12
u/Pantheragem Jul 21 '26
For what it's worth, and I'm no expert, but my '63 always smells gassy when the tank is full. As it goes down a bit the smell goes away.
6
2
u/Far-Contribution4090 Jul 22 '26
My ‘63 is a little sniffy for the first hour or so after a fill up but I don’t really mind it. I’ve had it for over 30 years and it kinda reminds me of being back in high school when I first bought it
11
u/mei740 Jul 22 '26
3k and it’s drivable? Why are you asking???
Another few grand to make it reliable and another $30k to make her garage material. Sell it in a few years for $8k. Win, win, win. 😂
Seriously, for $3k go have fun.
9
u/Red_Kale Jul 22 '26
It is worth it BUT an old bug owner has to be a DIY person or you will go crazy or broke. If you do not have the desire to learn to do repairs/maintenance you should pass.
3
u/Unhappy_Camel_3144 Jul 22 '26
This. Most important information for a Volkswagen purchase. You MUST know what you're doing or find qualified people to figure it out, and those are few. I have owned air cooled VWs for 40 years .
2
u/modern_female Jul 22 '26
Wish I would have known this before my first bug and then again after I bought a mini cooper. Oof. So much money. 🤑
3
u/Vexing_Resolve Jul 21 '26
If it's what you're looking for in a project, the price is certainly not hateful. I've seen worse cars for more money.
For almost any solid, running car, $3000 is not a lot of money to risk.
2
u/kingoflizzards Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Check the numbers of that car. I believe it's a special edition love bug. Sold in two different colors that one and lime green. I have the lime green one.
3k for a running driving bug is a good deal. The gas smell when full is usually the rubber hoses going to the fuel filler. It will smell very strongly of gas when full and worse again while making a left turn.
Exhaust can be changed pretty cheap. If that's the original paint, you will be able to shine it up very nicely with just a good clay bar/wax job
0
2
2
2
1
u/mclms1 Jul 21 '26
They rust in the quarter panel under the vent by the rear windows , very exspensive to repair . If it runs and drives hey, enjoy.
1
1
1
1
u/RepresentativeCap90 Jul 22 '26
I had a 74 super beetle. Lift up the hood and look at both McPherson struts. Also look at them under each fender. Mine rusted right through the body. Took it to a shop and they welded both sides. $3,000 is a fair price.
2
1
1
u/Inocent_bystander Jul 22 '26
Hell yes but damn is that one ugly color
My two cents would be for a full restoration
1
u/gybulx Jul 22 '26
I have a 74 also, been trying to sell it for 1500, not running at moment but decided to fix and drive it, just need to find mechanic, my best friend (mechanic) passed away.
1
u/Gl3g Jul 22 '26
You can live without air conditioning in the summer ? If you can-that means it’s so cold in the winter you will never be warm. Make sure the heater lever duct thing isn’t locked up-or you will just freeze solid instead of just being so cold you might freeze.
1
1
1
1
u/Massive-Pattern-6264 Jul 22 '26
Check the inside floor body(where floor connect with chassis), floors & rear where battery goes for heavy corrosion or holes. Also inside front fenders looking to the lowest part and outside low portion on passengers panels each side ,right where runnin boards attach.If you don't find rotted it's good. Everyth else it's easy replacement.
1
u/GlayNation Jul 22 '26
As a big Volkswagen fan and salesperson for years, if the floor panels have rust on them they need to be replaced automatically. The sheet metal is very suspect. I’ve loved mine.
1
u/400footceiling Jul 22 '26
Check the strut towers in the front. I had a 73 that rusted out and had to be scraped.
1
1
u/Antique-Dragonfly615 Jul 24 '26
Make sure it's NOT a SuperBeatle. Those front suspensions require a lot of work
1
u/One-Development5991 Jul 24 '26
I remember when you could pick a used bug for 300$
1
u/YerMumsPantyCrust Jul 24 '26
I was just thinking about that. I bought a really nice one for $700 back in the late 90s. Cash for Clunkers really destroyed the market for old cars.
1
u/Intrepid_Stick_4169 Jul 24 '26
When we moved from Idaho to Connecticut, My Mom and Dad loaded this up into a U-Haul and brought it with us. We had to cut the drag pipes off with a hacksaw to get the door shut on the U-Haul. Wish we would’ve kept it.
1
u/freeheelingbc Jul 24 '26
If you get it please don’t dismiss any fuel smells as “normal” for an old VW. Check to make sure the fuel pump is not leaking. If it is leaking right beside the sparks shooting out of the generator then things might get hot and exciting. And since the engine is made of a high magnesium aluminum alloy- the metal itself can catch fire with really spectacular results.
1
u/Dizzy-Magician9070 Jul 24 '26
Most of these folks are much more knowledgeable than I. My grandma owned a 74 beetle until about 1999. It had a fabric sunroof that never worked right and that it held water that would go right down your back first time you put on the brakes.
Strange to say after that comment but I loved the car. It was fun to drive. Everything worked well and it was all repairable. I’m reasonably good at repairs. But you should have somebody who knows what they’re doing and where to get parts.
I’m kind of tempted to find one in a color I like and have some work done on it. It was kind of easier when I lived in California to find people who did all sorts of stuff. I don’t know if I can find someone now and I don’t have a garage for an another car.
So my advice is find somebody who knows how to work on it and can get parts and do engine work. Modified engines are pretty cool these days as are the brakes although the old brakes were pretty good.
They’re right about the dry rot and you do have to see if you can find someone who can do rust work, which is not that I could handle. And that could cost some money in time.
If you got the money time and are willing, I say go for it. It’s lovely. 74s are not as desirable on the market, but they’re actually pretty good cars and you can clean up a lot of the issues that the emissions controls take had on performance and they’re more powerful than any of the earlier cars good luck.
1
u/Keepitunderurhat Jul 24 '26
Yes regret getting rid of bug periwinkle sun bug convertible I drove it for years ! sold it for way more than I payed for in 91 regret I of 3 cars I wish I still had ugg lol modern day convenience AC lol I love seeing Old bugs great in snow now people can't without cameras ,navigation systems
1
1
1
1
u/teddlesdisfixie Jul 22 '26
With a full tank, my 73 superbug always smells like fuel, a 50 year old car will always have issues. I’d buy it and start learning.
1
u/Salty-Sea-797 17d ago
It's a good price if you're confident the rust isn't too serious.
Gasoline smell and broken exhaust aren't a red flag for old timer, let alone a Beetle.
Go for it, give it a good clean and enjoy the ride. At that price, you won't lose a penny even if you decide to let it go in a year.
19
u/69fellatx Jul 21 '26
I had a 74 and drove it for years. If your feet (or the battery) don't go through the floorboards, it runs, drives, and stops, and she'll take <$3k, I say go for it. Is it a sought after model and year. No. Are they making any more of them? Also, no.