Thanks to NCH003 off this forum I picked up the latest toy- so I thought I would post the pics, and hopefuly over the next 6 months things should show some improvement.

This used to be Crazy Cols old buggy that had the square piping around the edges and then passed through some more hands before landing at Dereks, Derek had desquared it and replaced the heater channels and started some reconstruction.

The KO is 521 and by a freaky nature an old family friend who has had his Country Buggy since 1980 and which I used to ride in the back of as a kid has KO 522 - so all the more motivation for getting the buggy finished so they can be reunited after all these years apart.

I am thinking of doing this one in the Paprika Red like the old one -

It doesnt have the CB running gear, but I have a few chores ahead of me whilst I source those things - but am happy for it to get a baja style lift until I find some.

Overall I am pretty happy with the rust situation- certainly not a hard fix.

Will update with photos as it progresses, though I still have a Spider to finish before I am supposed to start with this (I say supposed, but you whilst I have the grinder out- shame not to use it)

Cheers

Peter

How do you make multiple photos and since when did the forum pull you up for posting too quick...I thought the misses who was the only one to complain I was too quick.

good score - looks in decent shape!

I'm in the picture now...Congratulation and welcome to the club...

Congrats, if it wasnt so close to Xmas, I would have grabbed it.

Peter,
Congratulations on your new purchase!
Was this owned by ponybeetle?, i.e. is Crazy Cols ponybettle?
Good to see another CB is inline to be restored.
Please keep us informed with lots of pictures and descriptions of what you are doing.

I remember reading in another thread about what we would call here in the States a "zoning problem". Seems the neighbors were raising all kinds of hell about what a fellow Aussieveedubber did in his backyard and what he had stored there.
He commented he had running gear for 2 CB's, but I can't specifically pickout any CB parts in the pic he provided.
Looks to me he may have intention to use the running gear for Baja projects. He really didn't specifically comment on what he has in the way of parts, but it might be worth contacting him to find out what he has and if he is interested in parting with some equipement you might be in need of.

Here's the thread:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=66503 
See page 4 for pics and the CB running gear comments.

I found both your location and the other thread poster's location thanks to Mapquest, but can't tell how far apart you might live, but it looks relatively close.
It looks like you may well be within 25-30 km of each other.
CB parts aren't just sitting around everywhere, so this might turn out to be a reasonable parts lead.

Poster's name: Marc
AVD user name: Midlife crisis
Location: Logan city south of Brisbane
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewprofile.php?memberid=1065 

Regards,
Steve

Steve,

No the Pony Beetle was another one - and I might add I was critised for saying I thought his was overpriced - that CB was $3500 - this one was $300 and am sure they need similar work.

The link that you added is where the car came from. Marc is restoring a CB that is presently sitting upside down in some very long grass - but I will drop them a line to see if any parts, but am sure they would have mentioned it if they were available. Top blokes.

And yes you were close as to distances- it was 23.5 on the car navigator the other day- for once something was close by.

Thanks for the info. anyhow.

Do you know of any things in your part of the world- am heading that way in April and might bring one home with me ?

Peter

Peter,
OK......well being from across the Big Pond I don't always have a handle on who people are and where vehicles originate from in sale/purchase situations.
Just trying to be helpful

By "things", do you mean VW Things???
If so, there's always a bunch for sale over here.
There is always between 75 and 100 for sale on The Samba.
This morning there are 81 for sale.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/cat.php?id=15 

Of course they are listed in all manner of conditons....from total rustbuckets, reasonable parts cars, daily drivers, to concours-showroom new conditon. Pricing varies widely of course, but they have generally been going up the last couple of years. You are not going to get much of a vehicle for $3000 - $4000 USD (3,433.35 - 4,577.80 AUD) unless you stumble across a barn find. A Thing in this range will usually require lots of work to make it roadworthy.
Western vehicles originating from the deserts in Arizona and California are typically the vehicles in the best overall condition.
$6,000- $8000 USD (6,866.70 - 9,155.60 AUD) will buy you a pretty decent vehicle.
Of course, your exchange rate has become more favorable to you versus the US dollar.
1 USD = 1.14445 AUD
1 AUD = 0.873782 USD
As I recall, only a few years ago your dollar was worth only about 65 to 70 cents of the US dollar, so the monetary exhange rate has become much more favorable for Aussies considering importing from the States.

Other Thing sources in the US:

http://motors.search.ebay.com/Thing_Volkswagen_W0QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompar...
Vehicles here tend be be overpriced, sometimes wildly so.

The are usually a few listed on the Hemmings web site: http://www.hemmings.com/ 
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/volkswagen/thing/ 

A few randomly pop up elsewhere, but The Samba is the place to look if you want to see a good slelection.

Regards,
Steve

Well things are progressing with the buggy, as I said ealier I have a Fiat Spider to finish first so I generally jump onto the grinder whilst I am waiting for paint to dry on the Fiat, though the enthusiasm is definitely with the buggy much to the misfortune of the Spider - will get some pics up tomorrow - the buggy had filler 10mm think in some places just covering dents that could have been easily beaten out. I have stripped back the front corner and sides using the wirewheel technique and is coming up fine, have already patched up a few holes, but have heaps to go so wont be missing out on the photos.

The rear end had a second panel tacked over the original, which was still in place but very rusted - it now has been cut out to make way for a removal apron.

The Spider should be finished this week, so will be full steam ahead on the buggy.

Cheers

Peter

Do you have a day job Peter, how do you get all this time to do all these cars, your truly amazing...

You know I have a day job- in fact you pay me, so thanks for that..

I actually have a week off so things get going a bit quicker.

Dash arrived today, off ebay, one less thing to get - ya got any bumpers ?

Pete

Some progress shots, just stripping at the moment, once all the layers off I can then work out a plan, but is coming along ok.

Thr photo probably doesnt do it justice as the flash was reflecting off the uneven surfaces, but am happy with how the sides are coming along.

As I said earlier, it will be getting a removable apron, bit of ixing to do, but thankfully all pretty straight forward.

If you want any specific areas photographed along the way let me know as it will be pretty bare.

Hmmm dont know what happened there with the duplication - guess you can see if you can spot any differences

The new dash in place, will fill the fuel guage hole and the radio for the smooth original look.

Just a bit of welding ahead.. someone had tacked a second panel over the original, so you can imagine it wasnt pretty underneath.

Peter,
Nice pics!
Just keep clicking away at whatever you are working on.
Don't be shy.
Your project can establish a pictoral history of how to restore a CB.
cb john has done the same thing, although his project has involved much more total panel replacement requiring a high degree of fabrication skills than what your's appears it will require.
Your CB appears it may be more of a 'normal' restoration process than John's.
Looks like you are really "hitting it hard" with your progress.
The eBay dash panel looks like it worked out nicely.

All in all, looks like things are going quite well.
Regards,
Steve

love the country buggies
i shouldnt of sold mine
terry

hey pete
its terry from custom off road

hey what are you doing with the floor pan ( is it good

and are you putting a lift kit under it

the reason i ask is that i am just pulling my baja apart
and have a lift kit to suit a beetle
and a floor pan no rust
had a kombi box fitted
irs
link pin
heavy duty raised front end
and all that shit that i need to sell
would you be interested in buying some of that
coz you know its cheaper and easier than making it yourself
0403252522
give me a call and we can talk about it

might be a cheaper way to go for you

terry

Thanks Terry, will call you- it is a fair way off though my pan is okay and I havent decided which way to go about the build.

Cheers

Peter

Well progress has been interrupted a bit lately, firstly I had the flu and then we went and got an Endeavour Rally car to compete in this coming July (For our international viewers - Endeavour Rally is a 10 day event that goes all over Australia in old cars with proceeds going to the Endeavour Foundation which is a large charity for the disabled etc) Hence a HQ Holden wagon is getting the paint treatment in preference to the buggy.. it did the last rally so it is all pretty much set up, just needs some loving and some personal touches

I have made some progress.. I have done the rear supports and replaced the rear panels.. which was hindered with the new Mig dying in the process, whilst it went back to get fixed under warranty I went back to the stick welder and that took some time to adjust. Thankfully the Mig is back and I can start filling the holes that I blasted with the stick. The pic is of the rear with the rust in the support and the dual layer panels. This has all been removed and I have made the rear supports with weld in nuts for the removeable apron to be fitted. I purposely left the exhaust holes out as I think it will be easier for allignment to put them in when everything is square again..

As you can see the Spider is also painted, just need to put that door on and finish colour sanding it...

This weeks jobs include putting that bloody door on and welding in the rear louvres on the rear deck- it is just sitting on top. The buggy came with a spare boot lid which was cactus apart fro the louvres which had been cut out on the yellow one. Still have a few patches on the boot lid. The drain holes are being rediverted to save some stuffing around but overall is it taking shape. The paint is just red oxide, but am still thinking of doing the red anyways.

Peter

I was just reviewing the post and in the first post I said "certainly not a hard fix" I should have been more accurate - certainly not impossible...

The buggy is affectionately now known as 'Patch' for reasons that are becoming very obvious- I certainly dont have any skills when compared to the likes of Dasdubber and friends - but it has been a fun task thus far and the skills are impoving with every weld... so if you are contemplating such a task get in and have a crack... I wouldnt mind building a clubman next, so am considering this practise...

Cheers

Peter

Whilst I think of it, can someone post some dimensions of the front and rear bumpers so I can make some up.

ta


Peter

Come on you lazy bastards, put the baby oil down and measure the bumpers for me..

......................will measure tomorrow night