Aircooled VW South Africa

And so it starts. I finally get to post up a project thread! HOORAY! (Damn it has been a long time)

Basically, I am maintaining a Tumblr thread for the build but, for yous guys, I will make the same posts here for y'all ta see!

If you want to check the Tumblr page, here is the url: http://bettytheoval.tumblr.com/

for the others, read below

Post # 1



Just a short introduction, over the past, I dunno, 15 years?, I have been on the hunt for my own Oval Window VW Beetle. I had a few chances to get one, but they all slipped past. I eventually gave up on my dream and then Betty said hello to me.

So, I now finally have my very own example. It is my dream car, a 1957 VW Oval Window Beetle.

This is how I got her. Don’t worry, all the other pieces are with it.

The aim of this blog vibe is to document the build of Betty, and I cannot wait to get started. I will just have to stop crying from joy first!

Post # 2 - 27 May 2011





And so it begins!!!!!

Today, after quite a mission of getting the driver to find the place (his forms had the incorrect spelling. and I think I misdirected him. My bad), it arrived. Isn’t she just…. banged up! And BEAUTIFUL!!!! Well, to my eyes at least.

There are loads of bits still to come next week (the guy I bought it from is coming to Cape Town next week with the remaining pieces).

So, here are a few pics of how she arrived, and her waiting in the garage.

Mission one accomplished. Once the rest gets here, I will be able to make a list of what I need to get/replace that it doesn’t have and on how we will go about bringing her back to her former glory!

Think I will have a beer tonight

Congrats Mince
Betty looks pretty

Post # 3 - 28 May 2011



These are the 2 books we will be using with the build. I am sure others will be added, like a Haynes manual for the ‘57 specifically but these cover pretty much everything.

The one on the left is a guide to do the work, the one on the right is an authenticity guide which will help in getting the car completed as close to production as we can. Work isn’t going to start till next weekend, but at least we can plan what needs to be done on the body.

Let the fun begin!

Hey guys. Just want to say thanks for all the good will you have been sending me about ol' Betty.
I must apologise for cross posting between the Tumblr page and the forum. I know I am writing for the Layman, hope you all understand.
What I will try do is fill you all in, on the forum, about the technical stuff and to ask for assistance WHEN I need it. Which I am sure might be quite often.

Cool. Just shout if you need anything

Nice one mince
Sounds like you had a few years to plan or think about how you want this one to look.
Ill be watching this one closely

That looks like a great project! Betty looks sweet! I'm glad you eventually found your dream car.

Congrats Mince! Nice Oval. Treat her right. Really interested in this rebuild.

Congratulations!! Very nice! Will watch the thread with much interest

Congratulations!! Very nice! Will watch the thread with much interest

Congrats on the oval Mince - good luck with the project !

Happy Days Mince ! keep us updated on your progress . Congrats again.

You guys make me feel warm and fuzzy

The rest of the car should be arriving on Thursday with the previous owner. Saturday we will start looking at the brakes and we will work our way to the gearbox.
We want to get the running gear, the important bits 100% first before anything else.

Also, the body looks great in photos, but there are holes here and there and loads of filler on some parts, mainly on the usual rust areas.
Gotta decide what i want to do with that: take a gamble on continue from where it was left (resulting in continuous patch work for a long time) or acid dip the guy and start again.

What do you guys reckon? I will take pics of my areas of concern to get some advice/opinions!

SO FRIKKEN EXCITED!!!!!!!