My wife had a 1958 VW Bug in college...loved it. Now she has found an ad for a 1963 Bug and we are going to look at it tomorrow. I have done enough monkey-wrenching on cars, so I'm not afraid of inspecting another used vehicle. However, I have no experience with VW's. This is a black '63, dealer installed gas heater, third owner now, photos look like clean, straight car. Some doll-up items, (headlight eyebrows, etc.) but not bad. Seller admits some minor rust bubbles near one front fender. Also, some rust below driver's feet in floorpan. I'll inspect floorpan as best I can as well as looking under rear seat for battery tray area. Car is said to be in really good shape. Engine is, "single-port 1500." Not sure what that means except apparently newer than orignal 40hp unit. He also reports minor oil drip, which I understand elsewhere is common.

Tips on what to watch for would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dennis
Odessa, WA

Heater channel rust, floorpan rust, chassis rust, tracking (bad could indicate a smash), steering (woolines), general pain and interior condition (ie do you want a show car or a runaround), Gearbox clonking or whining, Rust on door bottoms and 1/4 panels

Loads more but these are the basics that I will use!

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Thanks, Gertie. Sounds like rust is a major problem with Beetles. Wife wants a sharp fair weather driver...not for long distance. She has another rig for longer trips and bad weather.

We'll make sure it stops straight and watch tracking and handling. If we find odd handling or drifting toward side of road, we might skip the purchase. (although we know some handling problems are easily repaired)

I'm taking a tarp to lay on and a good portable light.

Dennis