Volkswebbin - Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (DrDarby) — Tue, 23 May 2006 14:00:00 +0000

Let me put a good word in for Antonio. The car he just delivered to Az was delivered to my shipper, no hassles. It is en-route to me right now and I wouldn't hesitate to do it all over again.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (Bruce) — Tue, 02 May 2006 17:17:33 +0000

I recommend you limit your search to 73 and later standard Beetles.
The earlier cars require you to use the early shift rod. Also, if the donor car is IRS, you have the option to convert it years down the road.
Although it is possible to use a 65 and earlier, that would be foolish since you have to cut off and replace the entire frame head.
I'm not sure exactly when the change happened (69?), but early swing axle shock towers don't fit the late body right. Even though the Mexican cars are swing axle, they have IRS shock towers. These shock towers pushed the rear body mount higher up in the wheel well. To line up, you need a car with IRS shock towers.

If you get a 73 or 74, all you will have to do is increase the size of the hole in the pan at the front and rear for the fuel line. Then remove the fuel lines from the Mexican pan and install them in the German pan. A 75-77 std already has twin fuel lines, but they are not as common as 73 and 74 cars. My donor car was a 74 SunBug.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (DrDarby) — Tue, 02 May 2006 14:38:50 +0000

I agree, I just paid $300.00 USD for a very acceptable '73 donor car. It needs floor pans but I replace them anyway.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (Neuromancer) — Tue, 02 May 2006 11:53:41 +0000

At the moment she is in storage in Montreal, but eventually coming back home to my garage here in Toronto.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (Bruce) — Tue, 02 May 2006 09:24:42 +0000

Neuromancer wrote:

I'll keep an eye out for a german pan and see where I go from here. Does anyone have a good source for these? What kind of money would I be looking at to buy the pan? How long does the swap over take roughly for someone with tools and good mechanical experience? .

German floor pans are usually found attached to German made Beetles. I paid $350 for mine. Once my floor pan was restored, it took me and 2 others 3 long days to swap everything.

Where in Canada is the car?

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (DrDarby) — Mon, 01 May 2006 17:51:42 +0000

I do the conversions here near Chicago and am just awaiting delivery of a new 2004 Ultima Edicion that is coming up from Mexico City. The $$ is generally about $2500.00 Some add'l parts are needed depending on what year the donor chassis is. All get the new mexican floor pans & main brake line installed, the most basic (75-77 standard) gets new shift rod bushings and pan seals. 74 & earlier need a fuel line added, 70 & earlier need the chassis' original shift rod modified and new hand brake & heater cables. 65 & earlier need all that plus the lower frame head modified for ball joint front suspension and front brake hose mounts changed. I'd reccomend a new "bent" shifter also on 67 & earlier cars due to the shifter being so far forward.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (Neuromancer) — Mon, 01 May 2006 12:12:52 +0000

What a shame that it's so difficult to register these little guys .. it's a real head turner and people are pretty shocked when what they think is a nicely restored classic turns out to have a factory cd deck and under 7000 miles on her. In retrospect, I should have opted for something fully fully loaded since this was one of the last chances to bring a new one home, but for under $10K including the hotel stays, the gas, and the car itself it was really worth it.

I'll keep an eye out for a german pan and see where I go from here. Does anyone have a good source for these? What kind of money would I be looking at to buy the pan? How long does the swap over take roughly for someone with tools and good mechanical experience? Maybe she'll end up being a collectible forever, but it would be a real shame not to show her off once in a while.

Regards,

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (Bruce) — Mon, 01 May 2006 09:22:59 +0000

Neuromancer wrote:

....... wondering how I'm EVER going to be able to drive this thing in Canada!!

Like David said, the only legal loophole is to put as many new parts as possible onto a 30 year old German pan that is already registered in Canada.

There is another way. You first have to sell your house, close all your bank accounts, and move to Mexico. Live there for a minimum of 1 year. Buy the car there and keep it for that year. Then you can return to Canada and bring the car as your personal possession. You must then own the car for another year after it arrives here.

The former is a lot easier.

Since the car is already in Canada, doing the swap here is easy.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (David H) — Mon, 01 May 2006 07:02:25 +0000

Neuromancer,

Your only reasonable option is to find and buy another Beetle, register it properly and then put the Mexican VW's body on the other Beetle's pan. You'd need to restore the older pan first but you'll be using the parts from the Mexican Beetle's pan to do that.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (TomB) — Mon, 01 May 2006 02:35:52 +0000

Just last weekend a Mexican friend was turned back at the border trying to drive one across as a visitor, so it may all depend on person on duty at the time.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (Neuromancer) — Mon, 01 May 2006 01:38:15 +0000

Revival of the importation debate.

Well I took a long long roadtrip last year and would you imagine my surprise when I accidentally wound up in Mexico?!? Even more surprised when I purchased and brought home an 03 new old beetle. What a thing of beauty even if it was a little short on horsepower for the long drive home. Regardless, I've got this beauty nestled away in my garage and I'm now wondering how I'm EVER going to be able to drive this thing in Canada!! We decided to buy it simply as a collector's item, but being able to plate it would be a real bonus. Has anyone out there had this experience that would be willing to share some details? Obviously, I'm long past the point of driving a box down and rebuilding it before bringing it home, so any new information would be much appreciated!

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (frank fundaro) — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 17:02:28 +0000

Bruce,
While it is true that vochos take a beating down here, there are still plenty f/i VW Sedans still in good condition, especially away from the Mexico City area. I own one and there are many more I see in very good condition. A Mexican citizen holding title to the car or an American living here with FM3 status holding title to a car can easily drive it legally into the USA. I have driven mine up to the USA several times, no problem. There are some for sale here www.clasificadoscontacto.com.mx . If you can get it into the USA legally, you can make the changes there. I think Btlmex used to do it down here, but I am not sure. Frank

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (Bruce) — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 08:44:59 +0000

The problem you will now have is finding a car in decent condition. They are all now almost 3 years old or more. The typical Mexican Beetle suffers a hard life compared to cars up north.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (DrDarby) — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:34:43 +0000

Nothing wrong with that. That's what Stephens, Midwest and others were doing. Then selling the new pans for kit cars.

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

dummy@example.com (Thepreacher) — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 16:51:17 +0000

Hello,

I was browsing through these forums and this one caught my eye. Someone mentioned that a Mexican citizen could legally drive one into the US. Why not get said citizen to drive it in, then do the conversion here? What would be wrong with that? Then you don't have the border hassels, only the ones at the DMV, which should be minimal, especially if the pan/old Beetle is already titled. You are just restoring an old car with a bunch of new parts. (OK, a LOT of new parts...)