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Dusty1
Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2004
Posts: 2020
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 Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 11:21 am Post subject: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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Been into VWs forever after missing bein' born in one by just a tiny bit. I gotta admit after well over half a century I'm more pragmatic, less passionate than I used to be.
I feel like somewhat of a dumb- ass for passing up a 356 Carrera in a junkyard half a century ago as well as a pretty $8500 India red 356C Speedster in Jersey City.
I gotta admit, I'm picky about what I bring home these days.
There's a joke there somewhere.
I'm gonna quote a few comments that got me thinkin'...
| 58 Plastic Tub wrote: |
At this point, I'm 61 years old and really don't care what anybody thinks. If a thing is really cool to me, it'll be cool long after everybody else has moved on. I don't buy "special" cars as an investment, I buy them because I can and I want to. I don't care if it's a Speedster replica, a panel bus, a H/D bagger, a Cadillac limo, or a Autobianchi microcar (still working on that one). If it's cool to me, it's cool to me whether it makes money or loses it.
Lest you write me off as a banker or lawyer, I'm not. I live in a hick-town in Flyover, USA. I'm a busted up union pipefitter with 2 fake knees (still not right) and a bad back. I have a hand surgeon I "like to use". I'm still out here plying my trade, long after everybody else my age has gone off to the golf course (which holds no interest to me) or Shady Acres. I'm remodeling a 150 year old house, you know -- just for fun. You can generally reach anything you really want.. |
I keep thinkin' about Richard Rawlins dba Gas Monkey Garage. Freudian slip... I initially typed it as Gas Money Garage.
I mentioned Richard when I was talkin' to Mercury Charlie in Austin. Charlie laughed.
"When we see that guy comin' at car shows and swap meets we all RUN in the opposite direction."
It may have been about passion for R.R. a long time ago. Seems to me it's about money, now. Passion for money.
I think back to my first VW project years ago. I dragged home two VW projects on the same day, a Ghia and a Bug. Both ran and drove. Both were reasonably solid. I still have the Bug.
I drove the Ghia from NYC almost to Canada first thing, no problem!
Turns out the Ghia belonged to a buddy's father when he lived in NYC. The guy became my buddy years after I bought the Ghia, separated by time and space. I bought the car half a dozen states away from where it ended up ten years before I heard its history.
My buddy's father parked it after the passenger side corner got smashed in. That's how we know it's the same car. Same car, came color, same smashed corner.
Smashed corner or not, it drove just fine.
Smashed corner or not, little kids pressed their faces against the windows of their parent's cars to get a look at it.
I figured no bullshit and I'm not makin' this up, I figured I could get paint and bodywork done for well under a grand. Decades ago, that still wasn't enough.
I learned how to do it all myself.
Came to find out I might as well have started with a Porsche. The cost to restore a Porsche is about the same.
Fun or money?
| Abscate wrote: |
Bugs are 0.833 cents a piece, so donât expect any Roi.
National exposure will just up your sales costs , sell it local
Put the receipts away, no buyer will care what someone else spent, especially on an incomplete non-runner.
You are talking $3000 here max |
A lot of old VWs end up as unfinished projects. I figure it's all about unrealistic expectations.
There used to be a lot of things that were important to me that aren't anymore.
I've gotten ten years into restorations and started over. After ten years the quality of my work and my expectations had increased to the point starting over made sense. For example why restore an Oval with generic heater channels?
I'd say be very very careful about custom modifications. You're building a car to your taste. A car built to my taste may have disqualifying features for someone else's taste. If I "lose interest", can I expect someone else to be interested in "my" car?
God help you if you have someone else do the work. You better be real good at communicating and extraordinarily patient as you wait for actualization.
Fun or money?
This one got me thinkin' and maybe I was a little hard on the guy...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=801924
If you don't have the passion to see the project through, if you don't accept the inevitable bullshit and setbacks as part of the process and learning experience...
Are you an enthusiast?
Fun or money?
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oprn
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016
Posts: 14559
Location: Western Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 11:07 pm Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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Fun⦠until I run out of money⦠but yes the focus has to be fun. If itâs money then these old VWs will frustrate you all the way into a padded cell! Forget the money, just have fun!
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old! |
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Abscate 
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 23602
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 2:15 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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That thing thread was an epic Charlie Foxtrot of poor buying decisions and faith in eBay and after the fact claims that was just painful to read. At least his 23k was cheap tuition in the School of Life
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ðºð¸ ðºð¸ ðºð¸ ðºð¸ ðºð¸ ðºð¸ ðºð¸ ð ð ð |
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pondoras box
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2004
Posts: 1498
Location: Eerie PA
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 5:12 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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I have lost so much money buying and selling hoards of parts. I do it because I donât want to see OG parts crushed or just forgotten about in a dusty barn. I enjoy swap meets and getting parts where they need to go. Plus the look of excitement on someoneâs face when they got the part they want and theyâre trying to play it cool because itâs cheap.
I have walked swap meets after selling for a while and found my parts sold earlier marked up significantly, at least wait until another meet to try to flip them.
But I enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Keep what I need and sell or in some cases give away the rest. My business moto is buy high sell low.
Donât get me wrong every once in a while I come across a very rare part that I will not sell cheap. The people that need or want those parts are serious restorers and those sells help keep me afloat. Currently have an early gas tank with a Dehne sending unit in great shape that everyone wants at my normal give away prices.
_________________
Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.
1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk |
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Dusty1
Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2004
Posts: 2020
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| That thing thread was an epic Charlie Foxtrot of poor buying decisions and faith in eBay and after the fact claims that was just painful to read. At least his 23k was cheap tuition in the School of Life |
He paid $23k for that Thing?!
Like you say, it's a painful read. It's good to read about a different belief system rather than tryin' it myself.
My process of buy it, restore it myself has always worked for me. I run into problems when I deviate from my process.
| pondoras box wrote: |
I have lost so much money buying and selling hoards of parts. I do it because I donât want to see OG parts crushed or just forgotten about in a dusty barn. I enjoy swap meets and getting parts where they need to go. Plus the look of excitement on someoneâs face when they got the part they want and theyâre trying to play it cool because itâs cheap.
I have walked swap meets after selling for a while and found my parts sold earlier marked up significantly, at least wait until another meet to try to flip them.
But I enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Keep what I need and sell or in some cases give away the rest. My business moto is buy high sell low.
Donât get me wrong every once in a while I come across a very rare part that I will not sell cheap. The people that need or want those parts are serious restorers and those sells help keep me afloat. Currently have an early gas tank with a Dehne sending unit in great shape that everyone wants at my normal give away prices. |
Swap meets have never failed me.
I'm sure I'm ahead in the aggregate when it comes to swap meets. I try to be the first to unload and the last to load up. That one summer starting at Maple Grove... I made a shoe box full of money on split window Bug parts. Picked a pair of NOS 25 horse heads out of a trash can after everyone left. Traded the 25 horse heads for a thin wedge of Benjamins at Litchfield a few weeks later.
I met my last girlfriend at a VW swap meet.
Cue the Type O Negative... her girlfriend was my girlfriend before she was. Met 'em both at the same Volkswagen swap meet.
It's somewhat of a blur at this point. I can't tell you if it was one spectacular summer or part of an era. Sure was fun.
Any time my enthusiasm starts to wane I can always replay scenes from my own personal Volkswagen movie.
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Last edited by Dusty1 on Sat May 31, 2025 4:09 am; edited 3 times in total |
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hobthebob
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2021
Posts: 456
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 7:44 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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I assume you're talking to folks who do the selling. Nothing necessarily wrong with trying to make a little money, if you can, but don't screw the rest of the community while you're trying to make a buck. If money makers don't get greedy, fun-havers will often keep coming back. Money-makers get greedy, and fun-havers get a bad taste in their mouths, leading people to the "thing" thread above.
I'm lucky, because when I got my beetle the local money-maker shops gave me free parts, advice, and even some service. If I ever have the chance, I'll do the same for the next guy. That's how you keep customers, and keep the community alive. |
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Shonandb
Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2019
Posts: 1938
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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All fun! Nothing better than driving/piloting what you've built with your own hands.
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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image |
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Dusty1
Samba Member
Joined: April 16, 2004
Posts: 2020
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 10:12 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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| hobthebob wrote: |
I assume you're talking to folks who do the selling. Nothing necessarily wrong with trying to make a little money, if you can, but don't screw the rest of the community while you're trying to make a buck. If money makers don't get greedy, fun-havers will often keep coming back. Money-makers get greedy, and fun-havers get a bad taste in their mouths, leading people to the "thing" thread above.
I'm lucky, because when I got my beetle the local money-maker shops gave me free parts, advice, and even some service. If I ever have the chance, I'll do the same for the next guy. That's how you keep customers, and keep the community alive. |
You're preaching to the choir, Bro.
Somewhere I said,
"Greed is not a virtue."
I'm not that guy. Hey, Texas! You insult me. I'm not that guy!
| hobthebob wrote: |
| Money-makers get greedy, and fun-havers get a bad taste in their mouths, leading people to the "thing" thread above. |
Any of us who have been at this any amount of time can see the mistakes Thing Guy made like stepping stones across a shallow pond. Steps on the path. That path goes where it goes and it ain't a happy place.
I wonder what Evolution does for squirrels that get killed crossing the road. Oh, no! Not another Suicide Squirrel. They don't know and they can't commit one way or the other. Go or no go? It's a 50/50 chance Brer Squirrel is gonna end up as a decal one way or the other. The inevitable "POP!!" isn't even 50/50, it's closer to 100%. It's inevitable.
So: Today's philosophical question is how long does it take for traffic savvy squirrels to evolve?
Extra credit: How long does it take for street smart Thing buyers to evolve?
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kingkarmann
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003
Posts: 4436
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:00 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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Definitely an enthusiast.
I'm passionate about Karmann Ghia's, period. I have owned several over the decades, hence my username.
I've never owned or driven any other air-cooled VW. |
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Heiferman
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2024
Posts: 266
Location: Georgia, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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| Shonandb wrote: |
| All fun! Nothing better than driving/piloting what you've built with your own hands. |
Amen!
My Dad once said, "Why on earth would you buy thay POS?" I said brcause it's fun!
He was very always supportive and I learned a lot in my teenage years workinon my aircooleds. Now that life is no longer in the way (retired) I am back at it and really enjoying myself.
Built not bought is a great motto.
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- 1973 Thing, 1970 Ghia, some LandCruisers and an old Ambulance |
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pondoras box
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2004
Posts: 1498
Location: Eerie PA
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| Posted: Yesterday 3:03 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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If you find yourself justifying your latest purchase to friends and family youâre probably an enthusiast, if you constantly utter the phrase â yeah but itâs got potentialâ youâre probably an enthusiast.
If you take the picture for the samba ad when itâs still on the trailer, well youâre in it for the money.
_________________
Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.
1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk |
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VWporscheGT3
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2006
Posts: 2163
Location: Gardnerville, NV
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| Posted: Today 8:36 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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My parents said i was born making car noises. that i would hum along with the car when i was in the childs seat. Hot wheels , rc cars, all i ever wanted to do was drive and wanted to see how everything worked in cars.
raised by a muscle car guy so i have a healthy appreciation for American cars. but when highschool came around i made a friend that had a 67 bug.. and i fell in love with how much fun they are. yes , i still curse Heinz or Fredrick or whoever designed this or that sometimes... but there is nothing like driving a ACVW.
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If you have any questions about Forged ICON 4032 VW pistons just shoot me a line. |
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Xevin
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 8481
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| Posted: Today 11:20 am Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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| VWporscheGT3 wrote: |
My parents said i was born making car noises. that i would hum along with the car when i was in the childs seat. Hot wheels , rc cars, all i ever wanted to do was drive and wanted to see how everything worked in cars.
 raised by a muscle car guy so i have a healthy appreciation for American cars. but when highschool came around i made a friend that had a 67 bug.. and i fell in love with how much fun they are. yes , i still curse Heinz or Fredrick or whoever designed this or that sometimes... but there is nothing like driving a ACVW. |
Nice, was that little gear useful or dumped in the bin?
Hoping you are ripping up the mean streets of your town with your car .\m/
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Keep on Busin'
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
| Clatter wrote: |
| Damn that Xevin... |
| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd  |
| SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree  |
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clockworkbox
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2020
Posts: 445
Location: Williamsport, PA
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| Posted: Today 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: Fun or money... are you an enthusiast? |
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I'm definitely on the negative side when it comes to what I've bought compared to what I've sold. I list stuff on Facebook Market but nobody wants to drive out in the sticks where I live for parts usually. I sell enough at the swap meets to not quite break even but a lot of people offer me $40 for something I paid $75 for. That's fine if I'm selling something used, but new in the package that's no sale for me. Also, it's weird how something on the Samba classifieds is listed for $75 plus shipping and at the swap people are selling the same thing for $10. Swap meets are fun for me but I wouldn't try to do it for money.
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'69 Beetle (pieces)
Learning the hard way is still learning... |
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