Superbeetle - is this as good as deal as it looks?

http://macon.craigslist.org/cto/5253989977.html

1972 super beetle, looks solid in pics, motor smokes but comes with a spare - $850

This seems like a good deal. Anyone have an opinion on how value is going on Beetles? Aren't the "super" beetles a better suspension design or something?

I believe some of the later VW/Porche/Audi stuff can be used to update it as it McPherson strut. Someone on here has one with a bunch of upgraded stuff. Price looks good.

I wouldn't really be looking to upgrade it as such. Mostly these have always been on my bucket list and seem to be going up in price. I'd DD some it and maybe use it to promote my bike jersey company. It just seems like a good price for something in that good of condition. I wanted some other peoples input that actually know VWs.

The Super Beetle and the 924/944 are distant cousins and share more than a few suspension pieces.

Build a nice 1835 for that and go rallycrossing.

That seems super cheap. Assuming it's not full of bondo and the pan isn't shot why is it not in your driveway yet?

lol. I've got an email out. The post is only 18 hours old. We'll see. I was kind of thinking a rally-esque treatment with a roof rack and some skinny-knobby tires would look good.

That appears to be a very good deal. Nice running Super Beetles start at $3,500 or so. Check the floors, trunk, and heater channels for rust. Super Beetles are the least desirable of the Bugs, as most folks want the very old (pre 68) models for their styling, and metal dash-boards.

A/C VW engines aren't as cheap as they once were......but they used to be basically free! This looks pretty tempting from the ad.

I thought super beetles had a curved windshield, that one looks flat?

It costs as much to rebuild a VW 1600 as it does to build any other engine, but the process is different. I'd buy it just to check that box.

OldGray320i wrote: I thought super beetles had a curved windshield, that one looks flat?

my recent research indicates the curved windshield started in '73 or so.

My dad was an air cooled vw mechanic so i have a giant soft spot for beetles, for that price around here all you get is rust with a vin.

If you want to buy that, you might not want to post it here where I can see it.

lol. Hey man, at least give me first dibs! I think something like this with slightly knobbier tires and a roof rack for bikes would be awesome:

Maybe a few more bogus HiPo decals and a big "PedalTrash" logo - then drive it to all the biking events locally. Write it off as advertising.

Damn. Just talked to Joe, the seller. He already has a couple people coming by to look at it, but said to give him a call back after 5.

I had an early Super. Be careful of trunk rust. The strut towers like to rot away.

I'm in the process of swapping a bridgeported 13B rotary into a 73 Super Beetle.

Those wheels hurt the baby.

I like the wheels minus the knock offs if you are going for an off road look.

ultraclyde wrote:

OldGray320i wrote: I thought super beetles had a curved windshield, that one looks flat?

my recent research indicates the curved windshield started in '73 or so.

I thought the same thing and only recently de-coded the difference.

This is a great deal if the pans aren't trashed. But unless they have been already done, expect them to be.

Id be all over that provided its not rusty.

Joe Gearin wrote: Super Beetles are the least desirable of the Bugs, as most folks want the very old (pre 68) models for their styling, and metal dash-boards. A/C VW engines aren't as cheap as they once were......but they used to be basically free! This looks pretty tempting from the ad.

Yea, that's just your opinion man.

If you want to DD one of these, newer is better. My first two cars were a 56 and a 61 hardtop beetle. These were no fun to drive in cold or rainy weather.

So all Super beetles have Macpherson struts on the front?

That's my understanding

spitfirebill wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: Super Beetles are the least desirable of the Bugs, as most folks want the very old (pre 68) models for their styling, and metal dash-boards.

Yea, that's just your opinion man.

It's actually not my opinion---- but it is how the pricing goes. I had a curved windshield 73 back in college, and would love another. It was the "limousine" of Beetles. The curved windshield Beetles came with the dual-port 1600 engine, and could actually get out of their own way. Add a header and a 009 distributor, and they are pretty entertaining. Besides, you're driving a Beetle. It's about impossible not to have a smile on your face while behind the wheel. There will be another in my future.