Pavan Kadam’s L000 Yellow ’67 Beetle

Eric Shoemaker on September 21, 2013

Featured ’67 Beetle — Pavan Kadan

In the US, UK and Europe, we take for granted that most parts can be purchased locally. When these parts are hard to get, we use the wide variety of vendors to get our restorations just right. Pavan Kadam has pursued his passion for vintage Volkswagens in his home country of India. Parts are very hard to come by. But, determination and ingenuity means that once again his 1967 beetle breathes new life.

My Name is Pavan Kadan, I live in Namma Bengaluru, India. The photo below shows how my ’67 VW Beetle looked the day I bought it. It was laying (rusting away) in a workshop for 15 years. The car was registered as a

  • September 1967 VW Beetle
  • Engine: 1500CC
  • Power: 54 DIN
  • Type: Right Hand Drive
  • Engine: Air/Oil cooled-Flat 4

Featured ’67 Beetle — Pavan Kadan

The car didn’t have any floor pans and came with only 1 wheel rim. The engine was separated from the car and idle for 15 years. The body was painted on the inside but nothing on the outside. A broken bonnet, no bumpers, no lights, Basically it came with ABSOLUTE NOTHING.

My restoration started and took 18 months. The initial plan was 12 months right on schedule for my wife’s birthday. My aim was to restore the whole car inside out, to take it back to its original glory.

Featured ’67 Beetle — Pavan Kadan

My process started with sourcing spares from local scrapyards, reckoned to be one of the oldest in India, however I got so fed up with them and had to get my spares from US and few from Germany. To my luck I had a great mechanic (named Aanji ), a tin guy and a great Painter who did their best to get my baby to shape. Finally, this is how my ’67 turned out.

My daily trips to the workshop for a minimum of 5 hrs (2 hrs in morning 4 hrs in evening) used to irritate my parents and my wife, but once they got to know what was going on they were thrilled. They did not realise what a thing of beauty was being created by me.

Featured ’67 Beetle — Pavan Kadan

Finally my dream car was ready to go on the road, I have now been using the car for 12 years, I still upgrade the Bug with some original trims from time to time.

This is the only car that brings miles of smiles on everybody’s face young or old.
It has done some long trips touching top speeds of up to 135 kmph. Not to forget the Hardcore off-roading. The other amazing thing about this car is you reach home safely with whatever trouble your car is going through, it never breaks down abruptly, as long as you do take care of it.

Featured ’67 Beetle — Pavan Kadan

All the Beetle enthusiasts in Namma Bengaluru formed a club named the BANGALORE BEETLE CLUB of which I am a proud member.

Featured ’67 Beetle — Pavan Kadan

Thanks, Pavan, for sharing your ’67 with 1967beetle.com.

Posted by Eric Shoemaker

Hello, I'm Eric. I started Air-Cooled Artifacts (previously, 1967beetle.com and Lane Russell). I drive a '67 Beetle daily and love to share vintage Volkswagen stories with the world.

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  1. Jay Salser September 21, 2013 at 10:08 pm

    A great story, Pavan! It is amazing what ingenuity and “tough-love” can do to a hunk of metal. I salute you for using the car daily–as it was intended to be used. Have you given your car a name?

    jay salser

  2. Dhananjay Badamikar September 22, 2013 at 2:51 am

    Wonderful story pavan.

  3. Mike Buettell September 22, 2013 at 7:42 am

    “Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

    Calvin Coolidge

  4. matthewjohnkeen September 22, 2013 at 10:48 am

    “Miles of smiles” that is the best phrase this year!!

  5. Being Human October 11, 2013 at 11:48 am

    Dear Pavan, Great job! You are sure starting a trend here. I am from near your place in Vidya, in bangalore. Would like to meet you. My -b*p handle is Doc Maanava. could you please leave a PM on b*p? Thanks and wishing you lots of luck!

  6. Prasad HV September 24, 2014 at 9:40 am

    Mr.Kadam, I have a vintage VW Beatle. I badly want it to be serviced. I sent it to Mumbai to DC Designs for complete restoration. They did a decent job. I need the car to be serviced and repaired. How should I go about ?

  7. Khan.Pakistan January 21, 2015 at 7:10 am

    Beautiful..You really did a great job!

  8. Jayesh Mamtora March 25, 2015 at 3:28 am

    I am looking foward to but vintage Beatle.

  9. Suresh Kumar March 30, 2015 at 10:55 pm

    Sir
    I am from Bangalore want a beetle can i get it?

    1. Eric Shoemaker March 31, 2015 at 5:20 am

      Our classifieds.

  10. Sanjay Pathak September 13, 2015 at 12:56 am

    Fantastic Mr. Kadam. I am also a VW Beetle enthusiast, looking to buy one. Cannot find one reasonably priced here in Punjab. Maybe you have any contact in Punjab or in Delhi, and recommend them to me?

  11. ravi December 5, 2015 at 8:20 pm

    Hello pavan its very nice to here this from you…I am also interested in beetle restoration. Please tell me if you have any beetle for sale. I am in Maharashtra.

  12. saviobryanGoa July 24, 2016 at 1:18 pm

    Hi sir, I have some parts for beetle

    1. Sudin Ghanekar November 29, 2016 at 10:19 am

      Hey SAVIOBRYANGOA… This is Sudin Ghanekar from Goa… U may call me on 94224 37304, regarding your parts availability of VW Beetle

  13. Sudin Ghanekar November 21, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    Hey SAVIOBRYANGOA… This is Sudin Ghanekar from Goa… U may call me on 94224 37304, regarding your parts availability of VW Beetle

  14. warren fernandes April 3, 2017 at 11:11 am

    would appreciate if u could provide me with Mr. Pavan Kadams mobile no.

  15. rakshith September 15, 2017 at 7:23 am

    sir can i pls get ur adress and phone no

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