Classic Volkswagens are some of the oldest, longest-lasting and most loved vehicles on the road. Known for their simplicity, longevity and reliability, air-cooled VWs can run for hundreds of thousands of miles provided that they are well maintained. Taking care of older model vehicles, including Volkswagens, can potentially be rough on your wallet because they need regular-as-clockwork maintenance – but this doesn’t have to be the case. Drivers of these vehicles may feel pressure to take them to expensive specialty shops for classic or vintage VW repair and maintenance, but why not take your beloved VW to a local independent repair shop that has been servicing these vehicles for over 60 years? At Griffin’s Auto Repair, we have over a half century of experience with expert, affordable Volkswagen repair for the following air-cooled VW vehicles:
- VW Beetle (Bug) or Super Beetle (Type 1)
- VW Bus / Microbus, Transporter, Kombi or Camper (Type 2)
- VW Vanagon, Syncro & Westfalia
- VW Squareback, Notchback & Fastback (Type 3)
- VW Karmann Ghia & Type 34
- VW Thing (Type 181)
- VW Dune Buggy, Manx, Sand Rail & Baja Bugs
- VW Beetle based Kit Cars & Customs
Classic VW repair and maintenance that fits your budget
Griffin’s local auto repair shop offers fast and reliable vintage VW repair and maintenance services that are both affordable and high quality thanks to our decades of experience. Whether you have a classic aircooled VW or a later water-cooled model you need serviced, Griffin’s can help with the best Volkswagen service available in San Diego.
We are proud to offer fairly priced maintenance and repairs for your older Volkswagen so that you can rest assured that your VW is running at its full potential and is completely up to date with all scheduled maintenance. This way, you can keep your VW on the road for many years to come, enjoy driving it without having nagging worries in the back of your mind, and avoid mechanical issues that will ruin your journey.
In addition to VW Beetle and Volkswagen Bug repair, we provide oil changes, fuel and air filter replacements, tune-ups, chassis lubrication, spark plug replacements and valve adjustments for any Classic VW – which need to be performed every 3,000 miles. Griffin’s Auto Repair can also help you with carburetor rebuilds, engine idle adjustments, electrical repairs and classic VW part replacements, upgrades and modifications.
Though we don’t perform full vehicle restorations, we do offer all other standard VW repairs – classic and otherwise – including common VW repairs for brakes and bearings, air-cooled engine repair and rebuilds, transmission systems (including clutch), alternators, air conditioning, suspension and steering systems. We can even help you with a pre-purchase inspection if you are in the market for a classic Volkswagen so that you know what you’re buying and don’t encounter surprises after you drive home in your ‘new’ old VW.
Our expert classic VW mechanics are able to offer you quick solutions and professional high-quality repairs for virtually any issue that may arise with your vintage VW in San Diego, as we know these cars down to the last nut and bolt. Griffin’s Auto Repair will give you honest answers and suggest the best bang-for-buck options for each individual repair while also offering the greatest long-term reliability, which we have compiled from our team’s collective experience of continually working on Volkswagens since they first ever hit the streets in California.
What is a VW air cooled engine?
At Griffin’s Auto Repair, located conveniently off the I-5 in San Diego’s Little Italy district, we perform maintenance and repairs for all air-cooled VW models. Unlike most vehicles on the road today that rely on a separate liquid-based cooling system to manage engine temperatures, VW air-cooled engines use the force of the air itself and a unique design to keep the engine temperature in a safe operating range. This means that air-cooled Volkswagens do not have a separate cooling system, which normally consists of a radiator, water pump, thermostat and piping that work together to cool the engine using a mixture of water and specialized fluids. The simplicity of the air-cooled engine design is one of the secrets to the longevity of Classic VW’s, but only if paired with consistent and regular maintenance.
Performing VW beetle repair in San Diego since 1959
If you’re looking for an auto repair shop in the San Diego metro area that provides expert, reliable and affordable repair and maintenance for classic and vintage Volkswagens, look no further than Griffin’s. We offer a 24-month or 24,000-mile guarantee on all our Beetle, air-cooled and Classic VW repairs. We fully stand behind our work and you can feel confident bringing in your older model Volkswagen to our service center instead of a specialty garage that may charge twice the cost with no difference in the quality of work performed. We know old VW’s better than anyone.
Call us today! We are ready to help with all of your Classic VW repair and maintenance needs.
