Fuel pump failed and filled crankcase with gas (goodbye bearings). Changed to electric fuel pump. Rear side vents prone to body rot. Rear wheel bearings failed (over-sized tires -- bad plan). Odds and ends (mostly cheap ones). Heater is (as everyone knows) a joke. A/C works good, but robs a lot of HP.
Lord only knows how many miles on this car and still going strong. Any fool can fix one with a book and a basic tool box. I've owned them for 30 years. Above all, buy good parts (i.e., German parts worth 10-20% more you pay for them). A timeless, super-fun car to drive and cheap, easy keeper. Daughter won't part with it. Kids can afford to keep them on the road. Regular oil change, tune up and proper valve adjustment absolute must. Dealer service (even in the 70's) is second only to being robbed at gun point!!
I've owned about 25 cars (made in the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and France) over the last 33 years and my 1966 Volkswagen Type 1 (Beetle) stands as the best. Though I bought it used in 1981, absolutely nothing went wrong with it. A few years later I sold it for I don't know what reason. Now, with the market glutted with transverse engines, front-drive, timing belts, McPherson struts, ad nauseum, I miss my '66 Volkswagen so much. No, I don't know why I sold it.
Ha, good luck finding "German parts"-even the Germans can't get them.
If the Chinese ever wanted to take over the west, all they would have to do is stop making stuff. In the ensuing chaos they would have no trouble at all.
German parts are out there, and fairly easy to find.
I agree. German parts are readily available at any Import supply parts house.
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