Visit our Popular Forums

Gene · 07-25-2012, 01:44 PM

The good thing about that era was it was easy to fix the cars. A Swiss Army knife would fix a lot of things and a match book cover often set the points correctly.

Once computers came along, I was lost. Just in time, because as I got older, I had less and less desire to fix cars, though now I own an Airstream and feel like I'm back in the '70's as far as the technology and QC go.

Gene

swebster · 09-23-2012, 11:52 AM

We flat towed a 71 Super Beetle for years behind our 345. Barely knew it was there. We wired the Beetle up using a "trailer" wiring harness and used a $100 Beetle towbar from JC Whitney.

Worked like a charm.

Gotta say, it drew a lot of attention as gas stations. Classic towing a classic.

perryg114 · 09-23-2012, 02:29 PM

I have a tow bar for the standard bugs if anyone wants it.

Perry

LimeyRich · 11-11-2012, 06:46 PM

Used to own one third of a good sports car shop in the 70' and 80's. We worked on all (sports) makes, EXCEPT Volvos (parts were a real pain), Fiats ( they would breakdown while parked in the shop

), and Volkswagens.
We didn't work on Volkswagens because they were relatively reliable, parts were cheap, and anybody with a minimum of ability could soon learn the workings of their own bug from front to back. We also could not compete on labor rates, or job times against dedicated Volkswagen mechanics and shops. For larger jobs, like engine and transaxle problems, there were and still are, plenty of people across the country that know bugs inside out, and work at reasonable rates.
I am personally a Triumph fan, but that had to do with family background, and an ability (when younger) to ignore rain and cold. Only "big" Triumph's though, no damned Spitfires, or TR7s !
As you have a normal bug you should do OK. I have owned two myself they were both good, and the '68 was one reliable, rugged, (but cold) little beast!
All the best. Rich.

FreshAir · 11-11-2012, 08:44 PM

Str8strm tows a 'THING' with his 345.

Neil

Globie64 · 11-11-2012, 08:56 PM

My favorite car was a 65 Beetle I bought from an elderly lady when I was 16, 50 bucks a month for a year (1978). I worked in a repair shop for a few years, through high school and beyond, and VWs from 72 on seemed to be a lot more troublesome- the engines were strained by the smog devices, and maybe the interest in quality control in the air cooled cars wasn't there anymore, but by this time maybe any glitches have been cured. One issue with towing is lubrication in the transaxle, maybe this isn't a problem with a manual, but I'd check. Good luck, VWs were such fun cars.

ADK Jim · 02-08-2013, 07:34 PM

Happy -

You forgot to tell them how sweet it looks with the new paint job! Tow it and have fun.

HappyPill77 · 02-09-2013, 12:27 PM

Jim,

It does look sweet! Now we just need to finish getting the windows back in, and we will have fun!

RocketManKen · 04-04-2013, 07:10 AM

Up here in the salt belt, some old air beetles 'manual brakes' means 'Freddy Flintstone' style brakes.

RocketManKen · 04-04-2013, 07:31 AM

In '84 I bought a '67 Beetle from a co-worker of my father for $50 because it had a knocking noise. Fixed 'known problem' for $16 and drove heck out of it. One of the most fun and best cars I ever owned. (of course that was back in the day before I require a/c on all but my motorcycle) Only about 25 moving parts on those. That was simple beauty of these cars. May be why they sold so many all over the world. I don't think my lovely wife would be down with POS air Beetle as toad.

RocketManKen · 04-04-2013, 07:33 AM

Lots of Vdub specialty shops or JCWhitney can hook you up

RocketManKen · 04-04-2013, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViewRVs

Here is a preview of your new rig! Literally!

1979 Argosy 20'
1974 VW Beetle

Cool. They are the same shape!

That 70's Show!
Here is a preview of your new rig! Literally!

1979 Argosy 20'
1974 VW Beetle
Attached Thumbnails

__________________
Fred H.
1977 Argosy 20' Motorhome
Fred's Airstream Archives @ ViewRVs.com

ViewRVs · 04-05-2013, 08:23 PM

ADK Jim sent me these pictures of a Super Beetle (slightly different tow bar) as a toad.

ViewRVs · 04-05-2013, 08:27 PM

Here is my toad! Now I just need to retrieve my Argosy!

bkahler · 04-06-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViewRVs

Here is my toad! Now I just need to retrieve my Argosy!

Orange, imagine that

Gene · 04-06-2013, 01:49 PM

Fred, isn't that NY license plate a little out of date? Aren't they light blue now? They were orange with blue or black letters and numbers when I was a kid and into the 60's, but somewhere they changed them. That should be outlawed. Nothing should change from my youth without my permission.

Gene

jm2 · 04-06-2013, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkahler

Orange, imagine that

matches the new "ARGOSY 20" lettering on the coach!

ViewRVs · 10-13-2013, 11:58 AM

On my return trip from Delaware on Friday, I saw a late model motorhome towing baby-blue vintage Beetle (convertible). It looked like it was towing just fine.

I REALLY need to get my dash-cam out of the package and start using it!

genearnold · 10-13-2013, 03:03 PM

Beginning in 1961 I was a Star Route contractor/operator with the U.S. Postal Service out of Maxwell, Nebraska (near North Platte). When I began I owned a 1960 Falcon and a 1958 Jeep CJ6. The Jeep was only used for extreme weather and road conditions. The route covered 118 miles of nearly all gravel or sand roads. It quickly became obvious that the Falcon couldn't stand up to the job, and although I was a healthy 26 year-old in pretty good shape, the Jeep beat me up so bad on bad roads that I hated it! In early '62 I traded the Falcon for a '61 VW Beetle. I can't say enough good about it. Never again did I need the Jeep, for the VW would go over any road the Jeep could and didn't beat me up in the process. Now the VW wasn't perfect, but it was great for my severe usage. I bought into the VW myths and believed you couldn't get one stuck, so the very first blizzard I proceeded to take on a long drift to get to a ranch. I got stuck, but I un-stuck it because as a macho mid-twenties guy I just had to prove it – and all the while I had a shovel in the back seat! Well I made it around the whole route, but that afternoon I took it in to the VW shop in North Platte for a new clutch. The car had a South-Wind gasoline heater that was hot enough to heat my house so I was always plenty warm during the frigid times.

On one occasion after some overnight flooding, I encountered a flooded portion of road. To back-track would have meant about 70 miles of extra driving so . . . remembering I'd read (and believed the myth) that VWs were so well built that they'd float, I did one of the dumber things I've done in my long life. I put it 1st gear, revved it up and hit the water. In the middle I lost traction but my momentum carried me to the other side. Although it was missing pretty badly I kept it going until it smoothed out and I shut it down and inspected the engine compartment. The water line was nearly up to the distributor cap but no damage, and I finished the route.

The '61 ranks among the best cars I've owned in my62 years of vehicle ownership.

Later I had a '69 and it wasn't the car the '61 was. Still later I had a '73 that I'd as soon not talk about. Definitely showed the regression of manufacturer's standards!

As has been said, You've got to be religious about regular maintenance. Oil changes and valve adjustments have to be regularly scheduled or you'll buy trouble. I never had brake problems, not ever, on any of them.

Have fun!

Punch · 10-14-2013, 08:41 AM

So early on in this thread, someone mentioned a toad braking system that you didn't have to remove.... presumably somehow actuates the master cylinder directly? Has anyone used or seen information on these? I have a couple of old British cars that I was thinking of using as toads (one at a time....) and the Brake Buddy things look obnoxiously primitive and clunky.