Finally a proper update, I've just been too busy to get to my car!
While O & S has had to concentrate on a Mustang that the owner wants ready by Christmas, mine is really starting to piece together and it's looking great!
I need to get my original glass out, remove the tinting and have it polished. I haven't decided whether I'll have it tinted or not...
Bits and pieces of the wiring is going in as well.
The workbench with some of my parts! There are more on the shelf below as well as around my car 🙂
Lights are now fitted, HIDs will be used, ballasts will reside in the bonnet
Running boards are installed
Brand new shiny piping looks awesome
O & S will be repairing this issue with the paint (at their expense)
One of my favourite new features 😀
I'm not happy with the mounting of this handle as it's not flush enough. This will be re-welded
Two of the new gauges fitted!
Zooming in from a distance I get a really good idea of what it's going to look like on the street 😀
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Haha, yeah I think the chrome on the headlights especially are a feature. But I was never a fan of the chrome strips along the side and bonnet.
Nothing against them, but I didn't want chrome overload. Don't want it to be too flashy you know 😂
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Update 50. A nice round number and it was pretty much this time 1 year ago that I put my car onto a flat bed truck to go to O & S Sportscar Restoration. With all of the bad experiences up to that point, I didn't have much confidence but couldn't be happier with the process so far! In the last week, electrical continues, headlight screws have been chromed (🤪), engine bay insulation is in place and will be used as a template for the polished steel sheet metal, steering box/seal work, alkaline dipping for fuel tank, original wiper mechanism has been repaired, sanded, epoxy primered and painted and lots of other bits and pieces (including reverse light terminal - my bug has never had reverse lights!)...
I have a dashboard!
Left to right: lights, emergency lights, show lights, 'valet' alarm button, wipers
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
-Quarter windows have been chromed, repaired, new rubber and trial fitted
-Window rails have been sandblasted, primered and painted
-Window regulators fitted
-Clutch and accelerator cables fitted
-Engine bay rubber fitted
-Transmission has been painted as it original looked a bit plain
It's great to see all wheels on!
I could finally get a decent shot of the engine bay
Before and after of the Scat Pro Street transmission
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Craig Torrens6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion
Just read over this thread from the beginning, really interesting build and great colour choice. Just wondering though about the legality for rego of doing away with the demister vents and the windscreen sprayer; would have thought they'd be essential roadworthy items?
Marco_VESS wrote:Just read over this thread from the beginning, really interesting build and great colour choice. Just wondering though about the legality for rego of doing away with the demister vents and the windscreen sprayer; would have thought they'd be essential roadworthy items?
Yeah they pretty much are...!!!
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Interesting, I am not as keen on the gutter removal, but love the colour, the gauges, and the wheels. That said, even if things aren't done the way I would do it, I still really appreciate a job well done.
Okay so I can now safely say that the hundreds of people over the years who have told me that you cannot respray only part of a damaged pearl/Kameleon panel is talking rubbish!
The bubble on the rear quarter panel on the driver's side has been fixed (involved rubbing back and spraying almost to where the plastic is in the shots below) - see the bubble in question HERE
Also, both doors have now been almost entirely resprayed after the alteration work was done to fix the flushness of the handles.
The results are absolutely flawless. These shots were just off the gun and it looked unreal in person.
Torsion bars have also been adjusted as the ride height was a taaaad ridiculous 🙂 They have since been raised ever so slightly so compensate for incoming glass, oil, interior, speakers, passengers, etc
Before
After
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Alternator fitted!
Carburetors fitted!
Exhaust modifications and fitting continue
Work on calipers, brakes and handbrake
Engine tinware fitted
Engine bay rubber seal fitted
Pedal assembly work
Test fitting J pipes, flange to come
1971 VW Beetle
Currently being restored - click here
Mate i understand each to the own but this looks like a car that was bulit in bankstown the style dosent suit a beetle sorry to say i could of built you a much better looking car just saying for the $$$$....
I see this car when I go to O&S to check the progress of my Ghia and I can say that the quality of the work done is absolutley first class. The guys at O&S do not take shortcuts, yes it costs more for all the hand fabrication but when you are building your dream machine thats what you want and if it doesnt suite evreyone so what.. you are not building it to sell as you'd never recoupe your investment... keep chasing your dream, I am and hopefully I'l be able to go cruising with my ghia and this bug in the note too distant future.
Agreed.
I am the owner of the Gunmetal Grey '68 under restoration at O&S and I can attest that the work is top notch.
I had been intending on doing a project log similar but time constraints have meant I now have a MASSIVE backlog of photos/work done to share at some point in the near future.
