What do you guys think about this car?

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 12:37 pm

OK, this coupe is relatively close to me. It's missing the engine, rear engine lid, and rear glass. He says he has a new RH rear fender for it. What do you think about it's "fixability"? The rest of the car is in nice shape and it has its 4spd. transaxle intact.

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 5:00 pm

That car and its damage look very familiar. Is that a gold 73/74? There was one for sale forever east of Dallas two years ago. It was in kind of pristine shape at one point....save for the corner damage. And...the owner had the spare fender. Couldn't make up his mind wether he needed to sell itor part it out. He bought it from a guy named Jose whoe worked for a VW dealer in Dallas.
No one bought it....lots looked at it. The damage on that corner is extensive all by itself. Fixable...but a lot of work. There is little if any junkyard parts to swap into that. Its a whole lot of hammering and welding and will never be 100% straight again unless you find parts to weld in. Even if this is not the same car....it has the same problem. Add to that...finding the rear hood and glass will an extreme chore in themselves. How long has it been open to the weather? Its a flip of the coin wether it would be worth the effort to fix....or simply make a very nice parts source for another two door effort. Either way its worth having if the price is right. Ray

DeathBus · Post by **DeathBus** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 5:56 pm

yikes. One of the things i have learned is, you will always find one in better shape at a later time.

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 6:49 pm

I used to think you could always find one in better shape also. No so much with these anymore. Though the type 4's seem to finally be coming out of the woodwork....many were stored really poorly. I have owned pristine looking and driving type 4's that I have sent to the scrapper (after stripping), because of certain damage details that make them un-repairable. The 2 door fastbacks are hardest to find and the chassis parts are unique. The 411/412's are vastly more complicated cars than all of the other ACVW's. When they rust in just the right spots.....they are gone. Then again, that depends on what you want to do with it. Some may be bent....never to be correct again, but may still drive fine....and be worth just driving as a beater. Still fun to drive. Most of these are worth collecting just for the parts when you find one worth working with. I almost wish we could find people who have some land space in various regions so we could park "resource cars". I know a few cars that are total wrecks, but may have some structural parts that someone needs. The sad part is, that most people selling these right now...that keep popping up on e-b ay and the Samba....are not VW people, or at least not type 4 people. They have had these hulks sitting around that they either got cause they bought the land, or their granny bought the car new, or they got it in a bulk trade....and if they can't get a few hundred for it...they will send it to the scrapper. Some cars are just not worth an immediate buy....almost guaranteeing they will be scrapped in a couple of months. Sad.

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 6:53 pm

Yeah, if it didn't have the damage, I would have already bought it. Ray, it certainly could be the same car, as this one is in Arkansas (advertised on type4.org) The rest of the car is in quite nice shape actually. From the look of the pictures, there is or was plastic covering the gaping holes in the rear...but yeah, this guy was going to part it, then decided it was too nice.
The back glass and engine lid are the same as the 4 door, correct? So what about that rear corner sheet metal, same as the 4 door too? Man, I like the wagons, but a coupe would be sweet. My friend just came over and helped me work on my Golf, and I mentioned that when I got moved into a new place with a garage, I wanted to get a 412. He just looked at me and shook his head and said with a measure of disgust "I've got one at the shop if you want." So I guess that answers the question of whether he'll sell it or not...so I could have a wagon, but the coupe is just sooooo cool.

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 7:00 pm

Oh, I just read your other post Ray. I was very disappointed as I just missed being able to buy this old machine shop that had three huge metal buildings in addition to a house on the property for a steal. Anyway, if I get some land out here, I'll start my own type 4 junkyard/rest home. Yes, I really am this foolish. Just hope my cashflow holds out...Anyway, if it works out, I'll take any and all 4's and you can come get parts all you want

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 7:36 pm

Damn guys, I just might have to buy this, boy will my dad be pissed!

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 9:01 pm

Sadly, the 2 door coupe rear fenders...and the sheet metal that is part of the chassis under them...is unique. A skilled body man could probably use the wagon rear fender , but would have to modify it and fill the louvers in them. The 4 door fenders are too short...due to the back door. Ray

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 9:17 pm

Well, he does say in the ad that he has a coupe fender. I've been looking at some pictures of the rears of some coupes and it appears that the fender wraps around the corner quite a bit, which is a bonus. Are the tail lights the same on the coupes the same ones as the wagons? They look to be the same, only mounted higher, but I can't tell for sure without seeing them in person. I bet one could at least cut out the support part for the tail light from a wagon while straightening or possibly fabricating the new sheetmetal to go around it...

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Mon Apr 26, 2004 9:58 am

Same tail lights. The problem will be getting the fender to mount straight and making sure nothing else significant was bent. Ray