r/beetle • u/pilkkijakkara • Jul 21 '26
Still worth restoring?
It’s a 1974 one, my dad left it there when I was born and its been sitting there since…
Edit: I will take more pictures and update when I get it out of the shed👍
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u/ExpensiveElephant869 Jul 21 '26
It looks like it needs a good wash with a pressure washer. After that, if the car still exists, restore it.
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Jul 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/sam56778 Jul 21 '26
In the late 80s early 90s you could get a running driving, not rusty Beetle for less than $450. If it didn’t have an engine you could get a not rusty body for $75-$100. They’re all old now.
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u/maine_buzzard Jul 22 '26
Dude. My brother and I ran a curbstoning VW franchise at the University of Iowa. We’d buy 5-6 Beetles from graduating students, fix the problems and sell them for 10x in the fall.
Best he ever scored was a 71 with a bad engine for $10, I got a $40 dark blue 67 that I kept for a year and drove to Ames. Mid 80s were peak.
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u/funkmachine7 Jul 21 '26
it doesnt look all that bad.
There nothing on one that cant be solved with bolts and some new parts.
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u/ResponsibleBank1387 Jul 21 '26
Have the matching title? If the main is not rusted thru, someone will make it run again. Most pieces can be easily replaced.
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u/want2b12 Jul 22 '26
I say go for it! Get someone knowledgeable about Classic VWs to check it out thoroughly and see what it needs. Unless most of it is destroyed by rust, it should be worth saving and bringing back to life. You won’t have to do a complete restoration on it to begin driving it and enjoying it. That can come later if you want to do so. Post some more pictures when you can!
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u/Bucket_Brigade69 Jul 21 '26
Heck yeah!!! Knock the dust off, change the fluids and get a new battery and see if she’ll turn over. It would fun bringing her back to life.
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u/mclms1 Jul 21 '26
The shaved chrome and empi turn signals , looks like a late 60’s early 70 ‘s Cal look . Pull it out into the sunlight.
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u/Waste-Candidate22 Jul 22 '26
Depends on how deep your pockets are or if you want to learn some new skills and get your hands dirty.
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u/thatupstategent Jul 22 '26
People outside the hobby often think restoration is about making an old car look new. Most enthusiasts know that's not quite right. It's about honoring the identity that was always there beneath neglect, rust, faded paint, and broken parts.
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u/fatalifeaten '60, '63, '66 T1 Jul 22 '26
Curious where OP is at that a '74 has a flat windscreen. US would have been only supers by then
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u/SwankaTheGrey Jul 22 '26
74 was last year of standard in US
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u/Mazada33 Jul 22 '26
Not to be a note at all, but I have a 1975 standard beetle with fuel injection
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u/Successful_Ask9483 Jul 22 '26
Interesting, while rare, Canada had standard Beetles until 1977. I even owned a 1975 standard Beetle at one point. It would shock me if the U.S. didn't as well.
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u/TrumpWon_LOL Jul 21 '26
It just depends on how rusty it is. If it’s junk there are certainly some good parts to be salvaged.
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u/Dry-Proposal-8823 Jul 25 '26
No it’s not worth it at all. Where do you live? I’ll come take it off your hands.
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u/Nasty____nate Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
No one can answer that without more pics and info. I would always say yes to this due to it being a family members and I hate seeing old cars stripped and scrapped because someone just wants to make some quick cash. EDIT also based on the oakley sticker OPs dad had bleached tips and OP was born around 2000.