• From: Vancouver Canada
  • Registered: 2004-04-28
  • Posts: 433

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

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.

47 Reply by Neuromancer

  • Neuromancer
  • Guest

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

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,

N.

  • From: Northern Illinois
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 1,105

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

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.

-Darby
  • From: Vancouver Canada
  • Registered: 2004-04-28
  • Posts: 433

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

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?

50 Reply by Neuromancer

  • Neuromancer
  • Guest

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

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

  • From: Northern Illinois
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 1,105

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

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

-Darby
  • From: Vancouver Canada
  • Registered: 2004-04-28
  • Posts: 433

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

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.

  • From: Northern Illinois
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 1,105

Re: Mexican Beetles - Finding/Purchasing/Importing

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.

-Darby