Beetle
Stories
This car has been a definite love hate relationship. I got the car when I couldn’t find an internship after my Junior year, and planned to restore it during the summer. I finished it in the winter, and got it registered in February 2004. It ran great for the spring semester, but has been a pain since then.
The troubles started when a spark plug blew out of the cylinder coming home from a wedding. Then a screw from inside the carbeurator fell into the cylinder. Then I cleaned the transmission, opening up some “sealed” plugs, and had a leak. Then I found out the engine was worn out and had too much end play. And then I ordered a new 1776 longblock and freeway flier transmission.
The new engine and transmission were decided upon for several reasons. The engine I was using had an unknown history, was very worn, and the transmission wasn’t geared properly for the extra power and highway speeds. I installed them over Labor Day weekend 2004, hoping to have the summers troubles in the past.
Then another screw fell out of the other carbeurator into the cylinder. (This is when I figured out where they both came from.) Then my brakes wouldn’t stay pumped up, but rather kept filling with air. The brakes problem stemmed from an improperly manufactured end on one of the brake lines that I replaced, but took months to track down.
When things started to seem like they were going ok, I went to Bug Out 57 in May 2005 with Beverly and Madison. The next drive was the first on a hot summer day, and the cheap Brazilian tarboard melted and slouched towards the cooling fan, partially blocking it. That caused more overheating. In the end the oil was fried, the oil pressure switch was leaking, two oil cooler seals were leaking (they were hard to track down as the source of the leak), and I was late to Beverly’s sisters graduation party. After a month fixing the car and waiting for cooler weather, a cooling tin screw’s washer fell into the cylinder, with the screw close behind. Then a circlip in the differential slipped out of place, leaving the car without any gears in September. Then a wheel bearing seal was leaking.
This is the probably non-exhaustive list of problems since I started “driving” the car though October 2005. I had at one point inteneded it to be my daily driver, but now I am reluctant to fix it, afraid to drive it, and anticipating a break down at any moment. I haven’t given up on the car, but in my frustration I have been tempted to many times. It can be a really awesome car, if only it would keep all it’s parts in the right places.
1965 Volkswagen 1200 Sedan
Make: Volkswagen
Model: 1200 Sedan (aka, Beetle)
Year: 1965
Original Specs:1200cc engine with 40hp, 5.5×15″ radial tires on steel rims, AM radio with dash speaker, vinyl seat covers, cigarette lighter option
History: Built in August 1964, purchased December 11th, 1964 from Jenewein Motor Cars in Linden, NJ. I am the third owner, sort of. The first owner sold it to a relative (possibly their son), and then it was purchased in an estate auction by the guy I bought it from. However, the guy I bought it from is a NJ car dealer, so is not recorded as owning it. The car is now titled in my dad’s name, but has always been mine.
Specifications
Engine: 1776cc, stock cam, dual 40mm Kadron carbs, 009 distributor, single quiet pack exhaust. I chose this combo to get some extra power, but retain uber-reliability. Now if only I could not have things fall into the cylinders or melt down.
Transmission: “Freeway Flier.” 4.12 R&P, but otherwise stock gears, I think. Should make the highway rpm’s a bit lower.
Paint: Fjord Blue, VW paint code L434. This color was a one year only 1959 color. I would have used the original color, but I don’t like red that much, and I didn’t like any of the 1965 colors at the time.
Wheels/ Suspension: Grey EMPI style 5 spokes that came with the car (otherwise I would have gotten polished ones, but I couldn’t justify spending the money just for a different version of the same wheel). The front has an adjustable beam. I never installed the dropped spindles for fear of fender rub (they stick the wheels out 1/2″ more).
Interior: Off-white vinyl and dark grey carpeting. It’s as close to original as my budget would allow. I also threw a cd player in the glove box, and installed some kick panel & parcel tray speakers.
Accessories: Near NOS Bosch back up light and switch (reverse lights did not exist on Beetles then). Pop out windows (optional, but not original equipment for this car).