The 74 Super Beetle Resurrection.

As the title states. I will be bringing the 74 Super back.

This idea stemmed from the sentimental value of the car to me (first VW), and I found that I had stashed away a control arm and a few other suspension parts the car needs (had forgotten about it), and a friend of mine said we should straighten the body as best as possible and just keep it around as a "Field Car" something that can be used around the property. It may never be in good enough shape to be put back on the street, but it can be fun to have around.

After getting into the straightening part, I found that after unbolting the front of the body from the pan, the extent of the damage isnt too bad, there's the damaged control arm, broken control arm support, and bent tie rod, otherwise it's all body.

Pics to follow...

At the wreck site.

One year, 2 1/2 months later. It has had some parts removed/exchanged.

Pulled the fenders and stuff off to really see the damage.



Mangled fender.



Mangled hood.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN DAVE. IF THE DAMAGE ISNT HUGE YA NEVER KNOW.....IT MAY MAKE IT BACK TO THE STREET

FIND A NEW CLIP MAYBE AND IF THE PANS GOOD JUST SWAP THAT AND CALL IT GOOD????

Looks worse.



Broken control arm.



Bent tie rod. Brake line is also smashed flat.



Strut is not exactly in its original place.



Needs some straightening.

Here are the spare parts. Control arm and brace.

This is how you straighten a car.

Lots of come-along and sledgehammer time later.

Not looking half bad.

I had to slice the spare tire well open to be able to pound the car back into shape. Below it you can see the bent bulkhead.



Here is how far back it was pushed in. 7 inches. The end of the tape measure is at a mounting bolt hole on the pan, and at 7 inches is where the bolt threads into the body.

You can do it!!!

You can always tube the front end...

I have done some more work to it since these pics were taken, and I am currently to a point with the body where I can start welding up some areas where the sheetmetal tore, then I can do further hammering/straightening. Also at this point, the doors are opening and closing better. After the wreck, and I switched doors with the ones of my 70 StreetBug, the driver's side had a hard time closing, as the door opening was smaller than before, and the passenger door had a hard time opening, because the opening was larger than before, and causing the latch to bind. Signs of progress.

On Saturday I will replace the control arm and do some other work to the car.

That's crazy. Must've been quite the bump on the front.

I've got a nice passenger door for a Super. Do you need it? Or should I toss it.....

The one I have is kinda rusty, so if you'd like to donate it to the cause, by all means.

silvertonguedevil wrote:

That's crazy. Must've been quite the bump on the front.

50 mph into a power pole.

That'd do it.

I'll set the door aside. You can have it.

Took the control arm off, I'm having bushing pressed into my new (used) one so I'm sort of just waiting for that. Then I can get it rolling, and start welding up the front end.

Still waiting on a control arm and tie-rod, but I got a little done today. Bolted on two standard rear fender and the original front right fender. Straightened the hood and left front fender, and bolted them on as well (the left front fender is attached with just a couple bolts). Then I did some painting complete with number.

Still needs quite a bit.

While removing the 68 Bus for Breck, I found I had to move the Super Beetle for room. Although I was able to do it, I learned that without a control arm, the front end tries to collapse upon itself. Slowly but surly I got it moved over. Steering it was a challenge.

Think it'll drive straight?