Is a vintage aircooled Volkswagen Beetle a good daily driver?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ย. 2022
- The Volkswagen air-cooled engine is an air-cooled, gasoline-fuelled, boxer engine with four horizontally opposed cast-iron cylinders, cast aluminum alloy cylinder heads and pistons, magnesium-alloy crankcase, and forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods.
There are two distinct families/variations of the aircooled engine namely Type 1 and Type 4. The Type 3 engine is a variation of the Type 1 engine with pancake cooling arrangement.
Variations of the engine were produced by Volkswagen plants worldwide from 1936 until 2006 for use in Volkswagen's own vehicles, notably the Type 1 (Beetle), Type 2 (bus, transporter), Type 3, and Type 4. Additionally, the engines were widely used in industrial, light aircraft and kit car applications.
#vintagecars #volkswagen #classiccars - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
From Tacloban City, Leyte Island Philippines here. I'm a general surgeon. I have a 2004 VW 3.2 Vr6 Touareg and a restored 1971 super beetle. I daily my vw beetle to work. It has an aircon, petronix ignition and dual solex carbs. It is a reliable daily driver day in and day out. No electromics, computers and other gizmos. Just basic driving machine. Maintenance is very easy. I have been a vw enthusiast since the year 2000. Just sharing.
You're a general surgeon with a unique taste in vintage automobiles!
my father is an anesthesiologist and has owned 2 bugs in his life
he simetimes uses his current '63 bug to work
its 3.2cc . so much fuel consumption?
winstonvilla 15:55 flor, any relatives from Cebu? My first bug was a 1200 model 1972, but sold it.
Now, am restoring a 1972 Super 1302...but running, renewed or/cr
My paternal great grand father is from Cebu. They migrated to Leyte Island. I'm glad you have an interest in a vw 1302s. For me it is the best beetle ever made. It is bigger, better handling, has a more powerful engine and a sturdy suspension. Once properly restored and maintained. It is a reliable daily driver and will last a long time. Just sharing my experience.
I know that the Corolla is technically the world's most sold car ever, with more than 50 millions units sold worldwide. But if you look at the top spots in the all time best selling cars ever, you'd see that above the Beetle, every car changed the looks and construction so much that you could argue it's a totally different car, just with the same name.
To me that's what made the Beetle so special. Since it's inception in the early 30s, to the last unit sold in Mexico in 2003 (I'm ignoring the New Beetles variations), the car was basically the same. If you showed that last Beetle to a german from the 40s, he still would recognize. But if you show the modern day Corolla to a japanese from the 70s, he probably wouldn't know what car it was.
That's why I think the Beetle stands out from other cars. That's why I love it so much.
That and the fact that here in Brazil they were produced until the late 90s, I used to see them every time on the road, my neighbour had one... Yeah, I love this little car.
Absolutely. The first Corolla was a pushrod longitudinally mounted 4 driving the rear wheels. Since then, they've evolved into all number of variations that have no resemblance to the original. The VW Beetle started life as it finished it, a refinement of a theme and nothing more.
By name , not the same car
It is. I was a proud owner of a 1974 bug for 28 yrs. The best car ever.
In the US northeast, rust would eat them. For me, three of them died of rust. If not for rust, I would still have my first 1967 beetle. :)
I had a ‘74 I got in ‘90, and drove it in southwest New Mexico for 5 years, and never had a heating issue at all. It also did fine in the mountains in winter. Great car.
Had a 72 SuperBeetle. Got frostbite driving from Central Omaha to Southwest Omaha.
Did you need heat though?
@@d.j.a.c.870 a couple of times, and I had a space heater for it, but I was referring to engine overheating issues
Putting a Brazilian seal on the front trunk is slightly thicker and seals far better. So going down the road you don't get cold air intrusion.
Keeps it warmer inside
Getting an oil filter relocation adapter kit helps get you an extra roughly 1 extra quart of oil.
These simple to install and make it more comfortable and reliable
I need this fix currently being in the winter 😩
And you need that in the summer in Yucca Valley, Ca
Perfect!
😂 the Brazilian is thicker
And the Brazilian seal quite likely will fall apart after one year.
I was born in 1951 and the Volkswagen Beetle was my father's favorite car. He owned both a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle and a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle. I learned to drive the 1965 Volkswagen Beetle.
Great car to learn on
I still drive mine daily except in the dead of the summer. 1967 beetle and it runs great. It costs very little to keep it going and I can rebuild the engine in a weekend. It gets almost 30 mpg and $11 a month for insurance. A tune up is less than $20 dollars and tires are really inexpensive. I have been driving since 1977 and I refuse to sell it. Keep a gel battery in it and you will not have rust issues. My battery tray still shines like new.
Our family had a Beetle when I was very young. That sound when you open the front hood brings so much memories.
I purchased mine with 300,000 miles on it and drove it all over the United States and Canada. When I got back from the adventures I continued to drive it as my daily driver. I sold it for what I paid for it with 420,000 miles on it. The only issue it ever had was a sometimes stuck solenoid that you would have to whack gently with a hammer to get started. I still miss that car decades later.
Little history lesson, the last vw beetle ever produced was built in 2003 in the Volkswagen’s Puebla (Mexico) factory. Then it was shipped across the ocean to the Volkswagen museum at Wolfsburg, where it is kept until today.
Wow that's amazing
20 years ago today!
I read that on wikipedia. The last one was nicknamed, El Rey, or the King and was serenaded by Mariachi as it came off the assembly line. VW made 21,5529,464 beetles.
You could legally import a Mexican made 2000’s Beetle (Vochos as they are affectionately called in Mexico) starting next year in 2025.
You are the first American i‘ve ever heard spelling Porsche the correct way. Greetings from Germany and thanks for the great content ❤
Thank you! though in my early years I use to stay porche 😆
I'm American, and I always spell it correctly. How do some of my countrymen try to spell it?
@@michaelbenardo5695 they say „Porsh“ without an „e“ at the end. The letters „sch“ in German together are spelled like „sh“ in English . If you want to become a pro spell the „V“ in Volkswagen like an English „F“ 😄 have a nice Weekend!
Um, isn't Sir Drifto Canadian?
The spare tire pressurizing the windshield washer fluid is worth buying one!
That was a clever idea. I had that in my '67 beetle. Just keep an eye on the spare tire inflation and it's all good.
I’ve had quite a few of these and still have several. I had one as a true daily driver from 2002-2015. Year round. Street parked. It brought me from Chicago to Arizona when I lived there and back to Chicago when I moved back. I took it on off road trails In the desert and through the snow in the Midwest. It took me everywhere for 13 years and saw some extremely hard miles. I did have some repairs along the way but not once did it leave me stranded. I bought it with 35,000 miles on it and sold it with over 145,000 on the original engine. I bought it for $3200 and sold it for the same !
I added an Espar gas heater which I highly recommend if you daily these in the cold.
Air cooled VWs are some of the best and most reliable cars you can buy if you buy them in good shape or put them in good shape. The issues come when cheap parts are utilized or the work isn’t done correctly.
Awesome!
Safety is the big issue with this cars, safety and speed. Any kind of a real hit in a classic Beetle and your chances of walking away from it are not good. Trying to keep up with modern traffic going 75 to 80 mph isn't really possible without engine and transmission mods, they're slow right-line traffic cars, which is okay so long as you know that and don't mind people blowing horns at you.
I drove a '68 bug for 12 years, bought it in 1973, the gas crisis year.
My mom, single with 4 kids in the 70s, owned a 71 Super Beetle which was the crappiest lemon I ever saw. She worked for minimum wage and was mercilessly taken advantage of by the dealership which was a den of thieves. In 1976 she finally got rid of it and bought a Honda Civic which was pure gold. I would never recommend a Beetle for any purpose unless you were handy enough to do the work yourself.
@@BillySBC that’s true of virtually any vintage car. A late 60s onward Beetle should be perfectly capable of doing 70 easily though.
Maravilloso carro, es un fiel compañero,tengo uno 1975,desde nuevo, y a los 48 años es el mejor auto de la familia,saludos desde .Mexico
I have kept several Classic Beetles in different times but there is one which my father bought 30 years ago and I still have it. It was my fathers first car and now it is my daily. I can bet anyone, that I will take it were ever you say but it won't quit. I drove it in all weathers including heavy rain as well as crossed many flooded paths in it with almost upto 3 feet water and the car didnt even misfire. It is running on its original motor just refreshed it one and it rides like a dream. It was parked for 2 years because I was out of country and when I came back I just filled it up with petrol and it started right up.
My opinion is that these cars are great and will never leave you stranded on a roadside.
In the 60's early 70's..a friend's father had a Beetle. Drove it everywhere! It was classic.
I had a 1969 made in Mexico. High back front seats, black exterior, black interior. Had a gas heater since I lived in Winnipeg. Worked great.
Over 21 million sold, it answers itself. By the way, my 66 beetle is my daily driver/ work truck.😘✌️
Awesome.
I wanted one when I turned 16 and tried every way in the world to convince my parents and grandparents to find me one but the latter wouldn't hear if it (they were paying for half so they did have some say so). But when I turned 30, I bought myself a brand new New Beetle TDI. Yeah I know it isn't the same but I still love it 22 years and 330,000 miles later. It's the most reliable car I've ever owned and believe me I've owned many. I still want an old one or a Karmann Ghia though ( or an old Porsche 911).
Actually it is a dual port engine. You can see the rubber sleeves(boots) connecting the end castings to the center section. So you have 60 wild horses there. Very nice example of a Beetle.
Yep dual port for sure.
You win🎉
Not only is it a great daily driver it also does the following: 1) Makes you smile as you approach it in the parking lot. 2) Causes fathers to hit their children...Slug bug 3) Causes whole school buses to smile and go into a slugfest. 4) Will make old men talk to you for hours at the gas station. 5) Will get the peace symbol throughout the day. 5) Will make your turn around and look at her as you walk through the parking lot.
You can use as a daily under certain conditions and especially not on the interstate with the careless drivers. If you drive it regularly and maintain it it will be great. Also, try to keep them away from rain and snow if you want them to last. And don’t lug the engine; they need to be driven at sane rpms, not too little and not too much either.
Well then the people that don't have a garage are out of luck and their big is gonna die sooner.
@@SDsailor7 Exactly; as it applies basically to all cars but more so to old cars. Maybe getting a really good and waterproof cover on those cases can help.
@vayabroder729 . . . Your expressed my sentiments when I saw this video appear on the recommended list. As I was clicking on it, I was going to make similar comments.
Today's [US] interstate highway speeds would stress the VW flat-four air-cooled engine, as I speak from experience in my youth having driven a '67 Beetle [the car was in my parents name]. At the time the national speed limit [US] on freeways/interstates was 55 mph [89 km/h], which was the _sweet spot_ for the motoring speed with that '67 Beetle. Pushing that engine to prolonged paces of 70 ~ 75 mph in todays interstates, especially in warm weather, you're looking at burning the exhaust valve in the number-3 cylinder. That burnt engine valve gives the air-cooled flat-four that distinctive _chug_ exhaust note.
When going up road grades at highway speeds, don't expect to maintain the posted highway speed, and anticipate to shift down to a lower gear and keep the engine from lugging; meaning to drive at a slower speed.
Ah! When it comes to moisture protection: The sheet-metal floor-pan of the Beetle model is the backbone of the vehicle's chassis. Issues of corrosion with that sheet-metal floor-pan can doom the vehicle. Even in the mild California climate, the Beetle I drove was outdoors 24/7, subjected to the rainy seasonal weather, with the pavement's moisture keeping that floor-pan damp for months out of the year. A car cover would not have kept away the moisture that evaporated from the pavement when the vehicle was parked.
I had a hazardous issue arising from the weakness of that floor-pan due to corrosion:
The pedals assembly of the throttle/brake/clutch is anchored via a bolt to the sheet-metal floor-pan. In 1974, that pedal assembly collapsed due to the sheet metal giving way with that anchor bolt. Fortunately, I was out on a country road when it happened and was able to safely bring the Beetle to a stop.
I had the Beetle towed to a repair garage, where they used a piece of plate steel with a drilled hole to act as a retaining plate, to the floor-pan, to remount the pedals assembly with a new and slightly longer anchor bolt, and nut.
That's just ridiculous. I've driven tens of thousands of mile on the freeway in LA in a bug. No worries. Keep away from snow and rain? That's just moronic. This isn't a fragile vehicle. They are as tough as nails. I don't know where this clown "learned" about bugs, but it is all Bull.
I have the same bug (71' beetle) and it's been a love/hate relationship. I like it because I can run my errands in it and parking is pretty easy, It's also good on gas compared to my work truck. I hate it because it wont stay problem free for very long, my phone gets lost in it, I have to watch the cars behind me more than the cars in front of me and people always pull out in front of me.
I know the feeling 🤣
Won't stay problem free for long? I'm not a VW freak, but they are VERY reliable.
I love old Bugs. I had a 75 Vert. Mom once had a 72 Bug in the late 80’s. Primer orange mix. Later painted candy apple res (only outside, single mom) I learned to drive in it around 12 yrs old. Best memories. I still think of having one of my own. I had that 75, liked it a lot, but prefer the flat dash basic beetles. I own a 92 GTI 16v, had since 98. Bought a 2000 Cabrio 3 years ago to boost my spirits during Covid lock down. Still want a Thing, or Bug :) Thx for this!
Awesome!
I bought my 1970 VW sedan in late 1972, and my 1971 VW Convertible in 1976, and still have both. Both run and are registered and insured.
I've driven these Type 1 VWs many years and even drag raced one back in the early 1980s.I love these cars. They just have so much personality that has been completely lost with all the new cars on the roads that look like angry fish. Also, I used to ride an old Shovelhead Harley and I feel that The VW has some things in common. The Shovel could be finicky at times and was behind the times being a 4 speed when all the metric bikes were 5 speeds. I used to say the exact same thing about my VWs and my Shovelhead. You LEARN TO LOVE THEM for what they are. I say enjoy the personality and don't look back.
BTW, I think Nugget is good as gold. That is a really sweet dog.
Love your analogy of new cars to angry fish; you are absolutely right!!
I think Nugget wanted to drive!
🤤🙄🇺🇸
I had a 73 super beetle in late 90s and was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned to date. Definitely one of the cars I regret getting rid of
I am using my 1983 mexico beetle as a daily driver, 1200 engine, for 6 years now. Is has very little comfort, but I am still happy with it, it gives people a smile on their face when I drive by. If you are handy, it's very cheap in maintenance.
Very cool!
lol, thats not a real beetle just crap
@@AetHrium-pf4fndefine a ‘real’ beetle
@@deafbyhiphop 65 or below oval or split window. all other are just golf tbh
You're exactly right, people smile and point, honk their horns or give a 👍when I take mine for a drive. Kids get a real kick seeing it. 😂
I'm not sure what I'm more jealous about... The bug and doggo.. or that beautiful backdrop!! Snow, big blue sky and mountains in the distance!!! 😍😍.
I'm going with equal amounts of jealousy for now !
my 1971 bus, 1600cc, has been my daily driver since 2016. Also just took it on a 10k roadtrip around the country!
I've had a few and i daily drove air cooled beetles thru high school and a few years afterwards, ive had on and off since then and even about a year and a half ago i bought a 2003 in really good shape but i had to sell it because of my back pain (i was just recovering so driving stick was a stupid idea) I definitely will buy another one for driving on weekends and short distance roadtrips. There is something so special about owning and driving an air cooled bug, the sense of freedom, the simplicty, the driving experience is just you and the wide open road. I know its silly but i really like them.
'Good to have such a calm co-driver ! Nice video. Thanks !
I had two Beetles when I lived and worked in (West) Germany in the 1970s. The first one was an orange model 1302. I drove it all over Europe, and back home to England every few months to see the folks. I drove from Cologne to West Berlin to visit my sister every once in a while. It was a great little car. In 1972 VW introduced a limited edition of the Marathon 'Weltmeister' Beetle in silver blue metallic with very nice sculptured wheels, and I part exchanged my orange Beetle for the Weltmeister. It really looked the biz. Sadly, I returned to the parked car in Paris, France only to find that someone had driven into the driver's door, making quite a dent. I was so angry and upset, as the car was still fairly new. Several years later the clutch cable broke while I was visiting my father in Wales, a long way from home. Instead of getting a local garage to fit a new cable, i drove back home without the clutch! The synchromesh on those cars was fantastic! If I was 58 instead of now 78 I would buy a Beetle without a qualm provided it was in good condition.
I believe your car is a 1970 and not 1971. The '71 was the first year for flow-through ventilation, which was visible by the crescent shaped vents behind the rear quarter windows. Also your engine decklid isn't correct for the 70-71 era. They only had two vents; 4 was only on the convertible in that period. the 4 vent deck lid started in '72. It appears the front seats have aftermarket seat covers on them. In 1970 there would have been two buttons in the headrests. Also, the 1970 engine was a single port. I cant tell from your camera angles but I think that's what's in it. But it has all the markings of a 70 model. I'd also recommend getting rid of the aftermarket air cleaner and replacing it with the stock oil bath cleaner. It will run quieter and it has a thermostat in it so it will run smoother as well. If you look down at the engine tin, the heat risers are blocked off. Those are important for the carburetor to work correctly. You mentioned the heat. That's a myth; these cars when in optimal condition have very good heat. Check your thermostat for one, and the heat exchanger system matters. Aftermarket ones have less fin count. Real ones work great.
Just a heads up, Beetles had heaters.
Most people wound up not buying them, but you could get an Esparcher heater for them installed at the dealer, and turn the interior to 95 degrees when it is below zero outside.
i drove one for years through many winters, warm and toasty and no frosted windows.
A 914 5-speed tranny is a nice addition also
Great tips 👌
@@SirDrifto If you want 5 speeds in reverse! Think about it. The transmission is mounted behind the engine in a 914. And the engine in a 914 spins clockwise like a beetle.
@@dwalker399You can flip the ring gear, but thats the least of the problems in using a side shift 914 transmission. A 912 or even 911 transmission is a more expensive but easier conversion. Or get a Berg 5 speed conversion. I guess. Not really needed. The rpm in 4th is what is needed to cool the engine. Less RPM, less cooling.
Run a Berg 5 speed, they are the best.
@@dwalker399
no
You just flip the ring and pinion.
Then swap the nose cone and shift lever.
It's been done many times before.
I love these cars. My mom had a 74 VW Bug, and it's my dream to own one, too. Thanks for sharing ❤
I bought my 1973 1303s back in 1989. Drove it everywhere for 5 years, then garaged it whilst I pursued something more sporty - A Mk2 Golf GTI Oak Green Campaign model. Fast forward 30 years and the Beetle is fully restored and back on the road as my daily driver and the GTI is an occasional drive now awaiting its restoration. Ive had all manner of flashy top of the range cars over the years - but now I just crave simplicity...
My brother had an old one all through the 80s, daily driver. Winter was absolutely amazing in it. Narrow wheels bit deep into the snow, rear wheel drive made it a drifting machine, e-break, and if the heat exchangers are clean, the heat wasn't terrible if it was allowed to warm up. It was beige or tan, and the biggest threat to the car was rust. He did switch it to 12V and put new lights in it, so lights were super bright. He swapped out the taillights for some (allegedly) special bulbs IIRC, that made the tail more visible. He foolishly sold it to a kid we knew who promptly rolled it drifting it into the parking lot of the school, rolled into a ditch and bent the body.
Wow sounds like it was his daily 🤙
My buddy had an old beetle and the heater worked quite well during the winter.
Love those death traps. I daily drove a 48hp Beetle commuting in Cleveland in the early 2000s. Aggressive, deliberate and to the floor gets the job done. The owners manual said top speed 72 and it would do it. The Shoreway and Dead Man's Curve at 7am in the winter was brutal. You are greatly outclassed by every Rio and Sentra.
I got one and I love it!
cheers from Brazil
in 1974 I had a 1972 VW drove it back and forth from Ft Bragg,NC to Boston Ma once a month when I got 3 day pass
I had one just like this one for eleven years, a sky-blue 1970. Great car; I went everywhere in it including Death Valley. These cars handle really well. I used to race mine over Mt. Tamalpius in Marin County. it could keep up with Porches.
I drove a 74 VW Thing in college in early 90's. I delivered pizzas and work at ski resorts. The Thing ran like a champ! I wish they cam with A/C option.
I had three of these. The best was a 1967 Deluxe with 1500 engine, and all 12 Volt system. It had about 20,000 miles on it when I bought it, and around 150,000 when I sold it to a guy who drove the crap out of it. Shortly after I bought it, I had to have a valve job on it. The previous owner didn't realize the valves had to be mechanically adjusted. I had to replace the oil cooler seals, and that was it. At the time I lived in eastern Ontario, and had to commute a half hour every day to work. Within a few minutes, in the middle of the winter, I had to turn down the heat. It would burn people's heals if they were sitting in the back seat.
When I first saw your thumbnail for this video in my feed I thought you looked like Dale Earnhardt Sr. I love VW Bugs! My first car was a 1972 Beetle. I was beat up. Water would come through the floorboard, the inside of the windshield would frost up in the winder (I'd scrap it off with my drivers license) but it was one of the BEST cars I've ever owned. I loved that car.
I'll be that guys doppelganger anytime 🤣
Thanks for the video!
67 daily driver since 1984…beach car…seldom out of 3rd gear…no hwy driving..replaced all the parts on the car multiple times.
Thanks for watching
I n. 74_75 I had a 74 Beetle that i drove back and forth across the country multiple times. It was great, never thought twice about it at the time.
Great video! Thanks!
My 1965 is my daily driver since I moved to AZ from NY in 2008. I had my "Lady" since 1995 back in NY. She was my show car and Sunday driver then. I donated my daily driver, a 1980 Cutlass Supreme to a family that collects olds and chose the beetle for Arizona due to the heat. I miss the Olds a lot. My Lady bug is a lot of fun!!!
When VW abandoned air-cooled, I abandoned VW. Prior to that, I had two Ghias, two busses, and one squareback. And loved all of them. They were incredibly reliable and simple to maintain. I had them in Hawaii - no need for heat or AC.
I miss mine was my first car back in the 80s. I live in South Africa and back in the bad old days we had to do national service. I remember many many trips between the Military base in Hoedspruit and my parents home in Jhb. What was cool was that although they break down more often than Britney Spears they are pretty easy to fix. also full of character, They are just fun little cars
My first car was a 1974 1600 L Super bug. Loved that car and wish I still had it
Next year will mark 39 years that I have my 79 Beetle Convertible! My first car. Also have a 996 but still not as fun as a bug !
I used a 86 Sedan, swapped to a 1584cc turbo wirth Fueltech ecu,
Daily with 150whp, for 3 years, what a happiness!
Miss the a/ c and heater of modern cars, but the fast way it moves, makes worth!
That sounds fun!
‘86 Mexican?
You can add an Espar gas heater and a/c from companies like Gilmore or ICE.
@@vayabroder729 Brazilian model. Small rear window, big rounded tail lights, is called down here, Fusca 1300, 1500 and 1600.
Not sure, from 1979 till 1986 (nick name “Fafá”)
1993 to 1996 as a 2nd edition (nick name “Itamar”
Who doesn't love a VW ?
Tesla owners 🤣
I`ve Been around VWs all my life. They make excellent daily drivers.
I love the lines. The designer must have been a real artist and dreamer.
It was designed by Ferdinand Porsche himself
Had a 68 beetle w the single port cylinder heads. NO problem with the heater. Car has very robust heating system except for the flaps in the heat exchange boxes, which need occasional lubrication with ordinary motor oil, and the cables that operate flaps. People often connect the cables improperly or adjust them improperly. They neglect to attach the ducts that carry air properly. Because the engine is air cooled, the hot air that comes into the car (from under the back seat) is both hotter, and coming in at higher volume, than the hot air on any car with a water-cooled engine. The engine warms up very rapidly (providing no-one decided that removing the thermostat is a good idea (it is not). The same air used to cool the engine is used to heat the passenger cabin. After it cools the engine, it is _really really_ hot. Now if some of the sheet metal and some of the rubber gasket that surrounds the engine, is not in place - the engine won't get well-cooled and the cabin won't get well-heated. Sometime people neglect to make sure the sheet metal and the gaskets are in place. If they are not in place, instead of entering the cabin, or exiting though the air duct below the cylinders and cylinder heads, it come back into the engine compartment. You have to make sure that stuff is in place. I've seen so many of these cars where someone has neglected to do that - so of course the cabin doesn't get heat. Otherwise - this was the quickest to warm up and warmest car I have ever owned. From personal experience, NO problem in ambient temperatures below -20 deg Celsius (-4 deg F). NO problem. My 1968 new from the factory had synchromesh in all 4 gears. I could easily go from second gear to first without rev matching. Although it was only necessary. when going up a steep incline. On a level surface, as long as the car was rolling along at all, as long as it was not at a dead stop, I could accelerate the car, without lugging the engine, in second gear.
My all time favorite car!
I had one, I believe a 1974. Great reliable car that had it's quirks.
Did not lend itself well to air conditioning. In summer open windows kept your kept you cool except from the waist down there was no air circulation so you had an odd sweat pattern of wet below the waist. In winter the heater vent on the floor heated the leather on your left shoe to really hot so you had to be careful where you put your foot.
Great in snow and only failed to proceed one time when the snow was over the bumper. The windshield washer fluid had no pump and ran off sir pressure with a hose from the spare tie. If your windshield washer did not work refill the spare tire.
If you got shaking from the front suspension then replace the horizontal shock absorber that kept the front end steady. Easy job.
Greasing the front suspension was easy. Some zerk fittings were hard to reach but no problem. Under the spare tire were access plates so you could grease all the fittings without jacking up the car.
Changing the oil every 3,000 miles was a must and when you did that you HAD to adjust the valves. If you do not keep them adjusted they tend to stay open too long and the exhaust valves can burn out. Valve adjustment is very easy. Slip under the rear of the car, no jack needed to raise the car. The valve covers are held on with spring clips and released by hand, no tools needed. Adjust the valves with just a box wrench and screw driver and feeler gauge. Takes maybe 10 minutes.
To keep your old bug going find a copy to the classic beetle book “How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive : A Manual of Step-By-Step Procedures for the Complete Idiot”.
Man when a old bug pulls up beside me and I hear those lil air cooled engines, the memories come flooding back!
Loved my '74 beetle
Always wanted a Beetle and still want one. I owened a couple of buses, a 68 and 72. Omg I miss them
I remember back in 1970 my grandmother and grandfather toured the country in one. They were in their 80s. They broke down in Death Valley. He was a Forman in a steel mill, making cast iron castings all his life, so he was a tough old guy. I had a chance to buy a 1951 in Seattle back in 82, but couldn't afford the 1000.00 asking price, mint condition, blacked out everything, including hubs and emblem, just cream-colored seats and headliner, gas heater under the dash, instructions in German, split rear window, in kilometers. God, I wanted that car so bad. Even then, I knew it was something special, built out of the wreckage of bombed out Stuttgart, right after the war. On the test drive, the rear wheels kicked out on a sharp corner. "You've got to watch that" was all the guy selling it said.
Looks great!
Easy and generally a joy to work on. Simple but no substantial safety equipment or luxuries. I own a 57 bug and owned many more prior
Very nice 👌
such a simple car. How could it not be a good daily. I used to cruise my 59 at 75mph foot to the floor, and my 72 90 mph foot to the floor on long trips
excellent video !
I dally drive a 1982 Volkswagen Gol, no not a Golf a Gol, the Gol was a Brazilian designed sub compact hatch made on the B1 platform, early Gols like mine used a front mounted air cooled boxer, I could not be happier with my car, takes me every were, super reliable and super easy to maintain by your self, the Gol engine has some changes tho, because of the front engine, VW of Brasil developed a completely different cooling fan for it, allegedly in partnership with Porsche ( it is a very similar system to an early 911), mine in particular is a single por 1600 with double carburetors
I used to car pool with a guy who drove an ancient (in 1995) VW Bug. It wasn't the most pleasant vehicle in a Canadian winter.
I have always wanted one as my first car! 🤩
A great first car
... another positive reason to have them is that 1) you don't need an overhead lift to essentially take it down to the frame & rebuild it from the ground up. A set of hand tools, voltmeter, jack stands and 1 or 2 floor jacks will get you by nicely. 2) tech support..when something happens, a Robert Bentley manual will pay for itself many times over.... everything and anything is displayed , illustrated and explained in a very logical manner. I don't know of many other vehicles which have a repair / maintenance manual as well written. Great video 👍
Very informative video. Thanks.
I owned a 77 Camaro and an early 80s Bug was I was stationed in Germany in 89-91. The bug never let me down and started everytime. 130th Station Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
Ditch the ineffective air cleaner (which will not properly vent crankcase vapours/oil mist) and fit the correct distributor - your engine will love you for it! The exploding plastic filter in the engine compartment is a fire waiting to happen and be sure to carry a spare fuel pump - those cheap pattern ones sometimes have a life measured in weeks before the actuating arm fails, and if you drive it in the summer be sure to seal the engine compartment air leaks. Finally, those repro top pulleys are prone to fall apart at the hub.
I'm not suggesting you have carried out these changes/omissions yourself, but this engine really is a very typical example of well-meaning but ignorant monkey-see-monkey-do modifications over the past four decades or so by folks who have never seen a standard factory engine and believe they know better than VW (who built over 35 million flat fours) for what should have remained a stock engine.
Interesting
I had a 68 and a 73 VW Bug. They're great daily drivers. Watch out for rusty heater cores and running boards. I'd take one in a minute if I thought there would be a mechanic nearby who could work on them.❤️
just work on them yourself
Any mechanic can work on a Bug as it doesn't get much easier .
@@manchesterexplorer8519
There are actually mechanics in my city who can’t do a valve adjustment. There are about only 2 foreign car mechanics I know of who are willing to work on air cooled Beetles
I bought a german '69 this summer and I love every inch of it. The only thing that's not original is the engine, but that does not bother me. It's a newer EMPI 1600. The car has been treated for decades with a corrosion protection called Tectyl. The paint is nearly flawless except for a few tiny stone chips. No rust anywhere. .. and that classic beetle smell. I love it!
You're not wrong there, my grandfather had a beetle in red since he came home from Vietnam, my father had one when I was growing up in the 90s. My uncle even had one, from what I remember. Last time I was in one was with this girl I knew from my church. She had a sky blue one and offered to take me home and after I saw she had a Beetle, I was super happy. Now I'm looking into getting one myself. But the price tags here are quite expensive now. I hope to find one myself to daily drive.
Awesome video on an awesome car. I think the simplicity of the car is what I find appealing, just a basic, functional, and quirky car
Small upgrades are available to aid in livability:
*Oil filter mod. Adds a part to the engine that uses a modern oil filter.
*Disc brakes upgrade. Expensive, but worth the cost. You can even get an anti-lock module for extra $$.
*Semi truck sleeper heater (runs on gasoline from the fuel tank or are also available to run on diesel, CNG or propane.) They're small but very warm little heaters. And the only power is two fans and a fuel pump.
*Semi truck cab fans for defrost and air circulation.
*Double belt pulley. Reduce the chance of losing the blower with a double belt pulley.
*Replace the 30amp alternator with a 95amp alternator. (If your engine is stock, go for the 55amp so it doesn't use too much power) This helps provide power for cell phone chargers, the little heater I mentioned above, fans, brighter headlights, and even a couple of those little 200watt dashboard heaters for wintertime defrost.
*Brighter lights. Also available as LED low energy. (Headlights, taillights & turn signals)
...
Less common(as in, expensive) upgrades include:
*Hydraulic lifters. No need to adjust anymore.
*Digital throttle body. Can be tuned to increase power AND fuel efficiency. (But adds a computer to an analog car which is a bit of an abomination lol)
Great upgrade points
The oil filter addition is most recommended and front disc brakes are also a welcome addition.
@@vayabroder729 I'll have to remember that!
No filter needed. Disc brakes not needed. A 1600 pound car.
@@brianchisnell1548 I agree, none are needed. This is just a list of optional upgrades.
I bought a German beetle from my Sgt back in 1979-80, he had a 1963 convertible. His was "the gray ghost"👻 mine was "Cherry"🍒. I got mine from his Uncle who was a Major in the Air Force. After Vietnam the Major was sent to Germany. He took all the id tags,plates and title, off his rotted 1969 beetle in Maryland. While he finished his 30 years in the Air Force, then retired. He bought a 69 Bug in Germany and swapped all the necessary numbers. He had connections, which allowed him to get it to America. When I got it, when the driver floor opened. The floor pan dropped in front, to the ground. heater channel and pan was rusted out. I tied the pedals up with speaker wire and drove it that way for a week. No worries because I borrowed a couple of mom's old cookie sheets and used roof cement for a temporary fix🤪🥴. Probably around a month later J.C. Whitney delivered my new pans and channels. Great times and memories of the 70's&80's. We all ordered parts through that catalog for a lot of our VWs and muscle cars 😅. Sorry for rambling on. Glad I found your channel.
That’s very cool
I daily drive a stock 1962 bug, 1200cc 40hp, 6volt. I have all the engine tin in place, as well as the thermostat. The mods I have done so far are a clutch pedal shaft upgrade and an accelerator pedal linkage upgrade. I am running points with the original fat cap distributor. I make sure to set the gap, as well as the dwell. I keep the distributor shaft lubed, so the points don't wear out so fast. My little 1200 kicks ass, I drive it up and down the Grapevine in California, in the summertime. I use Valvoline VR 1 30 weight oil. This oil has a good amount of zinc, which is needed for these flat tappet engines.
Loved my bugs. Had a stock 61 and a 71 with a 2180.
I owned a 1967 beetle 1600 and it was not a highway warrior.. it would go 80 downhill tops.. I lived in sf at the time and would take it to my parents place in Redwood City. Anytime you would go uphill on a highway it would slow down to 60-65..California Bay Area people drive 80 mph and over. The speed limit was 80. So, I would have to drive slow lane and would be pumping my body to try to get it to go faster uphill. Ha. Bugs now cost an insane amount. The parts are insane expensive. But I did LOVE that bug.. had saved it from a yard in Berkeley CA where it was rotting. I fell through the floor.. but had a new floor welded in, had it repainted and had a whole new interior kit put in, and got a new fuel pump for a total of $6500 in 2003. After rotting in that yard for 6 years without being started.. All the engine needed was a fuel pump and a belt. It was incredible to me. People used to drive bugs to Tahoe and just put some chains on.. it was common. In alaska, during the 1970s they preferred vwnbusses and bugs because they could be buried in feet of snow and still start up. It’s not a highway warrior for the 21st century.. but they are still adorable!
I visited a cousin in Santa Barbra Ca. in 1972. There were families that had 4 or 5 of these. With a little learning and practice, they could do all the maintaince in their driveways.
I had the 1972 Super Beetle, my favorite ever, ran like a top…👍
super cool, thanks for the vid - I came home from the hospital and learned to drive on the same 1970 Beetle. Super functional little rig, but from a modern standpoint has some downsides, 1. spews pollution, 2) has absolutely terrible HVAC/defroster (bring a towel) and 3) if you get hit by some moron in a Tahoe not paying attention you are toast.
I had a 73 Super Beetle in college. I’m 6’4”. Great car. My girlfriend thought it was a little race car. She was always borrowing it, and racing around town in it.
Love the car. Thank you
I'm an old boomer. Have had 2 beetles in my life. They're fun to drive, cheap to maintain. Other than the fact that Beetles fold like a paper cup in a crash I might still want to drive one for fun.
My parents had a 69 beetle, i had it when i got my drivers license in 76, drove it all over province. The gas fired heater worked but it wasn't any good when got to -20 windows frosted bad. So happy to buy a mopar .
Hard to avoid empi products as their distribution is far and wide. The quality has come up some but would try to avoid if possible for repairs. Try whenever possible to source German parts if you need them, it is what works best in my opinion. VW beetles are really fun to drive and this usually happens if an owner is a little mechanically inclined. Doing your own valve adjustments, oil changes, brake adjustments, and other minor maintenance will go a very long way. Quite close to getting my 62 to daily driver
Unless the rear hood was swapped out, that's actually a 72. The 71s only had two sets of slats on the rear, while the 72s had four. I had a 72 that I hotrodded by swapping out the carb, distributor, intake manifold, exhaust, and rocker arms, thicker antisway bars, and wider rims. It was a fun car to drive .
That is a 1970. From 71 and up, they had flow through ventilation vents right behind the rear windows. The steering wheel is different from 72 and up.
You're right on both counts. That rear deck lid was obviously swapped out at some point.@@user-oq5bv8ue4c
Came here to say the same. '70 was the first model year with the larger front signal housings and parallelogram reflectors on the sides of the taillight housings, and it was the last year without the crescent vents behind the quarter windows. It was also the first year for the 2-vent engine lid on sedans, but that has been swapped for a '72+ style lid on this one.
My grampa"s VW only had 34 PS and he made it over the alps. So you probably gonna be fine. :D
Lots of stuff I didn’t know. Thanks
I had a 73 super and yes! It was my daily driver.
21,529,464 beetles were produced.
Wow that’s alot
just bought a 72, live in denver colorado and it’s gonna be my daily!
Awesome 😎
As those WERE originally a creature from the mind of Ferdinand Porsche one can only admire the creations ! Was in love with the Beetle since infancy actually - father had a type 2 and I claimed it when I was 8 😂 . . Such simplicity . Regrettably the Beetle is no more
We lived in the snow and heater was great , hot straight away. Big bag of Wheat under the bonnet keeps the traction on steering in the snow 😊