Incredible shop find! Less than 24k miles!

Jolene is a 1974 VW Beetle. She was in an accident in 1978 and parked. The old VW was like new when hit with less than 24 thousand miles on the odometer. She was meant to be a GTV, I think. All the accessories were dealer installed. She had no engine, upgrades, though. Someone loved their little Beetle and I bet they were just sick after the accident. We are going to get her back on the road and drive her like she is meant to be.

[@busterstravels1534]

Happy for you. I love the story and the stripes. 👍🤓

[@VWEmpiLove]

Thanks so much!

[@user-bu2en3cl6s]

Holy cow! What a memory! My first car (used) was bought new at Jimmy Payne Volkswagen; a 1979 VW Rabbit, 4 speed, fuel injected C, copper brown...ish, my ol' man helped me buy in '86; it still had that dealer sticker. The first week I had it, I drove to El Centro, CA where I was stationed while in the Navy. It took 39 hrs (less than 4 of those, sleeping in the car) to get there from Bolivar, TN, where I'd stayed the night with my girlfriend and her family (I'll never forget you, Debbie). That was my very first of COUNTLESS road trips/adventures and a very good place to start. Thanks for the drive down memory lane and here's to many more miles ahead...

[@VWEmpiLove]

That’s awesome! Thank you!

[@Oldbugssy]

The roaches @ 10:36 was a nice historic find and some screens? Woof. The hit on the driver's side was the event that possibly saved this Empi Beetle. Looking under the hood look so clean and factory! Good luck on this one.

[@VWEmpiLove]

You’re right. I am very happy it ended up in the shop it did. They saved her from the scrap yard and who knows what would have happened if that particular wreck didn’t happen. She’s going to be a lot of fun to drive around….. a lot of catching up to do!

[@jpvill4th]

For the left rear quarter, the best option is to remove the skin from this car and get the skin and structure from another car that resided in the southwest US. Then compare the replacement to the original to see if you or someone can straighten the original structure, Then install the skin from the replacement. Check to see if you can find a factory correct skin that is identical to the original. The other option is to replace the doors with bracing and put the body on a rotisserie. Do the repairs on it then. Don't put back the vinyl. See what was available for cloth upholstery in 1974 and use that for the seating surfaces. Use better substructure along with better foam than VW would have used. I have a 1972 Super with cloth upholstery of which most is intact, but faded. I already have replacement material. In 1972 the Super Beetle's cloth upholstery was corduroy. Original fibers were polyester and nylon with some acrylic too. I could not find that so I am using cotton upholstery material. In '72, the upholstery for the Marina Blue paint was either Lapis Blue corduroy with Oxford vinyl trim or Black corduroy and black Oxford vinyl trim. Use a 1974 European Brochure to see what fabric was available.

[@VWEmpiLove]

Thank you for the info! Much appreciated.

[@donaldbrittsan984]

Looks like a good project, hopefully your kids will get involved, what ever you do don't give up!

[@VWEmpiLove]

Thank you. I think they will get more involved as we move along with it.

[@jpvill4th]

I would have tried some PineSol full strength and let it sit for a while.

[@bennetfox]

Oh wow you are in Memphis! My granddaddy bought a couple Volkswagens from Jimmy Payne!! I always loved that logo!! Cool find and I hope to see it on the road someday soon!!

[@VWEmpiLove]

Yep, we’re in Memphis. It is a pretty cool logo. Thanks!

[@chrisst8922]

Great find. Please, no mucking about with it. No lowering or different colour or bigger engine or anything. And keep the energy absorbing bumpers too. Just repair and spray the parts that are needed and replace the decals that get obliterated in the process.

[@VWEmpiLove]

Exactly.

[@miket3509]

You struck Gold with this beetle. Nice find. The EMPI GTV decals are available new.

[@VWEmpiLove]

Yep, I know Empi just released them earlier this year. I was worried about finding replacements for the left side.

[@VWEmpiLove]

Oh, and I think I was very lucky to find this Beetle. Thanks again!

[@jpvill4th]

@@VWEmpiLove You could make a pattern from the other side and replace the decal with paint. The right and left are mirror images of each other. There are folks that can make these if none were available. The image is recreated on a computer and is then outlined on film or is cut from a film sheet with a computer driven cutting machine.

[@vw_beachbuggybrookster]

great work

[@VWEmpiLove]

Thank you. I’m trying. I just want to get a great big back on the road.

[@gerardo66986]

Wonderful VW beetle! It's really nice but I was surprised that rims where Brazilian models instead of German. I hope you can get this car back on the road soon. Even if you need some parts, you can tell me. I own a 1996 VW beetle and I have some parts I could send you if you need. Also I can help you to find some of them. My best wishes!

[@VWEmpiLove]

You are so kind, thank you! I think the only exterior upgrade or change I make is putting on a set of Empi Sprintstars.

[@gerardo66986]

​@@VWEmpiLove It is gonna be great. In fact I see the car in a very good shape. The sound of the engine is a concert for my ears. Keep posting and I will keep following ya! Happy Easter 🐰!

[@VWEmpiLove]

@@gerardo66986 Happy Easter to you! Thank you.

[@KANGBEWOK96]

Ikut menyimak

[@tillross4078]

Are there any more for sale ? Neat Car 👍

[@VWEmpiLove]

I believe all the ones on the lot are for sale. The red one on the lift is a great candidate for restoration. I am not sure about the NSUs. Thank you for your kind words.

[@donsmith8614]

I'd love to have her, is that an 8 track am/fm player? I got one in my 68 Karmann Ghia. Good luck with your build.

[@VWEmpiLove]

Yep, she’s got an 8 track player. I guess I need to start looking for some 8 tracks. Though, I may upgrade to a vintage looking radio w/ Bluetooth.

[@donsmith8614]

they're still around, just have to search for them.@@VWEmpiLove

[@socaljarhead7670]

When I was a kid in high school back in the late 80s, early 90s, we would get a Super Beetle like that, take the engine out, and then set it on fire by the railroad tracks.

[@VWEmpiLove]

Cool story, bro.

[@jimh3362]

What the heck is all that background static??? Double Audio???

[@VWEmpiLove]

That’s me not knowing what the heck I am doing. Some of it was the pressure washer….. some of it was me talking over myself. Like the dude that got turned into a newt by the witch…. I’ll get better.

[@socaljarhead7670]

That car is not worth the water that you used to clean it off.

[@VWEmpiLove]

Ok.

[@brianchisnell1548]

To you, Jughead! Eat your cereal.

[@larryhullinger4141]

Towards the end of the video you have 2 people tryingvto talk over eachother Whats up with that? Its annoying as hell

[@VWEmpiLove]

It is me not know how to edit a darn video. It is. I do apologize.