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I'm thinking around $9K.  Am I on the mark?  It definitely needs work.

 

http://vimeo.com/113136194

http://vimeo.com/113133506

 

Appears to be a VS.  Seller is asking $15K.  Says his cat destroyed the interior.  Rust on wheels, and most of the chrome.  Top corner of driver's side door damaged.  Lots of scratches in the paint.  Tailpipes appear to have been stepped on (angled downwards).  He doesn't know displacement of engine (so I'll assume 1600), or if the car has disc brakes.  I'm guessing at least front discs since it has 4 lug wheels.  It does have dual carbs.  Center windshield support appears to have been ripped off.  He does have top, top boot, and side curtains supposedly in good shape.  Is this too much to take on and come out ahead? 

 

 

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Original Post

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Don't assume it has front discs if the selller won't/can't verify; beetles came with front drums throughout their life (whether wide 5 or the later 4x130mm pattern) in North America. I'm thinking the same as Rich here ($9,000 is tops), but if the transaxle is ok (no noises when driving) and isn't covered in oil, the end play isn't huge when you pull and push on the crank pulley (spec is .003-.006"), it's not smoking or majorly leaking oil and the brakes aren't metal on metal and it stops relatively straight, then whatever you're comfortable with. As Lane and Robert noted, there are other issues though. Are you going to fix it up and sell or keep it? Al

I generally don't keep a car for more than a year or two.  I'd be fixing it up while driving it, with the intention of selling down the road. Btw, I had planned to buy a speedster about a year ago, and got sidetracked into 914-land.  Just sold my 914 so I'm back on the hunt for a speedster.

I'm just trying to gauge if it's even worth my time to go look at because it's about 4.5 hours away from me.  

My two biggest concerns just on a cosmetic standpoint, are the chunk out of the top rearwards corner of the door and the broken center windshield support (it wasn't yet broken when the pics were taken.  Can be seen in the video).  I know VS sells the center support rod, but do they also sell the pieces that attach it to the windshield frame and the underside of the dash?

I've also never worked with fiberglass so I'm wondering how fixable the door is.

 

I daily drove a Ghia for two years, so I'm pretty familiar with what to look for with the mechanicals, but that's obviously only really doable in person.

 

 

To fix that door- a little resin, a little mat, and some time. While it's not rocket science or neurosurgery, there are things to know, so you tube fiberglass repair. You'll sand the area down so the new material is bonding to clean fiberglass (and not paint), and use plastic wrap(someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think wax paper works too) as a covering to push and mold the area, if needed.

John, what you are describing is an evolutionary adaptive behavior. I usually guess 1/3 to 1/2 the actual cost, then convince myself I'm right this time. That is the only way I'll get started, cuz if I knew the real money and effort going in I would back out.

 

Earl Schieb used to say he'd paint any car for $99.95, and I've no doubt about it. It usually looked pretty good, too, as long as you were selling it. 

Last edited by edsnova

If you delivered the body all stripped and prepped so all they had to do paint it, you might get away with a full paint job for 1500 or $2,000, but as soon as you add fixing even some minor scratches (filling, sealing, sanding), more prep, and taping off and covering stuff it starts to add up pretty fast. I don't know what the materials are worth your side of the border (I do know they cost less, but how much less??), but up here in Canuck-land, just the paint can be upwards of $1,000 for a high end job.

Back in the 60's the " Duke of Earl" would paint any car, any color for the previously mentioned $29.95...however it would look like a roller /pan job and all chrome and glass would also have a splash of the prescribed color.

 

I switched body/ paint guy at #34...I am lucky to have tracked down a long time friend here,  has a body guy that works out of his home shop and is very reasonable. I always add and change things once the car is in his shop and he is very willing to go the extra mile for a small up charge upon completion.

 

Let me add if you are willing to spend the time to tear down the external pieces on a  speedy and do the light body work and black sanding you can save a bundle even at MAACO which does a decent job.

 

 

Last edited by Alan Merklin
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