A rusty Volkswagen can draw a crowd for all sorts of reasons. At a Utah VW show, the Budget Builds crew arrived with one that needed a push just to reach its parking spot.
Their 1972 Super Beetle was the channel’s “$0” project, though the bare shell had cost one cent on Facebook Marketplace. An engine and transmission pulled from an old dune buggy had brought it back to life.
For its first show, the crew wanted to spruce it up with supplies they already had. That meant cream wheels, shiny hubcaps, and a coat of clear over the rust.
In Budget Builds’ September 7 video, they head into a field of much cleaner Volkswagens with little hope of taking home a prize. Before anyone could judge the car, though, they had to get it through the gate.
A Little Help
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Outside the show, the crew tried to start the Beetle. It would not even turn over, and they blamed the starter motor.
People at the gate helped push it into a space. They also handed over a drip pan to protect the concrete, plus a rock to keep the pan from blowing away.
Once parked, the crew soon wanted a better spot. They moved the Beetle, then set off to look at the other cars and register for judging.
Rust Was Staying
Getting ready had involved more work than the finished car might suggest. Rather than strip away its worn finish, the crew planned to seal it under clear coat left over from a Honda Civic project.
On the wheels, a wire brush stripped loose rust and old paint before they applied cream furniture paint found in the garage. A scrub of the hubcaps finished the job.
They also lowered the car, cutting the front springs several times after the first attempt barely changed its height. At the rear, they abandoned the planned torsion-bar adjustment for a shortcut they warned viewers against copying.
Rain then interrupted the clear coat work. After a break, they dried the body and tried again, but the finish still needed work. With the show the next day, there was no time for another spray.
Earned Over Time
Among the visitors, the Beetle found people willing to enjoy its rough edges. Asked to pick a favorite feature, one VW owner chose the window seals.
“You can’t buy window seals like that,” he joked. “They have to be earned over time.”
Registration included raffle tickets, giving the crew another shot at leaving with something. They eyed hubcaps and a roof rack among the prizes, but won nothing in the drawing.
The car awards brought more misses. Best Patina, People’s Choice, and Kids’ Choice all passed them by, and McKay went to load the Beetle onto the truck while another crew member stayed behind.
Then came a call for their car. One builder described the prize as “basically like the thanks for coming award,” rather than one of the main honors they had watched go to other entries.
McKay returned to find he had missed the moment. At their first car show, the crew had an award to take home with the Beetle.