November 2009
Darryl’s 1966 Beetle Deluxe is truly a work of art. Much love and a tremendous attention to detail makes this one beautifully restored Volkswagen. Read about some of the work that’s gone into this project and enjoy the wonderful pictures.
I bought the car from the original owner for $750.00; the car had sat for about 10 years (there were some rust issues with body) but the pan was perfect. This is a 1966 Beetle Deluxe 1300 with factory crank sunroof (most of the rust issues were around the opening and the sunroof itself was replaced). I replaced front fenders, front beam with disc brake conversion (front only), and used a 1600 dual port engine with dual Kadron carbs, 12 volt conversion with electronic ignition and electric fuel pump with regulator and gauge, Empi headers and exhaust in silver ceramic. The heater boxes were coated in ceramic (black) and rebuilt the transaxle and drive shafts, all new fuel/ brake lines, all new rubber, and suspension.
The pan, suspension (shocks, front beam etc.) and all brake and engine tins were sand blasted and powder coated in Alien Silver Metallic. I’m also running a Gene Berg aluminum short-throw shift kit.
The rims are off an early Beetle (Wide 5 with clips) and dressed with Wolfsburg Nipple caps and dresser rings, sitting on new Michelin Harmony 185 65 15s. The steering wheel is an F1 style with Momo adapter.
The body mods include a tilt forward hood (I custom made the hinge and strut system), suicide doors with shaved door handles (remote door poppers), installed door safety pin locks with warning light on dash. Shaved dash using single gauge from a 79 beetle, electric fuel sender gauge, custom sound system with 11 speakers, includes DVD, iPod rear camera system. Shaved the front turn signals and added side view mirrors with built in turn signals, and cut in and built up rear fenders to accommodate PT Cruiser rear tail light assembly. The head lights are rebuilt fluted glass from a late 50s beetle. The interior is from a Saturn Ion Red Line Series (Recaro seats, front and rear in black and blue), Mohair headliner and charcoal carpet, and custom blue suede with black and gray raised accents on door and rear quarter panels. All chrome was shaved with exception of the blade bumpers and wheel treatments. (All new wire harness as well)
The paint is PPG dark blue metallic and PPG dark gray metallic on doors and fore and aft of doors, the underside of fenders and under running boards, and engine compartment, and top of pan are done in black bed liner coating helping to control rust and noise.
In a nut shell, I have worked on this car for about 3 years off and on (money and time permitting) and will have invested approx. $10,000.00 on this, but it has been fun and frustrating at times to build. The sad and happy thing is that it is not for me, but I built this for my oldest daughter, Ashley, and she is so very excited to get here license and set off on many adventures in her little bug. I bought a license plate frame that says,” Who said girls don’t like Bugs?”
Stay tuned I have two more daughters to build for. One is in the works already, a 1964 1/2 Mustang coupe, halfway done-painted and all new chrome and interior etc. This is for Katelyn and her little sister Hope wants a PT Cruiser. (I have 2 years to go for her)
Thanks for all the parts and support, to all that read this……you will be hard pressed to find a better source of info and support for your projects and service that you will receive here at Peninsula Automotive.
