It's the same year as me, and they stopped selling them into Canada and the US 4 years before that.

I had to.







So I now have an '83 Beetle from Mexico... which is basically a '73 Beetle with a '68 Beetle transaxle.

But it was diiiiiirty cheap.

And I am happy.

I'd really like to know the story of how it got here... the previous owner knows nothing other than he got it from an impound auction in 1998, and didn't even know you couldn't buy an '83 Beetle here.

i fucking hate you so much right now.

Trade ya a miata. Sweet score.

As much as I like Miatas... definitely keeping this one in the collection.

The engine was replaced with a new one last year, apparently with a lumpier cam and a bit of a piston/cylinder upgrade (the guy who owned it really isn't a car guy so I don't know the specs). It feels like the carb needs some love and it needs serious tune up... has a bit of a misfire until you give it some gas (and once it idles down, it goes away... but doesn't want to idle). But I'm pretty confident I can have her purring in like 10 minutes- the engine sounds mechanically perfect.

I didn't know it actually ran before I drove 2 hours to go look at it tonight or I would have brought a dealer plate with me to drive it home.

And yeah, I put more money into my daily driver for an alternator and a driveaxle last month (with me doing the labour) than this car cost... so I'm pretty pleased with the purchase.

Damn thats CLEAN!

Bandi, can you still feel the HATE BEAM? Grrr.
()

That's nice, how cheap may I ask?

Sweet score! How many are you up to now?

Posted by sleeperspirit That's nice, how cheap may I ask?

$750

I saw the ad about 5 minutes after it was posted. The guy said he'd had over 150 phone calls that day about the car. He said he had no idea it was desirable.

It was a stressful day waiting for work to be over and then drive two hours to see the thing, but the guy was nice enough to keep me "first in line".

Posted by yokes Sweet score! How many are you up to now?

This will be aircooled Beetle #16.

Posted by bandi $750 I saw the ad about 5 minutes after it was posted. The guy said he'd had over 150 phone calls that day about the car. He said he had no idea it was desirable. It was a stressful day waiting for work to be over and then drive two hours to see the thing, but the guy was nice enough to keep me "first in line".

Tis beetle.

Oh god- Great colour too.

Pfft - at that price i'd buy it too.

Nice find Bandi!

BTW, what's the highest amperage alternator you can get on a Beetle? Long story why I ask...

I want one.

just a question on registering this, i know the "canadian" austin minis of the early 80s had to have their bumpers raised, in turn covering the turn signals, so they have truck style turn signals on the fenders. Now "imported" minis 20 years later dont have to have these modifications, is it similar with these beetles?

Beetles here always had their turn signals mounted on the front fenders (well, after '58 at least) and Mexican bugs have had the turn signals in the bumper since '76 I think. The bumpers are the same height as a Canadian spec bug though.

So I'm not sure if they still had to relocate the turn signals because of this, or it just needed fenders and they threw some '68+ ones on.

low back seats? 0.o

just an FYI bandi, there is a beetle being put on the yard at kenny's in hamilton friday

Good to know... thanks!

Posted by Lord Awesome low back seats? 0.o

PLAID low back seats

Posted by bandi PLAID low back seats

Judging from my wardrobe - Anything with PLAID is excellent!