My 74 Super Vert...The SUPERFAST build lol

[hsixpac]

So I have worked this past year overseas in Iraq after getting out of military to get enough $ to open my shop (my own person dream) just building cars and selling them. To that end, Im by no means one of the best but I grew up in my brothers paint shop & my dads used car dealership. I pretty much only like 50-60's musclecars but really I dont think any REAL car guy could say they havent wanted a VW at some point and Im no exception so heres the story/build.

Got a 74 super beetle from a guy for $900 that was really pretty complete, even the whole top frame is there. It did also come wih about a gallon of bondo on the front end, was disassembled, and the battery area pans were rusted as was the front drvr side floor. The owner said it didnt run but before i began taking it the rest of the way apart i checked it and it ran like a champ (leaked oil like a champ too from the alt stand lol).

So this is what it looked like then:

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Theres 3 kinds of people in the world-
1. Stupid people: who "dont" learn from their mistakes

2. Normal people:who learn from their "own" mistakes

3. Smart People:who learn from "others" mistakes

always at least try to be the normal kind if not the smart kind

[hsixpac]

decided to go with red since thats what it was repainted to years ago (originally yellow) and sorry if this offends anyone but while I like and admire people who go to great lengths to put a car back to OEM shape, I do not like that look in pretty much anything for myself and what I build. So this will be a very mild custom (nothing like the crazy super modded really nice vw's ive seen on here but "retro-custom" I guess).

The rust holes(after some cutting) & sorry but i wasnt taking alot of pics then:

_________________
Theres 3 kinds of people in the world-
1. Stupid people: who "dont" learn from their mistakes

2. Normal people:who learn from their "own" mistakes

3. Smart People:who learn from "others" mistakes

always at least try to be the normal kind if not the smart kind

[hsixpac]

So a TON of hours and long nights swearing/bleading/breathinging in old bondo dust and sometimes even laughing later and here she is primed with the first of 5 coats of 2k to see how she looks after some block sanding.

On a side note, some people really do think a little too highly of bondo...there was (no kidding) a quart of bondo on the front tub around the where the fender bolts to. When i started in with a stripe disk, i cut in at its deepest and it was actually 1/2" thick. And guess what after i got it all off, without even using any of the metal hammers and dollies yet, I "pushed" that entire dent out with just one hand from inside the car. I swear the previous owner was the Picasso of bondo sculpting lol.

_________________
Theres 3 kinds of people in the world-
1. Stupid people: who "dont" learn from their mistakes

2. Normal people:who learn from their "own" mistakes

3. Smart People:who learn from "others" mistakes

always at least try to be the normal kind if not the smart kind

[hsixpac]

Ok so fast foward again ALOT of sanding...god I hate sanding, when i was a kid this was all i was trusted with at my brotheres shop and i forgot how much it sucked lol.

but I got the paint done (and before you say it, yes i worked backwards from the outside to the inside). The paint is again 2k primer, with a sealer coat, then 2 coats of PPG Viper Red, 2 coats of PPG Perfomance white, and 6 coats of clear (will be wetsanding prob 2 off). Still has some orange peel now.

The black coating you see there isnt rubber "undercoating" it is this stuff called lizard skin and is great but if you ever use it be prepared to use that gun you used for only that in the future because it is a nighmare to remove. Might be easier in a cooler climate but here in phoenix at 100deg's it dries in there REALLY quick.

Oh and as you will be able to tell, I shaved the front turn signals and back bumper holes off. then i punctured the front bumper shocks pushed them in about 2 in" and welded them like that cause i wanted the bumper to have a little more "flush" look.

_________________
Theres 3 kinds of people in the world-
1. Stupid people: who "dont" learn from their mistakes

2. Normal people:who learn from their "own" mistakes

3. Smart People:who learn from "others" mistakes

always at least try to be the normal kind if not the smart kind

[hsixpac]

well i had this idea and a old mustang console laying around so I laid some fiberglass made some molds sanded them (and yes was itchy for a week cause i forgot to take a "cold" shower that night instead of hot lol). and then i took the old chrome trim from the front cowl area, bent/hammered/fomed/grinded/and buffed it then attached it to the top (in case it looks familiar.

and this is what I came out with....PLEASE feel free to give me your thoughts about...like / dont like etc.

I was thinking about finding a nice chrome vw symbol and putting it right in the middle....

_________________
Theres 3 kinds of people in the world-
1. Stupid people: who "dont" learn from their mistakes

2. Normal people:who learn from their "own" mistakes

3. Smart People:who learn from "others" mistakes

always at least try to be the normal kind if not the smart kind

[TryToBeOriginal]

I'm not so crazy about the red steering wheel, maybe if you two-toned it like the out side of the car, that would look bad ass. But the center console is really awesome! I wonder if one would fit in my 69'. I'm planning on do the same paint job as yours so I love the look keep up the great work!

[sheridap]

all of the photo links are broken
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1969 Class 11
1974 Super Beetle - Sun Bug