Yes it's true I'm going to the effort of converting my daily diesel PT Cruiser into a panel van...
Personally I'm on the side of the marmite debate that actually likes the PT Cruiser. Mine's been largely trouble free and it gives me good mpg unlike the petrol equivalents but more importantly it puts a smile on my face. And when you have other project cars you'll know how much you need to smile every now and again...read my build threads below.
When I first got my PT I lowered it and that's how it's stayed. I've been very happy except that I would have liked to have bought coil overs with damping adjustment to tune the ride. I've never been attracted by the kitsch chrome accessories and preferred mine polished, lowered and understated.
So why convert it into a panel van? ...because I can.
With a new business venture underfoot the thought of buying a small characterless delivery van to drive around in, and take stuff to shows, had me seriously considering valium but then a visit to a car show had me lusting after certain vintage panel vans but a V8 doesn't equate to sensible daily driving in the UK. So at the end of the day I decided I would use what I had, which I liked, and have some fun with it... and so the decision to convert my PT was made.
I began by doing some internet research and visited some hotrod builders & body shops. Interestingly many of the people I spoke to had seriously considered doing this themselves but hadn't got around to it - they gave me some good ideas too which I hope to implement in future. It seems there are more closet lovers of the PT than many would care to admit - even one very well known hotrod builder here in the south-east.
Images such as this were enough inspiration and if done right can look amazing:
Anyway...with GoldieHawn the 924 running as sweet as a nut now I had a daily I could use while Preston got an overhaul - Yes I'm a sad person who names his project cars. They're just a little bit harder to destroy with a sledgehammer when they have names...
So the strip down began this past weekend - first the interior and the headlining:
Then the rear windows and door furniture was the next to go:
Then I sealed it up because of the threat of rain - again...before it was time to enter the workshop.
Then it was time to get the body work started...rear doors first - excuse the shaky pics.
More to updates to follow!
Personally I'm on the side of the marmite debate that actually likes the PT Cruiser. Mine's been largely trouble free and it gives me good mpg unlike the petrol equivalents but more importantly it puts a smile on my face. And when you have other project cars you'll know how much you need to smile every now and again...read my build threads below.
When I first got my PT I lowered it and that's how it's stayed. I've been very happy except that I would have liked to have bought coil overs with damping adjustment to tune the ride. I've never been attracted by the kitsch chrome accessories and preferred mine polished, lowered and understated.
So why convert it into a panel van? ...because I can.
With a new business venture underfoot the thought of buying a small characterless delivery van to drive around in, and take stuff to shows, had me seriously considering valium but then a visit to a car show had me lusting after certain vintage panel vans but a V8 doesn't equate to sensible daily driving in the UK. So at the end of the day I decided I would use what I had, which I liked, and have some fun with it... and so the decision to convert my PT was made.
I began by doing some internet research and visited some hotrod builders & body shops. Interestingly many of the people I spoke to had seriously considered doing this themselves but hadn't got around to it - they gave me some good ideas too which I hope to implement in future. It seems there are more closet lovers of the PT than many would care to admit - even one very well known hotrod builder here in the south-east.
Images such as this were enough inspiration and if done right can look amazing:
Anyway...with GoldieHawn the 924 running as sweet as a nut now I had a daily I could use while Preston got an overhaul - Yes I'm a sad person who names his project cars. They're just a little bit harder to destroy with a sledgehammer when they have names...
So the strip down began this past weekend - first the interior and the headlining:
Then the rear windows and door furniture was the next to go:
Then I sealed it up because of the threat of rain - again...before it was time to enter the workshop.
Then it was time to get the body work started...rear doors first - excuse the shaky pics.
More to updates to follow!
