My 69 bug

[misterecks]

Thought you might like to see a few pictures of my 69 bug that I'm currently restoring. It's actually the third time I've done it up in the last twenty years or so :eek:

Many of you will have seen this before elsewhere but for those that haven't...

I bought the bug in 85, a bog standard 69 1300 apart from the sp 1500 engine.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/dive.jpg

After about four or five years it was taken off the road for it's first resto
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/bug1.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/bug-1.jpg

and ended up looking like this.... pure late eighties :D
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/rudie.jpg

in 2004 it was really starting to show its age so I repainted it, added early style trim and a bit more chrome as well as a nice 1776

almost done second time around, just need to paint those doors!!
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/bug_front_out.jpg

[misterecks]

The 2004 respray was only really meant as a get it back on the road for a year job but in the end it had to last three due to one thing and another. Anyway in late 2007 it came off the road again and this time it was serious!!!

As you can see the shiny paint was hiding a few nasties
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/arch.jpg

Rather than patch it up again I replace all the rotten metal and much more
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/off.jpg

I think it's safe to say I have replaced at least 70% of the sheet metal :clap:

Panels replaced include:

rear apron
Both rear quarters
rear crossmembers
complete boot floor panel
both heater channels
front bulkhead
both A pillar bottoms
both front quarters
spare wheel well
front apron
both doors
all four wings
bonnet and deck lid
and bits of the roof

any way after many hours of welding, prep and painting I have this...

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6803.jpg

And a am currently working on the pan, hoping to have the body back on by early in the new year

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0206-1.jpg

[scott1066]

nice work , looking good

[misterecks]

nice work , looking good

Cheers :D

[NickJ]

Wow that's a lot of work, well done it's looking really good looking forward to seeing it finished. :thumbs:

[lord longden]

nice work misterecks.looking sweat

[misterecks]

Thanks guys, it's been a lot of work but I'm really happy with how it's going. I'll post up a few more pics as I go along :D

[misterecks]

Been hard at it over the last few days, got the front end back on it's wheels after fitting a whole load of nice new shiny parts to bolt my nice new JGE burners to :D

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0041-4.jpg

I think this might be a little low, might have to lift it on the adjusters a tad!

[SlammedSixtyFive]

looks cool, love the burners!
is that royal red....???
if so, a very unusual colour!!!

[misterecks]

looks cool, love the burners!
is that royal red....???
if so, a very unusual colour!!!

Yes, you got it, Royal red and yes, you don't see many people put it back on a car!!!

It looks a little odd in the photos and it is very flat at the moment due to overspray in the garage. The bits I have polished look spot on!

look!
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0156-1.jpg

[Fat Freddy]

Great story - why buy a different car when you can change everything yourself? Thought you might have been going back to the original look until I saw the pan & wheels!

[misterecks]

Great story - why buy a different car when you can change everything yourself? Thought you might have been going back to the original look until I saw the pan & wheels!

Cheers dude :D

My plan is to get it looking close to the original apart from the stance and wheels!

[Bodhi]

Been following your thread elswhere. Inspirational work make kept me going out in the cold:thumbs:

[misterecks]

Been following your thread elswhere. Inspirational work make kept me going out in the cold:thumbs:

Glad you've been enjoying :D

I wish someone would inspire me enough to get out there and do a bit, haven't done anything for ages it seems!!!

[misterecks]

Thing has been moving along over the last few weeks. I've almost got the pan finished, I just need to order a few parts. Hope to get the body back in the next week or so and it's all systems go :D

Couple of pics of the almost complete floorpan.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0064-4.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0065-5.jpg

Seats are only trial fitted at the moment, I'd heard that the runners on the pans I had used needed a bit of a fettle before the seats would fit and figured it'd be easier without the body on. In the end they fitted pretty well, just needed a clean up and some grease!

[misterecks]

It's been a long time since I updated this, didn't realise just how long it had been.

I've been hard at it but have been held up by the snow and being generally busy but as it stands I have the body back on and have spent all my spare time for the last week polishing up the paint.

Body dropped back on
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6937.jpg

front wing trial fitted
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6946.jpg

hours of polishing later
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6954.jpg

I hope to have the rest polished by the end of the week then I can start bolting it all together :D

[B-boyblue]

Looks Great! Love the colour against the black gas burners!

Looks brilliant!:thumbs:

[NickJ]

Nice one keep up the good work and the updates :cool:

[jaysbug]

Been following this elsewhere,and its fantastic reading,you put a lot of 'proper' bodyshops to shame
Hope all goes will with the rest of your project and looking forward to seeing it at a show soon
jason

[misterecks]

Thanks for the kind words folks :D

Hope to have an update after the weekend!

[misterecks]

Been plodding along with the rebuild, bought loads of nice stuff at Dubfreeze just got to fit it all now :D

trim handle and badge on bonnet
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6955.jpg

front wing beading on and indicators fitted
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6961.jpg

backend fitted out
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6974.jpg

inner rear arches done
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6975.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6976.jpg

dash refitted
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6980.jpg

might make a start on the wiring next :D

[ray356]

looking good m8, keep the updates coming

[Birdy]

Great story - why buy a different car when you can change everything yourself? Thought you might have been going back to the original look until I saw the pan & wheels!

Excellent way of putting it.

I'm loving the whole metamorphosis from Cal-Look blue to original red. And you can honestly say your bug has "been there-done that"

[misterecks]

Cheers peeps :D

more soon!

[SeanyBoy]

Lovin' the work you done so far! It's gonna truly stand out from the crowd with that colour!:thumbs: Lookin forward to the finished item!

[SlammedSixtyFive]

:D looking good!!!

[NickJ]

Keep the updates coming, really enjoying the build up can't wait to see it finished :thumbs:

[misterecks]

Thanks for the comments, it really helps to get positive feedback.

Update in the next day or so :D

[Plymagrad]

Looking good. Its nice to see a good home resto, coming along nicely. Colour looks superb!!!

[JBCrew]

looking good, your doing an ace job:thumbs:

Nice wheel choise, will look foward to see it finshed:thumbs:cool:

[misterecks]

A bit further on with this, spend ages putting a bit of sound proofing in
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6994.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6993.jpg

and started to sort the wiring
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6997.jpg

new wiring for the headlights and front indicators
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_6995.jpg

[misterecks]

I keep plugging away :D

wiring almost done
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0074-3.jpg

headlining in (after much gnashing of teeth)
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0100-1.jpg

rear carpets and headlining
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0118-1.jpg

rest of the carpets
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0124-2.jpg

New headlights and other assorted chrome goodies fitted
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0112-2.jpg

Almost sort of starting to look like a car again, windows in next I think.

[SlammedSixtyFive]

looking good!!

but one thing that annoys me on some carpet sets, is where it doesn't tuck under the rear window!! i know its correct for post 71 cars, but still.... (especially when you've fitted a nice new headliner!)

[misterecks]

looking good!!

but one thing that annoys me on some carpet sets, is where it doesn't tuck under the rear window!! i know its correct for post 71 cars, but still.... (especially when you've fitted a nice new headliner!)

I know what you're saying, I had a quick bash at getting it into the channel but it wasn't happening. I'm going to have a parcel shelf in the back so it won't be seen.

[misterecks]

Time I updated this, proper getting there now, it's almost like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel :clap:

After what seemed like a very long wait my TMI stuff turned up from the states
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0044-6.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0043-3.jpg

The covers look a bit baggy in places in the photo but they've settled down now. Anyone got a spare seat mech knob?

I've mostly finished the wiring and fitted the fuel tank etc.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0055-4.jpg

Fitted the bumpers and some clear indicator lenses at the front
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/DSCF0051-4.jpg

This weekends jobs are to finish fitting the windows and start to polish and build the doors, once all that is done it's time to attack the engine :D

[ray356]

looking sweet

[NickJ]

That's looking really good,:cool: where did you get your carpet from ? Mine is in desparate need of replacment and not too sure where to go. Cheers Nick.

[misterecks]

Thanks for the comments :D

The carpets were from Heritage and worth every penny, really nice kit!

[Birdy]

I find it incredible that upright lights have come back in fashion when it was the norm to fit early bumpers and sloping lights. And I'm glad it has too for your Beetle really is a great looker. You must be so proud.

[misterecks]

I find it incredible that upright lights have come back in fashion when it was the norm to fit early bumpers and sloping lights. And I'm glad it has too for your Beetle really is a great looker. You must be so proud.

I'm really pleased uprights are getting a bit more attention these days, I've been down the whole wrong un route, never again :rolleyes:

And yes, I am very pleased with how the car is shaping up. I just want it finished now!

[SlammedSixtyFive]

interior looks good!

[NickJ]

Thanks for the comments :D

The carpets were from Heritage and worth every penny, really nice kit!

Do the footwell side carpets have the cut out near the top for the heater channel flap control lever ?

I have to say the more I look at your car the more I think I would like to restore mine, flat paint and threadbare carpets are great for the patina look but shiney and new certainly have their attractions :thumbs: :cool:

[misterecks]

Do the footwell side carpets have the cut out near the top for the heater channel flap control lever ?

I have to say the more I look at your car the more I think I would like to restore mine, flat paint and threadbare carpets are great for the patina look but shiney and new certainly have their attractions :thumbs: :cool:

No cut outs in mine but I don't have the heater controls either. It's been so long since I had those little levers that I can't remember what it used to look like!

[misterecks]

Spend a bit more time over the last few days getting the doors polished and fitted.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_7093.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa6/misterecks_bugs/IMG_7096.jpg

only got the rear window to fit, oh and the engine to build ;)

[MR AFWO]

mate top marks to you fella.
thats sure some work youve done and done very well i'd like to add.

[Angelo Amato]

thumbs up, just don't rush to finish it for anything :thumbs:

Angelo