Post by commodorecollector on Jun 7, 2015 18:50:07 GMT -8
I have always been interested in classic cars from a young age, probably what kept the passion going was going to a lot of car shows then. I wasn't really into anything particular until I was 22 only to find out that my plans of becoming an Architect hit a wall by not getting into the UBC Environmental Design program. So my fall back plan was to go to an automotive college and finish my education there. I did do some looking around in BC to see what BCIT, SFU and VCC had to offer... but none of their programs where comprehensive enough. By the summer of 2012, I started my application for Wyotech. I decided to go to Wyotech in the end since I could learn welding, body work, refinishing and an elective in the same time I could enroll in a program in BC and only get Body Work OR Refinishing. My first classic car I bought was a 1949 Hudson Commodore 6 Sedan out of Saskatchewan. And that is when it began....
While I was at Wyotech Sacramento, I came across an article on facebook of KCW rebuilding a 1960 Porsche 356 T5 B coupe that had its roof crushed in and from then on I wanted one. I did some searching and found the Porsche 356 registry, and got into contact in Adam Wright. The short of it... I almost got bought a Porsche 356 B Coupe but ended up backing out of the deal due to realizing the shipping and resto costs where more than I would have starting out. I did join the club and am still a member with them, with the hopes of one day (soon) to get a real 356. However, that didn't turn me off them completely, I did some research to find out that the early's porsches aren't that different from aircooled Volkswagen, which got me interested in getting one to be as a stepping stone to a 356 one day.
My first VW is my 1958 VW Panel van I drove to Creston in 2013 to get, twice. My first truck died half way there and I had to limp it back to the island and get another one. I guess putting 16k km on it over 2 months isn't a good thing. I also picked up my 1965 Single Cab out of Cowichan and a 1961 VW SO23 camper from Shawn in Nov 2013 (which I ended up trading for a 1958 Single Cab). Meeting shawn actually got me thinking more of opening up my own shop, since I thought I might have to work in a collision or resto shop for several years before I would be able to. Add the fact that the VW reproduction metal is readily available, makes it a little easier re building them compared to the Hudson I own. The quality of the reproduction metal for the Hudson's is... ok, it really could be better but there is no competition. I looked from the end of 2013 to spring 2014, when I got my property to set up my business. Why duncan you ask? Well, an acreage anywhere in Victoria was around $500-750k to begin. The westshore was too out of the way and the only other option besides duncan was Port Alberni. Duncan really ended up being a the go-to town due to how close it is to Victoria and Nanaimo (and the fact that me and shawn can work with each other). I got my shop in July 2014 but was until able to start construction until Jan 2nd 2015 this year. All due to doing the building permits myself. Would I do it again? Yes. Shop construction finished on April 21st, when I began to move in. Officially my business is open as of May 1st 2015.
The short of it - My NFS Volkswagens are as follows:
1950 VW Beetle
1953 VW Beetle
1958 Karmann Ghia
1958 VW Panel Van
1958 VW Single Cab
1961 VW DD Panel Van
My possible for sale VW's are:
1959 VW Single Cab
1961 VW Single Cab
1965 VW Single Cab (Sold in 2019)
1967 VW Single Cab (SOLD)
My currently for sale currently are:
1963 VW Single Cab (Sold to Cali in 2019)
1965 VW Karmann Ghia Coupe (SOLD in 2015)
1965 VW 11-window Kombi (SOLD in 2016)
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (Sold in 2017)
1970 VW Bay Double Cab (SOLD in 2015)
1971 VW Bay Double Cab (SOLD in 2015)
1957 Beetle x2 (Sold and Parted in 2015)
1954/53 Beetle (SOLD in 2015)
1959 Karmann Ghia Convertibles (Sold to Denmark in 2018)
My current project in the shop is:
1969 Karmann Ghia Coupe
My Non-VW's are:
1937 Terraplane Coupe
1937 Terraplane Brougham (not here yet)
1937 Terraplane (not here yet)
1948 Hudson Parts car.
1949 Hudson Commodore 6 Sedan
1951 Hudson Commodore 8 Coupe (not here yet)
1954 Hudson Hornet Sedan
1941 Hudson Super 6 Sedan (will be selling once restored).
While I was at Wyotech Sacramento, I came across an article on facebook of KCW rebuilding a 1960 Porsche 356 T5 B coupe that had its roof crushed in and from then on I wanted one. I did some searching and found the Porsche 356 registry, and got into contact in Adam Wright. The short of it... I almost got bought a Porsche 356 B Coupe but ended up backing out of the deal due to realizing the shipping and resto costs where more than I would have starting out. I did join the club and am still a member with them, with the hopes of one day (soon) to get a real 356. However, that didn't turn me off them completely, I did some research to find out that the early's porsches aren't that different from aircooled Volkswagen, which got me interested in getting one to be as a stepping stone to a 356 one day.
My first VW is my 1958 VW Panel van I drove to Creston in 2013 to get, twice. My first truck died half way there and I had to limp it back to the island and get another one. I guess putting 16k km on it over 2 months isn't a good thing. I also picked up my 1965 Single Cab out of Cowichan and a 1961 VW SO23 camper from Shawn in Nov 2013 (which I ended up trading for a 1958 Single Cab). Meeting shawn actually got me thinking more of opening up my own shop, since I thought I might have to work in a collision or resto shop for several years before I would be able to. Add the fact that the VW reproduction metal is readily available, makes it a little easier re building them compared to the Hudson I own. The quality of the reproduction metal for the Hudson's is... ok, it really could be better but there is no competition. I looked from the end of 2013 to spring 2014, when I got my property to set up my business. Why duncan you ask? Well, an acreage anywhere in Victoria was around $500-750k to begin. The westshore was too out of the way and the only other option besides duncan was Port Alberni. Duncan really ended up being a the go-to town due to how close it is to Victoria and Nanaimo (and the fact that me and shawn can work with each other). I got my shop in July 2014 but was until able to start construction until Jan 2nd 2015 this year. All due to doing the building permits myself. Would I do it again? Yes. Shop construction finished on April 21st, when I began to move in. Officially my business is open as of May 1st 2015.
The short of it - My NFS Volkswagens are as follows:
1950 VW Beetle
1953 VW Beetle
1958 Karmann Ghia
1958 VW Panel Van
1958 VW Single Cab
1961 VW DD Panel Van
My possible for sale VW's are:
1959 VW Single Cab
1961 VW Single Cab
My currently for sale currently are:
My current project in the shop is:
1969 Karmann Ghia Coupe
My Non-VW's are:
1937 Terraplane Coupe
1937 Terraplane Brougham (not here yet)
1937 Terraplane (not here yet)
1948 Hudson Parts car.
1949 Hudson Commodore 6 Sedan
1951 Hudson Commodore 8 Coupe (not here yet)
1954 Hudson Hornet Sedan
1941 Hudson Super 6 Sedan (will be selling once restored).
) This can be time consuming... Airspeed to me is more about buying and selling and looking for parts, as opposed to general forums. For a business owner this might be a good choice however...
