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Nov 22, 2006 10:46:45 GMT
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My first post here after seeing the site mentioned on Volkszone a few times... here's my '61 Bug. I started with this, a Beryl Greeen 1961 deluxe 1200 bought from an ad on Volkszone and imported from Sweden. Structurally excellent but needed a few things for the MoT   Some second hand US spec bumpers cheered it up a bit, they were cheapo aftermarket ones but as the car lives in a garage they didn't rust too badly   Call a friend over, and we'll fit a Golde sunroof over the weekend. Please bring Tatra over for company   Roof section from a '63 Beetle  |
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Nov 22, 2006 10:50:25 GMT
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Measure several times, then out with the jigsaw - too late now   Brace it from underneath, and plug weld, then seam weld  All finished in a weekend and looks great! Front indicators are US spec clear lenses  Give Hayden at www.panel-kraft.co.uk/ this picture  And he sends back this. Spot-on ;D  |
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Nov 22, 2006 10:53:00 GMT
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 Interior is the correct grey, too  And he slid in a 1641 to replace the smoky 1300 single port  I painted running boards. Not exactly right so need to do these again  "Get this thing out of my showroom!" ;D  |
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Nov 22, 2006 10:58:23 GMT
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Next stage is fitting the 356B drums all round  These were about £500 per axle, you can get disc conversions but Porsche drums are a period mod, and they look cool ;D A few months pass and I've sourced a higher ratio gearbox from a 1500 Beetle and a new sunroof cover then phoned up Panel-kraft again Now lowered by 2 inches, 1500 gearbox fitted, 12V conversion completed, auxilliary oil cooler fitted, 356 brakes fitted, grey headliner put in, endless fiddling to make the sunroof slide smoothly and a layer of dirt on the body from being towed to my house  Luckily some willing helpers can fix that. 2 year old daughter and 4 year old son - lots of enthusiasm but not too careful about aim   |
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Nov 22, 2006 11:01:36 GMT
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Months pass, and a friend is getting married in the summer so we need to get the stickers on! Luckily he used to put vinyl stickers onto vans so he knows what he's doing. I know how to make the tea and use the camera.... Door numbers first, start off easy!  Rear number on, getting all the creases out was tough  Stripes on over the bonnet. Tricky over the crease at the bottom edge so lots of soapy water to slide it into place  Over the top  And down the back  |
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Nov 22, 2006 11:04:08 GMT
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That took all of Saturday, bonnet number next!  But I still need to finish the front seat covers, put the new headlights on, put the radio in, do the seat belts Still makes me grin though  Fitted the grey seat covers on the front at last, and put in the correct Sapphire 1 radio  |
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Nov 22, 2006 11:07:58 GMT
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A few easy jobs  Everyone knows the number plate light gasket should be L87, so I painted it. Even though it was carefully removed when the car was painted....  The Love Bug cars didn't have the VW badge on the bonnet, it was replaced by a fibreglass disc and painted L87. Here's mine  Get those hubcaps off, the 356 brakes are on display. Also L87 painted running boards and the correct shape door mirror.  Chrome base ariel in the right place  Onto Stanford Hall where everyone wanted to have their photo taken standing next to Herbie. Ask if they want to sit inside for a photo and watch them grin ;D |
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Nov 22, 2006 11:13:07 GMT
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At last I managed to swap the European fluted lenses for some US spec sealed beams and clear lenses. Onto another show in Essex  The following week it was down to rainy mid Wales for wedding car duties - this is Mike who put the graphics on. Rubbish picture quality, what sort of person goes to a wedding with only a phone camera?  Then a few weeks later to VW Action in Hertfordshire  And a month later at Croxley Green car show - this is the car's natural habitat - kids enjoying themselves and having lots of pictures taken!  The Charger was cool, but the owner of the Torino was much happier to talk to me  |
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slik50
Part of things
Posts: 17
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Nov 22, 2006 11:15:05 GMT
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Looks fantastic mate Top job |
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Somedays your the pigeon,
Somedays your the statue!
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Nov 22, 2006 11:16:25 GMT
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Top notch Nearly brought a Herbie look-a-like about a year ago. Brought my NX insted though. |
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Nov 22, 2006 16:52:56 GMT
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ooh i think i saw that a few weeks back, might have been somewhere around wickford maybe, cant remember exactly. looks cool, I'm no Veedub fan, but EVERYone loves herbie.  |
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Nov 22, 2006 19:10:05 GMT
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thats the first herbie look a like that i actually like, just shows its all in the deatils and not just in some stickers on a cream beetle. great work mate love it to bits
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Nov 22, 2006 19:12:14 GMT
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now that is cool ! theres a new shape beetle floating round here in sunny newcastle with the herbie stripes and numbers on it and its just not right !! if you're ever at the lake district ,get yourself to Keswick cos there a museum there called 'stars of the cars' (i think it was) and amongst other things (mr beans mini,the knightrider car,the batmobile etc) he's got the original (or one of em..) herbie out of one of the films complete with brown paint on it to give a rusted effect..well worth a visit |
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Nov 22, 2006 20:49:44 GMT
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Exellent attention to detail.
Great stuff and inspirational.
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Nov 23, 2006 11:11:07 GMT
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Cheers, guys! I've been to the Keswick museum, they tell a few fibs about their Herbie - it was used in 2 films not 4 and the front end damage was done during shipping not filming. Still interesting to look at though ;D I've had some wide wheels made by welding VW centres into 6" rims so they'll go on over the winter. Projects are never finished are they? |
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