1966 VW Beetle
Discussion
Ever since I was a young boy, I have had a fascinations with cars, even more so VW Beetle's - to the extent I didn't want to eat my breakfast at the kitchen table anymore, I wanted to sit in my dad's white '76 Beetle he had bought for £300 back in 1990.
It was that bad this car, my dad towed up the driveway in his (also) white cavalier, leaving a trail of rubber and dirt from it's very seized rear wheels!!
He always loved the idea of restoring it, I just wanted to eat my dam breakfast in it!
It was short lived, and it got towed away my dad found out he didn't really have the time and off to the scrappers it went.
That is when it started (it must of been)??
31 years on I still have an affinity with these stupid little funny, round things, that sound like WW1 bi-planes on full chat, the smell of the fuel and sloshing of the petrol in the tank that is above your knees (1930s health & safety for you millennials) actually I think I am slightly in the millenial camp...
I got to 23 an thought right I must get me a Beetle! I drove all over the country, looking at all sorts of ste! And believe me, some of the things people are selling, armed with a magnet and a screwdriver (grandad taught me well) I came across some death traps!
Until...I came across the one! Ohh she was a stunner, good year aswell a '66, wasnt looking for a '66 but I believe nowadays they are rather sought after (in some circles).
This particular one had service history dating back to 1978, it's on it's second engine which was replaced at 98,000, odo is showing 67k, so I assume there is around 167k on the car in essence...
It was the people's car, so obviously in black aswell, a deal was done.
8 years later the dam thing is still here, can't bring myself to sell it...I have done a few things to it but, out it back to stock oem as much as possible.
Done most of the vw shows/circuit, and can't really be bothered anymore, big scratch scratched I suppose, but it's still here.
Non stock mods:
- Adjustable front beam (wound right up now)
- 1300 single port engine (tough little one)
- 4 Tip Abarth pinto exhaust
I will post a few more pics up when I can if anyone would like to see more over the next few weeks, it's being moved about abit due to house work.
It was that bad this car, my dad towed up the driveway in his (also) white cavalier, leaving a trail of rubber and dirt from it's very seized rear wheels!!
He always loved the idea of restoring it, I just wanted to eat my dam breakfast in it!
It was short lived, and it got towed away my dad found out he didn't really have the time and off to the scrappers it went.
That is when it started (it must of been)??
31 years on I still have an affinity with these stupid little funny, round things, that sound like WW1 bi-planes on full chat, the smell of the fuel and sloshing of the petrol in the tank that is above your knees (1930s health & safety for you millennials) actually I think I am slightly in the millenial camp...
I got to 23 an thought right I must get me a Beetle! I drove all over the country, looking at all sorts of ste! And believe me, some of the things people are selling, armed with a magnet and a screwdriver (grandad taught me well) I came across some death traps!
Until...I came across the one! Ohh she was a stunner, good year aswell a '66, wasnt looking for a '66 but I believe nowadays they are rather sought after (in some circles).
This particular one had service history dating back to 1978, it's on it's second engine which was replaced at 98,000, odo is showing 67k, so I assume there is around 167k on the car in essence...
It was the people's car, so obviously in black aswell, a deal was done.
8 years later the dam thing is still here, can't bring myself to sell it...I have done a few things to it but, out it back to stock oem as much as possible.
Done most of the vw shows/circuit, and can't really be bothered anymore, big scratch scratched I suppose, but it's still here.
Non stock mods:
- Adjustable front beam (wound right up now)
- 1300 single port engine (tough little one)
- 4 Tip Abarth pinto exhaust
I will post a few more pics up when I can if anyone would like to see more over the next few weeks, it's being moved about abit due to house work.
Will post some more pics on weekend, its being moved to its new home/storage so will be good time to get some.
Some interesting history, this car was owned by the very well known pinstripe artist Neil Melliard of (Prosign - http://www.prosign1.co.uk/), around 1992, apparently used on the school run for his family - it was originally a London registered car when it landed in the UK, late October 1966.
Their is a pinstripe motif on the glove box adorned "Harry" which he himself created in his ownership a nice nod to that scene.
Some interesting history, this car was owned by the very well known pinstripe artist Neil Melliard of (Prosign - http://www.prosign1.co.uk/), around 1992, apparently used on the school run for his family - it was originally a London registered car when it landed in the UK, late October 1966.
Their is a pinstripe motif on the glove box adorned "Harry" which he himself created in his ownership a nice nod to that scene.
DailyHack said:
Ha, dont think will ever sell it, unless the price was right Tax free, MOT free, just got it insured for £81!!, doesn't cost me anything really.
How can it be MOT free?I thought it had to be early 50s to be MOT exempt?
Beautiful car though mate, makes me miss my 1968 Beetle. I wish I hadn't sold that one.
Soulginge said:
How can it be MOT free?
Yup, 40 years now mate, bet you wished you kept yours. I will be getting a "fake" MOT every year anyway for peace of mind, always good to have other people look over it.
Cheers, the 60's bugs do have that classic roundness and charm, more photos tomorrow (weather permitting)
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