Any Classic VW Owners/Enthusiasts?

[MANNAXMAN]

Just wondering if there are any other Camaro owners that are also classic/vintage VW owners or enthusiasts. I've always been a Camaro fan for as long as I've been into cars. I would have loved to have had a Camaro as my first car, but it just wasn't in the cards. My friend got me into VW Bugs when we were in high school, and that's what I ended up with as my first car - a 1964 VW Bug with an aftermarket Britax ragtop sunroof.

As I bought it:


Lowered:




1641cc motor with dual Dellorto 36mm carbs:


Fast forward a few years - while living in the dorms in college, it was broken into and stolen from the dorm parking lot. The car was recovered, as there was no gas in the car, and they didn't make it out of the parking lot. But they did cut a hole in the ragtop to try to get in, kicked in the vent window, and stole my stereo system. This left me feeling a bit violated and I kind of lost interest in the car. I ended up getting a 1986 IROC-Z and out of the VW scene for many years. But in the back of my mind, I always wanted another Bug with a factory ragtop. In 2008, I reconnected with the friend who initially got me into VWs. He had been in and out of the VW scene throughout the years. Shortly after we reconnected, he bought a 1955 Oval Window Ragtop. I helped him do some work on it, and it revived that desire to have another Bug. I found this 1961 Bug with a factory ragtop in 2009 and bought it.



Here are a couple more recent pics:





I haven't done much to it since owning it, but the resto mod will be starting this weekend. I'm not in a major rush to finish it. I'm targeting 1½ to 2 years.

[BMR Sales]

I'm into Air-Cooled Porsches

[Mr Twisty]

My early life revolved around VW, dad was the preferred body shop for the local VW dealer, so we always had VW's in the shop and personal cars. In the 70's I worked for a man that built sand rails. It still bothers me to think of all the cars we rolled on their top to pull the pan and drivetrain.

I pity the fool that picks on the wrong Beetle.... even with a modern ZL1

My last foray into the VW world, circa 1983 @ Little Sahara, in western Oklahoma:

[Jay_LHD3]

My buddy in the Navy was from a VW Restoring Family. He had a 69 Westy like in the (google found) picture below. It had RV setup inside for camping and was a blast cruising up and down the Virginia Beach strip!

[Mr Twisty]

69 with 1850 stroker, ended up dechromed, one piece door glass, eliminated the running boards, with a wild blue pearl on gold base paint job, and I never got pics after the paint.....

[MANNAXMAN]

I put one piece windows in my 64. I won't make the same mistake with my 61. I plan on putting a 1915 in the 61.

[Mr Twisty]

Originally Posted by MANNAXMAN

I put one piece windows in my 64. I won't make the same mistake with my 61. I plan on putting a 1915 in the 61.

Yeah, even back then I don't think I would have done it with a 6v car, they're already too cool with their big glass headlights and mini tail lights. Even more-so the oval and split window cars, I'd repower one and go to 12v but leave the body alone. Might not even repower it, but 6v sux. Already hard enough finding maintenance parts.

I remember even after all these years the felts were a pain, but the windows operated and sealed well. I wouldn't do it now just to preserve the originality of the car. Tough to do, impossible to un-do

If I ever do another car it would probably be a new Meyers Manx 2+2 with Subaru power... yup, Meyers is still around and back at it! Interesting guy.

[Mr Twisty]

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

I'm into Air-Cooled Porsches

If I would have ever found a clean one, would have been all over it! I did have a soft spot for the Karmann Ghia, had two but sold them before they broke me.

I think I made a mistake ...

[MANNAXMAN]

As stated in my first post, I planned on starting the build of my car this past weekend. Here are a few pictures of the start of the tear down.

[Sir Nuke]

I started my VW days a LONG time ago.....still love them, although don't have one at this time....but here are my two best that I have had.

The '65' was my true hotrod. it was lowered, converted to 12v, redid the upholstery in a gray/blue two tone from SewFine, I build the 1776, 12 lb. lightened 12v flywheel, counter-weighted crank, blue printed and face balanced rotating assembly, semi-hemi domed combustion chambers, Duel 40 mm DCNF carbs.....everything was supplied by Gene Berg (I was luck enough to meet and know him, RIP Gene).




This one started life out as a '70' bug. my love of hotrods and VW's came tougher here.....had 3 little kids at the time and it was a great way to get my HOTROD FIX and keep the budget down....even got it in the very first "Readers Rides" section of Hot Rod magazine, and in "Hot VW's and Dune Buggies". Won quite a few awards with it.

[riozlander]

well im a fan from afar dont know if that counts. back when i was super in to a game called Second life i built a bunch of VW projects in zmoddler and blender including motors for vw's and some fun builds.