Post by Volktales on Oct 18, 2014 15:19:27 GMT -8
Ok it has taken awhile but I finally have got my crap together! Way, way back in 1985 when I was still skinny and had hair I bought my first car, a 1970 Beetle that had been in the family since new. Given its $300 purchase price, it wasn't exactly mint but was reliable enough to last me the next 17 winters. It was retired from active duty when the seat started falling through the floor and has been gently rotting in the backyard ever since. I always hoped to somehow restore it but not surprisingly the rot is serious and on pretty much every panel. I stole its motor for another project years ago so its future was pretty bleak. But last year I managed to find the perfect incomplete parts car which will allow me to make one out of two! I intend to use as much of the original car as I can so it is still "my" car. Pictures will be posted soon so watch this space...
In the process of garage cleaning at the moment, trying to organize parts that I have had stashed away for my original car for eons. My favourite thing to go in is an original blaupunkt AM/FM radio that I found installed in the dash of a 1980"s FORD van that was being scrapped! How it got there I will never know but it is even the correct type for a early 70's bug! And here is another paint question. When my first car was brand new it was painted Savannah Beige. So is my recently aquired parts car. I never was the greatest fan of this colour, but am leaning towards repainting it as it was originally. I plan to have it relatively stockish but will likely lower the front slightly and don't want the modern narrowed look. Beetleboy would like me to build a giant motor but then he has speed issues... I like to be a bit different than everyone else in my choice of wheels however.. Back in the "80s when I started driving I managed to get a used set of Appliance brand slotted mags (similar to what the Brits call Wolfrace) with ancient Michelin X's for the bug. I couldn't afford the popular Empi 8-spokes, or Riviera's at the time and nobody had BRM's... I still have the wheels in great shape and yes the tires which are well over 30 years old are still holding air! Anyway they filled the fenders nicely which is the '70's look I am after and think they will work with the Beige paint.... Any comments on this???
Dug out some more parts for my "70 project, found the nice dash pad my cousin gave me about 10 years ago from his '68 baja project. It could have been a magazine feature car if he hadn't wrote it off in a spectactular fashion! My original car featured the common black leatherette seats and door panels. My parts car came with the remains of a red cloth interior. I probably will reuse my black interior as it is still usable but the red looks much better with the beige exterior. Any comments?
The '70 project is having to be put on hold for a moment as I need to sell a different vehicle. My mellow yellow '67 is up for sale! I wish I could say it was a Beetle or a splittie but it is wait for it... a 1967 Mercury Cougar! Yes in my younger days I once thought about stepping away from the VW scene for a while and fully restored a Cougar. I finallly decided 19 years later that it is time for it to go to a new home so I will have more $ to spend on my Beetle and Ghia projects! Was up in Dad's garage attic yesterday and found my old VW slotted mags. A little bit of polishing should make them live again. Found my old unused Continental whitewall spare tire too, and now finally have a project to install it in. Updates to continue...
Just took a peek inside my old green '70. Birds have been gaining entry through the giant rust holes and are pooping on the seats. A neighbourhood cat has been setting up residence underneath. Then a big wasp flew up to say hi so it was time to close the door again.....
I am likely going to go with the original Savannah Beige paint. The slotted mags will be reinstated for the retro look although this time there will be dropped spindles and front disc brakes. Even though I still have the T-bars I don't think I will use them. The engine will probably remain stockish or at least stock appearing. Back in the day I always ran an SS header system and loved the sound it made. The SS system used a single tubular type muffler. Don't know if still made anymore.... I will run the original black interior at first, but may switch to red at a later date because I know it will look better. Still have to save up for a high quality set of bumpers as my originals are sadly too far gone to save....
I haven't added anything to this thread for awhile because of a very different project. If everything goes well in approximately 2 months I will finally have a decent garage!!! Recent changes in the City of Nanaimo community planning have allowed for the construction of "carraige houses" in your back yard if your property qualifies. Basically these are a garage with a small apartment above. This way I can finally get a decent sized garage and the rental above will help pay for the construction cost! Currently the permit application has been submitted and now am waiting for final approval. Very hopeful we are, and once completed I can finally get into my '70 Beetle project again (most parts have been collected for this project over many years). Still haven't sold my Cougar however... not that I have tried very hard yet.... Will post more pictures once I have something interesting to show...
Over the Christmas holidays, we were reminiscing over some family pictures and look what I found...
Here was my '70 VW back in 1980 when it still had original paint. This is in preparation for my sister's choice of new red paint for her first car.. Note the primer on the roof gutters indicating it was already rusting at ten years of age... Still had things like heater channels and floor pans then however... Not sure why it has that nasty ford hubcap on it. Probably something to do with VW hating Dad.
And here it is after its Paramount Auto Body paintjob... Dad's friend worked there and this was a special deal. The special part was that it faded within the year and by the time I bought five years later, it was basically metallic pink! I have now owned this car for 29 years and it has been dead for 13 years. I think I finally picked a new colour out for it. After my Ghia is mechanically finished, and after the other Savannah Beige '70 is finished, this will be the next project.... If there is anything left that is....
Then to start from scratch again and figure out just what tools to get to minimum set-up...... 
