VW Beetle Wizard Roadster

Build a VW Beetle Wizard Roadster

If you are interested in VW Beetles in any way you will want to take a look at this lens. There are loads of pictures of the build of my Wizard Roadster.

For those who don't know the wizard roadster is a soft top conversion for the standard Beetle.

Read on for lots more information.

Beetle Background

This is a Project I started more years ago than I care to remember. Unfortunately I no longer have this Wizard and do not know where it is. Was it even finished? This lens will document the build as far as I took it. Maybe if somebody recognises it they would like to give me an update....

If you have already seen this lens or are looking for the other lens chronicling this project you may want to check out these links:

VW Wizard Part 1
VW Wizard Part 2
VW Wizard Part 3

You may also be interested to check out my other VW Lenses

Beetle Books.
Gift Ideas for Beetle Fans.
Gift Ideas for Camper Fans.

Inspiration

This is one of the cars that originally inspired me to have a go at building my own. Not entirely convinced about the colour but what a fantastic car!

Getting Started

Ok, Lets get started. My Beetle came from a farmers field and cost me nothing. Yes Nothing.... Well I had to pay to rent a truck to collect it and bring it back to my garage, but split that cost with my Brother-in-Law who was taking his '65 to be sprayed.:)

Anyway this is how it looked when it finally ended up in the garage at the bottom of my parents garden.

Take a look at these great items.

herbie 53 vw beetle Sticker (Oval)

From: Herbie 53

Price: 4.99

herbie 53 vw beetle Wall Clock

From: Herbie 53

Price: 12.99

herbie 53 vw beetle White T-Shirt

From: Herbie 53

Price: 16.99

Notice the bent front beam, damaged front end wheels way out of alignment. small ding to rear quarter panel. Distinct lack of other panels, wings, doors etc. The best part of the car was the roof which was going to be binned.

Get a Beetle Mug - Classic Car Beetle Boxed Mug

Some more great Beetle items

Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by

Another view... Also note lack of glass (not a problem). Is it going to be worth the effort? Many people reckoned I must be mad....

Beetle Books

If you need some inspiration for your project or are just a fan who likes browsing. These books have loads of pictures for you to look at.
UK BUYERS click the UK Buyers Link to save on postage costs.

How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive 19 Ed: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

by: John Muir, Tosh Gregg

UK Buyers Click on this Link How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 07/11/2009)

Beetles : A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America

by: Richard E. White, Peterson

UK Buyers Click on this Link Beetles: A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America (Peterson Field Guides)

Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 07/11/2009)

VW Beetle Performance Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upgrading Engine, Transmission, Suspension and Brakes (Motorbooks Workshop)

by: Keith Seume

UK Buyers Click on this Link Vw Beetle Performance Handbook

Amazon Price: $18.21 (as of 07/11/2009)

The Volkswagen Super Beetle Handbook HP1483: A Restoration Guide For 1971-1974 Models

by: Editors of VW Trends Magazine

UK Buyers Click on this Link The Volkswagon Super Beetle Handbook: A Restoration Guide for 1971-1974 Models

Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 07/11/2009)

Baja Bugs and Buggies

by: Jeff Hibbard

UK Buyers Click on this Link Baja Bugs and Buggies: How to Prepare Volkswagen Based Cars for Off Road Fun and Racing

Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 07/11/2009)

Another view of the front end. Damage was due to a front end bump.

Need a Manual?

Check out these titles for the manual you need.

Volkswagen Official Service Manual Super Beetle, Beetle and Karmann Ghia 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

by: Inc. Volkswagen of America

Click on this Link if you are purchasing in the UK Volkswagen Beetle, Super Beetle, Karmann Ghia Official Service Manual Type 1 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 (Volkswagen)

Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 07/11/2009)

Volkswagen Beetle and Karmann Ghia Service Manual, Type 1: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 (Volkswagen Service Manuals from Robert Bentley, Inc)

Click on this Link if you are purchasing in the UK Volkswagen Beetle and Karmann Ghia Official Service Manual Type 1 1966-69 (Volkswagen)

Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 07/11/2009)

Aircooled VW Engine Interchange Manual: The User's Guide to Original and Aftermarket Parts... (Motorbooks Workshop)

by: Keith Seume

Click on this Link if you are purchasing in the UK Aircooled Vw Engine Interchange Manual

Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 07/11/2009)

Volkswagen Station Wagon/Bus: Official Service Manual Type 2, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

by: Inc. Volkswagen of America

Click on this Link if you are purchasing in the UK Volkswagen Station Wagon/Bus Official Service Manual Type 2 1968-1979 (Volkswagen)

Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 07/11/2009)

Another picture of the front end damage. Note the bent metal, all that is going to have to come off and be replaced. No room left for a spare wheel!!!

Not a great picture, but you can make out the damage to the rear quarter panel. This will be repaired when the major work is done.

Right what is it like inside? Well the floorpan has loads of holes. When this was being done (late 1980's) replacement panels were available but not cheap and budget was non existant so repairs will be done in the best most economical way possible. Just like to point out that this was being done whilst I was a student and did not have any cash to throw around. Looking back, why did I decide to build a Wizard at that time. No idea now...

Another view of the inside. Notice the lack of good metal in the floor. Why the trolley jack? That was need to try to extract it from the farmers field.

On with the Build

Right, Off with the roof. No Wizard kit yet, but can't wait to make a start. Any way the body is lighter without all that metal in the roof. And I may be able to use some of the roof metal to repair the floorplan... Amazing what you come up with when you've got no spare cash.

Another view just to show I am not kidding. Need to get to the floorpan somehow..

No it is not a buried Beetle and I am not trying to grow a new one!

This is roof out of the way in the back garden.

Bent front beam comes off. Probably only fit for the scrapyard.

You can see the damage to the front end. Apart from this the body was in quite good condition. Not a great deal of rust. Pity the same can not be said about the floorpan!

Floorpan needs some work next. Cut out all the rot and weld in new sheet. The body has been completely removed. Fortunately there is just enough room in the garage to keep both under cover.

The rear of the drivers side has been cut out and most of the passenger side will follow. Unfortunately lack of photos means I can't show you everything. All welding was done with an Electric Arc welder. Couldn't afford a MIG or anything else at the time. I would not recommend trying to use Electric Arc for this type of work, it is extremely hard. Nowadays use MIG or TIG, they are much more available than they used to be.

Check out some of my other VW Lenses

Earn Money from your Own Project

Show off your own project.

If you have a project of your own and want to tell people all about it, you can create your own lens. It is free to do, does not cost anything and you don't have to pay a cent/penny. Get the idea, it is free. All you have to do is click the link below and sign up to Squidoo and off you go. Simple as that.

By creating your own lens you will even earn a commission from Squidoo each month if your lens is popular and does well. Get better doesn't it?

So to sum up, you can Get Paid to create your own web page about your own project!

Want to create your own lens click this link:

Create Your Own Lens

Featured VW Project

Chug Chug the 1977 Westfalia Helsinki - VW Camper Restoration Story at its best.

If you are interested in VW Campers, vans, buses or just VW's in general you will certainly enjoy this restoration project. Chris (aka ChrisRadioMan) has spent many hundreds of hours giving this Camper Van a new lease of life. Read his forums by clicking on the links below.

Part 1 : Early Days of the Restoration

Part 2 : Major Work and Final Build

Part 3 : End of the Road!

Please remember to mention this lens if adding to this forum. You can use this link VW Wizard or copy and paste this text:

[B][URL="http://www.squidoo.com/vwwizard"]VW Wizard[/URL][/B]

Vw Beetle Blogs on the Net

Check what other VW Beetle Fans are talking about

Classic convertibles under $25000: part 3: If you love driving your riding lawn-mower, but wish it had a cloth top and room for a family of four, look no further than the 1979 VW Beetle convertible. ...
Porsche Museum To Show Off Rare Volkswagen Beetles: Ferdinand Porsche is pictured in 1937 in front of prototype W30 of what was to become the famous Volkswagen Beetle. A new exhibit at the Porsche Museum ...
Volkswagen relishes oddball, quirky status: The first model, the Volkswagen Type 2, also known as Transporter, was introduced in 1950. Based on the Beetle, Type 2's were built from 1949 to 1967 and ...

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Lensmaster

YourCover_Mama wrote...

I wanted a Beetle for my first car, but my parents wouldn't allow it...someday I will eventually have my first dream car :o)

Posted October 06, 2008