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Moonlite's 54 Beetle (Undated 13th May)
moonlite6t6beetle - April 23rd, 2006 at 04:14 PM

It definately appears to be all the rage to show off your project in its progress these days so i figured id jump on the bandwagon and do the same.

To begin the story bluntly and breifly. I have allways loved VW's and at the age of 13 began building a 1966 beetle which is now my everyday drive car.

Building the car as a 13 year old would the result was good, but nothing that would pull a trophy.

However, when i was young i allways wanted an Oval window beetle however could not find one to support my finances.

Now being 17 and an apprentice mechanic things have changed financially, and after building a second car which was a HQ ute as a good looking Bog and Flog , which got a little carried away... I found the finances to gather myself an oval windowed beetle.

Being patient and wating for the right one was hard. But i allways wanted an Immaculate shell to start with. I looked around and came ever so close to just settling for a good 60's shell. When one day a post was posted on the forum of a RUST FREE OVAL SHELL. Only issue being that it was 3,500kms away from me.

After seing some photos that were sent to me i decided to get the car organised to be shipped across the country sight un-seen. So from Ballarat to Northam across came my oval roller and arrived at my place on the 17th of april 2006.

And so began the build for my unltimate street car.

[ Edited on 8-5-2006 by moonlite6t6beetle ]

[ Edited on 13-5-2006 by moonlite6t6beetle ]


moonlite6t6beetle - April 23rd, 2006 at 04:17 PM

Wouldnt win a beuty pagent.. But as far as im concerned this old girls aged VERY WELL.


moonlite6t6beetle - April 23rd, 2006 at 04:19 PM

And its just like this EVERYWHERE.


moonlite6t6beetle - April 23rd, 2006 at 04:21 PM

You get the idea..


moonlite6t6beetle - April 23rd, 2006 at 04:25 PM

And heres everything it came with it.

Four guards also in immaculate condition
2 Fantasitc doors
A W-Decklid good condition
1 Bonnet immaculate condition
2 Bumpers
1 steering wheel
2 tail lights
A box of goodies


bugeyedbabe - April 23rd, 2006 at 07:32 PM

great score

looks like the base for a very nice car.


bajachris88 - April 23rd, 2006 at 07:54 PM

After what i have seen, you can only thank god for a great rust free opportunity like that.

Congratulations mate.
You gonna make a awesome rat?
or take yard hards of getting a shiny beaut?


VWFOOL - April 23rd, 2006 at 08:02 PM

good to see you finally found urself a nice oval mate, look forward to the progress :thumb


4ThALaStTiMe - April 23rd, 2006 at 09:49 PM

Don't let your brother take it off you...


BUGBOY - April 23rd, 2006 at 09:53 PM

All I can say keep us posted with updates and its good to have some room back in my shed.:thumb


Turbo54 - April 24th, 2006 at 10:43 AM

Nice to see another one saved from the scrap. Very clean indeed. What month 54 is it? Great score.
Turbo54


h - April 24th, 2006 at 12:37 PM

nice one..


Robo - April 24th, 2006 at 06:42 PM

The best Beetle. Gotta love Ovals. Enjoy the resto!
Rob...


oval TOFU - April 26th, 2006 at 01:20 AM

keep updating us - gotta love dem ovals..


greedy51 - April 26th, 2006 at 06:46 PM

yep misery loves company


moonlite6t6beetle - April 30th, 2006 at 05:45 PM

Shell got stripped of all glass, wiring, trima and dash components today. No suprises found.

Hooray


moonlite6t6beetle - April 30th, 2006 at 05:50 PM

So with that onto the first pannel. The drivers door.

The paint stripper certainly bought out a nice display of a rainbow of previous colours.


moonlite6t6beetle - April 30th, 2006 at 05:53 PM

The whole door srtipped (Sandblasting in the small areas has been acheived after this photo has beentaken)

So now onto panelbeating the small dents

Fortuanelty no rust to fix.


moonlite6t6beetle - May 8th, 2006 at 07:42 PM

Bonnet and Passengers door, Rust repaired, panneled and primered.

Look nice hanging up there...


moonlite6t6beetle - May 8th, 2006 at 07:44 PM

Boot and Passengers door, both bare metaled..

Door has been mosified to now take full glass.. stil needs chrome strip holes welded.

Boot has little rust in bottom and needs serious pannelbeating.

But its a W-Decklid so im willing


PrettyBlueBug - May 8th, 2006 at 07:46 PM

Nice score! :P What are your plans for it?


Turbo54 - May 9th, 2006 at 09:26 AM

If the body ad doors bonnet etc is so good, why weld up all the holes and wreck a really good body? I personally wouldn't do it... but its not my car. I also see standoffs, but stroker motor? Callook?
T54


type_one - May 9th, 2006 at 10:42 AM

Have to agree on welding up the holes. THink long andhard about doing it as you may regret it in a few year. Especially if you decide to restore it back to original. The chrome strip is so nice.


pete wood - May 9th, 2006 at 11:10 AM

Noooooooooo....leave the holes for the brightwork. They look so much better with it.

BTW, good to see such a straight oval, and particularly one being shown so much love by a keen young fella. :thumb


bond - May 9th, 2006 at 01:08 PM

depends what look you're going for but regardless - cal, german, og, or whateveri agree the chrome strip sets it off...

nick


57 Chook Shed - May 9th, 2006 at 02:11 PM

For what it`s worth I wouldn`t do it either.
BUT it`s nothing a drill and a 6mm bit won`t fix in the future, bitch of a job though!
It`s his car, let it be.
Graham.


moonlite6t6beetle - May 11th, 2006 at 09:00 PM

Dear Lord..

WOW i didnt expect susch a personce from the holes being welded.. so it would be wise not to show photos? :P

All the holes are TIG welded with copper behind and cooled with compressed air. All me and my dads assistance work. All properly done.

As far as what style it will be, its hard to describe. Its look will be very much a PRO STREET look on a bug. Intentionally look like a semi-purpose built drag car. 10's under the back 3.5's under the front, Full Rollcage, Autometer guages, high performance motor ect looking initially to run a high 12 Naturally Aspirated.

There has only every been one car that has been done ina similar style to what i am chasing and it was built by a man called Mark Gattwolt. (to freshen peoples memory it was magenta with the number plates "FWOOR", I have idoled that car since i was about 12. The only thing i wanted however was it in a 53-57 bug, instead of a 68.

Dad recently asked me why i didnt wait and get a splitty beetle. And my reply was because i would ruin it. This is my dream car, and ive chosen an oval as i personally couldnt do it to a splitty.

Corey


Dasdubber - May 11th, 2006 at 09:39 PM

Go for it mate, do what you want as its yours! There will be knockers not matter what you do, hopefully people can either provide some words of support....or just maybe stay quiet. However if you ask for opinions, expect to get them left, right and centre!

:starhit:

Sounds like a great project and something a little different.


hellbugged - May 11th, 2006 at 10:02 PM

you want it like this....


retroresto - May 11th, 2006 at 10:38 PM

Hey man just do what feels right to you, either way its good to see another 54 revived!!!

I recently agonised over the same thing, Stock or Custom, it's good either way!!!

retro