The Diamond in the Ruff

Let's hear about your 1966 VW Beetle - How long have you owned it? What attracted you to this specific model year? what makes it unique? PLEASE - NO TECHNICAL OR MECHANICAL QUESTIONS IN THIS FORUM - PLEASE POST THEM IN THE TECHNICAL/MECHANICAL SECTION. Thanks John
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koko522723
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Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:30 pm
Location: 28574

The Diamond in the Ruff

Post by koko522723 »

The year is 2014.
About a year after I sold my '72 Super beetle to pay for my wife's El Camino engine replacement.
My wife had just left me. In my sorrow and despair; I needed something to occupy my time.
Enter Fraulein.

A terrible, rusted hull of a 1966 beetle found in a hoarders back yard.
$50 and she's mine! Slightly moldy Title and all!

A friend and fellow VW enthusiast (as well as my VW mentor), who happens to be a machinist and welder helped with the body work.

replaced the rear apron and the spare tire well with all new metal components. A little patching around the glass, and a few runs of sandpaper and she was looking salvageable.

Sourced some fenders and other body metal from thesamba and Ebay, a trip to the paint shop; and I had a gorgeous little body. Now I just needed to get a pan...


Craigslist delivers. Not a '66, but a '72 pan. Complete with a 1600 series transaxle, and a 1915cc engine. just about everything included, I grabbed this treat for a whopping $800, and a 1 1/2 hr drive.

After this, it only takes a few days before this bug of mine is driving.
Not yet legal, as some of the crossover was a bit more difficult than expected...

It is now 2015, and my '66 is hiding under a cover in my father's barn.
Being a Marine by occupation, I couldn't be home ALL the time.
So I went to Cali for some training before leaving the country for a while.

Summer of 2017 I'm back home, and my beetle, Now named Fraulein Grün, or Miss Green for you non-German inclined, is on a tow-bar being pulled by my chevy to NC., and my new duty station.

by the turn of 2018, Fraulein is not only running, but completely legal, insured, and my daily ride to work.
Doesn't mean the work is done.

Over the course of 2018, she gets a new engine; Much smaller and less likely to overheat, she now boasts a measly 40 HP with a 1200cc engine from 1962. She also gets her wiper system reconstructed, a Vintage Auto Sound radio, Bumpers, voltage regulator, some LED tail lights of my own design (using stock lenses), and for Christmas, she gets some new shoes. A Lovely pair of whitewalls.

With the turn of 2019 she is now getting some more work done (trans), and got a new sister. The Black '66 named Grimm.
But that's another chapter.
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1300
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Post by 1300 »

Good looking bug! My 66 is L518 Java green too. My favorite color. You did good saving it! Casey
Seibert66
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Location: San Diego, CA

Post by Seibert66 »

Beautiful color!
koko522723
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Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:30 pm
Location: 28574

Post by koko522723 »

New underdash tray with cup holders for Fraulein.
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