Just completed our first VW, I don't do things easy, dove into a full body off pan build. Very happy with the outcome and it tends to be a great smile maker cruising down the road.

Cheers,

Love the colour-my favourite.

looks great tell us more about the build

Certainly looks like you put a good effort into the job, you must have pride in your work.

Tell us a bit more about it. What motor? What wheels?

I have lots of photos of the build if anyone is interested, it will take a little bit to sort through what is relevant.

First off, I must say this is not my car, I built it for my better half. She bought it from a friend who had the engine rebuilt and the adjusters put in the front end. We drove it around for a couple of weeks and one fateful night and a bottle of scotch later and she had it scattered all over the shed.

First off, I must say this is not my car, I built it for my better half. She bought it from a friend who had the engine rebuilt and the adjusters put in the front end. We drove it around for a couple of weeks and one fateful night and a bottle of scotch later and she had it scattered all over the shed.

It had been a "bog and flog" used car special in a previous life, cutting out the rust was bad enough, but fixing stuff that some-one else has "fixed" was a real pain

It took about 6 months to get the rust out and the body straight

Had the floor pan sandblasted after a few repairs, everything that went into the car was new or rebuilt. The tail was probably the worst panel, the replacement was "questionable" I ended up separating the pieces and redoing it, lost the exhaust out let notches while I was at it.

The front guards needed a lot of work, rust, dents, and dodgey repairs, the indicator holes went missing too. Had some steel running boards rolled up, I made the edged fit the guards with a bit more flare.

I remove the raised part for the VW badge and the holes for the handle. The strip down the centre is stainless and I incorperated the mounts for the inner catch. She wanted more of a hotrod style dash, so I got some Mooneyes guages that were a close match to the factory speedo and made the rings to match out off stainless as well.

This is where it happens. A beetle body fits just nicely into my Effy - off to the sand blasters. Only found a couple of little extras to repair when back from the blaster, then etch prime. The black on all the undersides and the floorpan is POR-15, if you have never used it I can highly recommend it, just follow the instructions. When they sat it will stick to your skin and it will have to wear off, they mean it!

I painted all the interior at home in the shed, I took a sample of the trim to the paint shop and they mixed it to match. The outside was straight enough and it was off to the paint shop. Robbie primed and painted it, I just wanted a nice job, it's not a big dollar car ... having said that I am very impressed. While it was away getting painted I tidied up the motor. It's just a single port 1641 with a baby cam and the exhaust. Every car I own has K&N filters and MSD ignition, this was no exception

Back from the paint shop and it's assembly time. My trimmer came down for the week-end and made and fitted the hoodlining. I made the speaker box from timber, covered it in carpet and made some protective grills for the speakers

Cutting rust and repairing damage was necessary, but making all the little mods and trick bits was fun. The dash, bonnet, and running board trims are all stainless with threads welded in and polished. The mirror stalks, coil bracket and stuff like that I made from alluminium and had it anodized in clear.

As with most projects, it was done with a lot of other people. Jeff did the trim, Robbie the final paint, Red the sandblasting, My good mate John for straightening my panel repairs and the tattoo on it's bum. And of coarse my wife-to-be Sophia for instigating and inspiring the project.

And there you have it, my first Volkswagen rebuild ( probably not my last, but there are some other projects to get through ) The colour is Toxic off the XR8 fords, the wheels are genuine centerlines. Anything else anyone wants to know just ask. I hope this hasn't been too long winded, thanks for the interest.
Also a special thanks to the guys at Mick Motors and Gold Coast Volkswagen for their help and advice

Wow it's perfect

Great stuff and a job well done. You obviously know your way around a car and how to repairs etc.

The question now is, will Sophia let you borrow it

Kev

P.S. Love your garage

I've admired your car at action day and dubs by the pub, that interior is a work of art

Great build, thankyou for sharing!

Wow. So neat and well done.

You gotta be happy with that.

looks great

I am allowed to drive it, but I'm a big guy with big feet so I have to be careful not to grab to many pedals at once. It's far safer as a passenger, my mates laugh watching me get in and out but once I'm there I'm fine. I really enjoyed the build, it's a challenge to start in unfamiliar territory, and I had so many ideas. Of course I couldn't do every thing to the one car, so I've still got some tricks for the next one.

Lovely job - and I must say the colour is rather bright!

Looking great with some nice well thought out tricks. I look forward to seeing it on the road.

Might be a good idea to keep the scotch bottles hidden now it's finished.

Thanks for sharing.

Old Timer

Sweet car...just needs some mumbo in the rear to go with the cal look style

Awesome job. Simply inspirational.

+2 for the garage.

Love the 'Tattoo'.

N