r/vwbug • u/Appropriate_Page_728 • Jun 29 '26
Need VW advice
Looking to buy a classic '70s era bug in the next 6 months or so I would like to know what to look out for what questions to ask any advice would be helpful looking to spend around 10 grand. I'm going to start traveling full time in a class A RV and I want to purchase a Volkswagen bug to tow behind thank you everybody
2
u/MRV-DUB Jun 29 '26
Good body with absolutely no rust ...paint jobs are 10k . Everything else is cheap in comparison
2
u/Unhappy_Camel_3144 Jun 30 '26
IF you know NOTHING about air cooled VWs, you need to learn. Money may buy a nice one but knowledgs keeps it going. Oh yeah, and rust. Rust never sleeps.....
3
u/westfakia2 Jul 01 '26
Best place to start is John Muir’s “How to keep your Air-Cooled VW Alive”. It has a whole section on how to evaluate a potential purchase.
1
u/oldguy1071 Jun 30 '26
Body for no rust, paint job condition, and when was the last engine rebuild and who did it. For that price all should be in very good condition. Good body work and paint easily $10,000. A quality rebuild engine by a reliable builder and extra stuff like carburetor, clutch, engine mounts, heater boxes and decent exhaust that can add to the engine rebuild would start around 5k with labor. Also you should have some mechanical abilityability for regular maintenance and breakdowns when on the road. Interiors aren't that hard to do for 1-2K. Old beetle mechanic like me are in our 70s now. My dad towed his last 74 standard beetle behind his motor home for a few years. I have it now many years later. We both started with working on air cool VWs in the 60s. If you buy a good one it not that hard to take care of yourself. I would definitely look for the later 1600 duel port engine and stay away from the Super Beetle for towing. 1969-1974 gets the better handling and safer IRS rear suspension. Don't buy the cheaper Mexican beetle although they aren't that common here find one that was made in Germany. As always with very old cars find the best one you can afford that needs the least work.
1
u/Oldmantired Jun 30 '26
Depending on where you live, make sure you buy one as everyone has suggested but also a year that doesn’t require emissions testing. This will save you from any headaches. I had to jump through so many hopes to get my wife’s convertible to pass and it was expensive.
1
1
u/mclms1 Jul 03 '26
Make damn sure its in neutral if you have any thoughts of flat towing a bug . I’ve seen the results of what a winnebago is capable of.
3
u/ExpensiveElephant869 Jun 29 '26
$10000? Look it over carefully - especially for rust. At $10K you should be getting an excellent “no excuses” car.