How bad was Beryl the Beetle's Rust?

Finding rust in Beryl the Beetle was quite a shock, but the new owner has made a start on repairs so we went to see just how bad it really was once the wings were pulled back and the paint removed
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[@darrenwilson8042]

For a man facing a whole lot of pain Bernard has a very calm voice

[@paultaylor9652]

What a very humble chap. He seems the right chap to repair the Beetle for his daughter, long live Beryl.

[@willswheels283]

It’s good that the car will see the road again and it’s in the right persons hands. Many would have either searched for a different “more understanding” tester or written it off as uneconomic and sold it for scrap. Thanks for the update Matt.👍

[@skodakatie7341]

It’s great to see Beryl the beetle again, and even better news to hear that she is being saved ❤.

[@flemmingsorensen5470]

Thats a very calm and friendly man - love the FIATs in the background !!!

[@rogerlee6599]

Thanks ever so much to all involved for the update on Beryl the Beetle's 'tinworm' situation 😉😀👍 ! N.B. Nowhere near as bad as I subsequently know now, Family Car of my ( late ) Dad's ( R.I.P. ) Austin 1800 Mk. I Landcrab in Prussian Blue,V.R.M. FKJ 776D in 1979, where 'tinworm' had eaten away a lot of both of the outer sills, Dad chopped out this severe corrosion with a Cold Chisel & Lump Hammer / Electric Drill with a Rotary Wire Brush to the remaining exposed steel metal edges & then used aluminium sheeting cut to slightly oversize & a Pop Rivet Gun to cover up the holes in both of the outer sills & then use of the Tetroseal 'Unterboden Schutz', thick black mastic paint / underbody sealant to under seal his 'Handywork' . . . then a subsequent M.O.T. Test, using thumb pressure on the covered over / undersealed repaired outer sills, meant the 'Old Warhorse' PASSED ( "DOH it should not have been repaired / re-M.O.T. in this 'Home Bodge It' state/way !" ) ! My Beloved ❤ Late Maternal Grandad ( 🖤😵R.I.P. & me 😢🥺😭 ) Sunburst Red Mk. III Ford Cortina 1600L 2-Door Saloon, V.R.M. ENJ535K was SOLD along with the Austin 1800 to raise funds to buy Austin Princess 1800HL, 4-Door Saloon, V.R.M. LJM 849P in Reynard Bronze as NEW Family Car !

[@Parknest]

I've worked on a 2007 Beetle convertible. The mechanicals were great (MK4 Golf based) but the convertible-specific parts were a pain and they cost twice that of the hatchback. I'm glad I don't have to work on that car again. Good to see Beryl is in good hands with Vernon.

[@matthewc.419]

VW con trick

[@cmartin_ok]

"It was only the rust that was the problem"... ah, that sums up some of the cars I had when I was much younger....

[@brunocalico]

So cute the blue Panda.

[@JR90.]

I thought I recognised this chap and his great collection from a Late Break Show video! Hope he enjoys the Bug!

[@BRED510]

Ah yes, I was trying to remember where I'd seem him!

[@RichieRouge206]

Was going to say I recognise Vernon and his fabulous collection of Fiats off the Late Brake Show! Interesting update Matt!

[@furiousdriving]

yes, hes a celebrity!

[@parkecorepersonaltrainingp2601]

Looks like it’s in very good hands nice to see her again 🎉

[@gryfandjane]

Thanks for following up on Beryl! I’d wondered how extensive the rust was. So it was only located in the sills? I had the impression that the damage was deeper than that.

[@furiousdriving]

no, just hard to get to

[@grayfool]

Good to see the Beetle getting sorted. Good job.

[@donnysweekendvanlifetravel7854]

Great to see its being fixed and his daughter is having it too was a nice car

[@furiousdriving]

Yes, its going to be a great car for her

[@highbury1972]

Thanks for the update Matt! Vernon has a cool set up there and his ramps could save you a few man hours! I am learning more on each video you post.

[@chrisgosling6083]

when i buy a classic or older car i always see what repair panels are made as that gives you an idea where to look for rust , take the mini and mgb , they make complete shells that says it😉 all glad the rust on the beetle is repairable shame you did not have the time to repair it your self as the panels would not have been that hard to produce, thanks for the update, now you can play with the lovely new rover instead 👍

[@PaddyWV]

Garage is reminscent of a family friend years ago who ran a Fiat Dealership near Sevenoaks. His garden(family permitting) had various body parts of 500's, 600's and he helped source parts for our 850.

[@mikem5922]

I’ve had an 06’ Beetle apart both front and rear clips to de-vinyl wrap it and it’s a pain of a job with those bolts in the arches when they seize or rust. Most had to be drilled out and replaced. It’s also fun to maneuver the whole rear clip by yourself. That same Beetle has rusted in the same spots as Beryl and I don’t really want to take it apart in my driveway again haha

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great to see Beryl again and it's good to see that it will see the road again soon. Thanks for the update.

[@Jam3sA]

Okay, it was slightly worse than I thought in the MOT result reveal, but I still maintain a different tester would have passed it. That's especially (as pointed out on this video) that that sill section isn't structural

[@furiousdriving]

Unfortunately the back holes are close enough to the seat belts to fail

[@mikeymike3240]

Lovin that wee Fiat Panda 🐼 rally car…..VIDEO PLEASE!!!😊

[@danielrussell446]

Matt well done on the update on Beryl so glad that she is being saved and is going to be enjoyed!

[@neilwalsh4058]

Thought I recognised Vernon and his impressive collection of FIAT's from other KZbin channels. Guess he's doing it for his daughter but he looks similar age to me and back in the 80's every Fiat lad I knew wouldn't touch a VW or Ford with a barge pole. It was an unwritten rule , a line you avoided crossing. Hopefully she'll see sense and ask dad for that lovely blue Panda on the ramp instead 🇮🇹👍

[@markdavis2475]

Yes, it was daft that it failed on a non-structural part. I replaced the sills on a Skoda Octavia that looked bad. Still, as I did the work, I realised the outer sill seemed to be a non-structural "cover" over a substantial inner tubular section that was dripping with protective wax. The only reason the outer sills rusted was previous accident damage repair.

[@furiousdriving]

I think it falls within 30cm of the seatbelt at the back so an automatic fail

[@jimmyz3762]

Thank you for taking the time to do a follow up on beryl, it was very useful. i was surprised how bad the rust was, very glad vernon is taking the time to fix it. now i know where to check for the rust on my car.

[@brunohache268]

I've seen a ton of these scrapped here in salty Canada for very little. Easy to find at u-pull yards.

[@chrisrumble2665]

Niice update but as a classic Fiat tragic all I saw was a lovely 850 Coupe and the lurking Bangle Coupe!

[@michaeltutty1540]

The original New Beetle was not on the Golf platform. It was in the smaller car that we did not get in North America. The decision was made to move it to the Golf because that platform already complied with both US and Canada safety standards. Keep in mind that at the time Canada required 0 accumulated body damage at the end of the 5mph, 7km/h, impact tests.

[@mattb96]

Wasn't the number plate FD05 BCV?

[@furiousdriving]

I kept that

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Nice to see her getting some fresh steel. She will make a cracking cat once done.

[@arthurdardalis]

It’s unbelievable how much rust there is on what is in effect a modern car

[@fhwolthuis]

You should get that Coupé FIAT 😍

[@furiousdriving]

I think thats one of the few he wouldnt sell, and I dont blame him!

[@13Pandam]

@@furiousdrivingNo I will sell that one, probably at the end of the year. But one previous owner, Limited Edition, and still all original, it won’t be cheap 😁. The 850 Coupe on the other hand, how could I possibly part with that. 😍

[@TheStevo1978]

Good video. Highlights early 2000s VAG rust (Mercs prone too in that era). Not always what folks expect 😢 Also looks like headlight bulb changes aren't the most convenient on those Bugs

[@13Pandam]

You just flip a lever from inside the engine bay and the headlight slides in and out. As long as the channels are kept greased so that the light slides easily it’s fine.

[@admiralalcatraz6080]

My Big went in exactly the same places. Bodgy patched it this year and scraped it's MOT, but it will be getting done properly in the summer.

[@vaux_wolf4281]

Vernon you got your work cut out, nothing but admiration. Those fiats though back when fiats were fiats 😂

[@michelepontrelli910]

I would like to see a video on these pandas🇮🇹

[@gaddmeister]

Thanks Quentin. Knew these areas were common, just the way you said MOT man knew secrets 😂😂 we have five in the family and although waxed have a mig at the ready. To be fair, not much rusts on these.

[@PaddyWV]

Fiat 850 Coupé ❤❤❤ Is it driveable? Have you asked? The rust is a throwback to all the cars in the 80's that started turning up with wheel arch covers. Mini? I'm looking at you.

[@furiousdriving]

that may appear in a future video

[@PaddyWV]

@@furiousdriving Yay! Have a Manly hug. 🤗

[@mikeburnitt403]

Okay enough already, I am 1m31s into this and I am punned out already, what a silly Idea, damn now I am doing it! ;-)

[@d.c.Jones70]

Very cool guy sure he’s the fella that was on the Late Brake Show

[@chamaileon81]

Lovely news for Beryl!

[@Phil-1969]

Dave has just asked me are you meeting Terry down the Winchester tonight

[@cgee3999]

I had no idea, then you had an idea, we all had no idea over the beetle. Now no one’s got any F@#king idea😂

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

The Idea has come and gone too soon!

[@Genic1981]

Should try and get a swap for that Fiat coupe in the back ground

[@phil7301]

Holey smoke batman , there's a hole lotta welding to do !! 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@jasoncornell1579]

Did u use the tea shelf?

[@furiousdriving]

I think it might have spilled at that angle

[@jasoncornell1579]

@@furiousdriving that's why u shouldn't drink and drive😁

[@katkylekim]

No wonder they were never a big hit being the price reflecting on the build quality over the original Bug ! The sort of rust you would have found in older VW's of that age the only difference is you had some thick metal to work with...

[@alangray9718]

Love your content and you energy

[@eggy1962]

as with a lot of welding , the preparation work is a complete ball ache

[@LOTPOR0402]

Most modern cars the outer sill is just for cosmetics , a lot use plastic .The main strength is behind that with hss section ,unlike an old car

[@BRED510]

You're correct the outer sill is not structural.

[@supervitz7178]

Does this chap have contact details? I have an old fiat project that he could have parts for, does he not do any work anymore? ?

[@terryatkinson899]

I'd love to spend the day in that fiat man's shed tinkering, bet you'd like a place like it. Is he as good as you at the welding 😎

[@Timberwulf2]

I laughed...you sounded slight awkward at first knowing you exchanged the guy a Lemon for a Idea

[@andyripperss]

Which company is used for the body repair?

[@aslandama]

It just shows what can be hidden under plastic trim and side skirts. As a Fiat/Alfa fan I was hoping you'd give us a tour of this mans cave, in fairness though it does look cramped.

[@Unboxingforyoudude]

When's the MOT?

[@notroll1279]

It's so annoying that VW as a semi-premium car maker built such rustbuckets less than 20 years ago when they could have done so much better than that!

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

Sure. VW should have

[@patrick103b]

Has he got any croma parts

[@Phiyedough]

I don't think they should have failed the MoT on those sills but they did need sorting.

[@furiousdriving]

the back rust is close enough to the seat belt

[@jaysteele1031]

That red Fiat 850S coupe looks tiny compared with the rest of the Fiats and the Beetle: tiny numbers left, as well.

[@marklittler784]

Aren't many wheel arch liners held on with plastic screws though?

[@furiousdriving]

some, not all

[@tonys1636]

Yes took more than the average tinker to fix the holes in that bucket. Could say it needed a plastic surgeon.

[@mog5007]

how can't you have seen it at the front? the rust is in front of the jack point...

[@lesklower7281]

The VW beetle l don't if they rust in the same place in Australia l see them out and about if l ever get a chance to talk to a beetle owner l will ask the owner about there rust issues

[@billgriffiths1685]

Yipee I'm 1,443rd today

[@furiousdriving]

Hurrah!

[@billgriffiths1685]

@@furiousdriving Thanks.

[@delukxy]

Lots of embarrassed laughing. Pleased that he has the facilities to fix it. Didn't realise they had plastic wings. No rust there! Did these rust traps get designed out on the updated Beetle?

[@furiousdriving]

seems that way, but its a styling exercise so compromise

[@jonathancarson1974]

Just goes to show how tacked on cosmetic pieces have condemned a lot of these to scrap, whenever a simpler design would have allowed 'some' people to spot issues earlier..and could well have allowed for sooner repair ..

[@Ste2023]

Sadly not as well built as the old VW beetle . German cars are now 3rd rate . Toyota, honda Subaru , Hyundai far better