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saluki2011 Sophomore Author Florida Posts:110 Points:326,985 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 8:07:15 PM Ignore saluki2011 Report Abuse Who is driving a pre 1974 VW? I wish I still had one. My first was a 1960 beetle. 36hp. No seat belts but the anchors for a lap belt were there, put my own in (no gas gauge, run out of gas and there is a lever on the floor that when turned gives you about another gallon) 1961 bugs imported to the US had a gas gauge. I had a 1964 double cab pickup, 40hp, top speed about 50mph. A 1954 bug, turn signals were semaphore style, a reflective stick just behind the right and left door popped out to indicate intention to turn. All mechanical. A 1959 panel van, 36hp. The newest and coolest was a 1972 super beetle convertible. Top was strictly manual. You could just reach back and pull the top up over you (not while car was moving) and lock the two dogs on top of the windshield. Brand new in 1972 for $2,500. Had a 1963 bug that someone left the sticker price in the glove box, $999.00. Not one of them had any heat that worked and this was in New England. One cool thing was if you blew an engine you could always pick up a good used one for $100 or less. With a floor jack I could R+R an engine in under 2 hours, and that was slow. A mechanic probable in a little over an hour. They all had 6 volt batteries until around 1966 or so. I had 27 VW's over a 15 year period, usually at least 3 at once. Had some other cool old cars too, A 1957 British Austin A50 Cambridge, 1962 Austin Healy 300 Mark II, Nash Metropolitan. Sunbeam Alpine just to mention a few. The Austin A50 that could, and often was crank started if your usually 6v battery would not be able to crank the electric starter. More later..

saluki2011

Sophomore Author
Florida

Posts:110
Points:326,985
Joined:Sep 2011

Message Posted: Mar 19, 2012 8:07:15 PM

Ignore saluki2011 Report Abuse

Who is driving a pre 1974 VW? I wish I still had one.
My first was a 1960 beetle. 36hp. No seat belts but the anchors for a lap belt were there, put my own in (no gas gauge, run out of gas and there is a lever on the floor that when turned gives you about another gallon) 1961 bugs
imported to the US had a gas gauge. I had a 1964 double cab pickup, 40hp, top speed about 50mph.
A 1954 bug, turn signals were semaphore style, a reflective stick just behind the right and left door popped out to indicate intention to turn. All mechanical. A 1959 panel van, 36hp. The newest and coolest was a 1972 super beetle convertible. Top was strictly manual. You could just reach back and pull the top up over you (not while car was moving) and lock the two dogs on top of the windshield. Brand new in 1972 for $2,500.
Had a 1963 bug that someone left the sticker price in the glove box, $999.00. Not one of them had any heat that worked and this was in New England. One cool thing was if you blew an engine you could always pick up a good used one for $100 or less. With a floor jack I could R+R an engine in under 2 hours, and that was slow. A mechanic probable in a little over an hour. They all had 6 volt batteries until around 1966 or so. I had 27 VW's over a 15 year period, usually at least 3 at once.

Had some other cool old cars too, A 1957 British Austin A50 Cambridge, 1962 Austin Healy 300 Mark II, Nash Metropolitan. Sunbeam Alpine just to mention a few. The Austin A50 that could, and often was crank started if your usually 6v battery would not be able to crank the electric starter. More later..

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metsghia Rookie Author Jacksonville Posts:78 Points:7,360 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 16, 2013 12:22:28 AM Ignore metsghia Report Abuse Had many over the years and still have 3 -- 67 ghia, 71 type 3 squareback and 74 beetle. They are all good on gas and fun to drive.
floridakeys All-Star Author Columbus Posts:814 Points:298,835 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jan 15, 2013 11:25:55 PM Ignore floridakeys Report Abuse My first car was a 1969 red vw nettle ,its what I learned to drive a standard shift on. Wish I still had that car
jack4141 Champion Author Alabama Posts:3,127 Points:721,305 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 20, 2012 3:42:15 AM Ignore jack4141 Report Abuse My 1st VW was 74 rabbit I love that car.
freedom27 Champion Author Calgary Posts:2,417 Points:312,895 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 11:28:35 AM Ignore freedom27 Report Abuse My grandpa has a 1974 blue beetle. I would do anything to inherit that car.
saluki2011 Sophomore Author Florida Posts:110 Points:326,985 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 11:33:29 AM Ignore saluki2011 Report Abuse The old VW's flipped fairly easily. Turned over a 62 micro bus on a on a back road that had just been oiled and sanded. Rolled 450 degrees, thats over completely, back on it's wheels and then laid down on it's side again. Walked about a mile to some friends house and we set it back on it's feet again and was back in business again. Never reported. No harm, no foul.
Change4good Rookie Author Colorado Posts:63 Points:2,525 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 9:25:05 PM Ignore Change4good Report Abuse I have an old 66 beetle sitting in my garage. I like to tinker with it when I get time. I just bought an 07 Fahrenheit gti and love it!
saluki2011 Sophomore Author Florida Posts:110 Points:326,985 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Apr 23, 2012 2:48:35 PM Ignore saluki2011 Report Abuse My first Bug, the 1960 was 6 years old at the time I paid $200 Bought a 1963 bug that had the original sticker price in the glove box, $999 My first new one was a 1973 cabriolet for $2495.00
CaptDave2012 All-Star Author Arkansas Posts:695 Points:24,735 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 9, 2012 12:10:44 PM Ignore CaptDave2012 Report Abuse Had a new 1962 sedan. Flipped it. Actually, it rolled three times so I was told by the truck driver behind me who saw the crash. Damage was about $1400. Had paid $1800 3 months earlier so insurance company said repair it. This was back in the day before wrecked cars wre "totalled". I drove it heavily damaged for 2 months until the insurance cleared me for repairs. Will never forget the many conversations I had prior to its repair. Passers-by literally gawked at the wreck. They could NOT believe it had been rolled and was still "driveable". And no, I was not injured in the wreck (on I-94 west of Detroit in Michigan).
DasAuto92 Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,474 Points:183,625 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Apr 2, 2012 12:32:35 AM Ignore DasAuto92 Report Abuse A friend of mine who is a Beetle nut, gave me this website, i would like to share. www.pre67vw.uk......take your time there is lots to look at. I suggest you click on "show photos", and "bug 30,31,32...in California". Another is go to "links" open to the worlds famous collection of old Volkswagens.And you will see the odd SAAB,356 Porsches, 411/412 type 3. Have fun.
DesertRat2011 Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,761 Points:512,280 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Mar 28, 2012 11:13:03 AM Ignore DesertRat2011 Report Abuse Bought a new VW in 1964 was $1,600 + ?. Drove it for three years and traded it of and said I would never by a VW again!! Now some 40+ years later I bought a used 2002 TDI Jetta. This is sure no 64 bug :)