My '69 1500 Beetle

[Pine]

One of the main considerations for the purchase of the Beetle is that my father had a brand new '69, in 1969 - of course a long time before young Pine was even in the picture. Here he is (left) next to my uncle, in front of my grandparent's house in Heidelberg, Tvl



Men's Hostel, RAU




Some mountain pass in the Eastern Tvl

[flatfourfan]

awesome pics there pine.

[jolas]

The green Beetle in the two middle photos looks like an earlier model, also belonging to your uncle ? Cool photos - just love those socks and shoes

[Klaus]

Awesome pics Pine

[forcecooled]

Ja Jong - Waar is julle blerrie skoene ?

LOL

Adriaan, Can I take it that you are now the proud owner of a 69 1500 - If so, congratulations!

[Pine]

Thanks! Yes, see the pics at the start of this thread

[Eugene Pfeil]

Do you know where in Heidelberg the picture was taken? It looks like a house near me...

[Pine]

24 5th Ave, one street away from Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve

[Eugene Pfeil]

Almost 45 years later and this is how the house looks like:





The trees are a bit bigger from the original pic and the Heidelberg Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve does not exist anymore. It was sold to a private owner about 10 years ago and was developed and houses was build. The place is now called the "Kloof" and nobody can afford to live there.

[Pine]

Thank you very much for the pics! My grandparents - Attie & Charlotte Pienaar - lived in that house from around 1968 to 1991, and I spent many holidays there when I was still in school. I have very fond memories of that house!

[69bug]

Another difference was between 68 and 69 - 69 was first to get a Hazard switch. 68 never had one

[Pine]

Update: After almost 3 years in storage in Germiston, I went to go and fetch the Beetle shortly before Christmas.

This is what it looked like when I first opened the storage unit door - everything still safe, but with a thick layer of dust



I spent a few hours sorting out some of the stuff that was with the Beetle in the unit, and towed it through to IMPI in Orkney



In Orkney IMPI MIG-welded a new rear valance onto the rear for me, as this Beetle will not become a Baja, as it almost did!



After a few days of enjoying IMPI and his family's hospitality, the long road home started. The buggy body stayed behind, but both the bakkie and Beetle was still fully loaded with....uhm.... 'stuff'









Made a quick stop in Bloemfontein to pick up a rear engine cage for the buggy, but then realised I didn't have any place to put it, so I strapped it to the A-frame



The towning back to George (more than 1000km) went without any problems, got back home after dark, parked the bakkie and Beetle, and went to sleep. The next morning, I saw the left front wheel - the tread came off completely, but the tyre still kept its air.



The Beetle is now safe back home, and the process of restoring it will begin some time in the near future. No rush, no time frame, but it will be done right the first time. Stay tuned!

[Pine]

photo 3 (3).JPG

Update: Nil

Beetle still safe in storage

[Pinch]

Eish, waar werk jy by SITNET, SLAAPNET, LENET, ons wag vir resultate.
EK hoop die bumper gaan werk.
En tx vir Steeringbox. Hy werk glad.