Lawrence, Kansas
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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Wow, awesome car. |
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The Pilch Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2013 Posts: 628 Location: Utah
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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Yeah that's gorgeous!! More pics!!! _________________ '85 Vanagon GL, weekender package, 1.9 wbx named Freddie/ '61 Beetle named Ringo/ '78 Dodge Monaco which is nothing like the Bluesmobile so please don't cast that oily rag upon it. |
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GA1911 Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2021 Posts: 6 Location: The South
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 5:26 am Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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Larmo...not my first VW, and we do just cruise around and take our time, but it is nice to have the power. The brakes were shot, needed drums and shoes all the way around, rear cylinders were blown, so we stepped up and went with the discs, not really that much more money than replacing everything on the drums.
I'll get some interior shots this weekend.
Thanks for the kind words, I'll let my wife know. She really loves this little car, brings back great memories of her dad. |
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vwuberalles Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2003 Posts: 1357 Location: Richmond, VA
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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It's gorgeous! Her dad must be smiling from above. I don't see any problem with upgrading stuff in the name of safety in modern traffic. Bone stock has it's appeal, but there's something to be said for being able to quickly accelerate to get out of harm's way. _________________ 1973 Superbeetle: 1st car, owned since age 12. Update thread --> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9919140#9919140
1967 Kombi: Owned since age 17, Dad's retirement project.
1966 Beetle: My new project. (SOLD) Build thread--> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=678040 |
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maplesyrup Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2009 Posts: 182 Location: Bristol
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 9:37 am Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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Love it! Enjoy _________________ Bugger |
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sportin-wood Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2010 Posts: 2006 Location: Texas
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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Nice car, indeed! _________________ .
Paused 66 project bug
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"Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman. He's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it." --- Jeff Spicoli |
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GA1911 Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2021 Posts: 6 Location: The South
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Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 12:55 pm Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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This is our idea of cruising and taking it easy. Went out for a ride and beer close to home a few weeks ago.
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GA1911 Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2021 Posts: 6 Location: The South
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2022 7:54 am Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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Here are a couple of photos of the interior. My wife's dad installed one of the "factory looking" stereos with a CD changer hidden under the back seat, along with the kick panel and rear speakers. My wife wants to install a storage tray under the dash, so I'll be pulling the kick panel speakers out. The person that her dad bought the car from had started to rebuild it, and had painted the steering column, steering wheel, parking brake handle grey, and installed all grey knobs. I like the original ivory color, and will change it back at some point, but not that big of a deal right now, we just want to enjoy the car.
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Dusty1 Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2004 Posts: 1413
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2022 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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GA1911 wrote: |
This is our idea of cruising and taking it easy. Went out for a ride and beer close to home a few weeks ago. |
It should keep up with traffic fairly well with the 1776 and four wheel discs.
My old '67 had the same 4.37 differential. It would cruise at an easy 65mph with a (mostly) stock dual port.
Your headliner is done like an old Standard. Cool!
Your rear suspension looks to be in its original and sagged by now condition. A little more preload won't raise it substantially but it will make it a more useful backroads vehicle. After all, with the 1776 and disc brakes for all practical purposes you have a Porsche 356C.
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GA1911 Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2021 Posts: 6 Location: The South
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 9:06 am Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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It has actually been lowered front and rear, and has a narrowed beam. The disc brakes pushed the wheels back out a little, so looks relatively stock. We have to change the front tire size, they are too tall (16580R15) and rubbing the headlight buckets when turning. It's a work in progress. |
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toxicavenger70 Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2019 Posts: 871 Location: CO
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Wife's 1958 Bug |
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I was tired of the bamboo parcel travels unraveling so I got a metal one from Shorty's. https://shortysvw.com/products |
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