Since I'm in no hurry to trade off my "old reliable Rhino 450" and Yamaha hasn't released anything that makes me want to open my wallet, I've picked up a different toy -- and it's definitely not new.
As I head toward retirement, I'd thought about getting a motorcycle for Sunday afternoon cruising the back roads through the mountains -- then came to the realization that it's been over 30 years since I rode a bike regularly, I don't have the balance nor the reflexes that I used to, etc. So, I thought better of that...
Started looking for an old VW sunroof or convertible (I've been a VW nut from way back...) only to find that a solid one, in working condition cost about 3 times what they did new. Then, I stumbled across this VW kit car -- a replica of 1952 MG on a '69 Bug running gear for $1900. Guy had taken it in on trade, then bought another Harley, and priced it at what he had in it, for a quick sale...
Below are a few pics of it stll attached via towbar, from when I drug it home a few weeks ago.
It's a 53HP 1500cc on a full-IRS floorpan, titled as a '69 VW. It was last inspected and registered in 1998, and has been sitting in a barn ever since. Not sure when it was built/assembled, nor how long it was on the road, but the odometer shows 53,xxx miles and is appropriate for the '69 Bug so I'm hoping/guessing that is total miles. I heard it run by filling the carb float bowl with gas several times (has a gas line leak from 40+ year old gas lines), it needs a clutch, and the brakes are down and the reservoir dry... all noted/documented prior to purchase.
It came with convertible top and snap/zip-in side curtains, but I didn't have them on for the 250 mile ride home. Has a dinged up front bumper and no rear bumper. Floorpan is all orginal, never been patched, and very solid -- not even serious surface rust in the infamous battery box location under what was the rear seat. Only minor surface rust visible underneath.
So, I've been distracted finding/ordering parts for it and trying to get it on the road. Though widely available, parts for '69 model VWs aren't often stocked locally, so it has been a lot of online searching and ordering - where they're also much less expensive. Right now, the new battery is installed, the dry-rotted tires are replaced, the gas tank is out, and I'm replacing all the rubber gas lines. New brakes, brake HW, all rubber brake lines and both wheel and master cylinders are being replaced, in addition to new front brake drums and wheel bearings. Clutch kit is sitting waiting on me getting the engine running good the and brakes operational before I yank the engine to put in a clutch.
Meanwhile, I've compounded it several times, inspecting the fiberglass up close and personal, and still need to do it at least once more before waxing, to get the original gelcoat up to snuff. Fiberglass is pretty solid, overall. There's a small stress crack in the right front fender, hairline cracks in the left front, and a few gouges/scrapes/scratches to deal with. Advantage of fiberglass is that there is no rust, and it has a gelcoat finish similar to a boat that is compounding back to its true bright red pretty well. Overall the body is in much better shape than a '69 Bug could have been expected to survive.
I'm intermixing cosmetic work with the mechanical work, to keep me motivated to get this thing on the road. Replaced all 40+ year rubber gas lines, and in the process of replacing all rubber brake lines, wheel cylinders and master cylinder. Meanwhile took a break from brakes to fit a used original MG TD chrome grill shell (found on eBay from someone restoring a real one) to the fiberglass shell that was on it. Took a lot of trial and error fitting and trimming, but it really tranforms the look of the car. This is just a loose dry-fit, with the front bumper sitting on my garden scooter just to see how it will look, once complete...
So, I hope to have a "side-by-side VW motorcycle" ready to enjoy this summer...
