Just thought I`d post a few pics of Mattie`s Ragtop which I am currently undertaking a whole heap of welding on.
I reckon this thing had been lying in a creek on it`s passenger side for a few years or something! It`s amazing how it needs heater channel, floor, major front quarter/door pillar repair, windsreen surround bottom, front bumper mount/spare wheel well all on the one side and yet the drivers side only needs battery tray and a small
repair to the door pillar bottom!
Anyway I have been given the OK to post a few pics for you guys to see and if anyone else in SA needs some welding doing................!
Cheers
Graham.

Probably the dodgiest repair I have ever seen!!!

Hilarious and is definately one for the garage wall!

This is how much had to go.............................

Just waiting on the donor car to be dropped off on Saturday for the repair sections. It was definately on the cards to transfer the roof into a better shell but to keep an original Ragtop rather than cut one up to make a non original Ragtop seemed the way to go.
Here`s a bit of a repair I did today on the nose.

.

But the drivers side is a completely different story!

Some nice welding & patching there. if you were closer, I'd have some work for you!

wow gra!!!! that front section looks fab!!

your doing a great job buddy ill call ya tomorrow n arrange a time to head up saturday.

Great job.

mattie

Thanks for the compliments guys

Added the captive nut (from the section of front quarter I cut out) for the lower front guard bolt.

Gotta love this repair!!
Do you want me to leave this Mattie or you want it to look more original?!!!! Solid as (Tek screws)!!!

Very well done man

Out of curiousity, whats ur methods for smoothing off the welds and blending it in really nicely like you done?

grind most of it off then finish with some waffle pad or something?

Thanks mate.
I just use Flapdiscs which are fairly expensive but available from all good hardware stores!
They are great because you can go from taking off large amounts of metal to pretty much a light buff depending on how the amount of pressure put on them.
I swear by them and don`t really know how I ever managed without them!
Cheers
Graham.

Thats on the angle grinder by the way.

Been working on a little side line of "Car Art" also. Here`s a wall mounted planter I made from a couple of Bug front guards and some old Art Nouveau pressed tin ceiling sheet.

lovin that corrugated iron floor....the boys at Regency would love that!!!

Nice work Graham! lovely to see an original being repaired!

Will catch up soon Mattie

Scarab (aka: Paul)

Hi Graham,
Nice work,
When do you what to start on my turbo54? It is a lot better than this as a starting point.
Heath

thats a great repair congrads hope it goes well

Whats the chassis number as a matter of interest is it 64 or 65 ??

what to see how close to mine it may be I have a June 65

Hey Heath long time no see! When do you want me to start? Lovin the response I'm gettin! Need premises, my driveway is gettin full! Seriously tho mate sure I cam help you out. Will get that chassis number Dave.

Chassis number is 195622618 would be pretty close to yours I reckon.

Here`s a few progress pictures of the Ragtop.

I cut out the remainder of the passenger floor and heater channel today. I unpicked the factory seams where possible and cleaned it all up ready for the new metal.

Here`s the donor Bug. Nice job trying to "modernise" it!!
Love the Salisbury Hood Graphix!
Don`t worry though she`s going to good use. After the required body cuts are taken and the roof removed for the roof chop on my `57 VolksRod, the rest will be stored ready to repair other needy Bugs and the chassis will be made into a paddock bashing sandrail style of type of thing for the kids over at my inlaws property! It`s good recycling.

Took the body off the pan on the donor Bug today ready to unpick the various sections.
You know a heater channel is good when the bolts look like this.............

Nice.....

I am feeling guilty about cutting this one up now. Can`t look it in the eye! Just need to look at it as being a full set of repair panels!

Slammed!!

awsome work your doing there man. dont feel guilty about cutting it up, survival of the fittest, in this case your rag is the fittest

the rags a heap of junk haha but in gra`s hands it will see the light of day once again.

fantastic work there mate!

I had an old laser that was so full of rust every time i parked it anywhere it would get all beetle-esque and mark its territory ... not with oil but with rust flakes!

If you ever move to Melbourne and need a job as a welder give me a shout


in re to the donor car ... put a sheet over its lights so it cant see :P