Getting Bledri (formerly known as Boris) my 67 Aussie Deluxe back on the road was so much fun (!?!) that when a stranger neighbour approached me to see if i knew anyone that wanted to buy her sons Bug of course I had to have a look and well.. i guess I found a new project 🙂
This is Bledris little story
I bought him sight unseen (yes i know...but i fell in love..) from South Australia and brought him to his new home in Victoria
On inspection he wasnt too bad 🙂 his engine had suffered some damage in transit and was repaired - I had him converted to 12 volt while we were there
didn't want a show car just nice clean engine
1967 Rat Beetle
1974 Kombi
1967 Aussie Deluxe Project
He was a pretty solid car with the usual rust issues - this was the worst of the floorpan
I took it back to bare metal and repainted it as i did the decklid which was also damaged
i wanted to keep his look and keep the rat so just cleaned up the wheel well which had surface rust but nothing major
1967 Rat Beetle
1974 Kombi
1967 Aussie Deluxe Project
This one was scary but fixable
no i didn't do it myself i wish i could weld 🙂
The front end was probably the biggest expense and that's mainly because i changed my mind - Bledri had a 4inch narrowed beam in there with no shock absorbers so i replaced the beam with a brand new 4inch narrowed one with custom shocks and then decided to go back to stock beam and drop the front end with drop spindles and adjustors (i didn't know much about beams and the like when i started i just liked the look of him) - i'm a bit more informed now of what goes on in there and how it works and different ways to achieve a look that i want - replaced the front tyres with a smaller profile to eradicate the little bit of rubbing i had - replaced the back tyres with the same i like the chunky ones and dropped the back end 1 spline to make it sit straighter
1967 Rat Beetle
1974 Kombi
1967 Aussie Deluxe Project
Made some new door cards and refitted the covers - cleaned up and repainted the seat frames cleaned up the floor rubber but he's pretty much just like he was in there
I took the stand offs off after the spark plugs had to be replaced again - (this is not the sunny country very often in Vic - the rain was a pain) and spent many frustrating hours with my son trying to realign the lid pull the apron out to make the T handle for roadworthy - all the other fiddly bits that need to be done wipers gave me the complete ****s and i can't say they're any much good at actually taking the rain out of the way to see but at least they go now.. my dad got me a replacement flying vw from the Uk and other bits and pieces - the celtic tattoo was painted on the boot and doors
whitewalls done
Vintage stereo but can't find a photo replaced the old 80's system and found a solution to where to put the speakers
and then he was done 🙂
1967 Rat Beetle
1974 Kombi
1967 Aussie Deluxe Project
sorry not sure why that one pic loaded on 3 times!!!
and now there is the new project..
no name as yet and will be a slower resto
she has some of the same issues as Bledri some better some worst
who knows what problems lurk in there..need to give her a good clean first so i can assess what can be done..
but i think she's well worth restoring - the lady who sold him was so happy that she is with someone that will love her after her son had bought it and left it at her place - especially after a 'vw man' came out and explained the reality of what they had bought and the cost of getting her back on the road - i think this one may teach me - since i am not in a rush to get her on the road i think i will be more willing to take things apart and put them back together again and learn where things go and how things actually work
1967 Rat Beetle
1974 Kombi
1967 Aussie Deluxe Project
That '67 looks incredible! I love the wheel and tyre combo you have. Especially on the rear! Digging the white ring around the tyre.
Thanks Isola I love the chunky tyres too 🙂 He came together just like i wanted him so I am very happy with him
1967 Rat Beetle
1974 Kombi
1967 Aussie Deluxe Project
Makes me want to be an older model.👍
"A car for the people, an affordable Volkswagen, would bring great joy to the masses and the problems of building such a car must be faced with courage."
Adolf Hitler At opening of 1934 Berlin Auto Show
