1975 VW Bug Restro 1

It’s been a while since I’ve provided an update on the restoration of the 1975 fuel injected VW bug that I’m project managing for a former workmate.  So I thought I’d post of some details andsome pics.

The car is called a “Standard” – that doesn’t mean a manual shift (although it is a manual 3 speed), that means the most stripped down, no optioned, VW you could purchase.  I’m talking interior door panels with a thin covering of fake leather over (almost as thin) cardboard. Rubber floor coverings (I wouldn’t even call them mats!!!), a headliner, cloth seats were the total of trim in side.  There was no upholstery covering the rest of the interior – just painted metal.  It did have an AM radio – which was replaced it a JVC.

Not much to the door panel.

Headliner and sun visors are about the only other upholstery, the rest is painted red like you see here.

In fact importation of these striped down models was halted shortly after about 100 here shipped to the US in 1975. This is one of the 100 allowed in.  Pretty cool story.

This particular car belongs to June Yang and she purchased the car, brand new, while attending college in Iowa.  The car lived in Iowa it’s entire life (until now) and it show’s signs of every winter too.  The car had been stored for years and suffers from a severe case of rust and by all accounts shouldn’t able to sit up-right on four tires.

But like many folks, who love their V-dubs, June has a lot of memories tied to the rusted fenders, college, and other life milestones. So when she moved to Tucson, Az she thought of bring the Bug with her.  She was advised that the car was not safe to drive down the driveway much less the block and certainly not 1/2 way across country!!!  And that was an
understatement!!!!!

I met June when she came to work at the same establishment where I labored.  I’m not a closet car guy and a visit to my office at that time it was pretty clear.  Eventually she asked about having the car fixed and her desire to have it join her in Az was discussed and although I had no idea the exact condition.  I helped arrange transportation to Tucson.

The goal was to get it here to some place that could get the car running (it wouldn’t start and brakes hadn’t been serviced in some time). In run condition, the thought was we could then running it around (save a few $$) to the various places I had planned to do the work.  Unfortunately even running it wasn’t going to be safe enough to drive.  See here<<<<>>>>

The transport had one bump when the driver’s truck died en route.  The company immediately arranged for a local company to pick it up and finish the trip. I believe June called them every hour for updates.  Eventually, the car showed up at my favorite auto repair shop and Tim Sisk gave me a call to come look the car over.

These pictures don’t nearly capture the condition this car, frankly I was taken back as well and I grew up driving a 1930-ish Ford stripped down pick-up that served as an alternate tractor on my grandfather farm, in upstate New York – no floor boards and the like.  This VW was nearly eaten alive by oxidation.

Rust 1

Rust 2

And here's a little side view.

See the highlighted area? It's not attached. It should be. It holds the body to the frame!!

So are you saying WHAAAATTT????    Pretty much the standard response… but don’t fret….there’s a plan!!!

More coming up.

Thanks for reading.