Replacement Sun visors: The sun
visors in my Super Beetle were looking pretty bad. They had turned
from white to yellow, became baggy as the stuffing fell to the bottom
and the passenger mirror was flaking off. So I decided to replace
my tired, discolored sun visors with some quality reproductions from
Mid
America Motorworks. Made to original specs in your choice
of black or white grained vinyl, these visors feature a built in mount
with Jersey Spring Clip mechanism for exact positioning. So the visor
won't drop and remains tight, you can feel the quality as you rotate
them into place. When I went to install them (a mere matter of removing
and reinstalling two screws) I thought that I had ordered the wrong
ones as the little arm didn't reach the hook that holds them in place.
A quick email to Mid
America Motorworks got me the answer, you simply swivel
them back and forth and they extend to reach the clip. Brilliant!
Mid
America Motorworks
Replacement
Plastic Seat Trim: If you're
as fussy as I am, and I know that a lot of you are, you want your
Beetle to be as close to perfect as it can be. Little problems start
to add up and if you don't keep on top of them before long your
Bug is going to be pretty sad. To me, it's all in the details, and
I've noticed that people really take notice when your VW
is looking mint. But finding trim items can be a chore with many
of them discontinued or in short supply.
Well this is where California Import
Parts steps in with plenty of hard-to-find items that can have your
Beetle looking right proper. The item that I was looking for was
the plastic trim that goes in the inside edge of the drivers seat.
It's a piece of plastic that is quite brittle and in most cases
cracks (as you can see in the picture of the old VS the new one).
I was online at the CIP1 site and easily found the item that I was
looking for. After a couple of clicks of the mouse it was on its
way to me. When I got it in my hands I found that it had been improved
over the original. It looks almost identical but is now made of
a plastic that is pliable and won't break after a few years of use.
The only thing is, I wish I would have ordered all four!
California
Import Parts - CIP1
The
Volkswagen Super Beetle Handbook: Okay, so you might
think that this review may be a bit jaded since I wrote the first
chapter in the book, The rise and fall of the Volkswagen Super
Beetle, well it won't be. I'm reviewing the other 25 chapters
that were written by Ryan Price, the former editor of VW Trends
magazine. If you followed the restoration of Ryan's 1971 Super Beetle
in VWT, then you know what this book is all about. The Volkswagen
Super Beetle Handbook is a Restoration Guide for 1971-1974 Models
that is made up of the articles that were published in VW Trends
magazine under the name of Super Project '71. Those articles
were a turning point for the magazine and made it more popular than
ever. No longer was the Super Beetle being shunned, instead it was
being featured. Super Beetle owners worldwide rejoiced.
More than just a collection of articles, this guide is packed with
pictures and information that cannot be found anywhere else. You
can learn from one of the best on how to take your Super Beetle
from basket case to show stopper with ease. Chapters include
Initial Inspection and Evaluation, and all the way up
to Installing Exterior Body Parts and Trim. Once you get
to that point, you're finished! I've seen people searching on The
Samba to find missing issues just to get all of these articles,
but now you can get them all in one slick package. This really is
a must have for any Super Beetle owner... and the first chapter
isn't too bad either 
.
The
Volkswagen Super Beetle Handbook
The
Love Bug, 4-Film Herbie Collection: Herbie has been a
Disney favorite for years and in 2005 was revived once again for
Herbie, Fully Loaded. But what about the original movie that
started it all? What about the following movies that turned little
number 53 into a household word? Well fear not, you can get the
all four movies including, The Love Bug (1969), Herbie Rides Again
(1974), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo(1977) and Herbie Goes Bananas
(1980) in a DVD box set online.
While every air-cooled VW owner knows about the world most famous
Beetle, many haven't seen the movies that started it all. Personally,
I really didn't have much interest in seeing any of these movies,
that was until I got the set for Christmas. Since it was a gift
from my lovely wife I knew that I should sit down and watch at least
one of Herbie's adventures. Of course we started off with The
Love Bug. A few minutes into the movie I was hooked on Herbie
forever. I had seen this movie when I was a teenager and seeing
it once again brought back so many memories. You would not believe
how many Beetles and Type 2's that you can spot and it really is
amazing to take the trip back to 1969 and see the Beetle in it's
glory years.
Once we watched The Love Bug, we couldn't wait to watch the next,
and the next, and the next. Included with this special edition is
a bonus disc with audio commentary with Dean Jones, Michele Lee
and Buddy Hackett, the 1969 Disney studio album, Herbie Mania, a
featurette called "That Adorable Bug", deleted scenes
and much, much more! Which one was the best? You're going to have
to check them out for yourself to decide. Two thumbs way up!
Herbie
DVD Box Set
VW
Hoodie: These beautiful and original VW game day hoodies
feature the iconic VW logo and will let others know where your brand
loyalty lands. There's a fast growing collection of these fabulous
VW hoodie designs for men, women and children and they are available
in all sizes from XS to XXXL. Stay warm on your next jog outdoors
or while you're sitting around the campfire on those chilly fall
nights. VW logo screen printed on chest. 9.7 oz., 85/15 Cotton/Polyester
100% Cotton Face V-notch Crew Neck 2x1 Ribbed Spandex Enhanced Trim.
The bottom line is that all of the Volkswagen licensed clothing
and products shown
here are not your typical run-of-mill products. They are all
top quality, different, and very unique, just like all of us air-cooled
Volkswagen owners, right?
Licensed
VW Hoodie
Volkswagen
Beetle Calendar: For the past few years I've been getting
a calendar that has twelve photographs of the classic Beetle for
Christmas. Known affectionately as the "Bug," the Volkswagen
Beetle is truly one of the most distinctive passenger cars on the
road in the history of the automobile. Vastly appealing for its
simple design and compact size, the Beetle was introduced in the
late 1930s in Germany, and by 1949 the first Beetle had arrived
in America. It became the world’s best-selling car and is still
in high demand, as its bright colors and eye-pleasing, compact shape
continue to attract attention on the road. This Volkswagen Beetle
wall calendar is devoted entirely to these wonderful compact cars.
• Photography –
Enjoy beautiful, award-winning photographs every single month
• Environment-Friendly – Printed with sustainable, soy-based
inks on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper
• Thick, High-Quality Paper – Prevents curled corners
due to moisture, avoids ink bleed-through
• Durable binding lasts throughout the year, and stays secure
on your wall
• Pre-planning – Four-month pre-planner page
• Large, Roomy Day Blocks – All major holidays listed,
with plenty of room for writing notes and appointments
• Great as a Gift or to Keep Yourself Organized – BrownTrout
offers 1,000 different titles!
• BrownTrout Publishers – The Calendar Company
VW Calendars by Brown Trout
Front
Disc Brake Conversion - By Ryan Ballou: For some reason
we all seem so focused on making more power, being quicker, going
faster, but what good is any of that if you can't come to a controlled
stop? There are quite a few advantages to running disc brakes, some
aren't even well known. The most obvious benefit is improved braking
power and control. Discs are much less prone to fading as they heat
up. Under heavy use, drums will dramatically lose stopping power
as they begin to overheat.
To get my VW stopping
on a dime I turned to the experts, Top
Line Parts located in Anaheim, CA. Top Line has the well-earned
reputation of being the 'go to' place for Super Beetle specific
needs for over 25 years. My first impression of the front disc brake
conversion kit was simply, wow, this has everything. My biggest
pet peeve when taking on a project is having to stop because you
need to make a run to the shop for parts. Not so in this case, the
only things you'll need are normal shop supplies like brake fluid,
brake cleaner, and wheel bearing grease. The kit includes Ghia rotors
and calipers (pre-loaded with pads), making replacement parts a
breeze to find. Top Line's trick billet aluminum caliper adapters
indexed for right and left hand sides. Also included are a complete
set of SKF wheel bearings, grease seals, stainless steel braided
Teflon brake lines and pair of brake line holders to keep you lines
clear of moving parts. Installation was easy thanks to excellent
instructions that come included with the kit. I would recommend
having the job professionally done since this is a safety issue
and you don't want any problems when you need to hit that pedal
hard.
I've had about a week now with the new brakes and I'm nothing but
impressed with them. I did some driving in the rain and they worked
flawlessly despite driving through some deep puddles. I've put them
through their paces in some holiday stop and go traffic where I'd
normally start feeling my old brakes fade a little, not even a hint
of it with the discs. The pedal feel is absolutely great. It's like
I'm driving a new car!
Disc
Brake Conversion - Top Line Parts
Meguiar's
Complete Car Care Kit: got a goodie bag at European Interest
Car Show that had a few interesting items in it. There were a couple
of small bottles of car wash and interior spray by Meguiars. As
usual I put these on a shelf in my garage thinking that I might
get around to trying them some time in the future. After all, I
had my tried-and-true cleaning products that had been doing a great
job for years, did I really need any more? YES!! After trying these
samples I run out and bought the real size products and went to
town on my Beetle. When I was done it looked like it had just came
out of the showroom in 1975! Highly recommended!
Includes 12 premium products to clean, shine and protect your paint,
interior, wheels, bumpers and everything in between. Takes guesswork
out of the equation.
GOLD CLASS CAR WASH: designed to blast away dirt and grime while
boosting your VW’s shine
GOLD CLASS CARNAUBA PLUS LIQUID WAX: keeps your VW reflective and
leaves long-lasting protection
ENDURANCE TIRE GEL: provides high gloss protection that keeps tires
black with a dark gloss shine
ALSO INCLUDES: Clay Bars and Quik Detailer to remove bonded contaminants,
ScratchX 2.0 to remove swirls and scratches, Quik Interior Detailer
to clean and protect interior surfaces and PlastX Clear Plastic
Cleaner & Polish to remove defects on uncoated clear plastics,
and accessories!
Meguiar's
Complete Car Care Kit
Urethane
Bushing Kit: I think that most of you with a Super Beetle
will agree that the "Super Shimmy" is one of the most
annoying problems that our beloved cars have. It's that vibration
that takes hold of your steering wheel and shakes it back and forth
from about 45-55 mph! It's kind of embarrassing when you're taking
someone for a ride and they're wondering "what's up" with
your steering wheel while you try to ignore it and smile.
Top Line
Parts has come up with a urethane bushing kit that is supposed to
take care of this little problem. The kit contains all four lower
control arm bushings plus sway bar mounts. I took my Super to see
my friend Emilio at Progress Motors in Toronto to install them.
We put the car up on the hoist and removed the sway bar and the
mounts. The control arms have to be removed and the old one piece
bushings pressed out with a hydraulic press. The new ones are two
piece and can be pushed in by hand. They also come with a tube of
special anti-squeak lubricant which you apply to the new parts.
The bushings that came out were in pretty good shape and had most
likely been replaced before with the OEM type. At this point I was
wondering if the new kit would even help the problem. We bolted
it back together and it was time for the road test.
The first
thing I noticed is that everything seemed tighter. I tried to get
her up to 45 mph but the street wasn't long enough. We drove around
until I could find a suitable stretch of road to wind her out. I
watched the speedometer as the needle climbed...30, 35, 40, 45....50,
there wasn't a shake or shimmy to be found! Top Line recommends
inspecting and replacing any questionable steering component before
you do this installation. It worked like a charm for me! Check out
the Top Line Parts website for tons of parts made for your Super
Beetle!
Top
Line Parts
Run
Channel Rubbers: The run channels (or window felts) on
my Beetle were getting a bit shabby so I thought that I should replace
them. This is the part that the glass slides up and down in, on
your Beetles front doors. It's a black rubber that is wrapped in
cloth and has a slot in it that the glass fits into. I found the
parts that I needed at the JBugs
web site and ordered them online. The rubbers and a few other items
arrived right on time and I contacted a friend of mine to get some
tips on how it install them. To my surprise I was told that this
would be a three hour plus job, per door. I was shocked and put
the box containing the rubbers at the back of my garage intending
to do this task some time in the future.
Well spring
has sprung and before I take my Beetle cruising or to any VW events
I want it in top shape, so I decided to tackle the installation
one Saturday morning. After reading the step-by-step instructions
that I got from Jeff Hamilton I started at it, and here is how it
went. First you remove the door handles, trim panel and the moisture
barrier. Unbolt the window regulator from the glass and gently lower
the glass to the bottom of the door. I put a cloth between the regulator
and glass so I didn't scratch it. Make sure that the regulator is
wound all the way down. Grab the front section of the run channel
and pull it out with a pair of pliers (it's glued in place). After
that, you remove the rear section, which is held in by six clips
with little grabbers on them. Do not break these clips as they hold
the run channel and the chrome frame that holds the scraper rubber
in place as well. Clean the front channel and glue (using an automotive
adhesive like 3M) the front rubber in place. Now, starting from
the front edge fit the rear run channel section in place (you may
have to glue it at the front edge) and push it into the clips using
a steel ruler and then curve it downwards. Next, slide it into the
door and push it into the other clips. After that you shimmy the
glass back into the new rubbers, attach it to the regulator and
wind it up. Reinstall the plastic moisture barrier, the door panel
and the handles and you're done. It took me about an hour and a
half to do both doors. The front and rear run channels that I used
are sold separately and were of great OEM quality.
JBugs gives you extra material so you can cut them to the correct
length by measuring them against the old ones. Easy to do and the
price was right too.
JBugs
The
VW Beetle - A Production History of the World's Most Famous Car,
1936 - 1967: The story of the Beetle never changes, but
in this case, it gets more interesting to read. This book contains
the production history of the "People's Car" combined
with a section called Volkswagen by the numbers, which details
year-by-year model changes. VW Beetle is a must read for
anyone that doesn't know the story of Volkswagens' rise from the
ashes of W.W.II. Author Ryan Lee Price makes the story as interesting
as a novel and doesn't get stuck on minor details that tend to make
this chapter in Volkswagen history tedious. The first nine chapters
follow the Beetle from Porsche's dream to Hitler's reality. The
Beetle then goes off to war and is rescued by the British. The tale
continues as the Beetle crosses the ocean and comes to America.
This rocky ride makes you realize that we are very lucky that the
Beetle ended up staying on our shores.
Once you
move on to Part II you can follow changes that turned the little
car from Wolfsburg into a world-beater. Years 1945 - 1967 are covered
with meticulous detail to even the smallest change. Each year is
broken down by chassis numbers, engine numbers and the actual dates
that the Beetle was produced. A paragraph discuses the particular
production year in general and it is further detailed month by month
with all the modifications and improvements that took place. I.E..
August 4, 1955 - Chassis/Unit Number 1-0929746 - The generator pulley
is secured with a 31mm bolt instead of a 36mm bolt, making the 36mm
ring wrench obsolete and allowing the spark plug wrench to do double
duty. After reading this book you'll be able to go up against
almost any VW historian in the world. This book is an amazing accomplishment
that you just won't be able to put down.
VW
Beetle
VOLKSWAGEN
Bug! The people's car: Reviewing books is something
that I really enjoy. I look forward to opening the book for the
very first time, reading about the Beetle, and of course looking
at all the pictures, hoping to see one that I have never seen before.
Ray Miller, the author of VOLKSWAGEN Bug! The people's car,
has taken a completely different approach to writing about the classic
Beetle, in his 320 page book that weighs in at just over over three
pounds. The first part of the book covers the early days of the
Beetle, and has an in-depth section about the infamous 'stamp saver'
period. As the story goes, people were given a KdF-Wagen Savings-Book,
that they filled with stamps that were purchased on a weekly basis.
When the book was full, you would be able to hand it in and pick
up your brand new Volkswagen. Facts show that not one of these cars
was ever delivered to it's owner. Miller's book fully explains this
'German Myth on Wheels' with a translation of the contract form.
Once you get further into the book, you will find that it covers
all of the changes that have taken place in the Beetle from 1940
to 1979. There are over 1200 photographs of every (and I do mean
every) detail from from the beginning to the end of the classic
Beetle's history. Did you know that in 1946 the Standard Sedan had
a single outside-mounted horn? Whereas the Deluxe Sedan had the
horn concealed behind the front fender. VOLKSWAGEN Bug! The people's
car covers the 1942-44 Schwimmwagen and the 1940-45 Kubelwagen,
and then right on up to the last 1979 Super Beetle convertible ever
built.
A great
reference tool if you're restoring your Beetle or shopping around
for hard to get parts at a local VW event or swap meet. If you've
every wondered if your Beetle is 'correct in every respect', then
this is the reference guide that you have been looking for.
Volkswagen
Bug! The people's car
Ashtray
Cup & Cell Phone Holder: How many times have
you spilled your coffee (or soda or water or juice or...) in your
lap while driving your Beetle?Are you getting tired of holding your
cherry flavored Big Gulp© between your knees? Have you searched
for a better way to carry your favorite beverage while you cruise
around in your VW? Well I have found a solution that works perfectly,
and will save you and your loved ones from soggy pants forever.
It's called the 'Ashtray Cup & Cell Phone Holder' and it fits
right into your dash without cutting, gluing or any of those other
nasty things that you'd never do to your Beetle.
To use this
innovative drink holder all you have to do is remove your existing
ashtray (who needs it anyway?) and slide this slick drink holder into
place. Viola, you're ready to sip and drive. What's nice about this
drink holder is that it's right at your fingertips so you're not feeling
around the floor when you need a coffee fix, and you can still get
at your radio to crank those tunes. The cup holder is black in color
and has a pebble finish like your dash. You can remove it easily if
you need to reinstall that ashtray (who needs it anyway?) for a VW
show or a smoke. A great idea that would make a great gift for any
VW or coffee lover.
JBugs
Zymöl
Automotive
Enhancement Products: I
love to wash and wax my Beetle. My idea of a great Sunday afternoon
issunshine, a bottle of wax, some music and an adult beverage to
top it off. Like
most people I use whatever product I find at the local automotive
store. Sometimes I'll read the label or go on the recommendation
of a friend. After having my Super Beetle repainted over the winter
I wanted to try something special, so I turned to Zymöl, the
world's leading producer of premium automotive care products. Zymöl
is a car care system that is comprised of three steps; washing,
cleaning and feeding. The brand name Zymöl and their array
of high end products where the idea of entrepreneur and car enthusiast
Charles E. Bennett. His idea was to remove the unsavory ingredients
found an original paste wax formula from the late 1800s and substitute
products that car finishes love, like coconut oil and rare Brazilian
Carnuba wax. This makes the Zymöl formula environmentally friendly
and gentle on the skin.
I got the Introductory
Kit which is designed to introduce you to the Zymöl Automotive
Enhancement System. It contains sample sizes of each of the basic
products: 5 ounces HD-Cleanse™, 5 ounces Clear™, 6 ounces
wax, wax applicator and a pre-wax applicator. The kit even came
with an owners manual and to be quite honest, I felt a bit intimated
after reading the instructions for the application of each of the
three steps. Step one, "washing", starts with Zymöl
Clear which made up of Spun Tallow Soaps, Safflower Oil, Coconut
Oil, Cetyl Esters, Cetyl Cocoamide (derived from coconut oil), Lemon
Peel, Pure Lemon Extract and Titanium Dioxide (opacifier). Two full
squeezes in bucket of warm water and I was good to go. Clear™
gave a great lather, smells great and other then rinsing the car
a couple of extra times compared to a normal wash, it went on exactly
the same. Wash time: 9 minutes.
After drying the car
with a clean synthetic chamois I started step two or "cleaning".
The product used here is called HD-Cleanse™. It removes lightoxidization,
moderate scratches, accumulated road film, tar and acid rain deposits.
You apply HD-Cleanse liberally onto a three or four square foot
section with a straight-line with side-to-side movement. You may
want to use the traditional circular motion but don't, it's important
to follow the instructions carefully for best results. Next you
work it into the paint finish using medium/heavy pressure and then
buff it off like you would any other wax. At this point the paint
on my car looked amazing, I noticed that a fine scratch on the left
fender had almost disappeared. Applying HD-Cleanse™ was the
same as applying any other wax product except for the side to side
application, no problems. Cleaning time: 44 minutes. It is important
to note that step 3, feeding, must be completed within 24 hours
of the cleaning and not to drive your car until it's done.
I was in the home stretch so I continued on with the "feeding"
process, step 3. Zymöl makes 5 different wax formulas for your
car that depend on the color and sometimes the make. These formulas
are quite unique and Zymöl even made a specialty wax for Ralph
Lauren's Bugati Atlantic that cost $16,000.00. The wax that I used
was called Carbon™, and is formulated for my color of car.
Applying the last step is also quite easy. Using the Zymöl
Wax Applicator you apply a small amount of wax onto a 2’x2’
surface in an even coat with side-to-side motions. Then you slowly
wipe the wax in the opposite direction once with light pressure
to assure a uniform coverage. Wait 20-30 seconds, turn your towel,
and with almost no pressure, dust the surface briskly to set and
crystallize the Carnuba to a deep shine. After that you let the
wax cure for 30-45 minutes and you're done. This may seem like a
lot of work but it really isn't. In reality you're washing the car
and then waxing it twice. The second step (HD-Cleanse) doesn't have
to be done every time so it's really not that bad at all. Zymöl
products are not cheap, but I would say that they are reasonably
priced for how good they are. If you love your car then Zymöl
is the way to go.
Zymöl
Automotive Enhancement Products
Herbie:
Fully Loaded DVD: If you love or own a classic Beetle,
or have watched even one Herbie movie, then you have to go and see
Herbie: Fully Loaded. I was lucky enough to get into a sneak preview
about a week before Herbie hit the theaters in wide release, and
I can honestly say that I have never smiled so much in years. There's
something about seeing our favorite car on the big screen and hearing
all the children's laughter that is magical. It helps you to remember
why the classic VW Beetle is the most loved car in the world. Good
old number 53 steals the show once again in a street race, at the
demolition track and on a high speed oval. Fans of NASCAR will love
seeing their racing hero's on the track actually racing against
a 1963 Beetle.
Lindsay Lohan stars as
Maggie Peyton, the new owner of number 53, the freewheeling Volkswagen
Bug with a mind of its own. Lohan puts the car through its paces
on the road to becoming a NASCAR competitor. Herbie's got some new
tricks under his hood as he takes you for an action-packed spin
in this high-speed comedy. As a third generation NASCAR family,
racing is in Maggie's blood, but is forbidden to race by her overprotective
father played by Michael Keaton. Lohan is offered a car as a graduation
present and almost chooses an old Nissan, but a certain rusty '63
Bug gets her attention and she leaves the lot with Herbie. As Maggie
prepares to leave town for a job with ESPN she learns that Herbie
has a mind of his own and an alternative route for he future.
My wife, grandson and
I went to see Herbie: Fully Loaded and give it "Three Thumbs
Way up". Now if we can only find a drive-in theater so that
we can watch Herbie from the comfort of our own little "Love
Bug". Buy the DVD online!
Herbie
Fully Loaded DVD
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