1961 VW Beetle Restoration

PAVAN KADAM · 17th April 2012, 20:59

My friend is so particular with the car, that he wants everything PERFECT

So, i started to find out what actually can be re-done to be bettered

1) Re-paint few panels to get a better finish
2) Add a fuel guage ( This model did not have one,but adding for convenience)
3) Add Fender Skirts ( Had purchased them earlier, but wrong part arrived, Got a better one this time and adding them)
4) Replace the broken wheel cap clips
5) Paint few rims that had chipped off

PAVAN KADAM · 19th May 2012, 19:12

Much needed Detailing done at 3M, though i feel its not upto the mark. But the car is very nearly there where i had visualised it, still needs a little fine-tuning here and there. I want to do it ASAP.

samsag12 · 19th May 2012, 22:23

The bug looks fantastic, love those interiors, whitewalls and most importantly that Wolfsburg crest.IMO that white shade is quite complementing it.

Automaton · 20th May 2012, 00:47

Hello!
That's a fantastic job. What I really appreciate, as I am sure do a lot of other fans of this thread, is the continuing work done on the car over a year now.

Would it be too much to ask for an indicative, ball-park figure of how much it cost to restore to date?

To most of us, a restoration job seems like a rich person's hobby. Would like to get pleasantly surprised.

Haven't encountered a Beetle for sale so far, but remember my first one: Had gone with my uncle 30 years ago to his shippy friend's place in Bombay somewhere, and he wanted to sell a sunny yellow one. Had fallen for it, and at that age couldn't understand why we couldn't buy it.

Except a painstakingly restored Lime Green one owned by a Parsi gentleman in Bandra, which he gifted his wife, who didn't drive or something, and was looking at a Rs 3.5L price in 2005. Couldn't buy it that time.

Restorers talk of 80, 90 and full restore in percentages. I think that the 'daily driver' is a great mark of a restored car. No point keeping it covered in a garage.

Thanks for the inspiring post and keep up the good work.

M

nileshdias · 20th May 2012, 04:11

Pavan, this car is so cool. Loved the paint and interiors

Automaton · 28th May 2012, 18:37

Found a sunny yellow one in the classifieds.
Mr Kadam, would this be a good price for a car that seems to be restored and running?
If that is the case then it is a couple of lakhs above what I can pay, unfortunately.

http://classifieds.team-bhp.com/buy-.../-Other-.html/

PAVAN KADAM · 28th May 2012, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Automaton

Found a sunny yellow one in the classifieds.
Mr Kadam, would this be a good price for a car that seems to be restored and running?
If that is the case then it is a couple of lakhs above what I can pay, unfortunately.

http://classifieds.team-bhp.com/buy-.../-Other-.html/

Hi Buddy, Though this reply is

but i shall answer you. Request mods to forgive me

This very car has been on the market for quite sometime, and there are lot many things that does not size up to the price quoted. A very dear friend has checked this car for me, and has found quite a lot of mechanical glitches, that 350 kms running mentioned in the ad is quite not true.

Here are some pics of the car taken by my friend a year ago.

Stanher · 28th May 2012, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM

Here are some pics of the car taken by my friend a year ago.

Looks like a nice car...but the price doesnt unfortunately! The hubcaps would've been better chrome. And did this come with the 'towel-rail' bumpers?

Automaton · 28th May 2012, 23:07

Ooh! Thanks for the prompt reply from your busy schedule. I saw that after the Beetle, Millicento it's now the Mercedes' time to get back on road. All the best with that.

The Mods need to be thanked from my side too, I had no recourse since I am a newbie, but to use this '61 restoration thread to ask you the pertinent question.
My search for an interesting car/project car continues.

Automaton · 1st June 2012, 10:23

A new thought struck me. The very fact that the closely networked classic car owners haven't picked up this Beetle already, or the lovely Jaguar XJS on Carwale, should be a reason to beware that there may be something wrong.
So *my* thumb rule, if these are posted for sale, especially on Carwale, that means the people who know are not interested because something doesn't add up or the price is too high, and as a last act of desperation, the owner has put it up for sale in a public forum. Of course there may be a few exceptions to this, but i suspect, few and far between.

Prabal · 1st June 2012, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Automaton

or the lovely Jaguar XJS on Carwale

I am curious about this car. Could you point me to it please, maybe a link? Thanks in advance.

Automaton · 1st June 2012, 12:15

Oh it's removed but found another one here.
classifieds.team-BHP.com/buy-used-for-sale/18130/Kanpur/1993/Jaguar/XJ6.html/

This the swooping back design I love. Sorry to say, but the current squared off high boot and the edges are not my cup of tea and watercress sandwich.

Prabal · 1st June 2012, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Automaton

Oh it's removed but found another one here.
classifieds.team-BHP.com/buy-used-for-sale/18130/Kanpur/1993/Jaguar/XJ6.html/ This the swooping back design I love.

Thanks, this I'd seen, but thanks for responding. And I find it's not a XJS but a XJ6 - there's a bit of a difference between the two, is there? Also about that swooping back and squared-off design, which one of the two has which?

Automaton · 1st June 2012, 12:54

Sorry for really vrooming off topic on the '61 restored Beetle.

Thanks for the correction sir.
I dislike the current XJ as compared to the double headlamped, curvy XJ of the 1980s and early '90s, reliability issues apart.
If they don't look feline, curvy and gracious, they are not Jaguars in my opinion.

The new designs are edgy, modern, very reliable (JD Power report in another post) for sure but where is the Jaguar in them?

Also, before I forget, like the Spirit of Ecstasy a Jaguar without the gleaming cat leaping off the bonnet is sacrilege.

PAVAN KADAM · 3rd June 2012, 00:19

This thread is going

and i would request members to please oblige.

Nothing much to update on this car as of now, its good that its reached this stage after so much of work, i only need to do a little work on the distributor, which should happen in the coming week.

Some more cosmetic updates to happen, will keep this thread updated as it happens

17th April 2012, 20:59	#46
PAVAN KADAM BANNED Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NAMMA BENGALURU Posts: 5,602 Thanked: 2,549 Times	Re: 1961 VW Beetle Restoration My friend is so particular with the car, that he wants everything PERFECT So, i started to find out what actually can be re-done to be bettered 1) Re-paint few panels to get a better finish 2) Add a fuel guage ( This model did not have one,but adding for convenience) 3) Add Fender Skirts ( Had purchased them earlier, but wrong part arrived, Got a better one this time and adding them) 4) Replace the broken wheel cap clips 5) Paint few rims that had chipped off Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

19th May 2012, 19:12	#47
PAVAN KADAM BANNED Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NAMMA BENGALURU Posts: 5,602 Thanked: 2,549 Times	Re: 1961 VW Beetle Restoration Much needed Detailing done at 3M, though i feel its not upto the mark. But the car is very nearly there where i had visualised it, still needs a little fine-tuning here and there. I want to do it ASAP. Attached Thumbnails
	(3) Thanks

19th May 2012, 22:23	#48
samsag12 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: City of Nawaabs Posts: 1,624 Thanked: 242 Times View My Garage	Re: 1961 VW Beetle Restoration The bug looks fantastic, love those interiors, whitewalls and most importantly that Wolfsburg crest.IMO that white shade is quite complementing it.
	() Thanks

20th May 2012, 00:47	#49
Automaton BHPian Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mumbai Posts: 249 Thanked: 208 Times	Hello! That's a fantastic job. What I really appreciate, as I am sure do a lot of other fans of this thread, is the continuing work done on the car over a year now. Would it be too much to ask for an indicative, ball-park figure of how much it cost to restore to date? To most of us, a restoration job seems like a rich person's hobby. Would like to get pleasantly surprised. Haven't encountered a Beetle for sale so far, but remember my first one: Had gone with my uncle 30 years ago to his shippy friend's place in Bombay somewhere, and he wanted to sell a sunny yellow one. Had fallen for it, and at that age couldn't understand why we couldn't buy it. Except a painstakingly restored Lime Green one owned by a Parsi gentleman in Bandra, which he gifted his wife, who didn't drive or something, and was looking at a Rs 3.5L price in 2005. Couldn't buy it that time. Restorers talk of 80, 90 and full restore in percentages. I think that the 'daily driver' is a great mark of a restored car. No point keeping it covered in a garage. Thanks for the inspiring post and keep up the good work. M
	() Thanks

20th May 2012, 04:11	#50
nileshdias BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 60 Thanked: 58 Times	Re: 1961 VW Beetle Restoration Pavan, this car is so cool. Loved the paint and interiors
	() Thanks

28th May 2012, 18:37	#51
Automaton BHPian Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mumbai Posts: 249 Thanked: 208 Times	Re: 1961 VW Beetle Restoration Found a sunny yellow one in the classifieds. Mr Kadam, would this be a good price for a car that seems to be restored and running? If that is the case then it is a couple of lakhs above what I can pay, unfortunately. http://classifieds.team-bhp.com/buy-.../-Other-.html/
	(1) Thanks

28th May 2012, 23:07	#54
Automaton BHPian Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mumbai Posts: 249 Thanked: 208 Times	Ooh! Thanks for the prompt reply from your busy schedule. I saw that after the Beetle, Millicento it's now the Mercedes' time to get back on road. All the best with that. The Mods need to be thanked from my side too, I had no recourse since I am a newbie, but to use this '61 restoration thread to ask you the pertinent question. My search for an interesting car/project car continues.
	() Thanks

1st June 2012, 10:23	#55
Automaton BHPian Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mumbai Posts: 249 Thanked: 208 Times	A new thought struck me. The very fact that the closely networked classic car owners haven't picked up this Beetle already, or the lovely Jaguar XJS on Carwale, should be a reason to beware that there may be something wrong. So my thumb rule, if these are posted for sale, especially on Carwale, that means the people who know are not interested because something doesn't add up or the price is too high, and as a last act of desperation, the owner has put it up for sale in a public forum. Of course there may be a few exceptions to this, but i suspect, few and far between.
	() Thanks

1st June 2012, 12:15	#57
Automaton BHPian Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mumbai Posts: 249 Thanked: 208 Times	Oh it's removed but found another one here. classifieds.team-BHP.com/buy-used-for-sale/18130/Kanpur/1993/Jaguar/XJ6.html/ This the swooping back design I love. Sorry to say, but the current squared off high boot and the edges are not my cup of tea and watercress sandwich.
	() Thanks

1st June 2012, 12:54	#59
Automaton BHPian Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mumbai Posts: 249 Thanked: 208 Times	Sorry for really vrooming off topic on the '61 restored Beetle. Thanks for the correction sir. I dislike the current XJ as compared to the double headlamped, curvy XJ of the 1980s and early '90s, reliability issues apart. If they don't look feline, curvy and gracious, they are not Jaguars in my opinion. The new designs are edgy, modern, very reliable (JD Power report in another post) for sure but where is the Jaguar in them? Also, before I forget, like the Spirit of Ecstasy a Jaguar without the gleaming cat leaping off the bonnet is sacrilege.
	() Thanks

3rd June 2012, 00:19	#60
PAVAN KADAM BANNED Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NAMMA BENGALURU Posts: 5,602 Thanked: 2,549 Times	Re: 1961 VW Beetle Restoration This thread is going and i would request members to please oblige. Nothing much to update on this car as of now, its good that its reached this stage after so much of work, i only need to do a little work on the distributor, which should happen in the coming week. Some more cosmetic updates to happen, will keep this thread updated as it happens Last edited by PAVAN KADAM : 3rd June 2012 at 00:22.
	() Thanks