I happened upon a barnfind OVAL!

[GavinHuart]

Hi guys!

It's been ages since I've had time to log on. My beetle is a little sad at the moment due to an ongoing brake problem; three trips to Beetle Beauties, R2k later, and i still have a pedal stuck to the floor! but that's a topic for another thread...

What I am here to tell you is that I stumbled across an oval recently! I don't want to give too much away as the cogs in my head have been turning since I saw the thing, but it is a bit of a funny story... While wondering around a scrap-yard type place, I yelled to the friend with me jokingly to "scream" if they see an oval... I then turned around and saw a silhouette in the distance... I rushed across and yes, there before me was an oval - a very sad looking one, but an oval nonetheless! I can't help but think I was trespassing at this stage as the bug was under an awning, but figured I'd suffer the consequences if caught. I don't yet know if it's for sale but it appears to be rather unloved at present. It also looks like its been there a while so all that taken into account, at the right figure, perhaps whoever owns it might just consider letting it go . It looks totally complete except for an engine (I would expect that to be somewhere else under this cryptic awning ), a wiper arm, semaphores (there are two period-looking modifications present at the moment), a gear lever knob, hub caps, a Wolfsburg badge on the hood, and that's about that. It has surface rust all pretty much all over. Window rubbers look acceptable. There's a kink in the front hood with some bad rust right where the hood propping-up arm thingy is as well as bad rust on one hinge for the W-decklid, hence it's at an angle. The interior is finished but the foundation is there for restoration. Pan looks good. There are also some great period accessories: the reflectors and those funny "Hella" horn-type things on the front bumper (???) - What are they?

Have a look at the pics and let me know what you think...

[Hloni]

Tresspassing or not, that looks schweet!!!!!!!! I am thinking of goin 'barn finding', kinda like 'cow tipping'

[jolas]

Oh my oath, wow ! Great find and cool pics, you must persevere and rescue it

[fig]

Great find Gavin! Are you going to try to buy it?

The horns are "fanfare" horns, a sought-after period accessory.

[GavinHuart]

LOL @ Hloni - *Cowtipping*

Hi Fig! I would LOVE to buy this bug! I need to work out a way to approach the apparent owner and ask if it is, in fact, for sale knowing full-well that it wasn't visible to passers by without one actually trespassing. Then, I am faced with where on earth I'll put it to work on the poor thing - I haven't a garage or workshop . Added to this, I know it would have to be a long term project as it's going to cost a bit to fix up. Ideally I'd try to see what I can get out of it as is. In other words, get it running (and stopping ) and do what I can to preserve what's there. I'd imagine it would need a full respray but I'm a sucker for keeping things original so if a touch-up here and there and a lot of polish could keep it whole for a while, I'd be more than happy with that...

Thanks for the info on the "fanfare" horns. How fascinating! I'd presume them to make quite a racket...?

[Bushpig]

Gavin,
Really nice find and can imagine the heart stopping moment. I really hope you find her a home and bring her back to her former self. There is always room down at my place
These finds are few and far between go for it and all the luck.
Trust we will see it on the Projects section some time soon.

[jolas]

Shame poor Bruce (Bushpig), this oval and the pics that Fig posted of the ragtop oval must be causing irregular heart beats Gavin, I have to agree with Bruce, he has got a very cosy place for that oval if you don't pursue it

[BeetleGirl]

It looks like a prop from a horror movie! You know, the old abandoned carnival with the cars that have been sitting there for ages!

Good luck approaching the owner!I hope you can adopt it! ^_^

[Renier GTI]

Nice find and good luck with the owner !

[karmakoma]

WOW, what a find!

Hope it works out, pull out all the stops ! ... I am sure I can asssist...with a bit of storage

[Bushpig]

Paul, let's hope my barn 5 year wait pays off then I can feel a bit like Gavin does. with envy.

[kickass]

WOW!!!!! I didn't think there would be any "Barnfinds" left to find!!! and a OVAL!!!!!! You HAVE to save that car dude! good luck!!

[GavinHuart]

Right, after much deliberation I plucked up the courage to ring the apparent owner of the oval. A colleague advised I should take the route of saying a groundsman where the owner lives had noticed me in mine and then let me know of this "other beetle" out of pure coincidence. I rang and thumbed my way through the rather awkward conversation. The bottom line is that the owner wants to restore the oval himself which on one hand is fantastic news but on the other, tramples any idea of mine to make a long awaited dream come true. Apologies for getting anyones hopes up. Said owner did mention that he now has my number should he want to chat to about anything beetle related (I just hope like hell he doesn't find this site )

[1963]

What an amazing find! I guess that's 90% of it all. But now comes the final 10% - the patience to sit out the wait, and the commitment to the project. 'Cos, unfortunately, we know what happens with these I'm-really-going-to-restore-the-car-although-it's-been-sitting-there-for-the-last-30-years cases. You probably just have to keep contact with him every couple of months: "How's the restoration going?" or "I saw an ad the other day for a badge for the beetle if you're interested in buying it" sort of thing. Good luck - because dammit, it's sure worth it for an oval!

[fig]

Agreed /\ /\ /\

You've taken the first step. Now keep working on the relationship. You never know when his circumstances or intentions might change. All good things come to those who wait.