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Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 12:32 pm
by sng45
I've been looking at this Beetle for sale at Oldbug for the last month ( and more so the last two weeks whilst I've been isolating with covid ! )
https://www.oldbug.com/clinplot.htm
Any opinions on the car ( build / equipment / price / etc ) from the Beetle experts on the site would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Steve
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 12:53 pm
by anglophone1
sng45 wrote:I've been looking at this Beetle for sale at Oldbug for the last month ( and more so the last two weeks whilst I've been isolating with covid ! )
https://www.oldbug.com/clinplot.htm
Any opinions on the car ( build / equipment / price / etc ) from the Beetle experts on the site would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Steve
Me no expert at all but I like it a lot!
C
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 4:50 pm
by rhd racer
I think it looks great. I’ve had lots, but 30 years ago and the world seems to have moved on a bit in the VW world in terms of suspension and brakes. I agree with the sentiment that you would struggle to build it for that.
Apart from changing the rear speakers and making them more subtle and maybe paint the floor I wouldn’t change anything. They don’t usually look right on wheels larger than 15” but those look great to me. The front suspension must be narrower than a standard beam to allow that rubber on the front, which usually makes for slightly untoward handling, but I would think with 215s filling the arches that would not be an issue.
I like it a lot, and would be a great friend for your Ghia…
Good luck
Wayne
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 5:27 pm
by KS
I have a strong feeling you would be disappointed. You've bought one of the very best cars around (Dustin's Ghia) and, as with Porsches, there are good ones and not so good ones. This is a car from Ohio where the weather can be 'unfavourable' and the car looks to me like a fairly typical US semi-custom - I suspect that the paint is not as good as it looks at first sight... I'd love to see what's under it – shame there are no detailed build photos.
To me – and this is only my opinion – it looks a bit of a mishmash, with dated interior, sundry billet aluminium bits and pieces, strange wheel and tyre choice... To me it just doesn't gel. I'm sure it's had a lot of money spent on it.
Having been around VWs for donkey's years, and seen/driven more than my fair share of US-built examples, I don't get a good vibe from this car.
But don't let me put you off if you like it. It's not my decision to make!
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 5:34 pm
by KS
In fact, forget that car and buy this. Seriously. THIS is the bargain of the century – and it's currently in the UK. Everything about this car is first class. I know the car well, know the people who built it and Russell who is selling it, is one of the UK's leading VW collectors.
Hell of a specification, and with the benefit of a Berg five-speed transmission. It would be the perfect stable mate for the Ghia...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... id=2506606
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 5:47 pm
by Nige
I like both, but I think the Bahama Blue one trumps it in spec and looks. Also in UK.
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 6:36 pm
by Bootsy
I’m with Keith - not sure what that first one is trying to be other than 4-5 styles mish mashed together
However the blue one is lovely
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 7:39 pm
by rhd racer
Now that is stunning, and I agree looks a much better deal side by side with the other one. I must confess I did not realise you can get so much car for the money….
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 8:50 pm
by KS
It’s a question of being in the right place at the right time - and that time is now…
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 9:24 pm
by sng45
Thanks very much for the replies and details of the other car.
I made an offer on the car for sale at Oldbug this morning which has been turned down.
If Russell Ritchie lives in Aberdeen, I sold him this many years ago
https://www.volkszone.com/threads/1957- ... ar.786767/ ( not my ad' )
I bought it from my friend Brian Burrows about fifteen years ago
The car he's selling looks interesting, think I'll sleep on it
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 7:36 am
by Bootsy
This is for sale local to me and I know the guys cousin
Front cover of this months Volksworld and it’s an Oval
1957 Volkswagen Beetle · Hatchback · Driven 9,999 kilometres
1957 Oval Beetle
Ragtop
Argave green
Semaphores
Original popouts
Original convertible deck lid
Original EMPI steering wheel
Engine
2276 cc
AS41 Case
94 mm pistons
Scat 82 mm crank
H beam rods
Webcam 86b camshaft
Straight cut cam gears
Berg 26 mm oil pump
CB044 Cyl heads
Twin Weber 48 IDA’s (Spanish)
Gene berg throttle linkage
Full MSD ignition
Transmission
Freeway flyer
Updated race axle
Gene berg short shifter
Wheels & tyres
Flat 4 BRM’s
Rear tyres Firestone FR70 wide oval
Front tyres Michelin 145/15
Brakes
CSP discs upfront
Rear drums
Awesome car
£26500
Tel. 07974 202269
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 7:38 am
by Bootsy
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 8:24 am
by Bootsy
Pictured outside Norwich Cathedral (the big non catholic one, we have two!)
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 11:13 am
by hot66
Pretty much my dream beetle
Re: Classic Beetle - opinions please
Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:13 pm
by Bootsy
Does look lovely