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Author Topic: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible  (Read 11224 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

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Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« on: December 17, 2012, 06:18:15 am »


While in Santa Monica, California last month for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible first drive, I had a truly unique driving opportunity.

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Offline johngenx

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2012, 08:16:49 am »
 :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2:
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Offline Weels

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2012, 08:31:04 am »
That orange thing the check engine light?   ;D
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Offline Mike

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2012, 08:32:10 am »
I think that was 'lights are on', but damned if I know.
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Offline Thinking Out Loud

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2012, 08:39:06 am »
I think that the ratio of Dashboard-to-Vertical Windshield is very similar to my Wrangler!!

Most importatnly, how was the dashboard - it looks like soft-touch plastics!

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Offline PRNDL0L

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2012, 08:58:01 am »
When I was a kid I think the majority of these Beetles I saw had their running boards rotted off. In the last five years the majority of the new Beetles i've seen had had their running board-like rocker panels dented or damaged.

The more things change the more things stay the same I guess.
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Offline safristi

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2012, 09:08:34 am »
IT was an original "Beatle" so yeah yeah yeah with a THING like that ya know ya should be glad........................ya stopped at all. :rofl2: Funny piece JA...... ;D
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Offline redman

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2012, 09:32:00 am »
I wish they still produced this vehicle. Air cooled, good fuel economy and simple to work on. It was the perfect commuter car and is a sense ahead of it's time.

My uncle had one of these in the same orange colour but non convertible. At the end of it's street life it was purchased and made into a sand buggy by some local college kids who came by to show my uncle. He was glad that it still had a life albeit reborn. Tons in Mexico and Brazil still exist although no longer in production.

Thanks for article and memories.
« Last Edit: December 17, 2012, 04:27:56 pm by redman »
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Offline Ace

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2012, 10:00:39 am »
My beat up 63' Beetle I drove as a kid in the early 70's had a top speed of about 110 kmh and crappy brakes. Its lack of performance probably saved my life.
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Offline dragonfly

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2012, 11:10:07 am »
 Possibly the most unsafe vehicle ever created, also the slowest and most prone to rust...Who cares! Life's too short to worry about dying young...
  A buddy had one and drove like a lunatic...No seat belt, nothing in front but a gas tank and sheetmetal, wide open at 65 MPH...blowing all over the road...Noisy as a ba--ard....What a classic! Scared the begeezuz outa me (and I was a kid who never hesitated to drive a bloated, huge engined American car as fast as it would go)..It had an endearing quality..It really was unique(overused term today)...However...Time marches on...
           Thanks pard   Jack
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Offline conwelpic

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2012, 11:44:57 am »
brings back memories of my first car - 1960 VW 1200 deluxe and yes, you had to push it down to get in reverse back then.



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Offline Blueprint

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2012, 12:08:19 pm »
What a gorgeous Bug !!  :love:

A Bug nerd like me will tell you that it's actually a Super Beetle - the original "Beetle" for the NA market died in 1977. The Super has a wider front end, with modern (!) McPherson struts, a bigger trunk, a wrap-around windshield and that deep (for a Bug) dashboard.

If it's really a 1980, it's quite a collector item as this was an abbreviated year for the final production run.

Some Beetles in CA drive around with 140 hp, twin-carb crate engines from one of many suppliers.  My dream garage needs a resto-Cal-look '60s Beetle...
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Offline Fobroader

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #12 on: December 17, 2012, 12:17:45 pm »
Very well written article. The car is cool and all, but I dont know, Bugs have never done anything for me. The early 80's VW to have, for me anyways, is the Mk1 GTi.
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Offline Arthur Dent

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #13 on: December 17, 2012, 12:17:52 pm »
Once you got back into a vehicle with power brakes did you almost throw yourself through the dash with the first application of brakes?  ;D
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Offline sailor723

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #14 on: December 17, 2012, 12:20:41 pm »
Quote from: Weexy on December 17, 2012, 08:31:04 am
That orange thing the check engine light?   ;D

Analog clock...a sure sign of a luxury vehicle.  ;D
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Offline OliverD

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #15 on: December 17, 2012, 12:35:03 pm »
Quote from: redman on December 17, 2012, 09:32:00 am
I wish they still produced this vehicle. Air cooled and good fuel economy and simple to work on.

With or without current safety and emissions standards?
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Offline Mike

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #16 on: December 17, 2012, 01:45:31 pm »
Quote from: Arthur Dent on December 17, 2012, 12:17:52 pm
Once you got back into a vehicle with power brakes did you almost throw yourself through the dash with the first application of brakes?  ;D

Yup! I nearly threw my passenger through the window.
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Offline Mike

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #17 on: December 17, 2012, 01:45:48 pm »
Quote from: Blueprint on December 17, 2012, 12:08:19 pm
What a gorgeous Bug !!  :love:

A Bug nerd like me will tell you that it's actually a Super Beetle - the original "Beetle" for the NA market died in 1977. The Super has a wider front end, with modern (!) McPherson struts, a bigger trunk, a wrap-around windshield and that deep (for a Bug) dashboard.

If it's really a 1980, it's quite a collector item as this was an abbreviated year for the final production run.

Some Beetles in CA drive around with 140 hp, twin-carb crate engines from one of many suppliers.  My dream garage needs a resto-Cal-look '60s Beetle...

This one was from Germany.  Would it is still be a Super Beetle?
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Offline Fobroader

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #18 on: December 17, 2012, 01:46:43 pm »
Quote from: OliverD on December 17, 2012, 12:35:03 pm
Quote from: redman on December 17, 2012, 09:32:00 am
I wish they still produced this vehicle. Air cooled and good fuel economy and simple to work on.

With or without current safety and emissions standards?

Without all that crap on it, that kills everything that was good about the car. It wont be light and easily serviceable anymore.
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Offline OliverD

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Re: Final Drive: 1980 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
« Reply #19 on: December 17, 2012, 01:55:38 pm »
Quote from: Fobroader on December 17, 2012, 01:46:43 pm
Quote from: OliverD on December 17, 2012, 12:35:03 pm
Quote from: redman on December 17, 2012, 09:32:00 am
I wish they still produced this vehicle. Air cooled and good fuel economy and simple to work on.

With or without current safety and emissions standards?

Without all that crap on it, that kills everything that was good about the car. It wont be light and easily serviceable anymore.

I agree. The Beetle was a great car but there's no place for it in today's world, at least not in first world countries.
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