The secret build of my wifes first car. 1971 Super Beetle

[Robert Haas]

Things have been kind of quiet back in the shop this year. At least as far as the world knowing what has been being done. The simple answer is I have actually been very busy on a top secret project.

A quick tale is in order here.

30 years ago I met Lisa and her car. Lisa became my wife, the car became a never ending chore. It is a 1971 VW Super Beetle It even has a name. It is named Bethy. I hated that thing, she loved it. It was her first and only car, given to her by her father who bought it from his brother.

Lisa drove it to High-school, then off to College, Met me, got married and drove it as our car for another 13 years. It had 170,000 miles on it when I bought her her first new car in 2000. Bethy was driven into the back of the shop and never started again.

So that gets us current, well sort of. Last Christmas I thought it would be fun to dig Bethy out and get it running. I figured it was running when I parked it, some cleaning up of the carburetor A fresh battery and pump up the flat tires,I could drive it home after work and surprise Lisa. Nope. Not a chance. The motor was tied up solid, it had welded itself tight after sitting for 16 years. I did all the tricks and got it to turn over and it even kind of tried to fire, however there was some terrible sounds coming out of those 45 year old cases. It wasn't going to cooperate. Why should it? It never liked me before. It always punished me with every kind of mechanical malady known to mankind back when it was running. Why should it not be the same nasty bitch now?

I pushed it back into the corner, tossed the dust cover on it and went back to work. However I started to form a plan, a simple plan as most plans go. Lisa had a birthday in June, I could pull the car apart get the motor rebuilt and give her, her first car back. I had 6 months. How tough could it be? Oh my goodness how lack of humility can bite a person so hard on the butt.

THIS WHOLE BUILD WAS DONE IN SECRET. LISA CAN NOT FIND OUT.


So full tear down, new motor and lots of other stuff.

Lots and lots of build pictures here.




https://goo.gl/photos/k8yEEEftcyb6Nxbz9

[Rubber Duck]

What a wonderful gesture for your wife! Unlike you, I don't have the skills to rebuild anything and my wife's first car (1972 beetle) gave up its life to save both of us when we were continuously rear-ended by an 18-wheeler.

The look on my wife's face when I brought her to see her "new" beetle though, was priceless...just like yours was. Congratulations, you've just made her 25 all over again.
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Rubber Duck
1974 Westfalia

[TX-73]

LOL, "just a freshening up"

Awesome story, well done!
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My 1973 Standard Beetle Build SOLD
Click to view image

[Tim Donahoe]

What a great gesture!

You left out the part where she actually drives the car, however .

Very nice . . . on all accounts.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[cbeck]

Don't let it go, there is only one first.

[Cali_Army_Guy]

Looks a lot better than the pile of parts I seen a few months back haha. It was a pleasure meeting you and hearing you explain your secret plans. So good to see you got it completed. The wifey and I were rooting for you. I'll be sure to show her this vid as well.

Car turned out amazing. Happy for you guys.

Edit: Watched it a second time and noticed you got the hubcaps you were talking about. So awesome.
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2015 VW Passat Wolfsburg Edition
1966 VW Beetle - Sold

[Robert Haas]

[Robert Haas]

here she was after initial tear down.

The interior was complete, just worn and grundgy

After most of the tear down I rolled it outside and pressure washed off 45 years of road grime

Loaded it up and sent it off to paint.

initial wet sanding as this car was a true cherry. Lived its whole life indoors and no serious damage ever. Small dents and dings but nothing serious

I never shot a single picture of the car in primer, anyway here is the first new paint going on.

[wcfvw69]

I so love threads like this. It reminds me of the guy who restored a Westphalia bus for his wife last year. The look on your wife's face was pure joy!

You know you made LOTS of folks in the rust belt jealous with those naked photo's of that RUST free beetle, right?!?!

And we wonder why so many folks are scouring California and the SW states for used classic cars to rebuild.

Great job!
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Contact me at [email protected]
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Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[Tim Donahoe]

In Californis, we call "rust", "surface rust"--if there is any.

Tim
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[wcfvw69]

[mfemenel]

Well done sir
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'79 Westy FI/AC/Auto
'78 Tin Top FI/Manual
'71 Ghia Coupe Project - FOR SALE!

[Robert Haas]

The mighty 1850

Back from paint an on it's way to upholstery, the big box in the back seat is the TMI kit

headliner in, looking great.

Me (fat guy in the red shirt) installing the glass here in my shop.

The back seat looks original

Sound insulation and engine seal mounted, Trans-axle has not been out yet, but it is next.

Ray's Upholstery in Watsonville cal. did the installation of the interior. They did not care much for the TMI carpet kit so he custom built his own. I love it, except he forgot the seat belts, oops

motor in, fenders and deck lid hung, test fitting the rack

[img]

welts in, bumper brackets mounted

Funny how something as simple as the crescents make me smile

One of the most frustrating jobs on this build was the sunroof seals. This is the second set, I ruined the first set not knowing what I was doing. I may still not know what I am doing but I succeeded in getting them in and smooth working flawlessly

My wife has a thing for Michelin tires so with the 5.5" rims I had to step up to a larger size, hope she does not mind.

[VWChicky]

This is awesome on so many levels! <3

[Robert Haas]

Now the hubcaps, In 1987 I bought Lisa a set of the Wolfsburg "badged" caps for her Christmas present. She had always wanted them so I was a big hero for finding a set. Well they did not age well, in fact they aged horribly and now look like this.

I couldn't restore them so I tried and tried to find replacements all to no avail. I saw the embossed chrome Taiwanese units from J-Bugs and ordered them just to see if there was a chance I would like them better the the Stock VW caps. They arrived and I immediately sent them out to be re-chromed. I have a friend that is a sign painter by trade so I had him paint the Replacement covers with one tweak. The red wolf is now Orange.

I know they are not OEM but they are something special just for my wife.

So it is all together, and time to roll it out and test drive it for the first time in 16 years the little car will move under its own power. A splash of 91 Octane

She is done. Drives like a 71 tight and solid but very bug like.

look at those prices

This smile, right there,...makes this.

[Robert Haas]

Link

[2000typer]

Very cool.
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1956 Ragtop
1966 Sedan
1976 Type 2 Westy
My 66 bug build
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=594924

[rayvwbug]

Awesome- simply awesome!

[TheViking]

congrats! Really beautifull car!

One question? How is the exhaust system working for you? I cant seem to get mine to stop leaking...

[Robert Haas]