Old VW Beetles

[LuS1fer]

Is it just me who has an irrational urge to own an old 60s Beetle with wide wheels preferably in a flat boring colour. I'm not sure if this emanates from watching too much Herbie Rides Again or whether there is something intrinsically compelling about that shape.

Never driven one but have driven a Type 3 which was not as bad as I feared.

[soad]

I like them too, will I buy one- who knows?

[jdw1234]

What do you mean by wide wheels? A Baja style car?

I love the pre-1963 cars. Smaller windows, slopey front lights and longer rear deck lid.

Earlier still and you can get oval or split rear window.

Seriously cool cars!

[stinkysteve]

Cheap to buy, insure and maintain, with very cheap parts. You can't say that about too many unique shaped classics. What not to like????

[james_tigerwoods]

stinkysteve said:

What not to like????

In a standard form:

• Noise
• Smell
• Performance
• The fact that you'll turn into a hippy

[mat205125]

VW Beetle
VW Camper
Land Rover Defender
Mercedes Uni-Mog

There are many many things that I long for, and would love to have. Of those things there are is a massive proportion of those which I have precisely zero need for. The beetle is one of those things. I'm not much into shows, and wouldn't trek all the way to Newquay in one when I have a perfectly good german saloon with AC, Cruise and a stereo to use. Yet I still want one!

[Noble Ox]

I can't wait to own one. Epic cars. I'm into them looking like this:

[300bhp/ton]

[Thudd]

I had a 1973 1303L with elephants feet lights.
It rusted like mad, and had a lot of play in the steering. It was great fun, though.
Engine hanging out of the back on vintage tyres lead to some, er, interesting moments.

[The Wookie]

james_tigerwoods said:

stinkysteve said:

What not to like????

In a standard form:

• Noise
• Smell
• Performance
• The fact that you'll turn into a hippy

You forgot handling. And reliability

And no, the ability to sit on the hard shoulder for half an hour for the engine to cool down and unseize itself does not consistute reliability

[Noble Ox]

The Wookie said:

james_tigerwoods said:

stinkysteve said:

What not to like????

In a standard form:

• Noise
• Smell
• Performance
• The fact that you'll turn into a hippy

You forgot handling. And reliability

And no, the ability to sit on the hard shoulder for half an hour for the engine to cool down and unseize itself does not consistute reliability

Character?!

Well I think they are as cool as penguin piss, and I will own one, one day. You'd pick me up when it breaks down on the hard shoulder yes?

[james_tigerwoods]

Noble Ox said:

Well I think they are as cool as penguin piss, and I will own one, one day. You'd pick me up when it breaks down on the hard shoulder yes?

I'd probably drive by pointing and laughing.

In my Series 1 Defender (that I will own some day)

Edited by james_tigerwoods on Wednesday 21st April 14:50

[ProfessorPeach]

Or a new old one...




http://www.volksworld.com/photos/readers/7500/1/4/...

[OnTheOverrun]

Noble Ox said:

That old suitcase must be full of lead - it's broken the suspension!

[anonymous-user]

you like them to look liek the wheels have fallen off?

[Thesius]

I had a white '71 until last year. I put black American eagle 8 spoke wheels on it, lowered it (not into the weeds but low enough) changed the door cards, steering wheel and carpets to black so had the whole white and black look going on. We ripped the bumpers off and put T bars on.

As for the engine, we put a new Nikki carb on, which I think was running slightly rich as we used to get flames popping out the back on demand.

Never broke down on me or left me stranded, the only reason I got rid of it was due to the fact it had gone rotten, and I mean proper rotten.

They are really cool cars that get a lot of attention but they also need a lot of work unless you get one that has been restored.

good luck and hope you get a decent one,

[siwebster]

This is ours:




Bought it for my wife, took it completely to bits and rebuilt it from scratch. Replaced all nuts and bolts with stainless steel, convert to disc brakes to make it safer, but tried to keep it as original looking as possible.

Took me two years and used it as our wedding car. It will never be for sale.

As a car, it's noisy, uncomfortable, slow and handles badly. But it's an event to drive it every time, which is rare and what makes it so great.

[HellDiver]

james_tigerwoods said:

In my Series 1 Defender

Good luck with that...

[3Dom]

Thesius said:

Never broke down on me or left me stranded, the only reason I got rid of it was due to the fact it had gone rotten, and I mean proper rotten.

True per se, however when people talk negatively about the corrosion aspect, they often neglect to remember that fact that they are generally very old cars. And thus should not be compared with modern vehicles, but their contemporaries of a similar vintage, of which there are very few used frequently on the British roads.

[The Wookie]

Noble Ox said:

Character?!

Well I think they are as cool as penguin piss, and I will own one, one day. You'd pick me up when it breaks down on the hard shoulder yes?

Coincidentally, on another thread earlier I suggested that for character to be a desirable attribute, the character must possess some positive attributes. Appropriately, Adolf Hitler had character, it doesn't mean you'd want to invite him over for tea

And I wouldn't pick you up, I'd tow you somewhere safe with my Defender... That's unreliable, slow and ill-handling too, but at least it's useful