Last Updated: Wednesday 12 March 2025
We’ve bought a cheap project Beetle to show young VW fans how easy it can be to get your first classic car on the road without spending loads of money.
We recently picked up this 1971 1300 VW Beetle as our latest project, which we’ll be getting back on the road for as little money as possible to prove that getting yourself a classic Volkswagen doesn’t have to be massively expensive.
Pete Dempsey, who’s been with Just Kampers almost since the beginning, is getting stuck in to fixing up the Beetle in our on-site workshop here at JK HQ. Pete has a long history of fixing up all sorts of VWs and other vehicles, but he’s much less used to being filmed while he’s working!
Luckily, Pete’s quickly getting used to slowing down and demonstrating what he’s doing and why, so we’ll be able to get loads of great new how-to videos filmed as we work our way through the project to get this Beetle back on the road.
It won’t be an award winner, but the Beetle will be perfect for cruising around and attending car meets and upcoming VW shows.
We’re hoping the project will inspire younger classic car enthusiasts to take the plunge and invest in their first classic, so the Beetle is a fantastic place to start.
Now, we know that most young and aspiring VW owners won’t have a full workshop with a four-post lift (or a warehouse full of spare parts next door!), but we won’t be doing any work that you couldn’t do at home with the right tools, information, and patience.
Crawling around underneath a Beetle on your driveway is a rite of passage, and we’re taking shortcuts like using the lift because it’s quicker and makes filming much easier!
You can keep up with how we’re getting on with our project Beetle here at justkampers.com and follow along on the Just Kampers YouTube channel where we’ll be posting regular updates!
About the Beetle
Like most people, we started our search for the project Beetle by looking through Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and of course the JK Marketplace. In the end we found this Beetle up for sale by Donald from DTH Vehicle Welding Services in Scotland, and it looked like a great option!
The Beetle cost us £1,200 and we did have to travel up to Scotland from JK HQ in Hampshire to pick the Bug up, but luckily Matt from the JK Team needed to go up to Scotland anyway, so it wasn’t quite such a massive detour!
If you’re looking to start your own classic car project, it’s worth keeping in mind that the ideal vehicle may well be a long way from where you’re based, but the journey to go and get your new classic is all part of the adventure, especially if you hit the road with some friends who are happy to help you get it back home.
We rolled the Beetle straight into the on-site workshop we’ve got here at Just Kampers to give the Bug a good look over. The workshop’s usually used for working on our own vehicles and testing out parts and accessories, so it’s the ideal place for getting stuck into this new project.
Overall we were pleasantly surprised by how good the Beetle is, especially for £1,200!
There are definitely a few areas on the Beetle we’ll need to look at, but there’s no serious rust, damage, or dents, which is great. Any areas that do need work will be a great excuse to film some more how-to videos to help fellow VW owners work on their own vehicles.
It’s a really solid base for a project which is already shaping up to be a lot of fun.
One of the first mechanical issues we need to tackle is the engine – which is missing!
Obviously we knew about this ahead of time, so it didn’t come as a surprise when we picked the Beetle up, and Donald at DTH Services was very open about the lack of engine and why the engine was missing. It turns out that at one point in the Beetle’s history it was running a Subaru engine, and was also upgraded to an IRS gearbox and rear suspension.
Donald also included a complete gearbox for the Beetle, as well as swing axle arms, swing axle plates, and torsion tubes. We’re not sure if we’ll be putting the Beetle back to swing axle, or fitting a new IRS gearbox, but we’re a way away from having to make that decision yet!
If you want to get a proper look at the underside of the Beetle, and learn more about it and what we’ll be doing with our latest project, then check out the video above, or click here to watch it on YouTube.
Beetle Project Episode 1: We bought a classic VW Beetle for £1,200!
Welcome to the very first episode of our project Beetle on a Budget series! Watch as our project Beetle arrives at the JK workshop, and Pete gives us a walkaround of this classic car, which is about to undergo an epic transformation.
Pete gives an honest overview of the vehicle's condition, sharing its background and outlining the work that lies ahead to bring it back to life.
Stay tuned and join us on this exciting restoration journey!
Beetle Project Episode 2: Time to remove the Body from the Floor Pan!
In this episode, Pete makes good progress in preparing the Beetle for restoration. He starts by addressing the bonnet, which is jammed shut, getting his first proper look under the hood.
He then shifts his focus to removing the body from the floor pan, which requires a few key steps. Along the way, Pete uncovers some interesting repair work that sheds light on the car’s history, and he calls in a few extra hands to lift off the body. With the body removed, he turns his attention to the floor pan, getting it ready for some TLC.
Beetle Project Episode 3: Repairing The Body & Cleaning Floor Pan
In the latest episode, we make some great progress as Pete puts his welding expertise to good use, tackling the essential bodywork repairs. After years of wear and tear, and exposure to the elements, welding and rust repairs are an inevitable part of the restoration process. But with some precision and a bit of TLC, he’s creating a good foundation to ensure the Beetle’s body is strong, safe, and ready for the road once again.
While Pete is busy working on the body, Shaun, the Sales Director here at JK, rolls up his sleeves and gets to work on cleaning up the floor pan. Watch as he tackles the rust and strips away years of grime, giving the pan a new lease of life.
Beetle Project Episode 4: Narrowing the front Axle on the Beetle!
In this video, Pete shares his vision for the Beetle build and walks us through his ideas for breathing new life into this classic VW and getting it back on the road.
Before you know it, talk quickly turns to action as he gets out his tools and gets stuck into modifying the front axle! It’s a bold move, but all part of the process to get the Beetle just right. Watch as Pete methodically measures, cuts, and preps the axle, explaining each step along the way.
Beetle Project Episode 5: Time to start painting!
This time, Pete takes on a brand-new challenge – painting! With the groundwork laid in previous episodes, he sets out to transform the floor pan, giving it a fresh look and ensuring it’s ready for the next stages of the build.
But that’s not all! Pete also tackles the cleaning, prepping, and priming of several key components, walking us through the process step by step, and sharing practical advice on restoring parts safely and effectively, getting them back to their best.
Watch for Pete’s top tips and budget-friendly techniques; perfect inspiration for anyone taking on their own restoration project.
Beetle Project Episode 6: Fitting the Disc Brakes and Drop Spindles
Join Pete in this episode as he dives into rebuilding the floor pan, installing drop spindles, and upgrading to a new disc brake system!
He begins by tackling the floor pan, guiding you through the essential steps to ensure all the components are fitted correctly. Things seem to be going smoothly, but as he turns his attention to the brakes, Pete quickly realises he has forgotten an important step when cutting the axle!
Watch on to see how he overcomes this obstacle, and learn how you can avoid making the same mistake.
Beetle Project Episode 7: We've got an engine for the Beetle!
Big news – Pete has finally got his hands on an engine for the Beetle! But, of course, it doesn’t come without its challenges. In this episode, he dives into the obstacles ahead and ropes in Nick and Rae to help strip it down and clean it up.
As they get stuck in, they reveal the true condition of the engine, while Pete gives us a sneak peek at the wheels he’ll be fitting.
Stay tuned to see how the project unfolds, and don’t miss the next episode, where Pete’s recruits get back to work, and we take a closer look at his plans for the Beetle’s bodywork!
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