Full Build - 1954 VW Oval Window Beetle Restoration - Start to Finish - 40 minutes

[@edwinaguilar4746]

You. Did a really good job Mike.

[@rebeccas.670]

Great looking bug

[@davidclark7973]

Wonderful work Mike. That’s a stunning restoration ❤

[@sashas8168]

Congrats, to do the whole restoration is amazing especially on an early oval. I wish I had your skill sets!!

[@georgelaoutaris8339]

Amazing looking bug👍👍👍

[@goldentrunnell7450]

It's satisfying watching someone who's good at what they do. I'm 61 and have been a mason since I was a kid. In those early years i was either embarrassed or annoyed or both when I would receive compliments on my work. It took me quite a while to understand and accept that other's actually valued what i was doing. Just my way of telling you how much i admire your work. Plus i love old VW's so that helps too.

[@TigerRogers0660]

Fantastic work mate - for doing this all yourself !! That Strato Silver looks stunning. Probably the best metallic colour from the 1950s!! "A" class job.

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

I hope CT is watching this. This is how you finish a project.

[@mikemuller4376]

🤣🤣🤣

[@bvalt1]

lol so true!

[@Mikefngarage]

been trying to get him to finish the video

[@DemopVWgarage]

tell it to bad chad too ;)

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

@Mikefngarage CT,channel makes good $$ so he doesn't care.

[@I-apologize-in-advance]

That bug is beautiful - great job!!

[@StevoBKK]

Great video. The oval is looking fantastic, good work 👍🏻

[@rickstine7107]

I like your realistic approach to restoring an old VW Mike! bravo on this one 👍👍💪💪

[@besenzon1]

Awesome restoration 😍

[@bvalt1]

Love this build, that stratus blue is my favorite factory color that vw ever made.You do incredible work,and are a great resource for guys working on their own projects.

[@mundea]

What a beautehhhhhhh! Love to see a healthy Beetle. Great job Mike, mate 🤲

[@tomswindler64]

Great video,turned out to be beautiful car,just shows your talent.just continue on doing what you do best.👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@reloadernorway1042]

Really good work 👏 I'm glad you saved this bug 😊

[@ahernandez9860]

What a journey! Said it before but bears repeating, you are very skilled! Just an absolute gem of an early oval.

[@timvilleneuve7244]

Nice presentation of a great build. No need for music or other bells and whistles. Your narration off camera works well to recap the work. Nice job!

[@Mikefngarage]

Thank you very much!

[@johnj.bourke7959]

I think you're selling yourself way too short, that's a spectacular restoration. Drooling just watching, well done.

[@Mikefngarage]

Thank you very much!

[@dilloncribbins4291]

I got my grandpa's 56 beetle when he passed. Been in storage for the past 30 years just trailer out to my shop. In pretty great condition. But he used to take to mexico and had it converted to Propane. Need to find a gas tank. I'm excited to start the resto. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@Mikefngarage]

you can find those. they are out there. luckily

[@JourneymanRandy]

You got me laughing when you said your neighbors were mad when air chiseling outside. I was air chiseling rust of a steel plate outside the kitchen window last summer when my wife was in a work meeting online. She freaked out and I couldn't even hear here so just kept going. Ahh good times. Enjoyed the entire series Mike I'm happy to see you heading to 100K very soon buddy.

[@Wiltshire_watcher]

Mike, another wonderful job !, I’m very impressed once again at your genius skills bringing that ‘55 back to life. Really enjoyed watching this video and many that you have made on this.

[@stevenausten-davies141]

Inspiring professional work, Thank you!

[@michelecrown2426]

I remember when you started painting it, what a transformation.

[@beetlejuicegem5510]

We do enjoy the content you create. Can’t waiwait for your next build. I know you said you probably wouldn’t do another build but please do. The latest vid of your bucket truck engine upgrade was great. Hell every of you builds has been a pleasure to watch. The guy says “blah blah blah” about specific comments and procedures “IS” the guy who never did anything. Keep it up gem we love it.

[@stuck1000]

Great job, Mike. I found your channel right when you started this car and it's been educational as hell watching you restore it. Thanks!

[@daveglick5152]

you are the man. cheers Mike.

[@markkerr7866]

Outstanding work as always, Mike

[@davekeehn8388]

Great work.

[@MostynFaulkner]

Mike, great video. One of your best. You make it look easy. 👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@mikemuller4376]

I love this car Mike, you are a Legend !!!

[@markd5548]

Been watching this resto since the start. Without a doubt the most complete restoration undertaken by one person that I have ever known. Your work on the hood was artisan like, you are an artist. A pleasure watching you work Mike. As someone who has restored a 54 I can agree that it is a much more costlier resto than doing a 56 or 57 by far.

[@Mikefngarage]

thanks that hood was way harder then I though when I started it.

[@DanTheManIOM]

I was surprised how much more 57's were compared to my 62. I could see where you are split era and that's another step up in pricing and availability. Still better than old Porsches, right ?

[@Mikefngarage]

@@DanTheManIOM a little. and you dont have the snobs wanting matching numbers engines. Like that happens very often in the VW world. Like never. really.

[@russjan2811]

Amazing work Mike!

[@CAMERAMAN173]

great job

[@sourshoes1465]

Love this build series. You fkn got down bro.

[@23bowser]

wish you were in minnesota.........lots of questions......your work is art.

[@jessnevares7861]

Labor of love. A lot of metal work done. Patience and determination appreciated

[@TrentonFirst]

Wonderful content!

[@philipsdefreville6138]

The body colour is fantastic!

[@russellgeare523]

My first car was a $50 ‘54 beetle with no engine. Your video is a really neat memory jog. I remember the roller accelerator, the foot operated reserve lever over the hump (no gas gauge), the tiny wipers, the spare tire air pressure powered windshield washer, six volt battery under the back seat, the tiny tilt out ashtray, huge canvas sliding moon roof, single gauge (speedometer) dashboard, etc. Great job, thanks!

[@747chris747]

Hey Mike, great video! I’m pretty sure we met at OCTO or one of the shows. I got into VW’s when I was 15. My first car was a 62’ beetle. Have had a few busses, ghias, type 3’s etc. Got out of it in my 20’s. Got back into them in my late 30’s as time and money allowed. Im 47 now and have an original 56’ ragtop and a 57’ double door panel. My GF and I like to watch your videos and we appreciate your commentary on the VW scene. Watching you restore these is like going back in time for me. Keep the great content coming! Cheers, -Chris M.

[@WSBach]

Amazing job and video. I could watch it for hours, hearing your calm and professional comments. I am also a quite old fart and had to stop working on Volkswagens due to illness. I miss this so much....but that's life. Thanks again for the video.

[@Mikefngarage]

happens to everyone eventually. unfortunately. But you still can watch...

[@ronald8792]

I'm also in the middle of restoring a 1970 beetle and I appreciate the information your passing on.

[@socaljarhead7670]

Just stop what you’re doing, sell it,, and then buy something 1967 or earlier. Please.

[@ronald8792]

@@socaljarhead7670 Its to late. The car has sucked me dry, I'm upside down and im only half way done.

[@socaljarhead7670]

Screw it, then. Might as well finish it if you got the dough. Sell it and take a $10,000 minimum loss and get something 67 and earlier.

[@ronald8792]

@@socaljarhead7670 Thx for the advice

[@socaljarhead7670]

👍

[@peterwilson3454]

well done well done big insperation to lots of vw fans

[@tomdale1313]

"THXS FOR SHARING"...

[@davidmann4533]

Fabulous

[@scottbrunson921]

Fantastic I have a 68 sunroof myself this is incredible the work that you've done I could not have the patience to do it I love that these old bugs are being restored good job

[@greened57]

CT are you watching ? This project blows my mind ! Good job Mike F !

[@Mikefngarage]

Pretty soon he will get something done.

[@gregblake2764]

Really fantastic work. You must have the patience of Job to meticulously go over the body and patch in like you did. You have a young voice by the way. I'm 70 and to my ears you sound like a twenty something. Great video, nice to see a skilled artisan at work. Beautiful job.

[@joesegrove39]

Love your attention to detail, this project came out exceptional.

[@otenmalaki5908]

Amazing skills of restoring a beautiful bug 🎉❤

[@stumpydog87]

Amazing. Would love to go for a ride, but I bags the back seat, nice and cozy.

[@scoobydog411]

Thank you Sir. It’s like the old story. If you find 50 paint and body guys then you will see 50 ways to do the same job.

[@odatte]

Wow! Solid work and strong knowledge, you'd be the best body man in a shop hands down, love your vids!

[@williamllorens2141]

To me personally you did a wonderful job. Should be proud of the end results ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@ferncottageardentinny]

Hats off to you Sir. My kinda Resto.

[@franciscojosepellegrino2553]

It's not an easy job,you're putting in a lot of effort and your "oval"will be very beautiful. I have a brazilian beetle '81 the nickname is "fusca" ! Great job, congrats.

[@polidactDIY]

Great build! Love the paint job, shows you are a pro on that!

[@Mikefngarage]

Thanks 👍

[@rolleone4me]

Good fab skills! I'm a Fabricator myself .Good job 👍

[@zahariaspage9413]

That was some heartwarming work . Leaving a comment for the algorithm. Really nice beetle

[@stephenhenion8304]

Mike, your skills are First Class. I have been following your channel for quite awhile. This build is spectacular and the Stratus Blue is spot on. As I've said before, VDUBS Rule!!

[@heimerblaster976]

Great color! you did awesome !! I have been searching for an oval my self.

[@Mikefngarage]

Thank you! 😊

[@chuckotto7021]

Your expert work is appreciated. I owned and drove for years a black '54 VW sedan. The trafficators would not emerge until the car was going less that 45 miles per hour due to the wind force. All toll. I had 5 bugs and 3 micro busses. Great memories revived by your work. Thanks.

[@sixtyfiveford]

Looks Great. Nice work.

[@ScottDavis-wk4bl]

Great narration as you move through the project-thanks

[@VolksStokes]

Sorry to hear about the friend that fell ill and could not finish. Good job in finishing it!

[@carkingspot]

Beautiful job. Well done. 👍

[@hobbyautobodyfun9315]

Looks awesome. I am building a pre 55 . I been looking for parts . And I paint bugs . I had my bug for 6 years 🤣 . It’s hard to paint them . I hope to finish this year. 😮

[@bengesell]

You inspired my son.😆 Now he wants to get one.😆👍🏻🇺🇸😎

[@JamesDavis-to1hn]

Fantastic job!!!!!!

[@davidsanner2414]

Awesome restoration

[@biviozlebi3551]

Ovals did not rust easily ...because they had betrer metal then later cars..expecially the eaely ones

[@stuwemhoener5937]

I’m going to get a welder and try to learn how to do it

[@Mikefngarage]

check my video on bestarc. easy to use. easiest to do the settings on. Will have a future video pretty soon when they send me another machine. first time welding video

[@mikehammer4546]

Hey Mike, great job ! Btw, what size wire are you using for sheet metal I.e. .023 ?

[@cbpaton53]

... great job, congrats :)

[@quartecentsixcoupe5994]

tu es une bête, vraiment Bravo et merci pour cette vidéos

[@DanTheManIOM]

Mike, I love your philosophy and repairing vw's. I apply what I learn from you, from this channel. Agreed vision sucks as you get older, glasses on, glasses off, FFS. What am I welding ? Was the back edge of the hood just squeezed together and not the top skin folded over the lower section ? My 57 sunroof has some old hood - looks to need the same repair as you did. I might just take parts off the 59 - batwing, engine, hood and call it a day. I don't want to be like your friend, in his 60's and unable to get to it.

[@jimmywilkinson9190]

Hey Mike ! now you got the body done just put a berg 5 speed and a turbo 2180 F.I haltech computer controlled engine management system OOOOOH wrong channel happy V day guys ?

[@stoyanpavlov772]

Баш майстор!

[@67VWForever]

Hay! Mike you did what you could to save money if you spend money on newer parts your adding up to much money you won't get back, Plus you saved that part, Just think you saved that oval some people would have cut it up..

[@charleshendriks5789]

Great job!

[@eipip1ez]

Great skills.

[@camperdave4990]

Great job.

[@patrickcallaghan7432]

Hey new sub here. Really enjoyed this video. Good work!

[@HmuThu-ee8tm]

beautiful

[@rowlandskay1785]

Wow amazing sir

[@jaydenoloughlin6694]

You sound so much like Mustie1 sometimes I forget where I am

[@socaljarhead7670]

That hood if you had to buy it instead of fix it would be in excess of 3k dollars.

[@Mikefngarage]

probably yea. I dont think at the time BBT was making them But now they do. probably about 3 grand or more.

[@socaljarhead7670]

Watch this video once and then just forget about using it as any sort of reference fir yourself because this fuckin’ guy’s level of skill is so high that it’s actually immaterial to the subject as a whole. You cannot use this particular man as an example of how to tackle a restoration because 99.9% of all people walking the earth are not nor will they ever be to his skill level.

[@Mikefngarage]

Thanks for that.

[@scottbrunson921]

Look at that a dream come true I have a dream for my 68 are you in Utah by the way I'd like you to finish the body work on my 68 sunroof manual crank sunroof I've asked this of everybody is a sunroof in a 68 rare item is it something not too common in a 68 or the 60s cars.. anybody can tell me that please reply thank you Scotty

[@raylopez5904]

What kind of tire were in the rolling pan

[@Mikefngarage]

just stock size radials

[@leroybrown-coco]

Well I now know why these things cost so much ❗❗❗❗❗❗❗❗❗❗❗

[@ronaldinabinet7750]

❤ the build, but not the color

[@AmritBankar]

Wrong hubcaps

[@panchosspeedshop8576]

Mike, I sent you a message on Instagram regarding carpet.

[@Mikefngarage]

Oh yea Hey I will call you soon I was going to call this weekend but I have so much going on I forgot.

[@williampolk8009]

Great job!