Semi-OT: New addition to the fleet, VW Superbeetle Convertible Options

[campbellcj]

I guess it's a 914 cousin or whatnot. My wife has wanted one of these since she was a kid and it was our 35th anniversary the other day so we grabbed this for her. It's a 78 and was a color change (from orange). California car with extensive fresh resto work including paint, engine, trans, new fuel tank & pump, suspension, brakes, tires, seats, carpets, windshield, and top. Nice solid tub, one floorpan was replaced and at least one fender. Not smog exempt (yet) unfortunately, but passed no prob on Monday prior to transfer and we will likely move it out of California by next time...

Needs details sorted including some overspray and finishing the radio/dashboard but should be a fun car & project. My wife wants to learn to work on it herself which will be fun, and helpful as we've got a bunch of older cars now and my hands are overflowing.

[Cairo94507]

Congratulations! A great gift for your wife. I love the Super Beetles; had a '71. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Shivers]

It was a color change, well they did a nice job. Looks clean from the pics. Congrats to your Mrs and the 35 years. My wife and I made it to 31.

[Montreal914]

Congrats on the 35 years and her new car! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)
Very nice triple (or quadruple) white combo, and modern too with FI! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sunglasses.gif)

My first three cars were Beetles and even today I find myself surfing on the Samba tempted to get one again. Like our 914s, magic little cars! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[fiacra]

A cousin for sure, and a close one at that. L-jet set up is very similar. I learned a lot working on our 79 SB triple white Beetle. Glad yours passed smog without difficulty. Took seven (yes, seven) tries to get mine to pass and I then sold it before the smog certificate expired. I still have a new in box drivers side half pan from that project that you can have if you ever pass through the Bay Area. I also have a box of other new parts as well that I can dig out if there is anything you need. They are great cars and you are going to love it! Wish I could have kept mine, but I "sacrificed" and got a restored 62 canvas sunroof Beetle to take its place (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

[campbellcj]

It's quite a surprise to me as she's never really been into cars whatsoever, but my wife is really loving this one and is already buying parts on ebay and tackling some of the odds and ends that need sorting. Also shockingly she went with me to one of the local C&Cs for the first time which was really fun (we brought 2 cars).

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-21-1756049391.1.jpg)

[emerygt350]

That is awesome. Never gonna happen with my wife but she is cozying up to the mini, that's almost getting into neat old car territory.

[wonkipop]

nice find.

the VW cab was always a very rare car in aus.
never officially imported.
back in the 80s a mere handful were here.
most came through the german embassy in canberra or consulates in various aus state capitals. the germans brought them in as staff cars. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
one of the few 914s that were here back in the day also came via a staff member who worked in the german consulate. after the ambassadors were finished with them they sold them here rather than send them home. they were all rhd except the 914 which used to run around LHD on consular plates.

there is a few more now due to historic car provisions which have meant enthusiasts can import a LHD cab from the USA and run them with historic plates. they command quite high prices.

same thing goes for karmann ghias. nearly all were coupes. hardly any convertibles.
i'm not sure but i don't think the k g convertible was ever officially sold either.

i'm sure that cab goes along real nice with the L jet. much better than a carb.

[914rrr]

Congrats on the purchase! We had a 79 with FI and dealer AC. It won an unsolicited award at a VW show for "driest / most leak free VW engine at the show!

Pretty cool it's still FI! Most FI Beetle's in the south have been yanked off by ham fisted PO's or mechanics!

I can't remember what it's called, but I think there are 2 FI relays (behind the rear seat IIRC) that you may want to purchase proactively as they aren't very easy to source and seem to fail at the most inopportune times. Ask me how I know....

[campbellcj]

Well true to its roots, the bug tried to "self-immolate" i.e. sprung fuel leaks. It was a backyard resto with a bunch of new parts including the fuel tank, an Empi I think, which turned out to be defective and seeped. An injector (not new) went bad as well so now it has another new gas tank, evap canister, injectors and all remaining fuel lines/hoses that weren't already replaced...

My wife really loves the car and has tackled a few other things such as swapping-in a much nicer condition steering wheel. Was kinda a trip seeing her hands-on wrenching on a car (if not anything whatsoever) for I think the first time ever. She didn't do the fuel system work herself but is psyched to learn more DIY stuff. Grabbed her a Haynes manual from ebay and also I just got a few more Element fire extinguishers for the fleet.

[Chad911sc]

Beetles Rule!!
My first car was a 68 that my Dad and I built when I was 15 years old. Made it a Baja bug with a stock 1600cc dual port. I totaled it in 2 weeks by slamming into the rear end of a brand new ford tempo…lol. 2nd car was a 74 super beetle that my dad and I built a 2110cc dual Weber engine for and it screamed. I still have that car and it’s now a turbo. I gave it to my daughter for a second car. I have a 69VW now that I have cut the rear end off of it, and stuffed a EJ25 forged turbo motor into it. Can’t wait to get it on the road after I finish this 914 project.
Looks like a Beatiful car with many new memories to come!
Congrats on the 35 years!
Hard to do these days…

[sixnotfour]

Congrats on Anniversary,, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)
My Sport Bug ,,,1980.. 73 had terrible ball joints,, I sectioned the front struts and made 14x6/7 steel wheels... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[73-914]

I guess it's a 914 cousin or whatnot. My wife has wanted one of these since she was a kid and it was our 35th anniversary the other day so we grabbed this for her. It's a 78 and was a color change (from orange). California car with extensive fresh resto work including paint, engine, trans, new fuel tank & pump, suspension, brakes, tires, seats, carpets, windshield, and top. Nice solid tub, one floorpan was replaced and at least one fender. Not smog exempt (yet) unfortunately, but passed no prob on Monday prior to transfer and we will likely move it out of California by next time...

Needs details sorted including some overspray and finishing the radio/dashboard but should be a fun car & project. My wife wants to learn to work on it herself which will be fun, and helpful as we've got a bunch of older cars now and my hands are overflowing.

IIRC aren't all Convertable Beetles made by Karmann

[wonkipop]

I guess it's a 914 cousin or whatnot. My wife has wanted one of these since she was a kid and it was our 35th anniversary the other day so we grabbed this for her. It's a 78 and was a color change (from orange). California car with extensive fresh resto work including paint, engine, trans, new fuel tank & pump, suspension, brakes, tires, seats, carpets, windshield, and top. Nice solid tub, one floorpan was replaced and at least one fender. Not smog exempt (yet) unfortunately, but passed no prob on Monday prior to transfer and we will likely move it out of California by next time...

Needs details sorted including some overspray and finishing the radio/dashboard but should be a fun car & project. My wife wants to learn to work on it herself which will be fun, and helpful as we've got a bunch of older cars now and my hands are overflowing.

IIRC aren't all Convertable Beetles made by Karmann