-
I’ve sold waaay too many cool cars I wish I still had, like we all have. I got a divorce 4 years ago and lost my ’63 Mouse Grey W/T, ’59 Single cab and eventually my slammed original patina ’68 sunroof too. After not having enough money to own anything for a while, I’m finally back in the game.
I’ve owned a lot of slammed cars and a few stock height too. The current plan with this car is a nice stock height cruiser.
Back to the car. I imported this from Sweden in 2010. It was the most original rust free bug I’d ever owned. It came from way north of the Arctic circle from a place called Kiruna. Here’s the pics from back then:
I sold it to a nice couple, who I would meet at shows every couple of years. They spent a lot on the car, including all new rubber seals, but eventually sold it a couple of years ago. It then popped up on ebay with a blown engine, but I didn’t have the money to buy it.
I managed to buy a RHD 1970 1500 Beetle that had been a postal car in Sweden. I got it cheap, did a ton of work on the mechanics and was planning to daily drive it. After all the work I’d done, I saw an acquaintance post a pic of this on Facebook – he’d bought it off ebay and had the original engine rebuilt. Long story short, I managed to sell the ’70 and buy this one. I still need to refit the engine, buy a new battery and get it through the MOT, but I’m really stoked with it. Pics as it sits now:
Original threadbare carpets have gone, as have the rubber mats 🙁 so I have a big bill for square weave carpets in the future, but I’m really happy to have the car back. I have some chevron mudflaps, an accessory passenger pear mirror, an old 50’s Swedish roof rack and a few other accessories in my stash for it – I’ve been saving them for the right car. First I need to get it on the road and polish the paint.
Being a Euro 67 it came from the factory with the earlier style front fenders. Euro cars were usually 6 volt, but unusually this one is factory 12 volt and came with front disc brakes and dual circuit – 67 Euro 1500’s have 4 lug wheels with 67 1500 only nipple hub caps. This one also has my beloved white/red interior combo and a working (when I last owned it) original Eberspacher heater.
More updates when i pick it up – hopefully next week.
Looks pretty nice to start with!!!! Divorce…. sounds like a pain in the arse.
Haha, yeah it wasn’t the most fun I’ve ever had. Got the right girl on my team now though, so all good
Thats cool. I’ve always wanted to be in the position to buy one of my old cars back. Looked better the first time you owned it.
Me too – it’s the most I’ve ever paid for a Bug. It did look better before, but hopefully nothing that a buff and blend and replacing a few parts won’t fix.
I’ve been driving around in my girl’s Fiat 500c since I sold my Golf TDI back in early Dec, so just looking forward to having my own bug on the road.
The guy I’m buying it off sent me progress pics of the motor – here is the pic I took of the rebuilt long block when I put a deposit down:
and here’s what it look like now:
I think I’ll probably detail it some before fitting it to the car. The good news is I’ve secured some space in a heated workshop from next week in exchange for flipping some bus spindles for a guy I know.
Here was the RHD Swedish postal bug I managed to flip for £4k profit so I could buy the ’67 and have some cashback!
Just a fat chick late model to you guys I bet, but I actually really like the 68-70 Bugs after my beloved ’68 sunroof (which I still regret letting go).
More progress next week fingers crossed – it has snowed in the UK this week and temps dropped to -10 degrees C. This country grinds to a halt when it snows, it’s laughable. Everything is on lock down right now..
Been a crazy few weeks but I’ve made a lot of progress.
Decided to go to town on the tinware:
Got the engine back in, then had to pull it again as it had been put together with an old clutch that was slipping badly.
Then I straightened the front bumper out and restored both license plates with new aluminium backing plates.
After backing it into a post and repairing the wing/fender, I got it inspected then taped off and polished half the car with Meguiars products so it could be displayed at the Volksworld show.
It’s now on daily driver status. Lots more stuff to do, but I’m enjoying driving it.
Can’t wait to head out to KCW next week for my visit. Can’t believe I’ll be at the shop in person after all these years!
Been a little crazy here since the trip to post updates, but I’ve been daily driving the ‘67 and occasionally doing an hour or two fixing small stuff. Taken a couple bigger trips in it too, like the one to see an old friend a week ago.
Took a day out and stopped off off for a few hours along the coast road on the way back – love this part of the world. Bug ran great there and back.
Hoping to get some time to do work in a couple of weekends time – pull the motor to swap release bearing and change transmission and engine oil. Hopefully I can buff the other half then too – I’ve been driving around for 2 months with a half shiny, half neglected car ?
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.