Well yesterday I finally started restoring the 1966 Squareback I had sitting under the carport since March 06. 66 model which was first registered in 67.
My Wife never thought I'd get around to it.
How shocked was she to come home yesterday afternoon to see the front right guard had pulled off and the front of the car jacked up.
Here's a few pics of the car before the resto and what was done today.
It's dusty and dirty from sitting under the carport, paint faded and rust in all the usual places.


Another one showing the back, small hit on the back left at some point has pushed the bumper into the rear section under the reflector.




How nice is that paint under the bonnet?


Under the front bonnet


I've got so many more pics but I'll show these as the resto continues.
Plans at the moment are for each panel to come off, smoothed out, inner lip rolled over so 17's can go on. May go bigger but I'll leave that open until I've finished. I will then prep them all for painting in original Savannah Beige as the interior is in great condition and only requires a buff and polish. Body will come off the pan to tackle the rusty floor pans and check out the heater channels etc. Engine not sure what I'll do but it's a good 1600 TP so probably a clean up and leave it for the time being.

The car had 1 owner from new in 67 to 95 and then passed to the Grand Son when she passed away and it sat outside and began to rot away. Owner before me picked it up and when the scrapper failed to turn up twice I came along selling my bettle and ended up taking the Squareback home and he didn't take the 64 standard bettle. Shame, it was a great car.
Car has original purchase certificate and log books with original accessories booklets and maps of Adelaide where it came from before the original owner moved up to Sydney. There's more little goodies in the booklets, there such a treasure chest, a real time capsule.
I'll take some pics of the booklets sometime soon.

Here's some pics of the work I did today. Many thanks to Brad for showing me how to work the panels, all this is uncharted territory to me. I really want to restore this Squareback properly and not cut any corners.

Rust on the front right guard at the top.


On the bottom of the right front guard


Straightening the lip before it gets rolled in


Here's another one


Rust cut out on otter skin (top section). Inner skin will need to be replaced after the outter is repaired. So much rusty dust came out of the little corner I thought it was never going to stop falling out. Lucky I had the air compressor to help me out.


New piece of metal being cut and shaped. Ran out of time to get this completed today.


More pics to follow when some more work is done.

about time you started on the square,will it be ready for the shootout???

That's what my Wife has been saying. She was smiling when I showed her the progress from today. She was happy that I was so excited about the work I'd done. She's great and understands it will be focal point for the next "X" months.

I hadn't thought of it until I read your post. Nov isn't far away so I'll have to see how the progress is going and see what state it would be in. I don't want to cut corners so there's a good chance I'd miss the shootout.
No doubt the plans will change during the resto which may push the finish date out. I'll have to see how things go as time is scarce, isn't it always.

Back at it again, a case of the flu kept me away during the week. I'd get the flu shot but I just don't trust it...

Finished shaping the replacement metal and Brad from Westside showed me how to tack it in place. Here's the finished result after some grinding.


Here's the bottom side of the pic above. Tacked and grinded.


Here's a pic of the before and after on the section I traced, cut, tacked and grinded all on my own. Not bad for a first timer. I don't want to leave any rust on this baby. Do it once do it right is my motto on this Squareback.



Enough from me, my head is pounding with this darn flu. Maybe I should get that flu shot.

looking good man... keep it up

Thanks 65notch. I'm really enjoying the work, it's really satisfying to see it all coming together and all by my own hands.

I forgot to take my camera with me on the weekend, hence no pics this week but I did manage to get the rest of the rust on that panel all cut out and new pieces welded in. I only have one section to grind back and then I'll start on the next panel.
In the mean time I'll see if I can remember to take some pics of the booklets I have that came with the car and post these this week.

Is that my old kombi in the first shot?
Hows it going?

Looking good mate - I know what you are going through (doing a notch at the moment)....I agree with your philosophy of do it right the first time!

Keep up the good work
Alan

Thanks for the support guys.
Yeah azz that's you're old Microbus. It's doing really well. Had an Indian adjustable front beam placed in before Xmas 06 and dropped the front down so it's a little lower than the back. Middle row of seats placed in, in original trim and colour. T3 Van front seats are in the front now and the ride is really nice and comforable.
Engine has been tunned up and is running really well. Good solid gear box and motor in it.

So I've been a little slack of late. Family commitments, friends wedding and then a trip away with the family have seen little happening. Oh did I forget to mention the business trips in there?

The first panel has had all the rust removed and replacement panels shaped and put into place. Primmered and ready for a light filler and sand. Pics to come when I remember to take the camera down.

Here's some pics of the floor pans. I spent a little time removing the front left guard to attack next. There's only one rust patch that needs removing and then onto another panel.
I'll cut out the rust in the floor pans and replace with new sheet metal and then I'll use POR15 which should sort it out from ever rusting again.
I'll need to get myself an electric wire brush so I can make sure the pans are super clean before I start any rust removal.
It looks worse than it is in the pics. The drivers side is worse than the passengers, must have been leaning on that side when parked.

Anyway here's some pics.

I'll start on the brakes shortly and then the engine. Aiming to get this registered this year so I'd better pull my finger out.

Drivers side




Passenger side



It's such a shame the floors are rusted because the rest of the car is in pretty good shape. The door cards are fantastic and just need a clean and the paint on the doors and other internal sections of the car are fabulous.






Until the next post.

I love squares especially early ones. Good stuff and good luck with the rest of it.

If u need bits talk with Vintage
they are sending one similar year to GOD very soon 9789-1777

DONT scrap that VW dealership stiker off the rear door glass its cool

No way, the dealership stickers are staying. They look cool.