VW Bug Convertible

I bought this 1979 VW Bug Convertible about 6 years ago just for fun. At that time, the engine, body, top, and everything were all in shabby condition, and it could not pass its smog test.

So then, as one of those sort of hobby/projects that ends up taking over 6 months, I took out the old engine, got a new rebuilt one and a transmission, and put those in. Once the mechanicals were all working great ... well I just never got the energy to fix another single thing on it! The top, the rust, the dents ... all stayed just as they were, and I just drove it like that. Most of the time it stayed under its cover or in the garage, and I drove around in a modern, charmless, highly reliable and also water and wind proof Japanese compact. About three times a year, I would roll out the old VW to tool around for fun. It also played a starring role at my wedding (this will explain the glitter under the mats), but it's gotten a little ridiculous how little we drive it, so it's time to send it somewhere it can actually be used, and get our garage back.

Key Facts...

• 1979 VW Bug Convertible
• New re-built engine and transmission put in about 4k miles ago. Oh, and new rear shocks, and probably some other things I've forgotten about.
• Drives around great
• Flaws and Reasons not To Buy This Ridiculous Car
  • Cold start problem -- a sensor or something has gone bad so that when you start it cold, it gets enough gas to run for 5 seconds fine, and then it peters out. You have to start it again, and then something seems to click in its little computer, and it gets enough gas and runs fine from then on. I never bothered to chase this problem down. For actual driving, the engine runs great.
  • A few dents from before I had it
  • The right outside door handle doesn't work -- reach in and use the inner one (did I mention that I stopped fixing anything and just drove it once the engine started working?)
  • Top is in pathetic shape. There's an old tablecloth stapled to it, hiding its shame. It functions, but it looks terrible, so I've left it folded up, say, for about the last 4 years.
  • There are outright 4-inch rust holes where the rear-passenger feat go -- I put some wood in there so you can't really tell now, but heh, those are real holes! The front seats are fine.
• Reasons To Buy This Priceless Gem
  • The only reason to buy this car is that it's a convertible, it works, it's cheap, and you live in a place with good weather!

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