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1960 VW: Rusty Bucket of Hope?

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This rusty old 1960 VW is listed here on craigslist for a reasonable $2800 in Sumiton, Alabama. The fuel system has been redone, so it’s 36 HP engine is running. There’s no word on the condition of the rest of the mechanicals, but it’s a one year only color – mango green. It looks like the pan is a bit rusty, perhaps it could be repaired though. What do you think it would take to make it safe? Could this be a fun driver with minimal work or would it have to be restored first?

Comments

  1. Avatar Jeff Staff

    I’m a big fan of the early cars and one-year colors, so I’d take a chance on bringing it back. Definitely rare to find one in mango green.

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  2. Avatar jim s

    lots of rust, car may need a new floorpan but all the parts can be had. i would keep it stock looking but upgrade to at least 50hp, full scyno transmission, shoulder belts, disc brakes on the front, and a gas gauge. we had a 1960, back in the day, which even back then we were slowly upgrading. i went, way to many times, to retrive the car after someone ran it out of gas then ran the battery down trying to start a car that was out of gas. nice find.

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  3. Avatar grant

    $2800 for a rusted out bug. Whats the world come to?

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  4. Avatar Patrick McC.

    Quite a nice little car. I don’t know if it’s $2800-nice but a good deal at $2500 or under. I would restore the chassis ( fixing rust, adding disk brakes and minor upgrades) and seats then get down with some rubbing compound and wax on that mango green. Cars like this are what daily driving VW owners, like myself, appreciate at the shows.

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  5. Avatar JoeT

    Be sure to check the engine for low oil pressure at idle after it gets to operating temperature. The 36 horse engines did not have insert cam bearings and when the cam journals in the block get worn the oil pressure drops at temperature. As long as the heater channels are solid the rest of the floor pan rust is repairable for not too much money.

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  6. Avatar Dave H

    Being a body man and having restored a few vw’s of my own !
    Looking at those pictures I would say “Don’t poke too hard”

    Like 0

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