Vintage Air-Cooled VW Repair in Santa Barbara

The Air-Cooled VWs We Work On

• Beetle (Type 1), including Super Beetles
• Bus and Transporter (Type 2)
• Karmann Ghia
• Type 3: Squareback, Fastback and Notchback
• Vanagon

Why Air-Cooled Cars Need a Different Shop

These cars have no radiator, no computer to plug into, and they rely on carburetors, points or early fuel injection, valve adjustments and careful tuning. Problems are found by ear, by feel and with hand tools. Our technicians have worked on them for decades, and we know where they tend to wear out.

Common Vintage VW Work

• Tune-ups: valve adjustment, timing, points or electronic ignition
• Carburetor rebuilds and adjustment
• Oil leaks, including pushrod tubes and seals
• Brakes, including drum brakes and master cylinders
• Clutch cables and clutch replacement
• Front end and steering work
• Electrical faults in original wiring
• Pre-purchase inspections on classic VWs

Finding the Right Parts

Parts for these cars vary a lot in quality. We source the right parts for the job and tell you if a part is reproduction or original style, so you can choose what fits your car and your plans for it.

How Our Emailed Inspection Report Works

Before any work, we email you an inspection report with photos. On an older car there's often a long list, so we sort it into what needs attention now and what can wait. You decide what gets done.