difference between beetle and super beetle

im sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is the difference between a regular beetle and super beetle? how can you tell the difference? and i read somewhere that the one piece baja front hoods wont fit on a super beetle so i just want to make sure before i buy one

DONT BUY A SUPER!!
The front ends cannot stand offroad abuse
DO NOT bother with a super, unless you like alot of pointless expensive and time consuming work

Well, really, the big problem is (as jox said) the front end. The McPherson strut setup will not work.

However - if you are willing to replace the front horn and convert to Linkpin or balljoint beam and all the associated components, a Super is the same (early ones, at any rate) as a standard bug. (IRS, etc.)

But that conversion is a big job.

so if i don't have mcpherson struts on my front end than its not a super beetle. i can see the shock springs on my bug. mchphersons dont have springs do they?

A pic is worth 1000 words.

Top is a super beetle with Strut Suspension

Second is my rail with a Ball Jount Beam (all bugs 66 & up)

Third is my sons baja with a Link Pin Beam (all bugs 65 and earlier)

IF IT HAS A SMALL GRILL UNDER THE FRONT BUMPER,,,IN THE BODY,,IF THE SHOCKS GO INTO THE BODY INTO THE TRUNK ,IF IT HAS A CURVED WINDSHIELD,IF THE SPARE TIRE LIES FLAT IN THE TRUNK,IF IT HAS A DASH THAT STICKS OUT LIKE A REG CARS DASH,,IT A SB,,

I've always thought about buying a Super and converting the front suspension to A-Arm. It seems like it would be better suited for it. Besides that... Who's got a Super with A-Arm suspension? There are probably less of those out there than there are 57 bajas!

LOL

I saw a nice baja on craigslist that he claimed as being one of the best on CL. I read the ad, with doubt but he did have something pretty nice: SUper beetle converted to link pin front custom diamond plate dash, custom this custom that. I like the idea of a more useable dash like in the supers and i think that if u got the time and money itd be a killer conversion!

well guys it looks like i have a super bug and i never even knew it Sad

how much time and money does it take to convert to link pin or ball joint? and how hard. i seriously dout i could do it, i have a friend thats a good welder but he doesnt no much about bugs... would it just be cheaper for me to go and find a standard bug body and just put my engine in there? and where could i find a cheap bug body.. mexico?

You might try here

houston.craigslist.org...71120.html

or here

houston.craigslist.org...18284.html

here's one with a bad engine....

houston.craigslist.org...78890.html

here's another..

houston.craigslist.org...01527.html

thanks guys, but now im kinda curious about just converting my front end to a ball joint or link pin, has anyone one on here done it before? any advice? is there a kit i can buy? or do i just buy the parts and weld um on?

jamesr6168 wrote:

IF IT HAS A SMALL GRILL UNDER THE FRONT BUMPER,,,IN THE BODY,,IF THE SHOCKS GO INTO THE BODY INTO THE TRUNK ,IF IT HAS A CURVED WINDSHIELD,IF THE SPARE TIRE LIES FLAT IN THE TRUNK,IF IT HAS A DASH THAT STICKS OUT LIKE A REG CARS DASH,,IT A SB,,

sorry grasshopper, 71/72 supers had flatter windshields and dashes just like a regular bug. they are also prone to front end shimmy at 50-65 mph, even brand new like my 71 almost was(less than 12,000 miles). And all the excitement some show over a "super" engine...nothing different at all.

Quad...

It certainly could be done. It would be really cool if you could do it right. However, if this is your first baja, I would liken it to Henry Ford trying to build a Shelby Mustang before he did the Model A. There are no bolt-on's for Supers and you'd be way out there on your own.

"... Ground control to Major Tom..."

Stick with a more standard approach until you've built at least one. That way you won't find yourself in uncharted territory where nobody can help you out if you get in trouble.

That's my advice, anyway.