Bugblog

So today I wasted some time at work and whipped up a paint job in Photoshop. I'm thinking I'd like the bug to end up looking like this:



Time and budget will dictate.

Finally! I have some time to sit and play with the car! The other day a friend tried to put the passenger side window up and it stopped and made a horrible grinding noise about 75% of the way up. This was my first task. I unscrewed the window crank, door handle cover, and the rubber thing that you grab to close the door and then pulled the door cover off. Oh oh, there's metal covering the window mechanism. Hmmmm. I try to reach up in there and feel around for the problem but my hands are too damn big. I fiddle with it for about half an hour then decide I'll have to wait for a small handed friend to help out. I move on to the speedometer (currently not working) and here's why; the cable was rusted, and mostly missing as about 6 inches of it were hanging from the front wheel. So I'll need a new one of those. Now the back bumper, which is pushed in a bit on one side. I was told that I just had to turn something and it could be pulled out. Well, I turned things, unbolted things, turned some more things but nothing seemed to work. Beaten again. I then figured I'd have success tightening a tail pipe that shimmied loose whenever I drove, so, I did so and had some success. Then I decided to study the engine, fire it up, watch it run and make sure nothing was spurting out of it. Nothing was, everything looks good. Next weekend I plan on fixing more bits. Until then...

Morning. Tired. Must go to work. Car is on the hill, I'll probably have to get me a new battery. I roll down the hill, can't seem to get it started. Oh oh. Ran out of hill. Fortunately, there's an auto shop at the end of the street. They gladly lend me the battery charger. I hook it up, she starts. Definately need a new battery. I do so at lunch. Smooth sailing from here on out.

Take her to the gas station, check the oil and the air pressure in the tires. Both are good. Drive over to 7 Eleven. Jump back in the car. No start. :o Nothing, no sounds, nothing. Don't panic. I look around, flip the back seat up to be sure nothing has come off the battery. I notice my unsuspecting roommate walking down the street. He begrudgingly (word?) pushes the bug into the street and she pops to life when I let go the clutch.

The sporty 1974 Super Beetle pictured above, purchased from a nice lady in South Central, excuse me, South, Los Angeles. All seems well, the bug and I get to know each other on the way to Weho.

An Introduction.

My lease ended on my nice, new, shiny 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle at the end of June. I was in quite a state of mental dispair. Oh what to do!? My New Beetle has treated me so well yet I tire of these car payments and long for something more. Do I get a used car? If so, what? A big old convertible? That would rule but those are a hot commodity in these parts, not matter their condition. What can I get for $1000? I look around. Old Bugs pop up a lot in this price range. Hmmmmm, but that would be like the same thing. If I'm going to get something new, I should get something different. A little reading here and there, more looking around, and I start remembering the crazy culture surrounding the Ol' Bug. The New Beetles have nothing like that. They just don't. Hmmm. Parts are everywhere and astoundingly cheap. That's it, I must have one. I'm going to get an old VW Beetle. And so I did. And here's some pictures and a place that I can add more pictures as I fix her up and add new things. I've never been into the car customization thing. I think it was too weird to start playing with a new car, it didn't seem right. Now, I have an old car that demands attention and a little fixer-upping. I might as well start adding new bits as I learn how to fix the old bits. Keep checking back as I update the blog and add the pictures of things I've done. For now, click the pics to the right and see the car as I bought her. This should be fun.