How hard is it to find an air cooled Beetle that isn't a rust bucket, but also not stupid money?

Since there isn't a lot more I want to do to the BRZ, I've been looking at getting a project car. Something that is still driveable/safe, not a rust bucket, but also not completely upgraded so I could modify as I wish. 

I kind of have an image in my head of what I'd like to do.

Stupid idea? Pick a different vehicle (which I'm completely open to as I have a couple of cars in mind)? Best place to look to find an air cooled Beetle? Any other suggestions.

I suspect my other choices, the initial buy-in is likely too high.

Mark III Supra preferably Turbo, definitely would want to avoid a manual swap
FC Turbo manual
Square body S10

What is your budjet and what is on your I don't want to deal with it list. Mine is structural rust. A door or a fender is not a problem but once it gets structural I pass. 
 

With the exception of the Supra the beetle and especially the S10 are around.  Are you good with a roller?  What car do you have the most experience with?  
 

What about a 350z?  Or a 7-15 year old mustang?  
 

Crazy me is looking at the 2000 VW golf GTI AWD cars that the ROW got. They are now legal to import and they are cheep.  
 

What you are looking for will not be advertised. You are going to have to do the leg work to find it. Get out to junk yards and see what is in there for sale line.  Go to car meet ups in your area. Swap meets. Very rarely are good deals found on line on CL or car gurus.  Or on Market place.  
 

You are going to have to work for it.  

What I don't want to deal with? That's a very good way to look at it. 

(Sorry this is kind of long, but I wanted to address everything you brought up)

- No rust buckets. Like you, structural rust, is a 100% no go. 
- No electrical issues. I had an E30 that would randomly, not all the time, honk the horn and stay on when you turned the wheel. But it was inconsistent when it would happen, either direction. Sometimes it would happen when turning from straight, sometimes when turning back to straight. I suck at troubleshooting electrical issues.
- I want something that already runs and drives, doesn't have to be perfect as I'll be going through the suspension. That way I can keep it moving and it doesn't just sit. Letting stuff just sit is the best way to lose interest, collect dust, eventually be tired of looking at it and ditch it.
- I'd prefer to start with something that's a manual. 
- I'd prefer RWD, but I do have the BRZ, so it's not a must.........but I'd really prefer it. 

I had a 2010 350Z Grand Touring about 15 years ago. It was so uninspiring I traded it in on a new MazdaSpeed 3 after having it about it 4 months. I just didn't connect with the car at all. I had a 2013 Mustang GT Track Pack for a bit that I had special ordered after I decided I wasn't going to go ahead and build my NA for NASA TT, but it was taking too much money from track time.

Cars I know the most would be Miata and E30s.

I had an NA track rat, tracked my friends NB (we both helped with each other with popped motors, suspension, etc) and had 2 NCs I never got a chance to get on track. An NC to for a nice weather/track car is an appealing idea, but I'm not sure if I'm willing to spend the time/money it takes to build and maintain a safe reliable, vehicle for HPDE that wouldn't also ruin it on the street. 

I've had 3 E30s. One was S52 swapped, one a 'vert, one a pristine '91 318is. 

Budget, not too set but I'd like the initial buy-in to be probably in $5-8k. That could go higher as I'm in no hurry and I have RSU's coming in August and September. So the size of those bonuses will be determined by the stock price when they vest. As of right now, I suspect it would be somewhere in the $7-8k range after taxes. 

Define "stupid money" for a clean beetle. I feel like I see them on Marketplace that at least look decent, rust-wise, for $5-6k pretty regular. I'm not an AC VW guy, so to me they all look about the same...I'm sure there are years or motors or features or whatever that drive pricing one way or the other that I might be missing. 

As a vw guy, I assume that every aircooled car needs at least floors and heater channels. Maybe for the first, second, or twelth time. They are structurally consumable. 

Paul_VR6 (Forum Supporter) said:

As a vw guy, I assume that every aircooled car needs at least floors and heater channels. Maybe for the first, second, or twelth time. They are structurally consumable. 

Yes.  I had a 71 super beetle a quarter century ago, and it had pretty significant rust damage (repaired, sort of) to the strut towers, which isn't so much a problem with the earlier standard beetles. Ultimate simplicity and fun to drive around town.  Less so on the highway.

I don't expect to ever own another one, but I'm glad to have had the experience.

edit:  It is funny to see what they sell for nowadays, I sold mine for $350, running, driving, and with pretty nice paint.

I keep seeing decent drivers(rolling projects) on FBMP but I haven't kept tabs on prices.

Interesting that this pops up. 

I was looking at this last night and may give the guy a call today.

Does it even pay to start with a rat these days? At Mecum, we checked out this one: 1957 Volkswagen Beetle Oval Window Rag Top.

It sold for $38,500. I know that’s more than the budget mentioned, but how much to build something even close? Anyway, just an interesting data point. 

Also, the more I think about that ’57 Beetle, the more I realize that someone stole it. I know that $38k is $38k, but how much just to duplicate the paint and chrome? Plus, an oval window car. 

There used to be a place near me that had a lot full of these old Beetles. The shop probably went away in the 2000s. There is only one left anywhere around me that I see from time to time, and it's a gem. They're really cool cars, just... there don't seem to be many left.

Now you've got me looking for Mark II and III Supras. 

How about the 3000 GT and Stealth?

At least here in California, lots of options abound in the $7500-10k price bracket.

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/concord-mexican-beetle/7820433607.html

This one is particularly compelling as a late Mexican car.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

There's a fairly big range between "potential concours winner of a desireable model year" and "rat".

There are still Beetles in the Southwest. We don't use road salt :) Here's a $6800 one. It's a CL listing because FB is blacklisted on the network, so no FB Marketplace links for you.
https://cosprings.craigslist.org/ctd/d/colorado-springs-1975-vw-beetle/7820178078.html

And $8k.
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/bennett-1974-volkswagen-beetle-sunbug/7822438869.html

There's a VW restoration shop that I drive past on the way to work (Kustom Coach Werks) that has many of them, dropping them a line might tell you who's got one they're thinking of selling.

Just move to California. It feels like there's as many beetles sitting in peoples driveways and garages as there are the 6-legged variety.

What you need is the "Love Bug," a relative bargain at only $20k.

In 1982 my sister was selling the '73 Super Beetle my dad bought new.  

Her and I stood in my dads driveway negotiating with a buyer that we were FIRM at $500 and not budging but he tried hard and then gave us the $500. 

Sometimes I struggle with car prices but compare it to my wages at the time realizing it's a new world. 

Good luck finding your $2500 Beetle.

Can you import one from mexico? They were available much longer there.  I saw a ton down in San Miguel de Alende.

No idea what prices would be, but import a JDM Supra? Or join a Supra FB group. I'm in a Volvo FB group and see tempting FS ads every other week.

David S. Wallens said:

Does it even pay to start with a rat these days? At Mecum, we checked out this one: 1957 Volkswagen Beetle Oval Window Rag Top.

It sold for $38,500. I know that’s more than the budget mentioned, but how much to build something even close? Anyway, just an interesting data point. 

The older I get, the more I am thinking along these lines.   For $38k you could barely get show quality paint, interior & mechanical work done, not to mention any rare parts, the special Coker tires, etc., etc.   And this is if you were given the unrestored car for free to begin with.   And in the end you could probably get your $38k back, if not more, if you ever got tired of it.   

I'm not saying that this is the answer for the OP, but there is a lot to be said for this approach.  Please note that I have never followed this advice myself, buying the cheapest hopeless project version of whatever car I am interested in, but may try it at some point.   

That '57 ragtop is a lovely car, but I can't help but wonder how many of you folks have driven a 1200cc ACVW that puts out 36 hp?

Datsun240ZGuy said:

In 1982 my sister was selling the '73 Super Beetle my dad bought new.  

Her and I stood in my dads driveway negotiating with a buyer that we were FIRM at $500 and not budging but he tried hard and then gave us the $500. 

Sometimes I struggle with car prices but compare it to my wages at the time realizing it's a new world. 

Good luck finding your $2500 Beetle.

A '73 Super Beetle was only 9 years old in 1982 :) Car prices fall to a certain point and then, if they're collector-friendly or interesting, start rising. The low point has been moving backwards and is about 15-20 years (see: NC Miata) and the NA Miata is a great example of the rise afterwards.

Interestingly the average of the US fleet was 7.2 years in 1982 and was 14 years in 2024. If there is any correlation, that '73 Beetle should have been pretty much at the bottom of the curve in 1982. If you want a $2500 Beetle today, you should be looking at one built in 2006 or so. And yup, that's easy to find on Autotrader.

clutchsmoke said:

No idea what prices would be, but import a JDM Supra? Or join a Supra FB group. I'm in a Volvo FB group and see tempting FS ads every other week.

I don't really want a right-hand drive car to be honest. 

I found a decent condition local one, Beetle that is. I'm going to drive it and see if I can handle such a "primitive" experience. I suspect I'm looking back through Rose-tinted glasses as the the last time I drove one was in high school so like 27-28 years ago.

In reply to z31maniac :

I think you nailed it with the word experience. A Beetle isn’t fast, but it’s certainly a unique experience. Let’s see if it’s still a fit. 

I have a Super Beetle and a square body S10.  I wouldn't really consider either one to be "safe" to drive nowadays, but I'd take the S10 for almost anything other than going to a cruise in.  A 2/3 drop and they handle and look good, and can still carry some weight in the bed.  You are probably just as likely to run into wiring issues with either one, but the Beetle would be easier to diagnose.

I have a real soft spot for the beetle.  I learned how to drive in one.  I think it was a 1977.