VW Beetle 1969 1300cc
Discussion
For my 16th birthday (33 years ago), my parents bought for me a 1974 1300 Beetle (SGH 381L ) in need of a lot of work. With the help of a friend who was very handy with everything aircooled, I managed to learn enough to get it on the road for my 17th birthday, and it was my pride and joy for a couple of years.
Of course, being 17, I ruined that poor car with a lurid orange, red and black paint job, cheap chrome wheels, even cheaper big tyres and a sports exhaust. I loved it!
Unfortunately, after 2 years of abuse my pride and joy died a rusty death, after hitting a kerb on a wet roundabout, courtesy of my over exuberance and very cheap tyres (which confirmed a very rotten frame head).
This was followed by a lovely 1968 Zenith Blue 1500cc model, which was in lovely condition and using all my summer job money before heading off to Uni, I snapped it up. Totally original and a big departure from the first one. I realised then the error of my ways and concluded that the original look is far better than anything modified. Unfortunately, after 3 years TAL161G was stolen from outside my student digs in Birmingham. She wasn't insured for theft either (saved myself £50 a year in insurance premiums!).
I still have the keys for TAL161G, and if I ever see her, I'll be in it and off!
Fast forward to the present day, and now with 3 children approaching driving age, I kept having visions of my teenage years and how much I loved those days in my bug. I also remember how easy these vehicles were to work on, and even dusted off my Haynes manual to remind myself.
Then out of the blue, LDR 276H, a 1969 1300cc Beetle popped up on my Facebook Marketplace feed. It was local too. The stars aligned and I went to see it. The attraction of this one, was that all the welding had been done and the body had been off and the chassis/mechanicals apparently sorted. I'm not interested in welding (been there and regretted it) and so having a solid base to work from was a big plus.
The engine is apparently low mileage, having been a new one about 10 years ago. It came with boxes of bits and pieces, 4 new wings, a tucked up style exhaust and some history.
So, the deal was done and a frantic clear out of the garage began, ready to welcome this so, no doubt, long term resident!
So here she is.
She seems totally solid underneath with new sills and floor pans and spare wheel well. New brake lines have been fitted, and there is no rust anywhere (phew).
The plan is to give her some new paint (keep the original colour), new interior, new wiring loom, full engine service and clean up and hopefully enjoy her!
There is a lot to do, and I have no idea how long it will take. I'll hopefully get one of the kids (or more) to assist, so that they can learn a bit (blind leading the blind), and maybe even my daughter can drive it to school as I did one day in the not too distant future!
I haven't driven a Beetle since 1995, and I must say, I am very much looking forward to it!
Of course, being 17, I ruined that poor car with a lurid orange, red and black paint job, cheap chrome wheels, even cheaper big tyres and a sports exhaust. I loved it!
Unfortunately, after 2 years of abuse my pride and joy died a rusty death, after hitting a kerb on a wet roundabout, courtesy of my over exuberance and very cheap tyres (which confirmed a very rotten frame head).
This was followed by a lovely 1968 Zenith Blue 1500cc model, which was in lovely condition and using all my summer job money before heading off to Uni, I snapped it up. Totally original and a big departure from the first one. I realised then the error of my ways and concluded that the original look is far better than anything modified. Unfortunately, after 3 years TAL161G was stolen from outside my student digs in Birmingham. She wasn't insured for theft either (saved myself £50 a year in insurance premiums!).
I still have the keys for TAL161G, and if I ever see her, I'll be in it and off!
Fast forward to the present day, and now with 3 children approaching driving age, I kept having visions of my teenage years and how much I loved those days in my bug. I also remember how easy these vehicles were to work on, and even dusted off my Haynes manual to remind myself.
Then out of the blue, LDR 276H, a 1969 1300cc Beetle popped up on my Facebook Marketplace feed. It was local too. The stars aligned and I went to see it. The attraction of this one, was that all the welding had been done and the body had been off and the chassis/mechanicals apparently sorted. I'm not interested in welding (been there and regretted it) and so having a solid base to work from was a big plus.
The engine is apparently low mileage, having been a new one about 10 years ago. It came with boxes of bits and pieces, 4 new wings, a tucked up style exhaust and some history.
So, the deal was done and a frantic clear out of the garage began, ready to welcome this so, no doubt, long term resident!
So here she is.
She seems totally solid underneath with new sills and floor pans and spare wheel well. New brake lines have been fitted, and there is no rust anywhere (phew).
The plan is to give her some new paint (keep the original colour), new interior, new wiring loom, full engine service and clean up and hopefully enjoy her!
There is a lot to do, and I have no idea how long it will take. I'll hopefully get one of the kids (or more) to assist, so that they can learn a bit (blind leading the blind), and maybe even my daughter can drive it to school as I did one day in the not too distant future!
I haven't driven a Beetle since 1995, and I must say, I am very much looking forward to it!
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