September 2000	April 2002
Headliner	January 2003

We bought this bug in 1984 for $450. The original owner's manual and service manuals were in the glove box. The bug was originally purchased at Roger Walton Day's Metro Motors in Seattle Washington on May 25, 1965.  It came equipped with a 1200cc motor.  

We drove it home and used it for several years.  The original intention when we bought it was to make it a raised sedan, so we took the he original motor out, took the body off the pan, installed a 3" lift kit, modified the steering, added  3" wider than stock steel fenders, Centerline wheels, off road tires and bolted the body back on. At that time we purchased complete body seal and window restoration kits, and a pair of Isuzu Impulse bucket seats. The project halted. The car sat for approximately 13 years before it was worked on again.                                                                                                                                                                                    
August 2000-  We decided that we didn't want a raised Bug after all.  We took off the body,  removed the lift kit,  bolted the body back on, restored the steering to the original position, and started stripping the car inside and out, in order to do body work & paint.  

September 2000-  The car was turned over to Wayne Thompson of ART Body and Paint. The steel fenders were discarded, replaced by a pair of 3" wider than stock fiberglass fenders from Fiberglass Innovations. The front apron was replaced, all rust and dents inside and out including heater ducts were repaired. The car was sanded and primed until the entire surface was smooth and free of flaws. GM Fleet White base coat was applied, followed  pearlescent green tint & several coats of clear finish. The car remained in the shop for 1 year, not because it needed major work, but because the man who did the work is an excellent body man and we were willing to wait while he fit the car in to his schedule and worked on it when he had the time. .

October 2001-  The car was brought home and stored for the winter in an enclosed trailer.

April 2002- Restoration work resumes. This will be a "resto-mod" as opposed to a original restoration. Many non-stock, aftermarket accessories will be used to customize and personalize the bug. Parts ordered... dual Kadron carbs, new running boards, rear view mirror, stainless steel engine compartment firewall, complete 12V alternator kit, Sewfine custom headliner, bra, custom seat mounts.   4/13- Headlight & wiper switches, gauges and chrome trim were put back into the dash. Signal lights and door handles were disassembled, cleaned, reassembled and put back on the fenders using new seals. New, stock, outside rear view mirror installed. Rear fenders were bolted on with new beading. 4/14- Headlight assemblies were taken apart, cleaned, but it was decided that they need to be replaced due to deep pitting in the finish caused by leaky seals over the years. Front fenders, new beading were bolted on. Original steering wheel, which was broken in two places was replaced by a Grant custom wheel.                                             

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