baghall wrote:Looking forward to the end result!
The guys certainly do some nice work!
Ahh I CANNOT wait! I'm so pleased I found O&S.
hrastovica wrote:When do you foresee the car being ready?
Need to paint chassis then bolt permanently to body. After that point, about 1 month for prep and paint.
Then transported to another workshop where mechanic and I will fit:
-new Scat 1915cc engine
-new Scat pro street transmission
-new brake lines
-new suspension all round
-new brakes (with drums at the rear being replaced by discs)
-new wheels
-new handbrake
which will be about a month.
Then I hazard a guess at 2 more months back at O&S to finish the build. 5 months maybe?
Sounds like you have it all sorted 🙂 I'm guessing you are going German look?
Well 31 updates later the... bodywork... is... complete!
The following are a lot of pics from all over the car at its current stage.
Now I owe a small amount to O&S for the most recent invoice and because I am carefully monitoring my funds, I want to pay it off over the next few weeks so that I at least have money coming in at the same time and can balance things out. But because the next stage is primer and highfill which should be done sooner rather than later to protect the metal, I will get O&S to complete that work and then there will be a short hiatus so that I can pay off the invoices.
At this stage I'd mainly like to say the most MASSIVE thanks to O&S Sportscar Restoration for the most spectacular work I have seen as well as the best customer experience I have ever had. They really do treat you like family.
Now on with the pics!
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
And paint prep has started!!! Yes the basecoat is black (ooooh...). Work has only been done on the bonnet and fenders for now. The body is now on a mobile trolley as well so hopefully it will be in the booth next week for primer etc.
Not many weeks now before paint, guys! :o
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Just continuing with the paint prep. Still rubbing back and blocking (the first of 2, maybe 3 times it's done) The body and chassis are ready to go into the booth to have the same done.
Apologies for average photos this week, my usual camera was unavailable!
I couldn't resist popping one of the gauges in! 😀
Bonnet goodness
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Do like how far you are seeing this though, particularly after the mess around you got treated to with the body early on. good luck and i look forward to the finished product
It was fine for 8 or so years but I didn't keep as close an eye on the panel beaters last time. I knew a lot less and I think they just used bog and a few very ordinary methods just to get to the painted result. This time I wanted to guarantee the work will last for 20-30 years.
Before you could see the paint starting to blister here and there where bad welds or rust was underneath
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
The roof has now been prepped. Pretty much the entire exterior now has the first stage of primer, highfill and blocking done. Next stage still to go when it gets sanded smooth and all done again.
Body and chassis separated again. Cleaning the chassis in preparation for the spray booth and fixing a few small things here and there
Here you can see the black base coat for my paint with white guide coat in comparison to the car on the right with standard white base coat and black guide coat 😉
Rear engine vents still to go
This is the money-shot for me from this morning. I wish I had moved the camera slightly to the left because with the rain gutter gone and the lead wiping done, this shape looks INCREDIBLE. I'm so happy with the decision to get rid of the gutters and perform the leadwiping.
Roof from the front looking back
Dash with all the masking tape gone. Looks so much cleaner and smoother with all the buttons relocated and vents/ashtray gone. Note the Riley to the left of the shot. Completed and ready to drive away! You may remember I photographed one of its panels in the paint booth a few weeks ago. The restoration can barely be faulted :o
Cleaning the interior too as that's next for the paint prep.
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Craig Torrens6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion
The top side... from underneath... you know what I mean
You couldn't see this from any of my previous photos so I'm showing where the cigarette lighter will go. It will be below the five buttons in the middle of the dash, nice and hidden.
Interior primered. Now any visible joints will be properly sealed. This is also the future location of some much needed Dynamat!
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Hell of a lot of work goes into a good paint job hey?? Looking good! Do you have a budget for your build or more of a standard you want it finished at regardless of cost? Either way looking great!
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
vduboy wrote:Hell of a lot of work goes into a good paint job hey?? Looking good! Do you have a budget for your build or more of a standard you want it finished at regardless of cost? Either way looking great!
I HAD a budget haha. That went out the window 6 months ago.
Thanks, it's going to be incredible by the end 😀
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
vduboy wrote:Hell of a lot of work goes into a good paint job hey?? Looking good! Do you have a budget for your build or more of a standard you want it finished at regardless of cost? Either way looking great!
I HAD a budget haha. That went out the window 6 months ago.
Thanks, it's going to be incredible by the end 😀
Hahaha yeah mine is looking that way too!! Need more hours in the day to do more o/t! Either way at least it will be built the way you like it, and itll make it that much better when you get to drive it again.
It will all be OK in the end, if it's not OK it's not the end!
budget means nothing, those who have restored vehicles not the cost is never recoverable lol people think im crazy with mine and i have not done a full rebuild. I just reply that the car is never going to be sold so the value s in the enjoyment i gain from it.
Yep exactly. I intend to keep it for many decades. Someone brought their Jag back into the shop which they had restored for him 20 years ago and it looked like they had done it a few weeks ago!
And I won't have a better time in my life with very few expenses right now.
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here