Looked at a local 65 today. Is this decent to build on?

[hylomatt]

I went and looked at this guy. I thought it was much more solid that what I've seen from Florida lately but wanted to see what you guys would say about it. The seller won't drop below $4800. He's got nice records from back to '87. It was the dash-color blue. Someone painted it green. And put a lumpy 1776 in the back. The seller only purchased it mid-January and hasn't done anything to it.

and a video:

Link


Most of the "spotting" is pollen or oak bloom. It's got boxes of parts inside too.

[Pruneman99]

Yikes. If that's a $4800 dollar car in Florida, I'm renting a tractor-trailer, buying every car on CL here in SoCal, and shipping them down.

The channels are definitely gone. It would make me nervous about all the other rust I can't see. The engine looks hog-podged as well.

I'd keep looking but really I'm not familiar with the VW market in FL.

[Cusser]

Looks like significant rust to me, but then again, I'm in Arizona.

Have you considered a VW from the southwest?
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[hylomatt]

Hm. And I thought the channels looked pretty good. Maybe I didn't see it for what it was. I have considered and am considering VWs from the midwest. Probably being impatient.

Lots of people here in Florida seem to act like rust is no big deal and absolutely refuse to price the car considering it's true condition. It's frustrating dealing with these people. You know you have to spend at least 2K immediately to get it under control but they just don't see it or care.

I recently checked out another 65 and had the guy tell me that it probably wasn't the car for me because it's a great car and isn't for "redoing". As if the rust repair was not required. It's repair, not a redo. These people can't be this dumb. If you don't fix it, eventually you won't have anything to fix. And procrastinating will only make it more expensive.

Anyway, I thought this one had a helping of surface rust but that it looked like it had solid bones. That's why I bring them to the "group" for viewing. Thanks guys.

[iowegian]

So the seller is at $4800 firm. He has owned the car for a month and wants to double his money by "fleeping" it. If he found one for a reasonable price, you can too.

[67rustavenger]

[hylomatt]

@67rustavenger, You're right, I know you are. You aren't the first person to say that to me either. Hitest and others have been saying the same thing. I'm a little embarrassed because I think I might be in a pattern here. I'm probably being too cheap. I'll work on that.

Is it reasonable to think I can get a rust free car that ends in a story like yours for <=$6k? What should my budget really be?. I want a 63 or 65. No rust or no expensive rust (battery tray, etc), decent to good paint. I'd like to not have to strip it down and paint it immediately. Just go over the mechanicals, fix what needs fixing and get to driving to and from work.

[iowegian]

Just to play "Devil's Advocate" here-------it can not be said that ALL cars from the Midwest are rust buckets. Many lived in formerly salt-free areas like the Dakotas, Wyoming, Colorado, etc. and migrated here some years ago and no longer venture out in the winter. (I own a '66 Beetle like that.) However, such cars do not usually fall into the "cheap" category.

[Sharp64]

I would start striking up a friendship maybe with some members in Texas, Arizona, California, Montana, etc and look at bringing in a rust free car. Be prepared to spend $1000-1500 for shipping.

Honestly, I was getting ready to sell my 64 a month or so ago to fund another car but before when I listed it for sale I had stupid lowball offers so opted to keep it and put some moeney and effort into it. The Irony about Florida is people are asking stupid prices for cars as sellers and buyers are a bunch of cheap assholes trying to spend as little as possible. My car is a true rust free Texas car. It has some paint issues (green inside/white outside) but truly a solid car and had assholes offering me $3k for it. It’s ridiculous.
_________________
1960 Indigo Blue Ragtop (Blue Barry)
1967 Ghia
1985 Westy Money Pit
“...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” - Michael Caine

[gt1953]

Pass and keep on shopping. Do look out west of the continental divide.
One question is why selling it after one month???
_________________
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})

[splitjunkie]

[Pruneman99]

The driver's side channel is all rust bubbled. Looks like tons of paint over rust. Maybe I am spoiled looking at SoCal cars, but that's gone in my book. By the time you grind that all out it's replacement time.

I would find a rust free car from the Southwest or fridgid north and pay the shipping. You can eat up 1k in rust repair in a hurry.

[hitest]

Hylomatt- once again, your hunting instincts and investigation skills improve! I'm glad to see you are more critical of these cars. The pics you are taking are great and details of the seller's story really help.

I believe firmly that you are not just investing in a car- but also a seller. I've turned away deals on cars (buying and selling) just because the other did not deserve my money (or my car). I hate being lied to when looking at a car- but I really hate being lied to by a buyer when selling a car. A guy bought my Syncro, saying it was perfect for his family- and it was on his car lot the next day (Watkins Auto- Garden Shitty, ID). My point is- I'm glad you'ree seeing through the shysters.

The right car will pop up and the seller will DESERVE your money.

Most agree that buying from a flipper sucks, but sometimes you'll find that guy who simply saved a good car from the scrapper- but does not want to own it.
_________________

[rcooled]

[iowegian]

[quote="rcooled"]

[hylomatt]

@rcooled, you mentioned Boise Idaho and I had seen this guy in the classifieds. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2251321

@Sharp64, what were you asking for you're beetle while people were low-balling you? yeah as far as Florida goes, way too many VW sellers over here act what they've got beetles made of gold, I'm not I'm lucky to be told the price. That attitude always makes me feel very unfriendly feelings.

@hitest, again, I appreciate the words of encouragement. I really am looking for a situation that looks right and feels right, both with the car and the seller.

@splitjunkie @Pruneman99, the other channels didn't look gone, just the carpet clip do you need a little help. I'm sure there were things hiding, waiting to surprise me.

[Smurf]

Here in PA $4800 would be a steal for a beetle like this
_________________
1962 Beetle
1977 Westfalia (Subaru Conversion)

"Traveling in a fried-out Kombi
On a hippie trail head full of zombie"
-Men at Work

[Sharp64]

I was actually looking to trade at the time but threw out some numbers in the $7-8 range if people insisted. Mostly a lot of messages through FB that went nowhere. I’ve since dropped a 1776 into it that I just built and having too much fun driving it right now.
_________________
1960 Indigo Blue Ragtop (Blue Barry)
1967 Ghia
1985 Westy Money Pit
“...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” - Michael Caine

[bugheadred]

that sounds like it has a loose head to me

[iowegian]