I thought it was about time I stuck a thread up on my new project, a 1971 Beetle.

I was browsing the Pistonheads forums back in July when someone posted asking for advice on where to sell a Beetle they'd had since new, but not driven since the 70s. I was looking for a project car at the time, and it was only half an hour from me so I sent them a PM and arranged to go view it.

Me and Saf went down, had a look and everything seemed ok. It had been dry stored in a garage since the 70s, when it was taken off the road after a small accident. All the floorpans and battery tray were solid, the engine still turned over by hand, and it was a bargain price. I left a deposit there and then, and arranged for it to be transported home.

As it stood when we viewed it:

On the day it was transported home:

More to follow...

Looks like a sick project, Do you mind me asking how much you payed, What litre it is and that :')

You done anything since july?

While I was trying to sort out some unit space to store it in, it sat in my garden underneath a car cover. I started to strip it down, and had a nasty surprise. I took the front nearside wing off and realise it had been bonded to the car with filler, as well as bolted. When I pulled it off, alarm bells started ringing. I also noticed that the front apron only had one bumper mounting hole...

A bit of investigation work, and this is what I found:

The little accident turned out to be much bigger than I thought, and the entire passenger side front end from front apron to A pillar had about 2cm of filler on! I should have noticed the little clues really, but I've never had a Beetle before so they were missed. No worries, it didn't owe me too much and it couldn't be that bad underneath could it?

Fast forward a few months, and I finally managed to sort out some unit space with Saf, Ad, and one of Saf's workmates. We got all the cars moved in, and I started to crack on with the Beetle properly.

Here's how it stood at the beginning of this week. Not too bad after sitting in my garden enduring the famous Manchester rain!

I set about removing as much of the filler as I could, and got the angle grinder on the case:

The front end is pretty much scrap, it looks like it's been hammered out badly and has had patches welded in to cover the accident damage. The inside of the front quarter is the same, with loads of filler on that I've not tackled yet. I've decided to cut my losses, and the whole lot will be cut out from the A pillars forwards.

Would sir like some car with his filler?

While I was up at the unit, I decided to tackle a few of the rust spots I'd seen on the roof skin and doors. The car is mostly solid, so I was pleased to find that they were just surface scabs. Not bad for a 40 year old car!

This brings us mostly up to date, apart from the work I did tonight.

I've decided this is going to be a ground up restoration, and nothing will be left out. It's my third car, so I don't need it on the road any time soon and would rather do it right first time. I don't think I need to go as far as separating the body from the chassis, as it's all solid underneath from what I can see.

Tonight I started to strip out the interior and all the glass. I got a bit of a shock when I pulled the carpets up and found an inch of standing water :( Looks like my car cover didn't do as well as I'd hoped. I'm still not sure where the water got in, as all the window seals were still fine.

Windscreen out:

Rear screen and quarters out:

The next step is to take the remaining 3 wings off, and strip the seats out along with removing the doors. I can start to prep the shell for a respray then :)

Looks like a sick project, Do you mind me asking how much you payed, What litre it is and that :')

You done anything since july?

Cheers :) I think it owes me about £450 in total so far, including transport from Crewe back to Manchester, and then from my house to my unit. I've seen them go for much more in worse condition, so I'm still pretty happy with it.

It's a 1200cc engine at the minute, but it'll be coming out for something a bit bigger Not entirely set on keeping it aircooled yet, we'll see what happens.

Just a quick visit tonight, on the way home from work. I removed the taillights and fuel tank, and got some plusgas on all the wing/bumper bolts to free them up a bit before removal.

that amount off filler is crazy

Edited 9 September, 201214 yr by mr-snob

It's a 1200cc engine at the minute, but it'll be coming out for something a bit bigger Not entirely set on keeping it aircooled yet, we'll see what happens.

Scooby

Love the colour, Keep it the same ?

It's a 1200cc engine at the minute, but it'll be coming out for something a bit bigger Not entirely set on keeping it aircooled yet, we'll see what happens.

Scooby

You know too much EJ22 ftw! Hoping to have it on the road for Tatton in August, might just stick a turnkey 1600 in there for now. Yeah it will be staying orange, the front end will be having some pretty big changes though. All will be revealed soon enough

looks a good project :)

I want a Beetle so bad right now, this thread isn't helping much .

I want a Beetle so bad right now, this thread isn't helping much .

just do it! Be careful when viewing though, most will need the bottom 8" replacing :p Even though mine has had accident damage, it's solid as a rock. 40 year old OG metal

Next step is to have a new front quarter and front clip put in, got a quote and just saving up the cash now. I'm starting an evening class to learn how to weld, but this is too much for me to tackle for now I think.

I've got an engine stand on the way, and will be pulling it out for a rebuild this week. Plan is to stay standard for now engine-wise, and maybe go Scooby after having it on the road for a while.

updates!

its the same year as mine this and the same spec lol only think is mines a baja how far you going with your engine rebuild tez as for the 8 inch rule sadly its true most beetles do have rot some where key is finding it

Ill leave that there.....

(My bro's 1967 Road/Drag bug 13secs 1/4 and its aircooled/non turbo)

Make it fast, You have the chance toooooo

Edited 2 June, 201214 yr by LiamMk6Polo