Hello from PA!! I’m looking for a OLD vw bug with the unbreakable air cooled engines!! What is the most reliable year? Thank you!!!
Thanks for the support!!
Nothing is "unbreakable." proper maintenance is the key to longevity. I would look for something from 1966 to 1972.
It’s unbreakable in comparison to the new vws. I know of so many people that have had problems. Thanks for the feedback too!!!
I had a 63 and it was still a 6 volt system with a generator and ball wheel bearings instead of rollers. I would go online and see when VW changed over to 12 volt and alternators to start with.
Plus, forget anything from up north. they rust out pretty quick in the salt belt.
Check under the running boards for rot, that's
where the channels for heat are and when they go, it's curtains!
I hope you like to sweat in the summer and freeze in the winter! {pear}:laughingoutloud:
I'd stick with the later 12 volt models. Also, here's a comparison between the Super Beetle and standard Beetle:
https://www.aircooledcommunity.com/blog/vw-beetle-vs-super-beetle-difference/
A tip on the heater, if everything is in good condition the heater is better than many people think. You have to crack open one of the vent windows slightly for air to flow because those cars seal up so tightly.
You must also purchase a copy of this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101
I had a 1965 Bug. 1200cc engine. Zero comforts but I was a kid so I didn't care. I had the wheel adapters with the wide tires in the rear. A couple of my buddies had Bugs too. We'd take them on the beach, in the sand, and when the roads were closed because of snow, we'd find some big parking lots, speed around on the snow, cut the wheel and pull the emergency brake lever to make them spin like a top.
Then the girl I was dating bought a brand new bug in 1977. What a difference. 1600cc engine, dual port heads, highback seats. It was comfortable, had some pep, and it had some safety improvements. It was actually comfortable to drive on long trips or on the highway. (She wouldn't let me play with her brand new Bug on snowy nights.....but she let me play with other things she had so I was OK with it).
If I ran into a tree going 35 mph in my 1965 I would have probably been killed.
The 1977 had the better seats & restraints, collapsible steering column, and a padded dashboard.
Increased the odds of surviving that 35 mph "head on" into a tree to maybe 50/50.
I feel a certain nostalgia for that old '65. I'd like to drive one again for old times' sake. But if I was going to drive one everyday, I'd choose the '77 without a second thought.
