Cow Shed Revival
The Bug was parked in an open cow shed following the death of its first owner some time in 1968, which is where it spent the next 35 years!! I bought it from a friend in 2004 who had started the restoration (well started the clean up anyway), and it sat under my car port for the next two years until I could get to it. Over 2006, I stripped the car back to a bare shell, and started the long process of cleaning the pan and the rest of the underside, together with all of the mechanical bits, which were all treated to three coats of Hammerite. The shell needed minimal welding (new rear valance, 4 new wings (fenders) and a few localized repairs) before being taken back to bare metal, and sprayed (in my garage) with a generous coat of VW Sea Blue (including inner wings, under wings, inside bonnet/decklid etc etc) The rebuild was undertaken using as many of its original parts as possible, this included the full interior (except carpets and seat belts) which had survived in exceptional condition. The mechanics were in such good order that I even reused the gearbox mounts, springplate doughnuts and all control cables!! I had a bit of trouble finding information on the steel sliding sunroof, but with some head scratching managed to sort it all out, and now it all works lovely and smooth. The main items changed during rebuild were:
-American
Eagle polished 5 spokes
-1600tp motor
-Lowered (CSP drop spindles and weld in beam adjuster) -Modern inertia
reel seat belts
-Converted to 12v
-SS US spec bumpers
It passed it's MOT (UK annual safety inspection) with flying colours, I even had a lengthy conversation with the inspector during which he showered the Bug with praise (this was a good day!!) and has since been out on the roads of North Wales, turning heads wherever it goes!!
Dave Jenkins
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