72 VW Beetle 1300... what do you guys think?

[Cerberus73]

ah it sat like that for 15yr cos the previous owner pegged it, and the lass who has it cant fix nothing, they left it there to languish... but my cousin is going out to take it to his workshop and go over it. i also agree a lot of VW people can be tools and not in the good socket sense kinda way! ive no interest in the whole volks scene... same as i dont in a lot of the "biker" scene... i just like old cars, and a beetle is pretty much as simple as they come. i dont want to slam it to the deck with a blown 1600 in the back and a metalflake paint job etc. but simply re-instate it as a daily runner and original as it can be kept.

[Black Sheep Radical]

...and many of the people who drive them irritate me.

That's it for me TBH, it's the scene that's grown up around these cars (and vans) rather than the vehicles themselves. e.g.

I reckon give it a chance and find it a good home. Sorry.

If Cerberus did move it on chances are it'd end up in the hands of some idiot Dubber who would sand off all the paint, fit a roofrack full of junk, ruin the car's usability by lowering the suspension and fitting inappropriate wheels etc.

IMO what would be really cool is if the beast was solidly repaired and made roadworthy, and that nice original paint simply cleaned up as well as possible. A bog standard, povvo-spec Beetle is a rare sight indeed, and one which would certainly bring a smile to my face. But that's just me - good luck with it whatever you decide

EDIT: just seen the post above...

simply re-instate it as a daily runner and original as it can be kept.

[Cerberus73]

indeed bsr... i do hate the whole soup up a base model ethos in a lot of classic car scenes. its the original simple daily runners we all used to see as kids running around that make me smile, a escort popular 1.1, the mini 850, a triumph dolomite, baseline beetles, a moggy minor 1000. not the jenson interceptors or slammed to the max old cars, it ruins the integrity. fair enough if a car is beyond saving almost and its more economical to make it non standard. better that than the scrappers. but a lot of the "scenes" just leave me cold. but each to there own.

[Newtsalad]

Yup. 'Find it a good home' was said knowing full well it was a nigh on impossible task!

[crunch90]

indeed bsr... i do hate the whole soup up a base model ethos in a lot of classic car scenes. its the original simple daily runners we all used to see as kids running around that make me smile, a escort popular 1.1, the mini 850, a triumph dolomite, baseline beetles, a moggy minor 1000. not the jenson interceptors or slammed to the max old cars, it ruins the integrity. fair enough if a car is beyond saving almost and its more economical to make it non standard. better that than the scrappers. but a lot of the "scenes" just leave me cold. but each to there own.

+1 Completely agree. Hope it does stay standard rather than the "fake suitcases and surfboard that's never seen water crew" get hold of it

Any idea yet what you're going to do with it cerb??

[Cerberus73]

Well my mates mothers gone off idea of flogging the lockup, so it can stay in there for now, and have already started to formulate a plan of attack, as in gather the parts, begin disassembly of some things for refurb, and to check for hidden rot etc. then just keep it as she is, no souping up, no changing the integrity, and only replacing what is strictly needed.

[Glenn]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksi ... s&_sacat=0

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat ... ine&_frs=1

[CC90]

Here's why I personally love the Beetle.

Engine can come out in half an hour if you're good. I saw on the telly some group of mechanics pull an engine out and put one in I think in 1 or 2 minutes and then drive away!


Why I hate the Beetle?

It would probably score naught on the current Euro NCAP scale, and crash tests have proved it. Looks like an accordion in those videos.


So, I am scared to own one.

[Boo]

NCAP

You ride motorbikes..

Beetles were actually pretty good in crashes for their day. Rollover safety was excellent with the domed roof and thick pillars. Side impact not so good!

[Cerberus73]

most old motors would fare terribly in any modern crash tests, but hey we all ride bikes, so i think worrying about that is pretty silly. and indeed boo thats why i like the beetle, simple to work on, basically a 4 wheeled bike. mechanically pretty simple. and they have the character that a lot of us on here like in our bikes and cars. they rank up there with the original mini, fiat 500 and moggy minors for character. they bring a smile to peoples face.