GTP Cool Wall: 1971-1979 Volkswagen Super Beetle

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1971-1979 Volkswagen Super Beetle

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    99
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homeforsummer
This thread is making me want another Beetle.
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homeforsummer
I'm not sure whether it was the adrenaline, but the first 200-mile journey in mine after I picked it up was actually quite comfortable. There's a lot to be said for huge squishy seats on enormous bouncy squeaky springs.
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Tropics. No AC. (I hear it was an option, though, on later models) Blargh.

Must admit, the ride was good. But sitting in the back seat of one for five years of my childhood wasn't.

Which is why it's so puzzling to me that I still desire one after all these years... :lol:
 
Yeah, I can imagine it being a bit grim without AC. Though I can imagine the Beetle itself being a bit grim with AC, since the engine doesn't have much extra to give. I'm in no rush to try the later U.S-market versions with fuel injection either since that seemed to rob the Super of about a fifth of its horsepower. It's enough to make the 1600cc models less powerful than my old carb-fed 1300.
 
All a Beetle needs is a set of Weber carbs and different cams.

Or a supercharger. I have one. Anyone want to buy it?

And it's cool.
 
Would have gone with 'meh', but some of the crazy stories my parents tell about Beetles from their college days bumps it up to cool.
 
Honestly, the main story I hear from my parents about their Beetle is that they sold it off for scrap after the engine conked out and put the money from that towards their P1800S, but even that's a cool story, if only for the P1800.
 
Went with cool, very close to Sub-Zero. Unfortunately, neither of my parents ever had one, so no cool story for me. Although, my neighbor bought one about six months ago, along with a Type 14 Karmann-Ghia. Both of which are infinitely cooler than his C5 'Vette.
 
Meh. They have potential to be cool but I wouldn't want a stock one.
 
Roger the Horse
Air cooled engines are sub-zero.
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Unless you live in the desert. VW Beetles give me memories of my moms VW that would vapor lock once the temp got beyond 90 degrees. So much of the summer we would have to take the bus home since the car wouldn't restart in the heat.
 
How were you still alive at those temperatures? And more importantly, where on earth were you driving it?
 
They can be fun in the winter time too. Heater don't work too well when temps are below freezing.

That's one of the stories my parents told about these cars, driving it around upstate NY in the winter with one hand while they are busy scraping ice off the inside of the windshield with the other hand using a credit card.
 
I've actually heard very good things about them in the snow due to the fact their tires are extremely skimpy. Though I can believe the heater thing. I like V8's for that, no wait time for things to warm up hehe.
 
Yup. And the fact that most of the time it's all over-cast, incubating us and refuses to rain. Then when it rains, it doesn't stop.
 
Slashfan
I've actually heard very good things about them in the snow due to the fact their tires are extremely skimpy.
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That, and being rear engined, rear drive the engine is sitting right over the wheels that need traction.

Fortunately, I never had to experience the poor heating in cold weather, as I only drove mine in the summer.
 
Slashfan
I've actually heard very good things about them in the snow due to the fact their tires are extremely skimpy. Though I can believe the heater thing. I like V8's for that, no wait time for things to warm up hehe.
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LOL my little 2.2L Subaru warms up quick too. Love that car for winters.
 
As much as I love old Beetle's, I can't say they are a cool car as it seems mostly hipsters and 40 year old single women with 12 cats drive them(although most have moved on to the New Beetle).
 
How on earth can the Beetle be a hipster vehicle?? They build like 30 million of them.

This is one car hipsters won't hipster.
 
I don't care about iPhones.

Beetles, not hipster.

They can have the Beatles.
 
Dennisch
I don't care about iPhones.

Beetles, not hipster.
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Beetles are VERY hipster (no offence, hoofs). Aside from being the car of the flower power movement anyway, they're somewhat favoured by the iPhone crowd (no offence, hoofs) as counterculture transport - sticking it to "the man" of the automotive industry.

Of course those hipsters who buy £400 iPhones and then brand new Beetles need roasting. Literally.
 

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