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Oval Window Ragtop Baja Bug.... (2017 Update!)
Rural Baja - January 20th, 2015 at 03:41 PM

Morning Lads,

I have decided i want to put together a build thread of how my project Baja is going along at this point.

So it all started with a Ragtop bug, a 65 that has had about twenty different owners over the last twenty years. It has been sitting in a shed down the east coast of Tasmania stripped for a long time. I just happened to drop in, throw a wad of cash around and got it towed home.

It had a pretty nasty hit up front, and has had the rear apron removed. Someone in the past has welded in new heater channels and pillars, but that must have been a long time ago.

Fast forward another month or so after bringing it home, and after a few beers with a few mates, the plan was made to backdate her to an oval. And not just the shitty back window conversion, the semaphore pillars and the front windscreen/dash.

And what a major job it's been so far! But the plan has and always will be a late 60's early 70's style oval ragtop baja bug... Just to piss the purists off.... :lol:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_1629_zpsa6a7f6a2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_1632_zpsb8badb96.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_1633_zps3c1a920a.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/10646635_10152894903464796_361652043497829707_n_zpsb68be72b.jpg


Rural Baja - January 20th, 2015 at 03:42 PM

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_1698_zpsf33fd852.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_1700_zpsd794d342.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_2116_zps061da158.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_2118_zpsd51be85c.jpg


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_2124_zps6a328d26.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/1601365_10152998694454796_9173702246319315893_n_zps67030232.jpg

The remainders of an oval i found on gumtree...> Someone else's hack job not mine!


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/63459_10153014303759796_3084566338000973037_n_zps107ad260.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/10351228_10153049384924796_8599422225220253905_n_zps67ee97dd.jpg

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/billholmes/media/1240345_10153048641064796_690...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/1514596_10153030253009796_569742884789958390_n_zps3919ef6e.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/20700_10153048643624796_4834884260203110345_n_zpsc8052186.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/10849751_10153046903619796_8240536465062552718_n_zps86bf2c47.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/10404382_10153046905509796_8233315538294933015_n_zps30c176f1.jpg


Now it takes a brave man to lay that sort of cut... So we strengthened the whole front and roof before we made the cut!

Semaphore pillars are in.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_2432_zps6189fb74.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_2433_zps54b619e9.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/IMG_2435_zps4068ed6a.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/billholmes/10408133_10153048891609796_1932498500863540043_n_zpse62dc6ec.jpg


Rural Baja - January 20th, 2015 at 03:46 PM

Could be time for an update!

Still undecided on the colour... Hoping to go for a vintage hue maybe? I've got a flash kit to put on.... That way i could always say "oh yeah... a little old lady owned this before me. Used to only drive it to the shops, all original but i decided it would make a great baja!" :lol:


h - January 20th, 2015 at 06:21 PM

awesome! great work :)


Bizarre - January 20th, 2015 at 09:26 PM

WAY TOOO MUCH time on your hands there :lol::lol::lol:

That said - GREAT work there :tu::tu::tu::tu::tu::tu::tu:


59baja - January 20th, 2015 at 10:02 PM

Wow some impressive metal work going on there. keep the updates coming...


modnrod - January 23rd, 2015 at 07:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Rural Baja But the plan has and always will be a late 60's early 70's style oval ragtop baja bug... Just to piss the purists off.... :lol:




:lol:
I'm in!
Looking good


Joel - January 23rd, 2015 at 07:25 AM

I like where this is going


adlbeetle66 - January 23rd, 2015 at 11:44 AM

THIS IS INSANE! :punk:
Keep the progress coming!!


vduboy - January 26th, 2015 at 07:46 PM

Yep love it! Looks like the angle grinder is your best friend! Can't wait to see more :tu:


Rural Baja - February 2nd, 2015 at 01:52 PM

More progress!


adlbeetle66 - February 2nd, 2015 at 03:34 PM

:tu: ! Whats the engine going to be like??


Bizarre - February 2nd, 2015 at 04:36 PM

nice work !!


vduboy - February 2nd, 2015 at 05:07 PM

Love it mate! Get stuck into it! Will be a great shit stir when it's finished!


Bizarre - February 2nd, 2015 at 06:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Rural Baja
But the plan has and always will be a late 60's early 70's style oval ragtop baja bug... Just to piss the purists off.... :lol:



reckon if you add some elephants feet tail lights you will really complete your mission

Again - great work


OZ Towdster - February 2nd, 2015 at 07:02 PM

Will , to be real cool you need to ditch the fibreglass bits and go full old school , all steel baja , ie cutting up original guards , cut off original hood with sheetmetal nose .
When done right they are super cool


OZ Towdster - February 2nd, 2015 at 07:04 PM

And some ice pick door handle door are also required , lol


1cut808 - September 15th, 2015 at 11:11 PM

Anymore updates on this project... Keen to see it finished!


h - September 15th, 2015 at 11:16 PM

yeah what he said :)


Rural Baja - May 12th, 2016 at 01:10 PM

Okay guys! Get ready for the updates!


Kroozzn61 - May 12th, 2016 at 02:23 PM

yes please


Kroozzn61 - July 30th, 2016 at 10:13 AM

ready!!!


nbturbo - July 30th, 2016 at 12:13 PM

Top job-love it.


Rural Baja - January 11th, 2017 at 11:01 AM

I can't believe its been over two years since i started this project! The list of parts to buy just keep going and going...


Rural Baja - January 11th, 2017 at 11:06 AM

So an update... A long over due update!


Rural Baja - January 11th, 2017 at 11:15 AM

Painted in the 50's Dove Blue. At this point i still need the following:

- 4x Shocks
- Interior Fitted
- All Wiring to be done
- Brakes Bled
- Front/Rear barwork Fitted/Built
- Lighting front/rear
- Headlight Buckets
- Ragtop Installed
- most of the dash installed
- Bonnet Straps
- Bonnet Rubber
- etc etc etc etc

At this point does anyone feel as though the buying/fitting/fixing will never end? I'm really overwhelmed by the stuff that needs to be completed!


beetleboyjeff - January 11th, 2017 at 12:01 PM

Looks really good though


flexyspex - April 6th, 2017 at 09:44 AM

Wow! What a huge amount of work.
It is so different to what anyone else is doing. The style is totally different to what I would do, but I have to admit it looks awesome! You're going to have some fun in that car when it's done.

Can't wait to see more pics as it comes together more.


kombibob - April 6th, 2017 at 06:11 PM

Looking good!


1cut808 - May 12th, 2017 at 09:11 PM

Looks GREAT with paint on it!