1974 Volkswagen Baja Classic Beetle Bug * Superior Build Quality

 
 1974 VW Baja Bug
 
Up for sale is this gorgeous Baja. You'll have a tough time time finding one as nice as this!
The original description from the March eBay auction will be posted below my own notes of what I have done to the car since purchasing it in March 2013.
The original listing makes note of a fairly intense sound system. It was but it took up the entire back seat. I pulled out the sub woofer and the two mounted 6x9 speakers and stuff. I sourced a seat back and base and had them upholstered in OEM style covers. I also installed a set of rear seat belts. The seat back is in place but the base has yet to be installed and is included with the sale. In its place is an upholstered base as seen in the pictures. There was a center console. I removed it and put in a bamboo parcel shelf that can also be seen in the pictures. I added a rear license plate frame with an integrated third brake light.
Take the time to read the the extensive original description. I don't know Jack about VWs but it seems to be fairly accurate. Lots of shiny bits and detail work that someone spent a boat load of time and money on.
I bought it for me and the kids to use it at our beach cottage this summer but local PD thought it was too loud and I thought it was too fast (for my kids). I have a stack of documentation as well as a flash drive of the restoration and can send additional pictures if requested. I welcome any inspection by serious buyers and I reserve the right to end the auction early as I have listings elsewhere. Any buyer who contacts me though eBay must process the sale through eBay. Payment by cash or wire transfer preferred. Nonrefundable deposit of $500 due within 48 hours of auction close.

Here is the original listing description.

1974 NARROW EYE BAJA BUG. BEETLE WITH GROUND UP BODY OFF ROTISSERIE STYLE RESTORATION. HERE IS A RARE AND UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A ONE OF A KIND PRISTINE RESTORED CUSTOM VW NAMED “BIG RED" RESTORED BY INDUSTRY LEADER “BXXXX CUSTOMS”!  AND RESTORED RIGHT.  FAR FROM WHAT SOME PEOPLE HERE THAT DESCRIBE THEIR CAR AS SO CALLED “RESTORED'. BIG RED IS BRAND NEW FROM FRONT TO BACK. BOTTOM TO TOP AND INSIDE TO OUT. NOT ONLY IS EVERY SINGLE NUT. BOLT AND WASHER BRAND NEW. EVERY HOLE HAS BEEN TAP AND DIED. NO EXPENSE SPARED WITH NOTHING BUT THE BEST QUALITY PARTS USED THAT IS AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET. AND THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS SECOND TO NONE. I HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION OF EVERY BIT OF RESTORATION PROCESS. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC FIRST PLACE TROPHY WINNER SHOW STOPPER.

BIG RED BODY:

I STARTED WITH A SOLID 1974 BEETLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE A BIT OF RUST IN THE BODY WHAT SO EVER. SEPARATED THE BODY FROM THE CHASSIS AND MOUNTED IT ON A ROTISSERIE STYLE FRAME. EVERY SINGLE PIECE. PART. NUT. BOLT. ECT WAS REMOVE FROM THE CAR. ENTIRE CAR WAS BROUGHT DOWN TO BARE METAL FRONT AND REAR APRONS WERE CUT OFF IN ORDER TO INSTALL BRAND NEW. HEAVY DUTY. RARE NARROW EYE BAJA KIT. TWO THICK METAL SUPPORT BEAMS WERE WELDED IN THE FRONT FOR EXTRA STRENGTH. SAFETY AND MOUNTING FOR HEADLIGHTS. HOOD PINS. HORNS AND ACCESSORIES. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS MOCKED UP FOR THAT PERFECT FITTING AND THEN BROKE BACK DOWN AGAIN FOR PAINT. NEXT CAME A SEALING EURO ETCH PRIMER OF TOP QUALITY. AND THEN WEEKS OF ENDLESS SANDING FOR THAT AWARD WINNING SHOW QUALITY FINISH. THE VW THEN GOT TRUCKED OVER TO A COMMERCIAL PAINT BOOTH. AS I HAVE PICTURED. THE GUTTED BODY AND ALL THE FENDERS. HOOD. APRON. GLOVE BOX. ECT PARTS RECEIVED MULTIPLE COATS OF A GERMAN RED BASE COATS. NEXT CAME MULTIPLE COATS OF TOP QUALITY LIFE TIME WARRANTY EURO TRANSTAR TRANSLUCENT CLEAR COATS. BEST MONEY CAN BUY. LAID DOWN LIKE GLASS. NOT EVEN WET SANDED OR BUFFED. DIDN'T NEED IT. I SPENT OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST ON THE PRODUCT TO PAINT THE CAR AND IT SHOWS!

BIG RED CHASSIS:

AS PICTURED. THE CHASSIS WAS TOTALLY RESTORED AS WELL. EVERYTHING WAS TAKEN OFF FROM FRONT END. SUSPENSION TO TRANSMISSION. ECT. EVEN THOUGH THE FLOORS WERE NOT TOO BAD I PUT BRAND NEW EARLY MODEL FLOOR PANS IN TO MATCH THE CALIBER OF THE RESTORATION. AND OF COURSE THEY WERE WELDED PROPERLY AND THEN RECEIVED SEAM SEALER ALONG ALL THE SEAMS. TRANNY WAS REMOVED. CLEANED. DRAINED. FILLED WITH NEW GEAR OIL AND THEN PAINTED. NEW TRANNY AND MOTOR OEM FACTORY RUBBER MOUNTS INSTALLED. NEW AXLES AND ALL FOUR BRAND NEW COIL OVER SHOCKS INSTALLED. EVERY BRAKE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED WITH NEW OEM FACTORY PARTS FROM DUAL MASTER CYLINDER. TWO NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES. FOUR BRAND NEW WHEEL CYLINDERS. NEW RESERVOIR. TO ALL NEW BRAKE SHOES. NEEDLESS TO SAY. SHE WILL STOP ON A DIME. FRONT END WAS REMOVED. SERVICED. SEALS GREASED. CLEANED. PAINTED AND RE INSTALLED WITH ALL NEW TIE RODS AND TIE ROD ENDS. STEERING STABILIZER. AND EVEN NEW STEERING SHAFT COUPLER. NEXT. I HAD LOCAL GOOD YEAR DO A FULL WHEEL ALIGNMENT INCLUDING CAMBER AND CASTER FOR THAT SMOOTH STRAIGHT RIDE. HAD PEDAL ASSEMBLY REMOVED. CLEANED. SERVICED. PAINTED AND INSTALLED WITH NEW ROLLER GAS PEDAL.  THEN THE BODY FINALLY MET THE CHASSIS AGAIN WITH ALL NEW FACTORY OEM GRADE EIGHT BOLTS WITH THE SQUARE WASHERS. NEW BODY RUBBERS AND BRAND NEW PAN GASKET. AND BEFORE NEW HARDWARE WENT IN. ALL THE HOLES WERE TAPPED AND DIED FOR THAT FINGER TIGHTENING ABILITY AND CLEAN THREADS. .

BIG REDS INTERIOR:

NEXT CAME THE INTERIOR AND RE ASSEMBLY. LET ME START BY SAYING I BOUGHT BRAND NEW. COLOR CODED. FACTORY OEM WIRING HARNESS TO KEEP WITH CALIBER OF RESTORATION. EVERY SINGLE WIRE IN THIS CAR IS BRAND NEW AND COLOR CODED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. LET ALONE. SOLDERED. HEAT SHRINKED AND DONE RIGHT. NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN BIG RED FURTHERMORE. EVERY SINGLE NUT. BOLT. WASHER. RUBBER GASKET. SEAL. GROMMET. ECT IS BRAND NEW AND GERMAN MADE (WEST COAST METRIC) FOR THAT PERFECT SEAL AND FIT. I HAVE WELL OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST IN RUBBER SEALS. GASKETS AND GROMMETS. OVER THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN JUST DOOR RUBBERS; NEW GERMAN DOOR GASKETS. INNER AND OUTER SCRAPERS WITH NEW CHROME. NEW FELT CHANNELS WITH ALL NEW CLIPS. NEW VENT WINDOW RUBBERS (REBUILT COMPLETE VENT WINDOWS). DOOR HANDLE SEALS. FOUR NEW DOOR HINGE SEALS. SCREW COVER SEALS. CHECK ROD SEALS AND NEW DOOR SWITCH SEALS. THEN CAME A BRAND NEW SET OF FRONT AND BACK DOOR PANELS WITH NEW CLIPS AND CLIP SEALS. I ALSO INSTALLED TWO BRAND NEW WINDOW REGULATORS. DID YOU SEE THE OLD SCHOOL VENT WINDOW SHADES TOO? BRAND NEW HEADLINER WITH NEW SUN VISORS AND HARDWARE. NEW TPM CHARCOAL (BLACK AND GREY) DELUXE CARPET KIT INSTALLED AND OEM SEAT COVERS WITH NEW KNOBS AND HARDWARE. NEW REAR CARPET KIT INSTALLED TOO. EVEN INSTALLED A BRAND NEW DASH PAD AFTER DASH WAS PAINTED MATCHING GERMAN RED.  NEW GLOVE BOX WITH NEW LOCKING KEY LATCH. NEW HURST SHIFTER WITH COOL CENTER CONSOLE WITH COMPARTMENTS FOR STORAGE NEW E-BRAKE COVER. TACHOMETER THAT LIGHTS UP. CUSTOM TURN SIGNALS THAT FLASH CORRECTLY. FOUR WAY FLASHERS. HORN. HIGH BEAM LOW BEAM. FUEL GAUGE. SPEEDO CABLE. INTERIOR LIGHT THAT FUNCTIONS CORRECTLY. ALL NEW KNOBS. BUTTONS AND SWITCHES. I HAD FACTORY FRONT OEM SEAT BELTS CLEANED. SERVICED (PENDULUM FUNCTIONS CORRECTLY). NEEDLESS TO SAY. EVERYTHING WORKS AS IT SHOULD. EVERYTHING! NEXT. I MADE A CUSTOM BACK SEAT TO ACCOMMODATE THE SICK STEREO SYSTEM. CONSTRUCTED FROM 3/4 INCH PRESSURE TREATED WOOD. MULTIPLE LAYERS OF HIGH QUALITY EXPENSIVE SEAT FOAM AND COVERED IN ERA CORRECT VINYL. I HAVE OVER TWO THOUSAND JUST IN THE STEREO SYSTEM: SIX BY NINES CUSTOM MOLDED INTO SEAT BACK REST. FOUR INCH MIDS AND HIGHS CUSTOM MOLDED INTO KICK PANELS. TWO TWELVE INCH AUDIOBAHN EIGHT HUNDRED WATT SUB WOOFERS IN CUSTOM ENCLOSED PLEXIGLASS BOX. NEON LIGHTS. WRAPPED IN MATCHING VINYL WITH THREE CHROME FLAMED PORTS. THEN CUSTOM MOUNTED MATCHING TWELVE HUNDRED WATT AMPLIFIER UNDERNEATH DRIVERS SEAT TO STAY COOL AND OUT OF THE WAY. POWERED BY A FIFTY WATT TIMES FOUR CHANNEL DETACHABLE FACE CD PLAYER STEREO WITH CARRYING CASE. REMOTE CONTROL WITH TONS OF ACCESSORIES AND OPTIONS. FINALLY. I CUSTOM MOUNTED. UNDER THE BACK SEAT. A VERY EXPENSIVE CAPACITOR  SO. NO MATTER HOW HIGH. LOUD OR HARD YOU LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC. IT WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR BATTERY. ALTERNATOR OR CHARGING SYSTEM. YET. LET ME JUST WARN YOU. DO NOT TURN VOLUME UP EVEN HALF WAY. IT IS DANGEROUSLY LOUD AND HARD! ALL JOKING ASIDE. IT'S REALLY AN UNBELIEVABLE GREAT SOUND SYSTEM NO MATTER WHAT MUSIC YOU DESIRE TO LISTEN TO AND IT LOOKS JUST AS GOOD. EVERYTHING I PUT ON OUTSIDE OF BIG RED DURING RE ASSEMBLY IS BRAND NEW AS WELL. NEW SIDE MIRROR. NEW ANTENNA FOR RADIO. REBUILT OEM DOOR HANDLES AND THEY LOCK AS DESIGNED WITH KEYS. ALL NEW WINDOW RUBBERS. NEW REAR LIGHT HOUSINGS WITH NEW GASKETS ALONG WITH ALL NEW BULBS IN ENTIRE CAR NEW H-4 HEADLIGHTS WITH GLASS COVERS WITH NEW BEAUTY RINGS. NEW BOSCH WIPER BLADES. NEW FRONT TURN SIGNALS WITH NEW GASKETS. NEW FRONT DOUBLE TUBE BUMPERS MOUNTED CORRECTLY TO THE FRONT END WITH EVEN NEW END CAPS TO KEEP THE MOISTURE OUT. NEW SIDE BARS MOUNTED CORRECTLY (TAP AND DIED) WITH ALL NEW HARDWARE. FURTHERMORE. MOUNTED METAL PLATE BEHIND WHERE SIDE BARS MOUNT TO BODY FOR STRENGTH SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY STAND ON THEM WITHOUT PUCKERING THE BODY. NEW REAR DOUBLE TUBE BUMPER MOUNTED CORRECTLY TO TRANS HOUSING. REAR BUMPERS HAVE BEEN DRILLED FOR A BOLT TO GO THROUGH THEM WITH WELDED NUT ON THE OTHER SIDE FOR QUICK REMOVAL IF EVER NEEDED. LONG HARD JOB THAT NOBODY EVER TAKES THE TIME TO DO RIGHT. YET ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS EVERYWHERE YOU INSPECT ON THIS ONE. ALSO HAVE NEW END CAPS ON THESE TOO. TO KEEP THE WATER OUT. NEW LIGHT BAR MOUNTED CORRECTLY WITH FOUR BRAND NEW MINIATURE FOUR INCH KC LIGHTS ON TOP. FINALLY. I PAINTED BOTH DOUBLE TUBE BUMPERS. SIDE BARS. LIGHT BAR AND EVEN THE GAS TANK IN A BLACK BASE AND CLEAR WITH PEARL  IN THEM. AN ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT LOOKS GREAT AND WILL LAST FOREVER. THERE IS FOUR DIFFERENT LED. STRIPS MOUNTED ON THE CAR: ONE UNDER EACH SIDE OF THE CAR THAT LIGHTS UP THE GROUND UNDERNEATH YOU. ONE OVER THE MOTOR. UNDER THE VALANCE SCOOP THAT MAKES THE MOTOR JUST SPARKLE  AND  ONE UNDER THE DASH FOR EXTRA MOOD LIGHTING AND TO SHOW OFF AT THE CAR SHOWS. THERE IS A THREE DIMENSIONAL RED LED LIGHT UP VW EMBLEM UP FRONT BEHIND DOUBLE TUBE BUMPER. OF COURSE. FOUR  KC  LIGHTS UP TOP THAT WILL LIGHT UP THE WHOLE FOREST. FINALLY. THE NEW OLD SCHOOL. NOSTALGIC  LIGHT UP BUGGY WHIP REAR WHIP WITH CHROME MOUNTING BRACKET THAT CAN LAY DOWN IN CASE ITS TOO BIG TO GET INTO YOUR GARAGE. LIGHTS ARE ALL ON THEIR OWN CIRCUIT. IN LINE FUSE AND HAVE THEIR OWN BUTTONS TO TURN OFF AND ON.

BIG REDS ENGINE:

LET ME START BY TELLING YOU THIS IS THE BEST. STRONGEST MOTOR I HAVE EVER HAD AND I HAVE HAD MANY!  IT'S A 1776 THAT IS BRAND NEW THAT STARTS WITH A TOUCH OF THE KEY AND RUNS EVEN BETTER. WELL OVER FOUR GRAND JUST IN THE MOTOR: BRAND NEW BIG BORE PISTONS AND CYLINDERS. RINGS. AND LIFTERS. NEW 110 CAM. BEARINGS AND EVEN THE CRANK. NEW ROCKERS COVERED WITH NEW BOLT ON STYLE EMPI VALVE COVERS. NEW LARGE CAPACITY OIL SUMP KIT WHICH ADDS 1. 5 QUARTS OF OIL TO INCREASE OIL SUPPLY. PREVENT OIL STARVATION AND INCREASE COOLNG BY FAR. NEW UPPER AND LOWER DEGREE PULLEYS. NEW 009 DISTRIBUTOR WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION AND THE EXPENSIVE PLUG WIRES (ANOTHER DETAIL THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE LEAVE OUT). NEW BOSCHE BLUE COIL. EXTENDED CHROME DIP STICK. CHROME ALTERNATOR STAND WITH CHROME EASY POUR ANGLED OIL FILLER. NEW ONE WIRE HIGHOUTPUT CHROME ALTERNATOR.  NEW EMPI  DUAL MANIFOLD WITH BRAND NEW VERY EXPENSIVE WEBBER TWO BARREL CARBURETOR. HAS BRAND NEW JETS AND FINE TUNED BY LOCAL GERMAN SPECIALIST AND TO FEED CARBURETOR CORRECTLY. I HAVE NEW ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP (MOUNTED UNDER GAS TANK UP FRONT) AND NEW FUEL REGULATOR SET AT ABOUT 2. 5. NEW CHROME TRI MILL EMPI EXHAUST WITH NEW SPRINGS. BAFFLE AND HARDWARE. AS YOU CAN SEE. I HAVE ALL THE SPECIALTY COOLING TINS INSTALLED ON THE MOTOR THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT THAT SO MANY DECIDE NOT TO DO. OF COURSE. ALL NEW GASKETS. SEALS. BOSCH SUPER PLUGS. WIRES. NUTS. BOLTS AND ALL THE HARDWARE. FINALLY. I PAINTED THE TINS IN THE SAME BASE/CLEAR AS THE CAR TO TIE IT ALL TOGETHER. NOT ONLY DOES THE MOTOR LOOK GREAT. IT PERFORMS SPECTACULAR AND YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED.

 

Also published at eBay.com

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