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 s
te! 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 s
te! 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.
Tax free, MOT free, just got it insured for £81!!, doesn't cost me anything really.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.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)
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.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
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.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff