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HelmutofBuffalo
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005
Posts: 554
Location: West Coast of New York
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 Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 4:42 pm Post subject: 1979 barn find |
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Hello Folks, first time in this forum, usually a Bus guy but I have an opportunity to pick up this 1979 triple white convertible for $4000. No title. 35,000 miles, Except for surface pitting, it is extremely clean and complete. No start . Opinions please and Thanks
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1979 Type I Convertible |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33507
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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If the top is complete, and the rust minimal, I'd say it's a decent deal.
Note that if the factory fuel injection doesn't work any longer, many convert to a carburetor; but what are the emissions requirements for a 1979 in New York? California would require emissions tests back to mid-1970s, and Arizona's two largest counties test back to 1967 year.
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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 |
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HelmutofBuffalo
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005
Posts: 554
Location: West Coast of New York
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| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 5:02 pm Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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Cusser, Thanks for that. emissions are not a problem. The last time the car was on the road was 1989, so the no start may very well be failed injection system.
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1979 Type I Convertible |
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irvanm
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008
Posts: 619
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
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| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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| It looks like a great car, buy it and get it back on the road. |
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Buggeee
Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016
Posts: 5022
Location: Stuck in Ohio
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69aircooled
Samba Member
Joined: August 04, 2004
Posts: 263
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 5:16 am Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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| If the car has no rust issues then that would be a good purchase. Sitting for that long will require a very thorough inspection/cleaning/revamp of the entire fuel system. That is a bit more involved with a fuel injected car. There are lots of other systems that will need repair/restore, etc. Proper attention to detail in bringing this car back to life should pay off in the long run. Good luck with the project. |
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Bonesberg55
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2012
Posts: 1269
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 5:24 am Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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| Good find & price but no title? What's to say its not stolen? |
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HelmutofBuffalo
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005
Posts: 554
Location: West Coast of New York
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 6:06 am Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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Bonesburg55, I ran the VIN through the Insurance Institute Stolen car database and it comes up clean, also the owner has the info for original owner so a title may not be that big a deal. Looks legit .
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1979 Type I Convertible |
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HelmutofBuffalo
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005
Posts: 554
Location: West Coast of New York
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 6:39 am Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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Thank You all for the feedback !! Gotta love theSamba !!  So refreshing to come here and not get the crap one experiences on the rest of the internet. Like walking into a local Pub and seeing a bunch of friends you haven't met yet. I am going get the car ! I am not worried about the storage issues , I have been involved with VW since 1974 and have seen it all, literally ! Thanks Again !!
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1979 Type I Convertible |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 53214
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 9:13 am Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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Don't ditch the FI, it's superior to any carb and not difficult to get working.
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heimlich 
VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016
Posts: 7578
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 11:56 am Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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Looks like a good car.
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HelmutofBuffalo
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005
Posts: 554
Location: West Coast of New York
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 12:12 pm Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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| busdaddy wrote: |
| Don't ditch the FI, it's superior to any carb and not difficult to get working. |
Hey BusDaddy, How are you ? Thanks for that input ! I'd like to keep car as original as possible.
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1979 Type I Convertible |
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vwoldbug
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009
Posts: 1216
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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| I'd look inside fuel tank and make sure to replace all fuel hoses and fuel filter . Also think about sending the fuel injectors to be tested and cleaned and the injector short hoses replaced . All this will help stop a fire. Are the floors in good shape. Nice car |
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13701
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2023 2:56 pm Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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| busdaddy wrote: |
| Don't ditch the FI, it's superior to any carb and not difficult to get working. |
I was thinking the same thing! Absolutely keep the FI vs. converting it to carb. When the FI system is working and dialed in, they're awesome.
Great buy at a really price.
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HelmutofBuffalo
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005
Posts: 554
Location: West Coast of New York
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| Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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on it's way home ... QUESTION ? The top has not been open since 1989. Are there precautions I should take when popping it open the first time ??
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1979 Type I Convertible |
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zoti
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2007
Posts: 2175
Location: Plano, TX USA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2023 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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| HelmutofBuffalo wrote: |
on it's way home ... QUESTION ? The top has not been open since 1989. Are there precautions I should take when popping it open the first time ??
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Not really but expect stuff to start falling apart on the top. Usually the headliner sags because it dry rots and falls from the bow.
The only way to fix it is a new top.
Also check your heater channels and convertible seals under them. |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33507
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 8:54 am Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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| HelmutofBuffalo wrote: |
| on it's way home ... QUESTION ? The top has not been open since 1989. Are there precautions I should take when popping it open the first time ?? |
Wait for a warm day, and let the top warm in the sun.
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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 |
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vwuberalles
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2003
Posts: 1519
Location: Richmond, VA
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Root_Werks
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2007
Posts: 1080
Location: San Juan Islands
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| Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| HelmutofBuffalo wrote: |
| on it's way home ... QUESTION ? The top has not been open since 1989. Are there precautions I should take when popping it open the first time ?? |
Wait for a warm day, and let the top warm in the sun. |
I agree, if you have a heated shop that also works pretty well.
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HelmutofBuffalo
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005
Posts: 554
Location: West Coast of New York
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:20 am Post subject: Re: 1979 barn find |
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Hey everybody ! Thanks for the tips re: convertible top. I popped the latches but did not fold it down until clean, but it looks fine . A few details. Battery area is clean, headliner is intact, spare wheel well and trunk are nice, cardboard trunk liners are very good, glove box was hardly used, still has original owner's manual in dealer envelope (Kramer VW) and the pedal cluster and mat are not worn. Engine appears to be complete, albeit the surface rust, muffler and heater boxes rusted away. Also glass cleaned up nice. And top is beginning to clean up.
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