Learn me: Baja Bugs

Dug up a few threads from years ago, but I'm wondering what the current market is like for these off-road Miata equivalents.

The cleanest one I've found anywhere close to me:

http://wichita.craigslist.org/cto/4535972165.html

Because it's his daily driver, I'm a little concerned about rust. Any bad rust areas I should look for? Price on that one seems decent, but it hasn't sold yet?

Can't tell you anything about them other than they're frickin' cool as all get out.

I know we have a couple members on here who own one. I think they are the coolest.
I would be interested to know what is the price range on these?

OSULemon: You have been looking in your area, what was the price range for some in less clean condition?

I think the only (non-obvious) rust areas to look at in those is under the back seat (battery is there), floors (of course) and the bottom of the spare tire area (very front bottom of trunk).

Looks like it also has a gas fired heater in it? Those apparently work VERY well (instant heat) and do horrible things to your gas mileage.

The one thing that always bothered me about those cars is it seems like 90% ran around with positive camber in the rear. I think this may be the result of raising the ride height (not a great idea with a swing axel).

A 66 would originally be a 6 volt car I believe (67 was the change over). Likely already converted, but something to ask about.

I am no expert but have casually followed the pricing of Baja Bugs in the last few years as I too am interested in them. I check CL quite a bit for them. From the pictures this appears to be in better shape than many I have seen and the pricing is fair to good. Just a general observation from my experience.

$3500 seemed like a fair price from what I could see in the pictures.

Go to the Samba website and you'll get all the info you ever wanted to know. I love Baja bugs and would love to have one.

There are wide eye kits and narrow eye kits. Narrow eyes may not be street legal in your area. Baja bug kits were always my favorite part of the Sears catalog.

After looking more closely at the pictures, there's some questionable zip-tie action going on, some Walmart-looking fog lights, duct tape repair jobs, some iffy-looking wiring...I'd have to see it in person, I think.

My buddy just bought one. We're swapping a bridgeported rotary into it.

DaveEstey wrote: My buddy just bought one. We're swapping a bridgeported rotary into it.

Build thread?

Soon. Just bought the beefed up transmission for it last night.

OldGray320i wrote: Can't tell you anything about them other than they're frickin' cool as all get out.

Ragtop would be better.. Convertible better still...

Oooh- it has a windshield fluid pump!

(Actually, that IS an upgrade. The original had no pump- the windshield fluid was pressurized by a hose to the spare tire!- which of course meant your spare was always flat if you needed it).

OSULemon wrote: After looking more closely at the pictures, there's some questionable zip-tie action going on, some Walmart-looking fog lights, duct tape repair jobs, some iffy-looking wiring...I'd have to see it in person, I think.

Yup, sounds like a Baja Bug...

Owned a junker: My 2 cents: Get a Non SuperBeetle (they have strut front suspension), also, '67-up(I believe) regular Beetles have true IRS (non swing-axle). Enjoy. Really nothing wrong with the swing axle until you crank up the torsion bars.

Woody wrote:

OSULemon wrote: After looking more closely at the pictures, there's some questionable zip-tie action going on, some Walmart-looking fog lights, duct tape repair jobs, some iffy-looking wiring...I'd have to see it in person, I think.

Yup, sounds like a Baja Bug...

After I wrote that, I thought to myself...wait a minute. That's about par for the course, actually.

Good news is, there's lots of Baja's out there to choose from.

Has anyone ever seen one entered in a rallyX?

The heater channels are an area I frequently hear people complaining about when it comes to rust on aircooled Beetles.

I guess because it's heated by the exhaust gases condensation is a frequent occurrence, and you know how that ends...

It looks very labour intensive, but there is probably a way to change effort for money, or a better/faster way to do the same job: http://www.ramva.org/dragenwagen/heaterchannel.html

I hope this works out for you, I have always wanted to do a Baja with the original aircooled motor (until it dies, at which point I'd swap it for a junkyard Subaru EJ22).

Wide eyes are much cooler than narrow ones.

Another:

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/4568578576.html

Woody wrote: There are wide eye kits and narrow eye kits. Narrow eyes may not be street legal in your area. Baja bug kits were always my favorite part of the Sears catalog.

Wait..............are you saying that you could buy a Baja Bug kit through the Sears catalog at one point?

Thanks now I'm looking on CL at baja bugs

nepa03focus wrote: Thanks now I'm looking on CL at baja bugs

I really just didn't want to be the only one.

As I did as well Nepa, thankfully I don't currently have the space nor the funds, not that I think that's the right way to look at it, especially since there's a 914 and renegade hybrid EJ swap kit on the local CL right now

OSULemon wrote: Another: http://tulsa.craigslist.org/cto/4568578576.html

I like this body style better but the interior of the first one better. Decisions, decisions.