Aircooled VW South Africa

Hey guys, merry old year and may the year ahead hold some great memories for us in the air scene.

Earlier this week I picked-up a lwb buggy body and am enthusiastic about building me a buggy. I actually grabbed this because it was a lwb (no shortening of chassis as I think that that is one skill I am yet to acquire), and a mate of mine has a complete late model bug which is a rust bucket after being parked for a few years in the moist air of Montrose.

Thing is, I do not know where to start. Do I start with the bodywork of the buggy (has a number of cracks) or do I start with the chassis. I have never done any fg work before and would appreciate links and/or even advice (do I just go to the canoe builders in town and get glass or do vehicles use a special fg?).

The bugme videos, anyone has copies they willing to lend out or how does one get hold of them (youtube seem not have lengthy ones).

Pics will follow soon as we have had rain for the whole week down here. If no rain, it's been rather grey.

Two 'formal' questions to begin with:

1. Roll-Bar - can one get it off the shelf or do I have to have it custom made? The one which came with the buggy I do not trust - rusted and very light!
2. Screen - Do I get this from window suppliers i.e. custom make - which we know might cost a kidney - or are there suppliers in the country who supply "off the shelf"?

Congrats on the latest purchase, Hloni! If I were you, I'd get all the mechanical bits sorted out first - engine, brakes, suspension, steering, electrics etc. Leave the bodyshell for last - once it is mounted on the chassis, you can actually work on it AND drive the buggy, and obviously you don't want nasty scratches on a brand new paint job when assembling the buggy.

As for a front window - it all depends on the type of windowframe you have, but any local PG or Glasfit should be able to cut and fit a laminated (essential!) windscreen for you, and I doubt that it will cost more than R 250.

A roll bar (or roll cage) can be bent and made up by an exhaust shop, and powder coating should be the cheapest option as chroming is simply too expensive.

Please keep us updated, and don't forget the pics!

pine for the wisdom.
As soon as the weather clears up, l will snap away and put some pics up.
Another question: can one braize metal sheets (to pan) or do l need to mic them?

So I got my donor the other day and today I removed all the bolts and nuts which hold body to pan, even removed the loom. I am stuck though as to how do I remove the steering mechanism which is the last connection between body and pan. Anyone able to help? You could ring me and talk me through it tomorrow after 10am, number is zero 82 222 5443

Here are pics for you guys to see that the donor can't be saved - I do have the glass if anyone is interested, I will however keep whindscreen. And yes, I am keeping the steering wheel. It needs a horn button though (genuine vw wheel), I am hoping to get it restore.

Thats heart breaking, such a sad sight... poor poor SP

I'll talk you through it tomorrow, have done it a couple of times....

Where did you find that poor beetle? Looks like it was left in a forrest for years!

Eish .....


Looks like that sp was fished out from under a river !!

The story of this bug is one to remember.
12 years ago I rolled in this for a year as it belonged to a friend. 10 years ago it broke dow on the side of the road, he bought a shitty Golf and in his own words it gave him stax of to such an extend that he will not recommend a Golf to anyone, even a township chap.
The car was exposed to the weather for 3 years, then for the past 5 years it has been parked under a tin-roof carport. It is rather damp where we live, so the mildew is not as bad as it seems on the pics, but the rust is BAD!!
Stax of stuff on this bug have kinda reminded me of patience. I have been searching for a raincatcher for the past 5 years since installing a pancake, and as you can see, I have a lekker steel one. I might try and mould one or two if I could find time and/or someone to assist me with the project.
This bug also came with the 3 VDO dials I've been serching for too. Man, God is good

Just thought I should add this pic too.

Congrats on your car.

When you say three VDO dials, do you mean a clock, a ammeter and an oil pressure gauge?

Do you consider selling that SP1600 badge, please let me know.

My bug wrote:Congrats on your car.

When you say three VDO dials, do you mean a clock, a ammeter and an oil pressure gauge?

Think its a rev counter,not a clock

buggyfan wrote:Think its a rev counter,not a clock

Hi Hloni

My heart really goes out to you........

There sure is a lot of work to her...

Best of luck!!