The Bug Being Uplifted From Its Sad Storage Area

(Click on the photos for larger pics too)
My 1972 Bong Bug 700ES - HBL 14K.
My mum bought me this car 26 years ago for my 11th Birthday. I think it was to distract my attentions from model making, which evidently saw my bedroom carpet getting sliced by modelling knives, and pots of enamel and spray paint ruining the furniture, and totalling the carpet, oh and not to mention the glue! The car was bought then with 39,123 miles on the clock, and still now has only 39,975 miles on it. My mum used five hundred pounds to buy mey the little car, which now looking back seems a lot of money considering its condition. When I first saw the Bug it wass painted Ford Carnival Red which is a sort of reddy orange colour, with an electric blue metallic canopy. Inside was lovely (!??) brown fur EVERYWHERE!. I had to have it!

On it went to a car trailer, and I watched in horror, as it promptly rolled straight back off the other end of the trailer (which wasn't attached to my fathers car), all seemed ok, but I later discovered the rear gearbox mounting had broken, giving a judder when taking off in first gear.

Out came the brown fur, and the then Bug Spares scheme got me some second hand seats, and I put on new Spax adjustable shockers, a few other bits, and got the car resprayed black with silver coachline. This was a mistake, as it was neither attractive not well executed. I was now the ripe old age of 14 !

As many folk will know life takes over, and many things take a back seat. My mother died when I was 14, in 1984, and scool, work, houses etc all took over, but for sentimental reasons the Bug was never going to be sold.
Since then, the car has sadly deteriorated to the condition you see here, and has never been garaged, but always wrapped up in a waterproof cover. But hopefully now its time has come to be resurrected from its slumber. At this stage I have to say it needs a lot, and I intend to return the car to as close to 'new' condition as my capability allows. My biggest worry with the car is the engine as it hasn't been cranked in decades now. I will be able to carry out the majority of the restoration myself,but the engine will have to be handed over to an expert to see if it is salavagable. So any help or advice from any Bug owners and experts will be gratefully received.

I can be contacted at:
Loughries
Ballyblack
Ards Penninsula
County Down
Northern Ireland
BT22 2AW

email - alan@hini.org.uk