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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » the eternal dilemma..to buy or not

July 22, 2011 8:51 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

Ok, so I find myself hunting a new DD, I have some cash in hand and know what I want, but Im not finding it.

On the other hand one of my hobby loves has turned up. 1959 Beetle, looks very good and clean, nice solid drive...just short of a show car, all original. Price is well below market. NOT a DD candidate for me but Im not in a rush to find a DD, I still have a few months before there is a need.

Going to see the VW in the morning. Realistically if the car is as clean as it seems I can buy it and flip it for double, that does mean holding out for the right buyer but it should be easy, but it will derail me from the DD search until it's sold.

This is the car...

I have cash on hand for the asking price and its at least 25 to 50 % below market.

Seems like an easy solution but there's always some trepidation....WWGRMD?
July 22, 2011 8:54 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

You already know the answer, so just get on with the details of the car
July 22, 2011 8:59 p.m. integraguy SuperDork

Not advice, just some comments. I got to drive an early '60s Beetle back in the late '60s, it was my first time behind the wheel of a small car....and I loved it. I REALLY wished the owner hadn't shown up early to collect it. I've owned a few air-cooled VWs and have owned a water-cooled and driven many more that belonged to friends or relatives. These are fun cars to drive "part time" but unless I lived in an area where speed wasn't an issue....it would have to be a REALLY SPECIAL car for me to give it a second look. This looks like that special case. I'd buy it if I knew that finding it's next owner wouldn't be a serious problem.
July 22, 2011 9:05 p.m. Zomby woof SuperDork

Before I buy anything, it first has to satisfy the requirement that I be able to get my money back if I need/want to. It sounds like that's taken care of ( as long as you're being honest with yourself).

I see no reason why a 59 VW can't be a daily driver. It was for a lot of people at one time.
July 22, 2011 9:11 p.m. Toyman01 SuperDork

Buy it. There are many cars I regret not buying when I had the chance. A 69 T-bird for $2000 comes to mind.There are very few I regret buying. There are even a few I regret selling.
July 22, 2011 9:43 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

Thanks all, this is definitely not a DD for me. I have a Smart for DD use right now that Im looking to replace with something more upscale. My dad is DDing a 69 bug that I have to maintain. Wife has a 73 VW Thing and I have the Wartburg still so plenty of fun/project cars, this would be a flipper but for a sub 3k price its an easy flip. If the condition matches the pics its a 5k+ car with some cleaning and proper advertising. If I have to sit on it and go to some summer shows with it I wont complain.

Im #2 in line to see it tomorrow so we'll see how it goes.

FWIW I DD on NJ higways at speeds of 75+ for 70 miles in each direction so its really not a good DD candidate.
July 22, 2011 11:20 p.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

How has that car not sold by now? It's been for sale for a few weeks. The original add did mention a bad transmission, but they are cheap enough...
July 22, 2011 11:37 p.m. triumph5 SuperDork

Buy it, buy it, buy it. Let me restate....glad to hear you're not going to Daily drive it, just exercise it now and then. Solid investment, and fun, in it's own way, with that torquey 50hp(?) engine. Pay attention to the brakes, as it's 4 wheel drums, and they can sometimes be a little grabby. Especially if the car's been sitting for a while. But, it's just an adjustment to get them right. IIRC, it just might be a 6 volt system. I know the change over to 12 volts was sometime around that year. Regardless, makes sure it makes its way to your driveway.
July 23, 2011 7:00 a.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

i can't believe you're even asking.

Do you second guess eating breakfast, or putting on underwear?! Go buy it!
July 23, 2011 4:39 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

Datsun1500 wrote:

How has that car not sold by now? It's been for sale for a few weeks. The original add did mention a bad transmission, but they are cheap enough...

Supposedly has a bad tooth on 1st gear so it makes a clicking noise in 1st. Seller didnt get back to me in time today so Im going to see it in the morning. You are right, the transaxles are pretty cheap. Sadly I have 2 spare IRS boxes here but its a swingaxle car. I'll hafta go hunting.

Really shouldn't be spending the money on it when Im DD hunting but I think with a little care and freshening it could be worth double the asking price fairly easy which would go a long way in the DD hunt.
July 23, 2011 4:45 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

triumph5 wrote:

Buy it, buy it, buy it. Let me restate....glad to hear you're not going to Daily drive it, just exercise it now and then. Solid investment, and fun, in it's own way, with that torquey 50hp(?) engine. Pay attention to the brakes, as it's 4 wheel drums, and they can sometimes be a little grabby. Especially if the car's been sitting for a while. But, it's just an adjustment to get them right. IIRC, it just might be a 6 volt system. I know the change over to 12 volts was sometime around that year. Regardless, makes sure it makes its way to your driveway.

I appreciate the advice, this is definitely not my first bug so I know what they need, but its good to know you're looking out for me. Should still be 6v at that year, I think the 12v switch was in 67. On brakes, especially with these old girls my general rule of thumb is just to replace everything from the get go. Although Im still a year behind in doing that on my wifes Thing and it needs it. We might just have to have a VW brake party at the house (if it ever cools down out there)
July 23, 2011 6:24 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

don;t make us beat you over the head to buy that car
July 23, 2011 7:24 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

mad_machine wrote:

don;t make us beat you over the head to buy that car

If it checks out tomorrow it's a done deal. Talked to the seller tonite, there's a title issue that he's going to try to get fixed so as long he can get that done it may follow me home this week.
July 23, 2011 7:26 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

Jim,

you asked here....clearly you know that we all think you need the bug
July 23, 2011 7:50 p.m. a401cj Reader

needs about an inch (inch and a half) drop on the front, a big ol' roof rack....it'll have THE LOOK then.
July 23, 2011 8:04 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

a401cj wrote:

needs about an inch (inch and a half) drop on the front, a big ol' roof rack....it'll have THE LOOK then.

Please don't
July 23, 2011 8:23 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

mad_machine wrote:

a401cj wrote:

needs about an inch (inch and a half) drop on the front, a big ol' roof rack....it'll have THE LOOK then.

Please don't

While I'm not much of a purist, if the car is as clean as it appears then I will be leaving it stock. Although it does go against my desire to jam a subaru motor in every ACVW I own because its an easy conversion and its SOOOOOO worth it.

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