'71 Beetle buying tips

Things that don't like to sit:

1) Brakes: Plan on replacing all the soft lines and possibly the master and slave cylinders. Brake fluid can attract moisture and rubber dries out.

2) Fuel system: Rubber lines dry out. Any leftover gas will have gone bad. Any water in the fuel will have been sitting in the bottom of the tank. Check for rust.

3) Tires: The rubber dries out and may also have developed flat-spots from sitting.

4) Emergency brake: The rear brake shoes may have frozen to the drums if it was parked with the e-brake set.

5) Battery: 8 years without a charge? It's toast.

6) Check the seats (and the est of the car) for mouse nests.

Max

Yes, '71 was first year for the Super. But, the Standard Beetle was made as well. Find out first which you are buying. In Supers, the spare tire lays flat in the trunk, Standard has the spare sitting upright. Supers have McPherson struts. Supers are notorious for having front end shimmy and wobble. That's not to say it can't be fixed with generous helpings of replacement parts... Do a GOOGLE Advanced search on this group for "shimmy".

Buying a car in Canada is like buying tickets in a lottery; there is bound to be rust, finding out how much is the challenge. (I'm in Cleveland, OH)

John Henry has a buying guide on his web site;

Speedy Jim

Thanks to all. I never thought I'd spend over three hours just reading on

Definitely a nice resource.

BTW, I don't think I'm buying that Beetle. The car has originally been in a front-end collision..

Cheers, Bruno Hache

only three hours bruno?...seems you are just getting started....LOL

------------------- Chris Perdue

*All opinions are those of the author of this post* "Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug" reply take your PANTS off

Been there, done that!

Max

Yeah...BC....the rest of us get to know the sheet metal section of our fav. restoration catalog really well...

- Pete

Not to sound like a whiney Canadian but not all bugs here are rusty. Canada is a fairly large country.with some warm dry places.

-- Anna Vancouver Island, BC

65 Bahama Blue Bug "Bebe Jones" 79 Auto Westy "Avy" 58 Panel Van "Glenn"

Yeah, I'm just starting on the Beetle craze. It's been a lifelong dream to own one, now I feel like it's time.

Bruno

Come to CA... California, buy one that's been in the desert. Drive it back home. The inland areas of California are notoriously arid, hence little rust on the cars. Besides, classic bugs are being melted down at a fantastic rate.

The most important place to not find rust is the floors.

Mike.

...................You can't roller skate in a buffalo herd. You can't take a shower in a parakeet cage. You can't get warm & dry up north unless you stay indoors.............lol

floors are minor....heater channels are the key to a solid car

------------------- Chris Perdue

*All opinions are those of the author of this post* "Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug" reply take your PANTS off

Eh.. Would a Beetle tough a 7,300km trip?

Bruno

Like, where?? I've been to Canada, unfortunately only the cold spot(s) :0)

J.

I suppose so, I bought a 70 bug for $375 last year, pretty rough, toasted wiring, and have put on over 10k miles, what's that, about

13,000km. I have replaced all the wheel bearings, entire brake system, CV boots, entire wiring harness, re-built the distrubitor, electronic ignition, just bought the entire urethane bushing kit from AirCooled.net.

I thought you were in BC, that's only about 1300km.

I'm in New Brunswick, Canada (east coast)

Bruno

I can't spell it but the Okonogon (near the interior of BC) Places around Vancouver that don't use a lot of salt on their roads

And there are places in Alberta where it's too cold to use salt. etc. etc.

-- Anna Vancouver Island, BC

65 Bahama Blue Bug "Bebe Jones" 79 Auto Westy "Avy" 58 Panel Van "Glenn"

That's what, like 3,000 miles? I did that in one week. Granted it was june, and in a big olds 98. You really get to know your tape collection.