As some of you have been following, some have not... Ive been bug shopping, Ideally I wanted something as a daily driver I can jump in and drive. But one you get into actually spending the money you realise you have to buy or build exactly what YOU want. For me it's a early 60's ragtop, although these are far more expensive that standard bugs, Ive seen bare shells and rusted junk for $3k, I found a guy nearby with this '61 ragtop, no engine, tranny not really much life in it. Check it out! Id love to jump into this project... ahhh... so nice.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v138/Supercharger/uerUhAy1rH6XFS1EuNFbSgCvu2GX.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v138/Supercharger/PmQVsq0gQ83wpAxDeIsbTpWDJCKq.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v138/Supercharger/cHPxPRuIBdjz2Td5jH1xsK0IiqnV.jpg


Your thoughts please :)

Back window looks big for a 61, my 64 bug had a smaller one then that, and I don't think they had the front turn signals on the top of the fender. My 61 Van and the pointed ones, I thought the cars had the same mounted low on the fender. No reference books so I could, and am probably, wrong but worth checking.

BY THIS PIC, IT LOOKS CORRECT TO ME. GOOD LUCK....

http://www.1motormart.com/gallery/61vw01.jpg

What're you gonna do, throw that 461 in there or stick your feet out and run like Fred Flintstone? :D

1958: Rear window and windshield enlarged for better visibility

http://www.quepo.com/queposite/quepoweb/vwhis.html

Split windows were the VERY early ones, and the oval window (IMO the coolest) ended in '59.
The turn signals as in the link above were moved from semaphores by the B pillars to the front fenders in '55 and moved up to the top of the front fenders in '60 or '61. The bubble headlights went away in '66 or '67 replaced by regular sealed beams.

Yes, I remember the Cal Bug rage back in the '80s too :D

K

See, I told you I was probably having brain fade. Need to dig out old photos of the 64 bug and look at back window again, just didn't seem that big....

the last oval windows were in 57 , last rag top (sliding sunroof) was 63 . that one looks ok ,how much do they want ? I was big into the cal look bug thing in the early 90's and have always thought they were cool. I remember when you could buy an oval for 1200-1500 bucks , regular sedans for 500-800 all day long but i guess like everything else the price always goes up ! just stay away from anything after 66 and keep us posted . Good luck

Check the heater channels, inner fender wells, frame head, front beam and parcel tray for rust. If you decide to keep looking try these sites.

The Samba (http://www.thesamba.com/vw/)

Volkswebbin (http://www.openroad.ca/volkswebbin/)

Ahhh,

My first car was a '61 with the ragtop sunroof (1982/1983?) Seafoam Green with an off-white interior ... I hated it... Mom bought it off a local priest for $300 (very nice shape too). Brand new engine (stock 36 HP), but it was blowing oil everywhere. Turned out it was just overfilled with oil...

Sold it to the neighbor, and went and bought my first Chevelle... I wish I had it back now...

first place I ever worked was a garage that restored those old vw's

I still keep in touch with the guy fairly regularly

I always thought bugs were cool

and someday I will have a nice one - I hope