This is my new ride, a 57 Panel. It is complete except motor. It has very little rust and should be on the road by the DOVW in November (now i'll be under the pump)
New brakes, a donk, and a bit of a polish to bring the old original paint up to Rat look specs. Then it will be around to pick up the lads for a cruise................yeee haaaarrrrr😉
BenettonVW ·
Nice car mate, what a find! 😉
Made it home ok then huh?!?!
Stealth ·
Mate..... a big thanks to you!
Yep got home alright and fired the PC up straight away.
You up for a early visit next Sat morning???😠
BenettonVW ·
Oh really? Of course mate!
PHAT BUG ·
Nice find!!
splittychick ·
Nice one Anth.....😉
BenettonVW ·
So you verified the year and month make?
57kombi ·
Nice bus ,
Welcome to the Heinz club.
Cheers
Dave
Canni. ·
nice 🙂 will be a cool rat...
lobus ·
great find stealthy..it's about time we had another panel to take to events..my fat chick has lost weight carting all our crap around...and back....
Stealth ·
Thanks all for the positive reply's. I will be collecting the bus this weekend and will take the usual shots of the return trip from the Shed that it sat in, too home in the garage next to the other 57 i have 🙂 Keep an eye out for a 57 panel being towed by a
Toyota Prado down the hume hwy. it should blow the cob webs off at least 🙂
Wow i have now a pidgeon pair... a 57 11 window Kombi and a 57 Panel, and both the same colour as well!!.....cool 😎
bertie_beetle ·
um, excuse my limited vw knowledge, but what is a rat? a crappy resto? ps. nice Kombi
Stealth ·
Dave, i can share the load now mate! You can take the BBQ, I can take the Esky's! 😉
Stealth ·
bertie_beetle wrote:um, excuse my limited vw knowledge, but what is a rat? a crappy resto? ps. nice Kombi
A rat look is a VW that has been weathered by nature and has been kept with the original paint and dent's and knocks also rust in some cases.... it also retains the character of the vehicle that the VW has done over the years. Also a true rat (that i beleive) needs a big ass motor and drive train set up and a set of trick wheels to boot 🙂
I will Rat this for the moment and just get it on the road and enjoy it with me mates. This is also why some people Rat there cars.... it is far cheaper than a full resto, especially a Split bus that can take alot of money to restore 😠
*did* ·
Rats are cool 🙂
bertie_beetle ·
oooh, i might 'rat' it with Bertie. sounds like a cheap and easy option. thanks blokes and/or sheilas.
SKEWtYpe3 ·
bertie urs is too good looking for it to be a rat !
nice find ! will be a sweet rat pair !
Stealth ·
I got her home today, good trip home with no nasty events 🙂
Will get the moss and karcher the whole out/inside of the bus on sunday, but here is a couple of pics when we got her home, Thanks Jim for all your help today mate. Jim took shots of the bus today as well, so put them up here Mate!
Stealth ·
more
Stealth ·
more
BenettonVW ·
BenettonVW ·
BenettonVW ·
The guy in this car behind us was riding our tail like crazy..
BenettonVW ·
BenettonVW ·
david ·
looks like one of the old lemke dairy ones from up our way ,very good score make a good ratter
BenettonVW ·
Nah, closer to me than you..
splittychick ·
What a cool pair you have now Anth.:thumb
Have a great time in Germany.Don't forget to take lots of photos of any buses you may see for us poor folk that are not going.😉
lobus ·
Both with the nose emblems as well.
To paraphrase Jack Nicholson.....
"Where does he get all those cool toys?"
kroozzn63 ·
thats going to be a great rat and its "rat blue arlready"
GO THE RAT .
did you say your dumping her ?"lowering
Stealth ·
more pics
Would you look at that nose panel....mmmmmmmm No rust or nasty stuff
This shot doesnt do it justice, it has no rust here either, just minor surface rust and paint flakes
The cab floor is mint, it's the paint colours and the surface rust that makes it look like a dogs breakfast. mmmmm nice!
Some surface rust in the cargo floor but only 2 small patches that need replacing (2 inch sq max)
Thats the original non bog sill there with minor surface rust. I love these all original busses from the sticks....nice and dry!
[Edited on 22-8-2004 by Aussie BLKBUG]
BenettonVW ·
Very nice. The old pressure washer treatment.. She's not hiding too much I wouldn't think..
65busser ·
What a beaut!!! Just needs a light cut and it's done. Nice and dry in all the right places. Well done Stealthmeister.
Stealth ·
What a pair!
jenz58 ·
Very sweet pair!!😎
Mr Bubble Head ·
Another one ready and ripe for resto, looks bloody solid hope the steps are as good underneath as the rest of them
I recon that a slam job with a bit of weathered sign writting with a small paint job on the bottom would be the way to go for now. maybey some bling under the arches.
I'll keep an eye out for that rear bumper for you.
nIck
VWFREAK ·
Nice one, should make for a sweet ride.
Stealth ·
Stealth ·
more, cosey tin box 😀
robnjo ·
any new pics of this:thumb
twoguns ·
mate ive only jsut caught this thread. that is a beauty. love those old panels, and it has all the right rat markings. jsut plain beautiful. and yes i am envious. 😎
kustomkool ·
Cant wait to see it in the flesh.man its great to see all new rides out there.
Pimp pride....
VWFREAK ·
I'll be impressed to see thata at the DOVW and on the road, good luck.
t2 ·
do you want to sell it? thats right up my alley
Stealth ·
Will be at the "Day of" this weekend. Have to wet and dry the paint to give it a shine!:P
Stealth ·
some pics from the day of in Melb last month.
[Edited on 9-12-2004 by Aussie BLKBUG]
ruckus ·
geez that's a sturdy roll cage I can see throug the window! :P
Stealth ·
Lol :P
ColumBUS ·
i would looove a split panel, for now im stettling with my 73 superbug... i want space!
pete wood ·
Wow man, is that the same car?
love the wheels and plates. 😉
Stealth ·
yep, yhe same car. and only took a weekend to clean her up to that condition, over Xmas it should be fitted with an IRS rear, then the front beam gets the treatment.
Kai.A. ·
sweet!
i love the number plate
kai😎
Stealth ·
This is the look i'm going for. :thumb Schweet!!!
[Edited on 10-12-2004 by Aussie BLKBUG]
twoguns ·
AWESOME!!!
Stealth ·
Took the gearbox out today, ready for the straight axle conversion and subsequent lowering. Should be back in with the beetle box on wednesday if i'm lucky.
[Edited on 23-1-2005 by Aussie BLKBUG]
kombibob ·
what brakes are you going to run with typ3 or beetle?
Stealth ·
Beetle at first then either discs or type 3
BenettonVW ·
Awesome mate!! The Panel Boys..
Von Stealths Rat RIDE!!!!
splittychick ·
Woohoo....gotta love progress,don't forget to come & pick me up for a cruise when shes on the road!Hopefully that will be really soon....:thumb
Dasdubber ·
Very cool indeed - I loved the moss/lichen pic 😎
The wheels are Rostyles yeah? If you ever come across a pair of them I'd love to know as I have a pair but would love a set.
Great work once again!
ColumBUS ·
still think a lovely splitty like that deserves paint. theyre too damn classic to be ratted. rat the superbugs and bay windows!
Stealth ·
Gearbox will go in very soon, straight axle kit has been ordered and will be delivered in a couple of days. Box in, then it's down to get the brakes done and a general tidy up.
Will be a hard while on crutches for a bit, but it will be all worth it.
Anyone know where to get a NOS shift coupling from?
Thanks
goony-goonoo ·
what kind of gearbox and straight axl kit did you end up chooseing
MikeM ·
Stealth wrote:some pics from the day of in Melb last month.
Did you paint the rusty exposed spots with red primer or something? What are the red spots?
OvalSplit ·
looks tuely awesome! Cant wait to see it with crazy logos down the side!
frenzix ·
sweet
57 Chook Shed ·
Kroozin_Kikko wrote:still think a lovely splitty like that deserves paint. theyre too damn classic to be ratted. rat the superbugs and bay windows!
You either get it or you don`t.
57 Chook Shed ·
[/quote]
Did you paint the rusty exposed spots with red primer or something? What are the red spots? [/quote]
That`s the factory primer showing through the erroded paint dude!
Stealth ·
Thanks 57, you are right. At the moment it will be a Rat Looker.
Yeah the panel just had to be lightly sanded with a fine grit to get the moss and shit from sitting on a farm then in a shed for 20 plus years, then it is as you see it. No painting done whatsoever.
As it was transformed and cleaned up. Plus it had the entire rear section of the bus was painted white with a paint brush, so getting that thick plastic house paint off was a real biatch of a job but atleast it saved the original paint as much as possible.
[Edited on 6-5-2005 by Stealth]
Stealth ·
The first page of this post will show you what it was like. :o
Paint burn.......ooooohhhhh baby 😉
[Edited on 6-5-2005 by Stealth]
frenzix ·
it's too good to paint!
byronbus ·
Kroozin_Kikko wrote:still think a lovely splitty like that deserves paint. theyre too damn classic to be ratted. rat the superbugs and bay windows!
KK...what are you thinking sometimes...
Stealths two splitties are my favs on the forum, sweet
[Edited on 6/5/2005 by byronbus]
[Edited on 6/5/2005 by byronbus]
OvalSplit ·
Yeah, you're damn lucky to have an original paint bus like that!
Anthony, Im onto the museum - asked for period shots in and around the airport, so lets see what they come back with😉
Stealth ·
Just took a few shots of the cab divider i got off ebay a while back, It looks the bizz too. even a bit ratty to go with the theme 🙂
squizy ·
Beyond words.....way cool 😎😎
Stealth ·
More of the roof.
57kombi ·
Very nice.
Did you do any welding underneath or was it O.K.
Thinking of going this way for my next one.
Cheers
Dave
Zimblewinder ·
Yeah now thats what a rat is supposed to be like. The paint as it is can be sealed nicely so its not going to risk the metal from here. Thats a nice bus!! If youre ever thinking about going rat then this bus is a great yardstick. If the paint/metal isnt as good as this take a good think about preservation and consider getting a repaint. As this one is though... :P:P:P
Dannyboy ·
Very , very cool !
Dan😉
Stealth ·
Put the 74 beetle box in the bus friday, then took her down to the mechanic for a brake and motor rebuild plus a few other little things to get her ready.
Rear end dropped nicely with the straight axle adaptors. Now can't wait for the dropped spindles to go in to make the stance match the rear. I won't be needing the trailer anymore as i will be driving the bus home this time!! :thumb
Stealth ·
more
dub ·
With the straight axle adaptors did you make them or buy over the counter if so where did you get them and was there any other mods that needed to be done to fit the beetle box .Thanks Carl
Stealth ·
I bought them from Andrew aka PMGBUS in Adelaide. Not sure if he has any left or if you can get them here from a dealer??? You do have to change your splitty nose cone over onto the beetle/type 3 box for a perfect fit :thumb
It is basic bolt on, with 2 exceptions, cutting off shock mount on axle(angle grinder or similar, and rotating backing plate to ensure handrake cable lines up with split cable outlet.57kombi has them fitted if u want to look at his, there are pics here..... http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewthread.php?tid=34076&page=1
Have fun........... thanks for the kind words
65busser ·
Nice one Stealthy.
pyr0 ·
looking good mate 👍
BUGBOY ·
You need help mate , this could have been a nice bus to restore and instead you do this to it!
I don`t know what makes people like you tic?
Some people spend a life time trying to find a rare german car like this and dream of restoring it to its former glory.
But don`t for get when you come down to pick it up i want a ride!
Stealth ·
No probs Nath:thumb
Getting all the cool stuff together to be bolted on.
Cruising back from Al's when the bus is done will be a hoot. Can't wait!!!
BUGBOY ·
Mate I hanging:thumb
splittychick ·
Woohoo,good to see shes on the move Anth.Not long & we'll be cruisen together😁
BenettonVW ·
Sweeeeet.. The three amigos riding in the front of the ol' girl.. he he... Wicked..
Stealth ·
on the hoist
Stealth ·
New brakes all around plus the drop spindles installed. Photo's are a bit "how's your father" but you get the idea (camera phone). New Golf Master cylinder adapted to suit the splitty should give me ample stopping power now. I fitted NOS hand brake cables, NOS front wheel cylinders, NOS rear 74 "L" bug beetle wheel cylinders, all new heater/choke/fuel tap/clutch/accelerator cables, new shocks, NOS original german muffler, upgraded to 12 volt, just have to make the semaphores work with a voltage regulator back down to 6 volt.
[ Edited on 22-10-2005 by Stealth ]
BUGBOY ·
I don`t know how you find the time mate?
I own you KFC and some beer.
BenettonVW ·
SCHWEEET...
beerdoc ·
Looks good
The Golf master cylinder take much to mod? and benifits over 68-69 bay cylinder
[ Edited on 23-10-2005 by beerdoc ]
Mr Bubble Head ·
hey don't forget to swing buy me for a beer carn't wait to see this thing scrapin down the road
😁
YIOughta ·
BUGBOY wrote:I own you KFC and some beer.
Shit your really doing well for yourself - dont forget the little people!! 😉
Stealth ·
I fitted the safaries for the day of the VW, i love them. Back from the mechanics last week and it fly's with the beetle gear box fitted. Drop spindles are way cool, setting the front down nice and low. Have to drop the rear a couple of splines to get rid of the positive camber.
[ Edited on 29-11-2005 by Stealth ]
Dasdubber ·
Very cool indeed!! :thumb
crewcabconnection ·
panels are taking over.....noice work....cant wait to see it at the Split Together....whenever that is?
BenettonVW ·
Nice one mate, got there in the end!
Stealth ·
Nice pic Jim, did you have any others from the night at Von Stealths???
BenettonVW ·
Yeah man. Uhh.. Which ones you want?
Stealth ·
send them all on mate, need the install shots too
Stealth ·
Cruised down to Wonthaggi in the panel on Saturday with BugBoy in the squareback and MicroMatt in his split microbus. Had a good drive down and enjoyed the looks from people, but Matt and I were very cold as we have no heaters hooked up yet, thank god for maccas hot coffee.
VWFOOL ·
wen are we going to see this featured on Hoodride?
btw, looks like u got chopped off fingers trapped behind the speeod glass FYI
BenettonVW ·
Awesome.. The lads.. nice.. Gotta work on mine this weekend again..
Mr Bubble Head ·
Nice to see it on the road. carn't wait to see it again :thumb
nIck
[ Edited on 6-6-2006 by Mr Bubble Head ]
Stealth ·
just a bit of a logo done.
Stealth ·
more
malcolm ·
looks good but new paint:thumb
whatnow ·
beautiful....
ruckus ·
looks really good. Who painted the logo?
decked dubby ·
That's mad!!
Mr Bubble Head ·
NICE so DAMMMMMMM NICE
Truly an ozzie looker
nIck
kombibob ·
thats as good as it gets panel style:thumb:thumb:thumb
my new favourite rat
BUGBOY ·
Looks good mate, carn't wait to see it in the flesh!
empi ·
Man thats mad.
hellbugged ·
ooh, that's baaaaaaa' d 👍
oval TOFU ·
fantastic job on the signage Stealth... Love the font of "service vehicle" too... suits it to a tea... or a beer...
Stealth ·
Thanks guy's, can't wait to get her home. The last of the rust repair is being done so he red oxide at the bottom of the passenger side can be blended in with original style commercial blue. Then the full length rack, some more bling, then hit the road.
kroozzn63 ·
perrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrffffffeecctttionn
man wats with me dragging things outtttttttttt
Resto64 ·
awesome dam i love the sign writing thats going on these day such as the frost and the hertz and now the best by far the fleece
mad work lads am slowly becoming a rat convert
:kiss
Hertz ·
Awesome A' great job on the logo, makes me think aout getting the brushes out again on mine!
pettles ·
Perfect logo.....................so nice and original!!!! Paint work looks spot on.
PHAT BUG ·
Damn Stealth, Thats awesome!!
Looks great! Very original,
lovin the early bus rims and no caps look too!
BenettonVW ·
Man, I was so wrapped when I saw that mate..
Looks far better than I even imagined. Sensational. Now I am just hanging to go CRUISIN!!
Notch Nut ·
Fantastic job on your splitty dude
-Adam
choppa ·
Ok youve convinced me . Ill keep my panel now.
Great work Stealthy .
Like the stock rims as well.
pete wood ·
that logo is AWESOME!!!!😵😵💫
handycam ·
love it looks grate :thumb
BUGBOY ·
Carn't what to see you back in your bus,remember the good old days pimp daddy!
65busser ·
Now I see where the "Golden Fleece" thing came from. You actually wear it. Got the outfit to match the bus. ............Pimpin'
squizy ·
Sweet job there. Looks great....legendary.
humpty ·
choppa wrote:Ok youve convinced me . Ill keep my panel now.
Great work Stealthy .
Like the stock rims as well.
And your panel has the coolest paint too!....Should never have sold my panel..... :cry
BenettonVW ·
And THAT is why I need new doors on my panel.. 🙂
Welcome back to the country Stealth. 🙂
koolkarmakombi ·
How does the aged paint look get done?
humpty ·
With time!.....
But seriously, the look can be replicated to some extent with carefull application of matting agents, wet'n'dry sanding, creative scraping and airbrush detail.... But it still not as good as OG paint.... This bus is a very clever combination of lifes hardship and creative signwriting...
And a fine effort too!
Stealth ·
The hardest part was finding such a solid unmolestered early bus in the first place, the second hardest bit is to keep the original paint while fixing any rust etc. The logo was also a hard decision, what type?, Aussie or US style logo? how big/small? Something original? What logo colours suit the original bus paint? All a big decision as once it's on, it's on.
I love the logo as it is a Aussie bus and you won't see it on a OS bus that's for sure, plus it's not VW related, everyone who was born up to 1970 should remember the Golden Fleece petrol stations even if you are not into cars or VW's.
Thanks for the kind remarks, Cheers :beer
decked dubby ·
That is bullshit nice!!
BUGBOY ·
All you need out front yours shed is a fuel bowser and some oil bottles and you open for business
humpty ·
Hey Stealth.... I think you totally nailed it.... A brilliant job.... It just wouldn't have been right to put a logo type on there that was not in the local (Oz) context.... And the Golden Fleece is period perfect... And I know what you are saying about fixing the rust problems, but still maintaining the look of the OG paint.... Im having the same issues with my ragtop.... The work is worth it though.... Its all about preservation.... A mate of mine works for the museum here in Perth and he's totally into what is happening now.... He's not into cars as such, but the whole preservation trip is his thing....
Quite frankly, your bus one of the coolest around.....
VWFOOL ·
stealth u are the king, that hurts me to look at, well done.
Stealth ·
Got the "New" period Rat Rack for the bus fitted for the Day of this year. I love the look and the rusty, flaky paint is all original, all i did was fit new suction cups and fix the gutter mounts, the rest is how it was found some years ago and finally made it on the ol girl.
Stealth ·
more
[ Edited on 14-12-2006 by Stealth ]
BUGBOY ·
And to think it still fits in the shed with the rack!
Lucky your not rolling stock height or she would have to sit out side and go rusty looking.
ren ·
nice rack, Stealth!:thumb
pete wood ·
ren wrote:nice rack, Stealth!:thumb
😂
everyone is checking out stealth's rack...there's something broken and worng about that. 🙄
humpty ·
Im quite partial to a 'nice rack' myself....
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Type3Sicko ·
If you don't have some already, we have some original Golden Fleece oil drums and paraphenalia,give us an email on kombinationdetailing@yahoo.com.au if interested
Stealth ·
[ Edited on 5-3-2007 by Stealth ]
oval TOFU ·
looking swell mate!
Stealth ·
It's now a lower mo fo.
[ Edited on 19-5-2007 by Stealth ]
PHAT BUG ·
Is that with the IRS, if so Jo well be pleased!:P
floss ·
saw you rollin down Brunswick st in fitzroy today. Slow traffic so took a picture
saw this in a shop just near there. Is it mobil that had this symbol?