Looking @ a 67 and loads of ?'s

mr. wob · Post by **mr. wob** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:27 am

Hey guys, very new to the aircooled scene. I am very famialr with just about everything but pre 98 beetles.

I am looking @ a 67 on Ebay thats just a few miles from me...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 67444&rd=1

I hate to post the link and someone bid it up too high, but I figure its a public auction anyway...

I live in Manhattan and I will be making some trips to South Jersey nad back in the summer (150miles or so each way)

What should I look for when I check it out? - I knwo the basics, but I mean Bug specific... Am I going to be scared to death driving this thing on the highway with the swing axle rear? What can I do to make it handle better and not be spin happy?

Also, it looks like the heater tubes are MIA in the engine pic, but I'm not sure. I notice a little rot in the behind the seat pic but I'm not too worried about that. Again any advice etc would be greatly appriciated... Thanks!

joe56vw · Post by **joe56vw** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:19 am

it's not low enough to be a problem on the highway

it is missing the tubes and the breast plate

for 1200 get it it's complete and runs

BrianD · Post by **BrianD** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:59 am

A 67' oval? what the heck is up with the rear window? I looks much older than 67, except the headlights. Nice car for $1200 go for it. Just question the year?

mr. wob · Post by **mr. wob** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:10 am

doesnt JC Whitney or someobody sell the replacement rear window kits? maybe its one of those? I dunno...

but what elese shoudl I look for on the beetle - I know I should check over the front end really well.

See, I am a Miata guy ( kinda of play on words lol) so I am used to go-kart handling and I have heard such messed up stories about the swing axle rear and how the IRS setup is light years better. Can you swap rears or is it gobbs of work? what other mods would make it less scary to drive for 150 miles at 65mph? or is this overdramatized?

seems liek in the pix its sitting a little lower then stock too, but that could be me...

BrianD · Post by **BrianD** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:27 am

I drive a 67 swing axle everyday 35 miles at freeway speeds of up to 70 with no concerns of the rear wheels tucking. If it truley is a 67 it will have a Z-bar which will protect the rear wheels from tucking. With the lowerred front end and good shocks KYB GR2 in the rear it will handle well. The sway bar tuck is over exageratedin my opinion for normal driving. It could try to tuck under emergency reaction turning etc. but the Z-bar will decrease your risk dramatically. I would make sure the brakes are in top condition brfore driving long distances (old rubber lines not relieving pressure and causing brakes to rub and overheat).

Good Luck

mr. wob · Post by **mr. wob** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:31 am

Thanks brian. I think I am going to check it out tmrw, and I will report back my findings.

Will the swing axle be a problem if later down the road I wanted to go with a more agressive/auto X type setup?

Post by **Marc** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:17 pm

It looks like a `67 body & pan, so someone probably just grafted in the rear part of an earlier roof and bolted on a "W" decklid (bet he didn't change the `67-only apron, so it probably doesn't latch shut)...hopefully in a workmanlike manner. As I recall NY doesn't issue titles but regardless be sure to check that the paperwork matches the VIN stamped into the pan and on the metal tag in the trunk.
The owner obviously doesn't know squat about Volkswagens (he can't even spell it) so I wouldn't take his word on the condition of anything. Engine could be a 1300 but it has the one-year-only `67 aircleaner and the original-style generator (talk about an old piece). Very litle rust shows in the pictures, remarkable in that part of the country. Check the front of the rear wheelwells and the back of the front ones, where road-salt-laden mud tends to accumulate.
If you lower the ride height and install limiting straps to prevent the rear axles from tucking under in a hard turn or if you go airborne, a swingaxle can be made to handle pretty well - but it's more challenging than an IRS car to set up and to drive at the limit, IMO converting it to IRS would be worth it for safety anyway - getting the pivots welded in properly is the only real hurdle, once that's done it's a bolt-in operation to convert.
http://64.246.32.127/viewtopic.php?t=86 ... c50be2735b

Haridev M · Post by **Haridev M** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:21 am

hi fellow beetler.... i wanted to find out if u have a thing for keeping your beetle original or planning to take it for beetle shows later on. why i ask is because there is hardly anything original left in the car! the rear tailights, 'W'decklid, and spit-windows arent original 67... the front fenders and headlights are of a post 68. i also doubt that the sunroof is original. but that im not so sure. anyway, if u want a car to beat around or just for the sake..."dude, i have a cool beetle. wanna ride in it?" then ok.... else i would look at other fine examples 1st. u reli ought to check on the VIN number coz for all u know it is a halfcut joined together...the saddest part of the car that you are planning to buy is that a 67 beetle is a truely special car. it has lots of one year only parts that makes the car soo special. infact it is a reli sought after car among the other 'ovals.' neway if the car is rust-free and the engine is nice and smooth then by all means go for it...else i would look for another beetle....that is my opinion but anyway keep us posted on ur new arrival....regards, dev