1967 Project

I should have started this ten years ago when I first bought the car, but I didn’t. So here goes:

I bought my 67 Beetle ten years ago, one fatefull evening when a co-worker gave be a tip of some old lady who had the car sitting on her front lawn for years who may just be interested in selling it. I called up my buddy Frank (pick up truck owner) who came over, picked me up and off we went. I offered to give this lady her lawn back if she’d take a little money for the car. She offered it to me for $200, I pulled her down to $165. Frank and I strapped the car to his pick-up’s bumper mounts, I hopped behind the wheel of the Beetle, he pulled us home. On three inflated tires. That night, I started tearing her down.

I never even tried to start her up.

Fast foward 10 years…

My chassis is done. New everything, German parts where possible. Freeway flyer trans, with a few extras. New pan halves. New steering box, dropped spindles. Brakes so clean you could eat off ‘em.

The body is back on. Doors, decklid and hood have been dipped, stripped and electrostatically primed. Still needs minor body work and paint.

I have crates full of new parts, crates full of old parts. Some I’ll use, some I’ll sell at Pomona when my car is finished. (Whenever that may be.)

Recently, I tried to sell her, in her present state, in an attempt to raise funds for an engagement ring. Nobody would offer me serious money (is $1500 too much to ask for a solid start on a project?) so I raised the money the old-fashioned way, and bought a ring outright. Now I’m back to my project.

The motor is done, a 1600 with a W100 cam, 1.25:1 roller rockers, all machined and balanced. Should be a solid motor, sure was fun to build. I’m now working on all the motor accessories, like carburetors, alternator, that sorta stuff. All my engine tin has been powder coated in silver vein. Looks fantastic.