BajaNomad

1968 VW

Bedman - 9-17-2007 at 12:36 AM

As I prepare for retirement. I need room. My son and I rebuilt this 68 when he was 16. That was 16 years ago. He drove it for 2 years. I was saving it for his son, but I've come to the realization that another 13 years in the drive way is going to be a long time coming. So, I've decided to sell it. If you want more info, just ask.

Bedman

Sharksbaja - 9-17-2007 at 12:47 AM

Nice. Is that a 1500 or 1600cc?

Hook - 9-17-2007 at 10:52 AM

A 68 would be the 1600cc engine, unless it was bored when rebuilt. 68 was the first year of the 1600cc engine in the bug.

Pretty sure the 1500 only lasted one year, 1967. Many, including me, think that was the best year for the early bugs.

Growing up, I owned a 1960 bug (no syncromesh into first, no gas gauge-just a reserve lever, no true fresh-air heating), a 1966 bug (last year of the 6v system, man, what a great car!) and a 1967 camper van. I learned to work on cars by working on VWs.

Cypress - 9-17-2007 at 11:12 AM

Hook You've jogged my memory.:spingrin: Didn't they also have a manuel choke that would rev 'em up a few rpm's?:?::D Rugged lil' things, could take a licking and keep on clicking.:D

backninedan - 9-17-2007 at 11:27 AM

I owned several bugs when I lived in southern Oregon, great traction in the snow. Of course you froze your butt off when the temps got that low.
The worlds worst heater.

DanO - 9-17-2007 at 11:41 AM

I had a 67 Bug when I was in high school. Great, dependable car. Sold it to buy a 66 Triumph TR4A IRS. I loved that one, but it was hell keeping it running. Two cars later I went back to VW, a 72 Squareback automatic. Lots of room, but it was such a dog you almost had to get out and push it up steep inclines. Filled the glove box with parking tickets in L.A. and then drove it out to Idaho and sold it for money to spend the winter skiing. Ahh, the good old days.

Hook - 9-17-2007 at 11:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Hook You've jogged my memory.:spingrin: Didn't they also have a manuel choke that would rev 'em up a few rpm's?:?::D Rugged lil' things, could take a licking and keep on clicking.:D


The 60 did. They went with a Solex auto choke sometime afterwards that many in SoCal just disabled.

I loved manual choke and even manual throttle cables on the dash. I had a 68 International truck that had a cable throttle as well as the foot pedal (poor man's cruise control?). One trip to Death Valley in the late 70s, we drove this thing through Hidden Valley (the valley parallel to Racetrack Valley, one set of hills removed) by laying on the roof and shell on our bellies and set the speed manually. I steered by having my left arm in through the drivers window. We drove like this for an hour or so; never saw anyone. We felt that inside the cab was limiting our view of the surrounding.

We were seriously phuqued up.................

Cypress - 9-17-2007 at 12:05 PM

Hooks Thanks.;) It was a '60.;) Battery under the back seat caught fire once, shorted-out on the springs or something.:O Almost went down in flames.:biggrin:

Bedman - 9-17-2007 at 11:39 PM

Sharks,

Yup, a 1600.


Cypress,

No manual choke on this year model. It is a 1968 12 volt. I had the whole thing rewired and replaced the original fuse block with blade fuses and the old points have been replaced with electronic system. No more changing points every couple thousand miles.

Parallel lives?

Skipjack Joe - 9-18-2007 at 05:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DanO
I had a 67 Bug when I was in high school. Great, dependable car. Sold it to buy a 66 Triumph TR4A IRS. I loved that one, but it was hell keeping it running. Two cars later I went back to VW, a 72 Squareback automatic. Lots of room, but it was such a dog you almost had to get out and push it up steep inclines. Filled the glove box with parking tickets in L.A. and then drove it out to Idaho and sold it for money to spend the winter skiing. Ahh, the good old days.


I had a TR6 in college, then a 67 bug which was totalled, followed by a 77 VW bus which I ran up 230,000 original miles before it croaked. Some of the people at Asuncion still remember the van. And you're right, that Triumph never ran right.

Bedman - 9-18-2007 at 05:46 PM

Sheeesh..... I really do need to retire.... I forgot to put a price on the post....


$3200.

And thanks for all the well wishes....

Bedman

bajamigo - 9-18-2007 at 06:20 PM

Am I seeing double, or did you do something strange to the taillights?

DanO - 9-18-2007 at 06:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Quote:
Originally posted by DanO
I had a 67 Bug when I was in high school. Great, dependable car. Sold it to buy a 66 Triumph TR4A IRS. I loved that one, but it was hell keeping it running. Two cars later I went back to VW, a 72 Squareback automatic. Lots of room, but it was such a dog you almost had to get out and push it up steep inclines. Filled the glove box with parking tickets in L.A. and then drove it out to Idaho and sold it for money to spend the winter skiing. Ahh, the good old days.


I had a TR6 in college, then a 67 bug which was totalled, followed by a 77 VW bus which I ran up 230,000 original miles before it croaked. Some of the people at Asuncion still remember the van. And you're right, that Triumph never ran right.


Hard to say what the biggest problem was with the Triumph. The constantly malfunctioning Lucas electrical system? The touchy and unreliable SU oil-dampened carburetors? The stupid design flaws (like putting a frame cross member under the starter so you had to remove the damn c-ckpit floorboard to reach the top starter bolt)? The stuff that would just fall off without warning when crappy metal parts disintegrated (alternator, driveshaft, etc.)? But . . . when it was running, it was a chick magnet and a total gas to drive.
;D

Maybe I'll buy another one, after I retire and have all the time in the world to work on it.

vivaloha - 12-9-2007 at 11:27 AM

So, Bedman did you sell the van yet? Just curious?

Vivaloha

4baja - 12-11-2007 at 07:24 AM

i believe its a baja bug.