1966 VW Beetle
Discussion
Yeah it sure is, ignore the rust on the wing, it's superficial - I have clear laquered all the knocks and scrapes.. I am more into preservation than restoration if I can help it...
As much as I like a car pristine, I do like to see cars showing their age related marks with pride.
It's all tucked up away now in the barn, until my wedding day in 2 months time.
As much as I like a car pristine, I do like to see cars showing their age related marks with pride.
It's all tucked up away now in the barn, until my wedding day in 2 months time.
Well, it was time for it's monthly cobweb run, it's been sat for 4 weeks.
Battery connected, and "whoosh" the sound of that vintage flat 4 knocking about.
Couldn't resist a pic ^^
Took my chance to do the engine side fuel lines this morning, not that they needed doing, they weren't perished but, you never know, this is a yearly maintenance job for me.
Cheap and easy (using correct lines to resist ethanol) other than bit of fuel spillage all good.
Battery connected, and "whoosh" the sound of that vintage flat 4 knocking about.
Couldn't resist a pic ^^
Took my chance to do the engine side fuel lines this morning, not that they needed doing, they weren't perished but, you never know, this is a yearly maintenance job for me.
Cheap and easy (using correct lines to resist ethanol) other than bit of fuel spillage all good.
Edited by DailyHack on Sunday 30th September 12:30
Well, my bug is nearly wedding ready, 3 weeks to go...fuel lines all done which was a big priority for me, for obvious reasons.
Also replaced the spare wheel, let's say the old one hadn't seen daylight for 35 years *yikes*
Bit more polish, it shines up well, almost like ink at time! This black VW paint L41 (#nerdalert) really comes up nice.
Also replaced the spare wheel, let's say the old one hadn't seen daylight for 35 years *yikes*
Bit more polish, it shines up well, almost like ink at time! This black VW paint L41 (#nerdalert) really comes up nice.
E31Shrew said:
Yeah, saw this thread - no way $1million, but it's a timecapsule no doubt, they won't ever loose money I suspect.Stumbled in here from the "Classics pics" thread. Your car is lovely, even an owner of a vulgar modern ('71) Beetle with upright headlights can see that 
1966 was the last year of "proper" wide-five wheels and thick side trim and all the stuff that makes early Bugs so cool
I love that four-tip exhaust, proper old speed look
1966 was the last year of "proper" wide-five wheels and thick side trim and all the stuff that makes early Bugs so coolI love that four-tip exhaust, proper old speed look
Nik da Greek said:
I love that four-tip exhaust, proper old speed look
Yeah its a repro abarth 4-tip, gives a great drumming noise to the flat four, going to try and bench build a 2nd engine next year and go full on vintage speed with it. Edited by DailyHack on Monday 22 October 18:24
Weirdly, having caught sight of a black Beetle in a '60s (colour) film last night, I was thinking about how relatively rare the colour black was during the years of air-cooled Beetledom, especially in the UK.
And then up pops your gorgeous car today (I don't visit PH super-frequently).
And then up pops your gorgeous car today (I don't visit PH super-frequently).
Great car and really good photos....
As mentioned, I agree that cars should not be over restored, they should be used and then they develop a nice patina.
A few years ago, I was ' gifted' ( with certain financial conditions !) a 1970 Lotus Elan S4SE that my Uncle had completely restored : When I got it the car had never been driven in the rain, and the hood had never been up !
My first long trip was from Co Durham up to St Andrews in Fife...full of my golf clubs ( it was a bit of a struggle to get them in) and it poured with rain all the way up (200 miles !).
At first I was unsure if a) the wipers actually worked...and b) the hood was watertight. I soon found out that a) they did, and b) it was not !
I was so wary of the car being scratched etc in car parks ( in fact the door locks had never been used either !) as it had never been used in that way, but over the next 12 or so years I learnt to 'get over that' and I really enjoyed using the car...did over 35,000 hard miles in it, including many trips to Scotland and one memorable European trip to the Swiss Alps !! Perhaps the only thing I did not do that I wished in retrospect i had, was a Track Day.
The Lotus acquired a few scratches and scars ( an errant pheasant was one memorable one !) but I learned to use the car for what Colin Chapman intended.
I did quite a lot of sympathetic mechanical improvements ( derided by the so called 'purists' : how I dislike that word !!) that made the car better, quicker and more importantly safer ( ie a roll bar/side protection system, solid driveshafts etc).
Towards the end of my 'custodianship' of the Elan I just used it as a 'car', ie commuting to work up and down the A, shopping etc.
I like to think that I got the full enjoyment out of what was an amazing gesture by my late Uncle.
Apologies for going off topic (!) but it was just a way to say that I really like the way you are using your wonderful 60's Beetle ! Keep the excellent photos coming and the ownership journey documented !
As mentioned, I agree that cars should not be over restored, they should be used and then they develop a nice patina.
A few years ago, I was ' gifted' ( with certain financial conditions !) a 1970 Lotus Elan S4SE that my Uncle had completely restored : When I got it the car had never been driven in the rain, and the hood had never been up !
My first long trip was from Co Durham up to St Andrews in Fife...full of my golf clubs ( it was a bit of a struggle to get them in) and it poured with rain all the way up (200 miles !).
At first I was unsure if a) the wipers actually worked...and b) the hood was watertight. I soon found out that a) they did, and b) it was not !
I was so wary of the car being scratched etc in car parks ( in fact the door locks had never been used either !) as it had never been used in that way, but over the next 12 or so years I learnt to 'get over that' and I really enjoyed using the car...did over 35,000 hard miles in it, including many trips to Scotland and one memorable European trip to the Swiss Alps !! Perhaps the only thing I did not do that I wished in retrospect i had, was a Track Day.
The Lotus acquired a few scratches and scars ( an errant pheasant was one memorable one !) but I learned to use the car for what Colin Chapman intended.
I did quite a lot of sympathetic mechanical improvements ( derided by the so called 'purists' : how I dislike that word !!) that made the car better, quicker and more importantly safer ( ie a roll bar/side protection system, solid driveshafts etc).
Towards the end of my 'custodianship' of the Elan I just used it as a 'car', ie commuting to work up and down the A, shopping etc.
I like to think that I got the full enjoyment out of what was an amazing gesture by my late Uncle.
Apologies for going off topic (!) but it was just a way to say that I really like the way you are using your wonderful 60's Beetle ! Keep the excellent photos coming and the ownership journey documented !
Black S2K said:
Though I hold a general disdain for KdFs, I have to say that is a lovely example.
Neither over-restored, nor a hackneyed hipster-cliche.
Keep up the good work - and don't even think of selling it!
Cheers for your honest distain Neither over-restored, nor a hackneyed hipster-cliche.
Keep up the good work - and don't even think of selling it!
yeah, it's hard keep it original really as one expects to mod it or try make their car look individual, which is perfect for some people, and I have been down that road before when I first aquired the car, but as time has gone on, the more original I want to keep it.Best thing I have done is put on some "balloon" 155/80 tyres - that really does give the period look in a wash of low profile there's these days.
Richard A said:
Weirdly, having caught sight of a black Beetle in a '60s (colour) film last night, I was thinking about how relatively rare the colour black was during the years of air-cooled Beetledom, especially in the UK.
And then up pops your gorgeous car today (I don't visit PH super-frequently).
Oh really, that's funny to then get sight of this thread. And then up pops your gorgeous car today (I don't visit PH super-frequently).
To be honest, I have not even thought about the colour, it was predominantly a 40/50s colour I suppose...but yeah I haven't seen many come to think about it.
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