1970 Vw Beetle in depth Review

In depth review of a 1970 vw beetle. Decided my last video on this car wasn't organized enough and decided to redo it. Enjoy

[@PhotoAlbert]

I was glad to finally see a video on a 1970 VW Bug. I bought one in 1970 and mine was red too, but with a black interior. I loved that car. It could go anywhere in all kinds of weather. We drove it from St Louis to Kansas City one winter during a blizzard and we were the only car on the interstate. I wish we still had that car!

[@WizardSoon]

Air-cooled meant no radiator, lesser problems!! Rear Engine Rear-wheel drive is the perfect receipe against slippery winter!

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

This car is amazing! Economical, extremely reliable and simple, boxer engine. The convertible version is very cute!

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

@Langston Kaiden Thanks

[@michaeld.3779]

Yes, the young dude in the video had gotten some dubious information, and relayed it here; but I’m sure by now, he knows to change the oil at 3000 miles, and adjust valves at 6000 miles (although, some folks 1/2 that figure; but after owning 10 VW’s over the years, I just stick with the regular schedule). He has also probably found out that something needed repair on his heating system. A VW will cook you when it’s all set up properly, although defrost is not the best. He also probably found that his choke needed adjustment, so he could drive off as soon as he started the engine, and skip the five-minute warm up nonsense. He probably has learned to tighten the adjustment on his mirror, so the wind doesn’t blow them sideways, and that his rear pop-out hinges can tighten by turning the round handle. He has no doubt learned a lot since making this video, and I hope he still owns the bug. It’s a beauty, that’s for sure!

[@sylerdostroph2411]

Can we just take a second to appreciate a cute boy in a cute car

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

Pervert.

[@Russell970]

@@bigmacdaddy1234 homophobic lol

[@canofbeanss]

@@Russell970 homophobic is the right way

[@Russell970]

@@canofbeanss sure pal

[@tank123103]

@@canofbeanss I prefer to be homosexual =D

[@super-artnerd2112]

I just got my first 1970 beetle. Needs a little things replaced and tuned but it's in really good shape and I love it

[@highwayman1218]

Great looking 70! 👍 Enjoy seeing younger guys and gals digging on the V Dubs.

[@chrisvaldes1558]

For people worrying about comfort for taller and bigger guys, I’m 6’2 180 pounds, and I fit great in most standard and super beetle and absolutely love them

[@yoseppijoe]

Nice shape Beetle, looks and sounds great.

[@dudleyhollister322]

I had two 1970 Beetles, one for me and one for my wife. I'm a little puzzled about the shifting. Both of ours where really easy to shift. Take the back seat cushion out and fold the seat backs down and I could fit a double bass drum set in there.

[@kavanghia6908]

Great video! Had a 70 about 25 years ago used to take the kids to the beach and on rides all over. My son and I are working on our 69 Ghia that we saved from the car crusher 👍✌️. Hope to see you on the road 👍🛣️

[@lancejensen9328]

Enjoy that car, you may look back one day and wish you could own one again. I had one back in the day and i grew to love it. In case you dont realize its also terrific in the snow, or used to be when one put snow tires on the back, it can match up with most 4 wheel drive trucks ! Enjoy !

[@termzilla8105]

Awesome video!!

[@GoddessNeith]

I had two Beetle convertibles and the heat worked great. Sometimes it got to hot. And yeah, its 2/40 air.

[@sobelou]

Love it that you have such a cool car. My first car was a '67 with a 1500 cc engine, it had the same type of opening back windows and they never gave me any trouble. Not sure if they can be adjusted, but it should be possible to replace them. Same with the external mirrors, there might be some might wear and tear in the ball fitting at the base, I never experienced them moving so easily. It's an extremely cool car, enjoy it!!

[@johnhazel591]

It has an oil strainer not a filter. The distributor is not correct. It should have a vacuum advance distributor. The shift lever 'slop' can be greatly reduced by replacing the shift coupler which is a $10 part. Nice car. Good video.

[@SladesVWBeetle]

John Hazel Your correct all the way around!!!

[@GoddessNeith]

They're like tanks, one thing will break, and it'll still run, when you get it fixed you have about a dozen repairs to do.

[@josephrouleau1205]

This guy doesn't know what he's talking about. Recommended oil changes were 3,000 miles, not 1,000. Every other oil change, the screen was to be cleaned. Valve adjustments were every 6,000 miles I put 107,000 mile on mine in 7 years, (which included basically under 1,000 miles In one year when I was in Vietnam. Looking back at what Japan, England and France at the time and for the under $2,000.00 price point, there was no other rock solid car like the bug.. The bug was reliable, and there were no shifting problems. I frequently shifted up and down without the clutch once I got it moving. The bug did not weigh 1,000 lbs, but close to 2,000 lbs. This guy really needs to read before he spews his errors on an excellent car, particularly for the day. 15,000,000 + owners couldn't all be wrong.

[@_f30_b58]

Joseph Rouleau agree!! You are 💯%.

[@taylortisaac]

I’m young too and know he’s got some learning to do (driven a ‘72 bug since high school). But he’ll learn :) all part of ownin a bug!

[@Ryanowski02]

Be nice. Was this a class project he was doing for a grade? No. Say something nice about other people. Even if your miserable in life dont project that on others. I'm thankful he has taken the time to keep this car in great shape, and he took us for a test drive. Most people his age couldnt even drive one of these. I have a 1974. and I give this video kudos, even if some of the info on oil changes is off. I can ignore that as I know better. People come to KZbin for entertainment. I go to A Haynes Manual for techical info. I bet you wouldnt be so critical of a 20 year old woman doing the same video in a bikini bro. You can post some videos , and I will critique them. 3 -2-1 go.

[@matermaddness7923]

No this car is going to stay in the family for quite a while was my grandfathers car recently passed away

[@Uncommon5en5e]

How tall are you? I'm 6'3 and I'm thinking about buying one that's about 7 hours away. I'm wondering if I should make the drive all the way out there just to be disappointed that I don't fit in the thing. I've heard that people up to 67 can ride comfortably in it, but seeing how you fit in there I'm starting to doubt that

[@termike55]

definately a keeper, grandfather very cool!

[@mitch4527]

Nice, honest report. I like your speaking style - very direct and to the point. I just don’t understand how this car can be safely operated on the road, especially trying to merge onto a highway.

[@IanForsythWestCoast]

Neither the Beetle nor the SuperBeetle ever came with power steering or power brakes, and it was drums all around. Weighing under 2000 pounds, and with no engine up front, meant light direct steering, who’d want power with such a natural light steering feel, power steering wasn’t even ever an option . Also because the front brakes do most of the stopping, and there being no weight there, the drum brakes worked pretty well. My first car was a 1965 red convertible bug. Next was a white ‘67 (one of the best years), then I traded that in for my first new car, a 1975 La Grande Bug I. Metallic Blue. Now THAT was a car! VW stopped the regular production of SuperBeetle after 1974, except for special editions and the convertible which continued until 1979. Extra features of La Grande Bug, above the 1975 improvement shared with the standard beetle such as fuel injection (single tail pipe) La Grande came with Rack and Pinion steering, rosewood dash, crank sunroof, plush corduroy upholstery, a Blauplunkt (sp?)and an am/fm 8-track stereo. I drove that little bug from Vancouver to Mexico, and from Vancouver to Prince Edward Island and back through the American Mid-West, it killed me a little when I sold it to travel to Europe. After Europe and back at school, I Honda Scootered for awhile, got married but shortly my wife got too pregnant to ride on the back of the Scooter, so I picked up a 64 Beetle with a DIY paint shop and rusted floor pans, got such a soaker on my left foot when it rained. Sold that and bought a 1971 VW411....4 door luxury. LOVED that car! With our 3rd child coming along, my wife would need a car to get around with the kids, but she was never going to learn how to drive a stick shift, so we bought a 1974 bright orange Superbeetle with the infamous automatic stick shift. The kids named it Cindy. Because, (follow, this sort of makes sense) it was kind of round and orange like a pumpkin which is what Cinderella’s magic coach was made from, hence...Cindy....Again with rusty floorpans. We gave someone a ride home once, stopped in front of their house and they didn’t get out, “I’m standing on the road!” He said. He’d gone right through the backseat floor. A little plywood and all was well. Lol I’d go on to own a Tiguan and a couple of Golfs, but am seriously thinking of getting a vintage bug for weekend fun. Love me my Vee-Dubs.

[@TheJimmyhughes7]

Very nice car, and looks like it has been very well taken care of. With that.... I did notice something that shows the car is not all original, other than the radio and wheels. The gauge. That is a gauge from an Auto Stick. You can see the ATF light between the 80 MPH and 90 MPH numbers. So, either it is a replacement OR the beetle started out life as an Auto Stick and was converted to the four speed manual, and that is a VERY common mod. My 71 Super started out life as an Auto Stick and was later converted to the four speed manual long before I ever bought it. I do plan on putting together the parts to convert it back one day, but do like the for speed better for many different reasons. There are also a few things to look at in the engine bay that will tell you if the car was an Auto Stick. One is the bracket on the driver side that held the solenoid, and the other is a small quarter size hole on the passenger side that the ATF lines passed through. I am very impressed with the conditioned of the car, and your commitment to keeping the VW Beetle hobby alive.

[@jmomorgan7606]

To fix the leak you gotta stick a long wire or a cable down the drainage tubes and clear them out. There is 4 of them, there’s one on each corner of the sun roof.

[@keithmcleod811]

Nice Bug. I think the wheels are Empi style wheels. I'm too lazy too Google it. Those wheels were popular on Cali-style beetles. I used to read VW magazines back in the 80s and almost every Beetle had those wheels. I learned how to drive in my dad's 1970 Beetle so I am still fond of these cars. I'm planning on getting one someday. They aren't very practical to drive on long commutes, so I just want one to putt around in on weekend trips.

[@victorsingh878]

Really great review !

[@sorenfogdenius6393]

You can "lock" the rear sidewindows, by tyrning the white knob clockwise ;-)

[@edwardtaylor8635]

I was about to post that myself, but I scrolled first because I was sure at least one person would have already posted about the tightening knobs. They work both ways, keeping the windows open or closed!

[@_f30_b58]

I drove a 70 throughout high school in the early 90’s. Loved that damn car. Yours is mint. You’re a lucky dude. There’s a reason why I’m currently restoring a 65 1200cc. They are badass. If you want something nicer? I’ll take your Beetle off your hands. 😳

[@joewoodchuck3824]

There's an easy cabin heat hack to be warmer in winter if yours is like the '66 I had.

[@looniethemoonie5353]

Sunroof sedan! My dad has a '70 Sunroof sedan as well. It's apparently a less common option on old VWs (i would say rare but I'm not sure if that would be accurate.) Very nice old doodle bug my friend! 😎👍

[@srtcsb]

Looks like a nice one (one of my favorite colors), but two things : -It weighs 2k, not 1k lbs. -Heck yeah, it's got an oil filter! I could be wrong now, but I don't think so. ;-). Hope you have fun with that bug.

[@blakewaddell451]

The oil filter is just a screen there is no spin on filter because when these were made they were meant to be as cheap as possible for everyone to afford

[@okwhatever2995]

I myself want the old radio just for looks and just us an aux jack for music

[@1000guy1]

You can get a racing shifter gearstick which makes putting the car in reverse gear a lot more easier and the racing shifter gearstick is competitive with most original vw bugs from 1960 to 1980

[@randybeard6040]

I owned several VW's, a 1970 was my first one, it came with Mag. Wheels and Custom Exhaust, oil changes were just like other cars at the time--every 3,000 miles and valves adj. every other oil change.

[@baldwinberdin8423]

Nice thing you have a rosary hanging on your overhead mirror same thing with my bug 1970 also red. Enjoy the ride.

[@CM79150]

Love the bug dude! Keep the car and cold starts coming

[@snows4770]

I want one of these cars so bad…

[@wordreet]

Such a cool car! I've actually owned two 1970 Beetles, and both were red!!!!! :¬) Not everything's manual in them though. The heating automatically moderates itself so that it isn't actually hot. ;¬)

[@Gnofg]

it has an oil filter . You need to take down all six bolts around the oil plug. Then you will see a little filter. You need to change the oil every 2.000 miles and the valves every 6,000 miles. I belieeve they weigh 1750 lbs and the rear seat will go down giving you the whole back for storage.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

It's not a true filter. It's just a woven metal screen.

[@rsalazar1917]

Great video. Am still driving my 70 yellow that I bought in 69. Drove it from New York to Calif. towing a 4x6 U-Haul. Question though, did yours come with 2 bolt-on rear reflectors?

[@stephanieadkins9369]

Mine 1970 has those reflectors on the back

[@termike55]

Thanks for the ride--put some j b weld on the mirrors sit in vw adjust then "Walla" your done!

[@mariusberger3297]

Mine is a 64, last year an old lady ran a red light and obliterated the front of my poor bug. I'm currently rebuilding her but it'll probably take a while

[@okwhatever2995]

Beautiful bug man!

[@Russell970]

gay

[@HereInPA_Hagen]

You say the side view mirror won’t stay in position when you adjust it. Have you tried tightening it a bit?

[@Johnjohnson-sy7fu]

Just bought a 71 bug same colour as yours !

[@thewildboar8289]

Today I found an old photo of Zagreb police from 1975. with a line of these cars (like 5 of them) in police version.

[@danielleighton2553]

I had a 70 back in the 80s crank open sunroof factory am/FM radio and rear window defoger

[@jimmycarter9099]

This was my first car worked my ass off to keep it in the road it literally made a mechanic out of me

[@davidharrell8890]

Very clean! 😁

[@scottmcleskey9514]

I like my 1970 Beetle 1600cc

[@inlegionnaire2786]

Okay the dual climate control made me chuckle.

[@BIMMERZEITT]

great video bro, keep going with the channel!

[@mitshumarner5870]

Oil change every 1000 miles? Wow, that's a lot. I work and drive over 2000 miles a month. Imagine the maintenance with this car in my job.

[@daveroe8612]

you were talking about lack of legroom up front, how tall are you?

[@noahmeme2]

The back Windows shut because your supposed to turn the white nob to tighten it so it stays open.

[@andreschultheiss7674]

To keep the back windows open tighten the white handle when open

[@sorenfogdenius6393]

You can tight the sidemirrors with a wrench...easy done...

[@dan200tf6]

Love this car anyone seen the Bumblebee movie trailer??

[@pro-bl2mn]

Daniel Perez yup

[@taco4103]

I saw the trailer to and i find iT funny because in the old cartoon serie of transformers bumblebee was a vw bug and in the first transformers movie hè was a camaro and in the new movie that comes out next year hè is a vw bug

[@derekobidowski3301]

the motor in your car is not correct its susposed to be a 1600cc single port, the reflectors on the rear bumper are missing. those are a 1970 only item for the 70 beetles. the heater controls on the handbrake lever the right one is the heat the left is for the rear footwell flaps which Vw used the levers since the 1965 model year beetle. the 1970 model year the changes are the enlarged front turn signal lights on the front fenders, a new style windshield wiper system which uses a newer worm gear wiper motor instead of the old box style. the chrome ring on the speedometer got deleted and the horn ring and horn button is silver instead of chrome. I had a 70 bug once it was an autostick which it had problems with the flex plates breaking to the torque converter as the 1968-1970 autostick beetle chassis do not have the clutch cable guide tube in them as one has to be put in to install a 1969-1972 IRS transmission in these.

[@jamalwalker2104]

Beautiful

[@michaelj.2644]

What a cutie!

[@HereInPA_Hagen]

The manual for my 1972 Beetle says do not let it sit to warm up.

[@w.loczykij5354]

Good effort. But for most part you describe not problems w Bugs but w your Bug. And this is different. Seeing the heating problems or absence of the A/C on such a car as a probm is like being surprised that Escalade guzzles gas or F150 has no trunk... and I could continue but what remains is a FACT that considering when it was designed (and it was made in well over 23mln copies over 70 years) the car is perfect. Just imagine people still buying new Ford T's in 1975 !

[@cesarramirez7619]

I cant believe you take that thing on the highway, I have a 65 and I just drive it to work, No highway.

[@taylortisaac]

Cesar Ramirez 65 is a little different. Smaller engine, slower. I have a 72 that does just fine on the highway. A super beetle would be even more comfy at those speeds

[@cesarramirez7619]

@@taylortisaac yes i recently acquire a 73 super beetle that thing makes 85 mph possible 90.

[@djkenny1202]

My 75 Vert dd fine. One time the trunk popped open and scared the Shit out of me, though. No damage at 55. Speed limit is 65 in my old state, 55 here. It would be fine. I do not speed, even in my GTI 16v or Scion XB.

[@cesarramirez7619]

@@djkenny1202 LMAO i bet that was scary. I have a 68 oldsmobile toronado the power booster went out on me the brake pedal was so stiff i thought I was gonna crash with a little Honda, thankfully the brakes still work but is one of those moments man!.

[@GingyMoto]

What’s the fastest speed you’ve maintained in it?

[@swagass6950]

Do you use it as a daily drive? I have a 73 and I’m bout to use it as a daily drive.

[@SladesVWBeetle]

aecgaming I’m redoing a 73 right now for a daily driver.

[@stephanieadkins9369]

I have a 1970 and drive it to work daily

[@reddmann2216]

Obviously not very well informed on VW's himself! But must know more than his followers!

[@jimmycarter9099]

Brakes replaced the engine it caught fire keep a fire extinguisher on it

[@SladesVWBeetle]

Your drains need cleaned if the sunroof is leaking.

[@amilamsarathchandrajayasin2333]

Is this your first ride?

[@ryanlowery4881]

Ur cute

[@nicholasagnew2792]

I've never had to adjust the valves on an aircooled VW and I''ve been driving them for over a decade

[@kovomo3075]

PEOPLE: My fav car is the Lamborghini Sían Me: Mine is this vw beetle!

[@jofus3604]

Once again someone who has no knowledge of Volkswagen Beetles giving a review! I owned 4 or 5 , all driven over 200k with very little problems! Every ten k miles ur torque the heads and adjust the valves! To install an oil filer is a very easy add on!

[@larrywoodruff7530]

1806 lbs., but I could be wrong.

[@SladesVWBeetle]

Larry Woodruff Your right!

[@suckmydingledong]

The chokes have no water so thwy should suck like on Mk1 Golfs

[@CM79150]

Is it for sale?

[@notisbiker04papageorgiou44]

how many horsepower have this car

[@aboaniss-8590]

48hp

[@Imperius-Rex]

Ohhhhhh

[@allexojeda91]

Haha you got dual climate control

[@Desert9999]

How tall are you?

[@SladesVWBeetle]

Desert9999 I’m 6ft3 and drive one

[@club1fan552]

"Creature comforts?" The car looks like a creature but has no comforts. It also weighs significantly more than 1000 pounds.

[@chancemeek]

1600

[@joewoodchuck3824]

I think he was referring to the weight only on the front wheels. Some is in front and some is in the rear.

[@Biglug8888]

Duel climate control! Lol

[@hamiltv-kv1um]

beetle car vs owner jeep

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

This car is amazing! Economical, extremely reliable and simple, boxer engine. The convertible version is very cute!