Heres some pictures from the past. I was given this when I was 16 it used to be my mums daily until she got an Uno (I'm 35 now!)
The family had two previous beetles one my dad stripped as a project car but per usual that was as far as it got before being moved on. I was engulfed in Vw magazines for years so I new what I wanted to do with it.
The usual problems presented themselves with structural areas needing replacing new floors etc. I had the bumpers removed for a cleaner look. It was based on the Cal Look theme of the time only being the 1303 model it wasnt really the way to go but it was donated! So a slighty more modern twist was put on it.
being 17 when it was finished I didnt have a lot of knowledge and my dads tools were limited. I used to hang out in a local garage where they used to build race cars for the locals so I knew a few people.
As anyone who's owned one of these they're a real money pit! I had it lowered using adjustable front legs, one spline at the back and had a disc brake conversion on the front uprated anti roll bar at the front and one fitted to the rear. Spax adjustable shocks on the back. It handled well put I only ever had a standard engine in it.
Unfortunatley I drove it like a racing car being the teenager I was! Even though I did have the original engine stripped and rebuilt regularly running it off the clock soon put a hole in that! Luckily I had bought another project a 1967 1500 beetle
I used the engine in this to keep the other on the road and ended up stripping the rest for profit. Hanging around the Hot Rod/ Stock Car fraternity of the mid late 90's the Toyota Starlet was the car to have on the track. Although I had an interest in racing my family didnt so racing at the time wasnt on the agenda. Starlets were often offered for sale and I dabbled in a few just to make money to spend on the bug. Driving these about I realised how much fun they were and eventually id own one for good. University was beckoning and I was working at Tesco part time but earning well for a student. I decided on a new project after seeing a friends son with a Race car style Starlet on the road. They also raced a Starlet and had a few spare cars but were looking to sell up.
This was the basis for the project a standard 1.0 litre Starlet slighty crusty on the body put solid where it counted. I also bought their spare race engine a 1.3 with a cam and lightened flywheel. I think the lot cost me £550.
Using metal trailer arches cut in two side skirts and a front panel it had the race car treatment on the body work.
[img src="i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/ashley115s/scan0930.jpg"]http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/ashley115s/scan0928.jpg[/IMG]
I then had it sprayed Ford Imperial Blue, purchased some revo's and some yokohama tyres, Rs Turbo Recaros and an Autometer rev counter.
[img src="i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/ashley115s/2011-01-01_41.jpg"]http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/ashley115s/scan0924.jpg[/IMG]
It had the springs basically chopped in half and Polleysport dampers all round. It was hard a nails! I couldnt drive much more than half an hour without getting neck ache or a headache! Luckily most journeys were local albeit flat out!
I gave the car death and could make the tyres sticky in my three mile trip to work. The only mechanical failure was a head gasket and a gearbox which id changed for a 5 speed.
I was still running the Beetle at the time and at University, I didnt spend my time drinking I was working at Tesco!
My best mate also built one using an earlier bug eyed Mk1. He didnt use it much it had a bigger cam in it and was a bit harder to drive, his prop would often scrape the tunnel with just him in it where as mine only did it with passengers in the back.
The family had two previous beetles one my dad stripped as a project car but per usual that was as far as it got before being moved on. I was engulfed in Vw magazines for years so I new what I wanted to do with it.
The usual problems presented themselves with structural areas needing replacing new floors etc. I had the bumpers removed for a cleaner look. It was based on the Cal Look theme of the time only being the 1303 model it wasnt really the way to go but it was donated! So a slighty more modern twist was put on it.
being 17 when it was finished I didnt have a lot of knowledge and my dads tools were limited. I used to hang out in a local garage where they used to build race cars for the locals so I knew a few people.
As anyone who's owned one of these they're a real money pit! I had it lowered using adjustable front legs, one spline at the back and had a disc brake conversion on the front uprated anti roll bar at the front and one fitted to the rear. Spax adjustable shocks on the back. It handled well put I only ever had a standard engine in it.
Unfortunatley I drove it like a racing car being the teenager I was! Even though I did have the original engine stripped and rebuilt regularly running it off the clock soon put a hole in that! Luckily I had bought another project a 1967 1500 beetle
I used the engine in this to keep the other on the road and ended up stripping the rest for profit. Hanging around the Hot Rod/ Stock Car fraternity of the mid late 90's the Toyota Starlet was the car to have on the track. Although I had an interest in racing my family didnt so racing at the time wasnt on the agenda. Starlets were often offered for sale and I dabbled in a few just to make money to spend on the bug. Driving these about I realised how much fun they were and eventually id own one for good. University was beckoning and I was working at Tesco part time but earning well for a student. I decided on a new project after seeing a friends son with a Race car style Starlet on the road. They also raced a Starlet and had a few spare cars but were looking to sell up.
This was the basis for the project a standard 1.0 litre Starlet slighty crusty on the body put solid where it counted. I also bought their spare race engine a 1.3 with a cam and lightened flywheel. I think the lot cost me £550.
Using metal trailer arches cut in two side skirts and a front panel it had the race car treatment on the body work.
[img src="i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/ashley115s/scan0930.jpg"]http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/ashley115s/scan0928.jpg[/IMG]
I then had it sprayed Ford Imperial Blue, purchased some revo's and some yokohama tyres, Rs Turbo Recaros and an Autometer rev counter.
[img src="i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/ashley115s/2011-01-01_41.jpg"]http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/ashley115s/scan0924.jpg[/IMG]
It had the springs basically chopped in half and Polleysport dampers all round. It was hard a nails! I couldnt drive much more than half an hour without getting neck ache or a headache! Luckily most journeys were local albeit flat out!
I gave the car death and could make the tyres sticky in my three mile trip to work. The only mechanical failure was a head gasket and a gearbox which id changed for a 5 speed.
I was still running the Beetle at the time and at University, I didnt spend my time drinking I was working at Tesco!
My best mate also built one using an earlier bug eyed Mk1. He didnt use it much it had a bigger cam in it and was a bit harder to drive, his prop would often scrape the tunnel with just him in it where as mine only did it with passengers in the back.