I remember trying to pass a big semi on the Autobahn in Germany with my 60's Volkswagen van...I spotted headlights a few K's in the distance closing fast. Before I could get past the semi I had headlights feet off my rear bumper with nowhere to escape. With his high beams flashing on/off after what seemed like forever I was finally able to get clear of the semi. I think that was the first and last time I attempted to pass anything but a horse and buggy.
I had in order, 65 Bug, 59 Ghia, 68 Van, and my fave of all time a cobalt blue 1967 almost fully restored it. Sad day when the engine mounts rusted out and it was a danger to drive. Can't remember how many times I ran out of gas as I had used the extra gas lever and forgot. Sinking feeling to try to flip the lever only to realize it was already flipped and I was truly out of gas.
I had one of those "reservoir" levers on my '61 Beetle and it came in handy a few times, but you had to be sure the inside of your gas tank was clean because any sediment would settle in that reservoir and the moment you flipped that lever it would get sucked into your fuel system and clog it up.
When I was in my teens I coveted the 1940's MG sports cars. Truth be told I probably thought that it would impress the ladies. Then life got in the way and the sports car got forgotten. A lifetime on, with retirement spare time on my hands, the reminisce of that sports car returned. But, being in a wonderful relationship did I really want to upset that with a babe magnet? Best to get something similar but a little more staid, one that the young ladies wouldn't look twice at.I'd love to own a VW Bus--preferably a split window, but a bay would do nicely. But as I get older and they get fewer, the prices far exceed my grasp.
Not just rust. Several years ago I went to see a movie with two friends, one of whom had a beautiful '63 Beetle with a ragtop sunroof. While we were in the theater it had not only rained, but rained hard enough to cause some flooding on the local streets. I was sitting in the back seat on the trip home, and as he drove through a rather large puddle a wave of water suddenly flowed from under the back seat, washing over him and the other friend sitting up front. For those who don't know, on the older air-cooled VW Beetles the battery is stored under the back seat. In this case acid from the battery had eaten through the floor pan, and when he hit that puddle the water pressure pulled that "seam" open (and then some), effectively turning the floor pan into a scoop. He subsequently had a friend weld a new piece of sheet metal in place to replace the section that had been damaged, insulated it and installed a plastic battery tray that was resistant to acid, and the car was good as new. He also had to replace the battery, which had fallen through that hole in the floor pan and dragged on the road the rest of the way home.
Not just rust. Several years ago I went to see a movie with two friends, one of whom had a beautiful '63 Beetle with a ragtop sunroof. While we were in the theater it had not only rained, but rained hard enough to cause some flooding on the local streets. I was sitting in the back seat on the trip home, and as he drove through a rather large puddle a wave of water suddenly flowed from under the back seat, washing over him and the other friend sitting up front. For those who don't know, on the older air-cooled VW Beetles the battery is stored under the back seat. In this case acid from the battery had eaten through the floor pan, and when he hit that puddle the water pressure pulled that "seam" open (and then some), effectively turning the floor pan into a scoop. He subsequently had a friend weld a new piece of sheet metal in place to replace the section that had been damaged, insulated it and installed a plastic battery tray that was resistant to acid, and the car was good as new. He also had to replace the battery, which had fallen through that hole in the floor pan and dragged on the road the rest of the way home.
Not being a welder I cheated and bolted a stainless steel sheet to the few noncorroded spots of the floor panel.. Managed to hammer it into the right shape/contour and with some sealant had a reasonably good stainless floor for my bug.
Chances are you will be better off getting oxygen & acetylene tanks and *brazing* the repair panels in.
