1972/3 1200 Beetle
Discussion
Just a small readers' rides thread for your delectation.
Story goes, old family friends (mums uni chums in the 80's) have had "Peggy" in the family for her entire life. Bought by Margret Wilson (Peggy) in 1973.
When she died, Eric Wilson (Nephew and mums friend) inherited her in the early 80's. used hard daily as a gardeners car lugging around wheelbarrows, f
k off big stones and a large amount of tree. They then moved to Spain for her retirement, Making the drive perfectly through France to the south-coast of Spain at the hands of my Dad.
Few years ago i was in need of a car as i had just passed my test and jokingly mentioned that i'd take her of their hands never thinking that they would ever part with her. to my surprise they said YES! And for free!!!
Its not exactly been trouble free motoring but great fun none the less! It's a very nice feeling to be driving around in a car that you have very early childhood memories of, chugging up steep hills sitting in the back bouncing around with no seat belts.
Anyway, more about the car: i'm pretty sure it's a 72 Model year but registered in 73. Marina blue 1200 base model built in Belgium (has 'Be' stamped in the glass) 38 years ago it came out of the factory with 34BHP! so if it has only lost 1 a year it should now be on . . . . . . . -4??!?!?!!?!1 To be honest that seams very plausible. The stated top speed is 72! although i have once reached 79!
Down a Hill . . . .
With two people in the car . . . .
With a Tail wind . . . . .
Pictures?
Copied over from VZi, first posted: 15/04/2009
i have just got back from spain with my new car and thought i should share her with you all. a few patches of superficial rust and probably the most sun bleached paint i have ever seen but really rather good for a free car i'm very happy with her but at the moment am trying to find a way to let the missus down gently about finding someone else, any tips?
Story goes, old family friends (mums uni chums in the 80's) have had "Peggy" in the family for her entire life. Bought by Margret Wilson (Peggy) in 1973.
When she died, Eric Wilson (Nephew and mums friend) inherited her in the early 80's. used hard daily as a gardeners car lugging around wheelbarrows, f
k off big stones and a large amount of tree. They then moved to Spain for her retirement, Making the drive perfectly through France to the south-coast of Spain at the hands of my Dad. Few years ago i was in need of a car as i had just passed my test and jokingly mentioned that i'd take her of their hands never thinking that they would ever part with her. to my surprise they said YES! And for free!!!
Its not exactly been trouble free motoring but great fun none the less! It's a very nice feeling to be driving around in a car that you have very early childhood memories of, chugging up steep hills sitting in the back bouncing around with no seat belts.
Anyway, more about the car: i'm pretty sure it's a 72 Model year but registered in 73. Marina blue 1200 base model built in Belgium (has 'Be' stamped in the glass) 38 years ago it came out of the factory with 34BHP! so if it has only lost 1 a year it should now be on . . . . . . . -4??!?!?!!?!1 To be honest that seams very plausible. The stated top speed is 72! although i have once reached 79!
Down a Hill . . . .
With two people in the car . . . .
With a Tail wind . . . . .
Pictures?
Copied over from VZi, first posted: 15/04/2009
i have just got back from spain with my new car and thought i should share her with you all. a few patches of superficial rust and probably the most sun bleached paint i have ever seen but really rather good for a free car i'm very happy with her but at the moment am trying to find a way to let the missus down gently about finding someone else, any tips?
Edited by ALThaus on Tuesday 26th February 13:46
16/04/2009 - 05:51 PM
Cheers guys, i have just done my back in T-Cutting her today and she looks even nicer ill get some more photos up if i can be arsed/if i get any requests. But for now its off to the interweb to get some new bits and bobs, get her ready for some early summer crusin'
so far i am loving my short lived DUB lifestyle, its nice getting comments from the neibours you never speak to
17-04-2009, 06:07 PM
i was planning a little bit of subtle cal inspired rake with some large rubber out back and some mild engine mods, but it can't be too low as it's my daily and due to everyone being t**ts at college they have put speed bumps everywhere maybe a roof rack for the festivals and camping/surfing holidays. its pretty basic really but it maybe a case of less is more , like this?...
Tell me what you think
18,04,2009 - 03:17 PM
So much better after a wash, T-cut and polish!
Cheers guys, i have just done my back in T-Cutting her today and she looks even nicer ill get some more photos up if i can be arsed/if i get any requests. But for now its off to the interweb to get some new bits and bobs, get her ready for some early summer crusin'
so far i am loving my short lived DUB lifestyle, its nice getting comments from the neibours you never speak to
17-04-2009, 06:07 PM
i was planning a little bit of subtle cal inspired rake with some large rubber out back and some mild engine mods, but it can't be too low as it's my daily and due to everyone being t**ts at college they have put speed bumps everywhere maybe a roof rack for the festivals and camping/surfing holidays. its pretty basic really but it maybe a case of less is more , like this?...
Tell me what you think
18,04,2009 - 03:17 PM
So much better after a wash, T-cut and polish!
Edited by ALThaus on Tuesday 26th February 13:45
Edited by ALThaus on Tuesday 26th February 13:47
28,04,2009 - 04:25 PM
UPDATE: MOT was on friday, and she FAILED! according to the garage it was rust on the rear swing arm mount on both sides and some on the front mount along with some other things. i had my suspicions so i took her to a good friend of mines garage who knows about beetles (henrietta mews garage for those who live around bath and are in need) and i was right it was pretty boarderline fail/pass so all is not bad. she is there now being worked over and she should be finished some time this week I am well chuffed!
X
After passing the MOT i simply drove her, lots. Buying a few new bits here and there; roof rack, painted the steelies black and later fitted some whitewalls. doing a little bit of tweaking to keep her running smoothly and enjoying the more relaxed living that driving an aircooled VW forces you into.
Extra coats and hats in the morning as you have to drive with all the windows open at 7AM in winter to stop the windows steaming up. Learning to heel and toe to stop her from stalling at traffic lights in the mornings and leaving 15 minutes earlier for a half an hour commute every day. And also being overtaken in the very heavy snow at a million miles an hour by an X5 and then passing them a few miles ahead as they get stuck and peeping the horn and giving a friendly wave All good fun!
I will update this with some more motoring stories soon, more pictures?
Oh and one from 1986 with the second owner Eric at Beachy Head, i plan to recreate this when i can!
UPDATE: MOT was on friday, and she FAILED! according to the garage it was rust on the rear swing arm mount on both sides and some on the front mount along with some other things. i had my suspicions so i took her to a good friend of mines garage who knows about beetles (henrietta mews garage for those who live around bath and are in need) and i was right it was pretty boarderline fail/pass so all is not bad. she is there now being worked over and she should be finished some time this week I am well chuffed!
X
After passing the MOT i simply drove her, lots. Buying a few new bits here and there; roof rack, painted the steelies black and later fitted some whitewalls. doing a little bit of tweaking to keep her running smoothly and enjoying the more relaxed living that driving an aircooled VW forces you into.
Extra coats and hats in the morning as you have to drive with all the windows open at 7AM in winter to stop the windows steaming up. Learning to heel and toe to stop her from stalling at traffic lights in the mornings and leaving 15 minutes earlier for a half an hour commute every day. And also being overtaken in the very heavy snow at a million miles an hour by an X5 and then passing them a few miles ahead as they get stuck and peeping the horn and giving a friendly wave
All good fun! I will update this with some more motoring stories soon, more pictures?
Oh and one from 1986 with the second owner Eric at Beachy Head, i plan to recreate this when i can!
That's a lovely car. I had a similar one when I was 18.
I'd keep it original if you can hold yourself back from the dubious 'Cal look' mods. Looks far more distinctive and interesting unmodified, will be worth more in future, and you'll only find yourself want to go back to standard when you're older anyway.
I'd keep it original if you can hold yourself back from the dubious 'Cal look' mods. Looks far more distinctive and interesting unmodified, will be worth more in future, and you'll only find yourself want to go back to standard when you're older anyway.
Haven't updated much as there hasn't been much movement for a while, there is some now though.
I had parked her up at my dads place while i galavanted around university (ask PetrolVeins to see how this went)
Last photo before hibernation:
So, now that i'm living at home for a few months with a reasonably paid job and some spare time i though i should begin resurrection.
After 2 or so years of sitting still the fuel in the pipes had gummed up and needed to be cleared. Bought some axle stands, took off her cover and began work:
Tank out, using various different pumps from bicycle to human lung i managed to blow through the lines. but not after the original flexi pipes disintegrating in my hands. popped to a local garage and came back with some new bits. but the sun had decided he was bored and left. . . Warmth and light sources are hard to come by when working at a place with no electricity. Should be back there next weekend to finish the job and get her ticking over again.
In the mean time i have been sorting out wheels. Before hibernation i had struggled to find tyres to fit the original rear wheels. Visiting many kwik-fit type places resulted in a manager of said place coming out from his page 3 calender clad office and asking if my PCD was 4x130? little confused as to why he would know this but he later produced a set of wheels AND tyres that fitted my car. A VERY 70's pair of Cobra Supa-Slots, not my first choice but for £250 for 4, I couldn't complain!
Before and after in one photo!
I have always wanted to change them back to the steelies, so in order to make tyres easier to source i purchased a pair of porsche 914 wheels. They look almost identical to normal ones. and they are! apart from having an extra inch in the width departments (Ooh matron!) Also going to change the colour of them form black to a more OEM dull silver
Prep begins:
Size matters:
(5 1/2 x 15)
quite labour intensive so next step is Nitro-morse.
The size difference is minimal visually but will keep my running costs down. size and colour example can be seen here:
Will keep this updated slowly.
Some more pictures for fun?
ALThaus
I had parked her up at my dads place while i galavanted around university (ask PetrolVeins to see how this went)
Last photo before hibernation:
So, now that i'm living at home for a few months with a reasonably paid job and some spare time i though i should begin resurrection.
After 2 or so years of sitting still the fuel in the pipes had gummed up and needed to be cleared. Bought some axle stands, took off her cover and began work:
Tank out, using various different pumps from bicycle to human lung i managed to blow through the lines. but not after the original flexi pipes disintegrating in my hands. popped to a local garage and came back with some new bits. but the sun had decided he was bored and left. . . Warmth and light sources are hard to come by when working at a place with no electricity. Should be back there next weekend to finish the job and get her ticking over again.
In the mean time i have been sorting out wheels. Before hibernation i had struggled to find tyres to fit the original rear wheels. Visiting many kwik-fit type places resulted in a manager of said place coming out from his page 3 calender clad office and asking if my PCD was 4x130? little confused as to why he would know this but he later produced a set of wheels AND tyres that fitted my car. A VERY 70's pair of Cobra Supa-Slots, not my first choice but for £250 for 4, I couldn't complain!
Before and after in one photo!
I have always wanted to change them back to the steelies, so in order to make tyres easier to source i purchased a pair of porsche 914 wheels. They look almost identical to normal ones. and they are! apart from having an extra inch in the width departments (Ooh matron!) Also going to change the colour of them form black to a more OEM dull silver
Prep begins:
Size matters:
(5 1/2 x 15)
quite labour intensive so next step is Nitro-morse.
The size difference is minimal visually but will keep my running costs down. size and colour example can be seen here:
Will keep this updated slowly.
Some more pictures for fun?
ALThaus
ALThaus said:
Mmmm yes, that was just rust residue left over from when i had some baja spec headlight grills 
Full rust proofing is planned as she is remarkably clean underneath and i'd like to keep it that way!
Take a look at the Bilt Hamber website. I've used their (excellent) products on my Scirocco. Very pleased with the outcome. Full rust proofing is planned as she is remarkably clean underneath and i'd like to keep it that way!Big package . . . . arrived earlier today.
Rear drums recon kit, upgraded disc brake kit and lowered spindles for the front end. Started painting the wheels too, will post some photos when i've finished them and can then fit this stuff! [fidgeting like a sugared up toddler right now.]
Rear drums recon kit, upgraded disc brake kit and lowered spindles for the front end. Started painting the wheels too, will post some photos when i've finished them and can then fit this stuff! [fidgeting like a sugared up toddler right now.]
To reiterate whats just been said, if it was built in 72, it's eligible for free road tax. VW are pretty good for checking up on these things for owners.
Don't get sucked into the stupid 'scene' of carrying around loads of empty boxes and wheels on the roof rack though, it looks idiotic.
Don't get sucked into the stupid 'scene' of carrying around loads of empty boxes and wheels on the roof rack though, it looks idiotic.
shouldbworking said:
To reiterate whats just been said, if it was built in 72, it's eligible for free road tax. VW are pretty good for checking up on these things for owners.
Don't get sucked into the stupid 'scene' of carrying around loads of empty boxes and wheels on the roof rack though, it looks idiotic.
I wouldn't say it's idiotic, just not to my taste. I need to do some more research into model years and production years before I pay wolfsburg for a birth certificate (it's actually called that) Don't get sucked into the stupid 'scene' of carrying around loads of empty boxes and wheels on the roof rack though, it looks idiotic.
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