Next evolution for a 60 Ragtop

[stait9]

Hi
My first post here so firstly hello! Have been reading, I think it's called lurking but figured it was time to post as my new car is close to being finished.

Story so far is I bought a 1960 Ragtop of a guy called Pete (who I'm sure is on the forum) from the South of England.  I had just given up searching after several months and Pete and I had spoken previously but car was out of my price range.  I was on my way back from having just seen a really disappointing car and he called.  Anyway, a deal was struck and the car was bought minus running gear and engine.

Since then it's be a bit of an adventure.  Firstly the front beam I had from a previous car turned out to be good enough.  A replacement was sourced and narrowed and lowered by Alex Taylor at Defcon 3, in the UK.  It's a work of art but like a numpty I forgot to get pictures.  Next the 044 heads in the 1776 I also had from the car were destroyed by a courier when they were sent for some tweaking; so back to square one there too.  Also on closer inspection, it turned out the engine builder had also forgotten to tap the full flow and used old con rods which hadn't even been cleaned - less said the better.

Anyway Alex, who has been brilliant and I highly recommend, has been working on getting the car back together with help Pete at Funkenblitz on bits of the engine.  His work is excellent and he been a pleasure to work with.

So for some pics..............

Here's how the car looked when Pete bought the car in the US - I have tried emailing Oldbug to try and get hold of the original builder as it would be great to get more build up info, or even some pics, but no joy so far (if anyone can help I'd appreciate it):









So where am I up too, well it's got a new Pro Street box from Bear Motorsport UK with all the necessary bits, the engine has had top end re-build with new Los Panchitos CB heads which had some loving.  New front narrowed beam with CB disk brakes. Berg early locking shifter and a few other bits but I'll wait for the completed photos.

All the elements are now almost finished and should be coming together in the next few weeks - there's a Volksworld deadline for another project with Alex which is cool.  It's been a few months after waiting for bits e.g. heads from US, so a couple more weeks is not here nor there.

Engine bits:









I will post more pics in a few weeks when car on the road but I hope you like it in the meantime.

Cheers

Stuart

 

[stait9]

EDITED

[Zach Gomulka]

I remember seeing that car at The Classic a few years back. I hardly ever take pictures, but that car had me at hello! Must have been the wheels

[Nico86]

Welcome dude, I love that car! 

[stait9]

Cheers guys, appreciate the comments and photo, it really did look good with those wheels.  There's some for sale which need restoring but am very tempted.

[speedwell]

welcome to the lounge , hope you will enjoy the place like us

and by the way i love the car the way it was with the E/T mag

 
fabs

[Nico86]

Cheers guys, appreciate the comments and photo, it really did look good with those wheels.  There's some for sale which need restoring but am very tempted.

That would be great to see it again with ET Mags, or maybe Flat4 Enkei 5 spokes.

[Flow]

Cheers guys, appreciate the comments and photo, it really did look good with those wheels.  There's some for sale which need restoring but am very tempted.

That would be great to see it again with ET Mags, or maybe Flat4 Enkei 5 spokes.

I agree !!! It's the best version 

[early-air]

hi stu!

the offset was crap on the et mags,  also i wouldnt have wanted to run it on the track on those as the rims only held together by a few itty bitty rivets.  some ways i may regret selling the car but to take it to the next level would have cost me a fortune and meant re-doing work for works sake,  i  watch with interest what you do with it!  the guy i bought it from was Chris Davis and he was from Vista in california,  last time i spoke to him he was building a quick trekker.

keep well mate....  looks like yours will be out before mine!!!!    the 57 lowlite is having the cage done atm and the 56 is just about ready for the mot,  oh and there is always the 57 oval i just bought but thats another story!!!

[stait9]

You're addicted Pete 

Re: wheels, cheers for the input everyone.  First thing first, get it back up and running and then see!  Have always loved Cal Part rims too.....   

[jamiep_jamiep]

I always liked the Berm's personally.... very cool car. You'll be please with it I'm sure Stuart.

Enjoy!

[speedwell]

pictures i've found on the net years ago 

[speedwell]

some i took @ebi 3 
is it jungle green color

[71CALRIPPER]

Pukka car dude

[Nico-67]

Sick car, I love it !! 

[stait9]

Cheers for the comments everyone and thanks for the pics Speedwell, can't wait.  Spoke to Alex and should have it back in under 2 weeks!   

[stait9]

Things got a little delayed but I have been praying to the gods of old cars and hopefully we are talking weeks rather than the months it's been since I last posted.

In the meantime....

Engine as of last week was running (this has been where the major delay happened but it's sounding sweet so that's what matters)........



Couple of shots of car.....





Finger crossed for no more major hiccups.

[jamiep_jamiep]

Sweet... looks great on the AE 5's.

[JSL]

Couple of shots of car.....



Finger crossed for no more major hiccups.

Awsome ragtop!!

Coming along nicely!

Thats mine awaiting attention under the covers (on the right of pic) next to yours

I wonder what they talk about when everyones gone home...... 

J

[stait9]

Thanks J - I reckon they talk about who's turn it is next
By the way, never got to say thanks re: your advice on petrol tank and sender, all installed now, appreciate it - it was a while ago on VZI, on the link to your other car build.

Quick update - horror of horrors, it turns out the gearbox had an issue - so close and yet so far.  Good news was it was only small germlins which have now been rectified (sweet) but did require engine and gearbox out (again) and box back to builder.

[stait9]

Car back and having a shake down.  Engine needs tune and a few other bits and bobs but that's old beetles for you.....
Hope you like it the pics; they're just on the driveway as I needed to take some for insurance company but thought it'd be good to post them up here
Cheers
S

























Don't have a spring for boot lid but have a little helper instead....



He decided to test ragtop too..

[fredy66]

where is that gauge panel from ? 

[stait9]

I think it was Machine 7 in the UK or somewhere similar.  I bought it when I picked up some VDO gauges which I never used.  It is normally black cracked effect but I rubbed it down and had it painted green to match.  Hope that helps.

[fredy66]

thanks man

[So.Cal.Life]

    That's a great looking car you have there, I hope you and the boy make tons of great history and memories together with it  , that's what its all about.          KG

[Jared]

 

What deep sump is this?

[fredy66]

from scat i believe 

[stait9]

Can't remember, it's been a while.  I'll have a check underneath and let you know if that's okay.

[Jared]

It looks like a wide glide from scat but I wasn't sure.

[c,davis419]

Hi Guys!
Its Chris from California. Its good to see my old car is in very capable and appreciative hands. Fire away on whatever questions you have about the build. I bought it in 2002 because it was the driest and straightest bug I had ever found. 100% original German sheetmetal, perfect aprons, all 4 original fenders, 4 tab hood and decklid. The pan tarboards were scraped clean to reveal shiny paint even in the battery tray. The car was painted 2002 Jaguar British Racing Green using single stage Glasurit paint in Oct 2003 by Braxmeyer Auto Body in Vista,CA. I always loved looking at all the perfect spotwelds inside the fenderwells. When it was shipped to England it had a Franklin's 3" narrowed beam powdercoated with adjusters, stock spindles and AC Industries disc kit up front. It had a KCR built transmission and a VW Paradise 1915cc engine. The car has a Wiring Works wiring loom installed and I made sure to restore or source NOS screw terminal switches and lights for it. I installed NOS pop out windows that were still wearing the original 45 year old rubber when it was exported. The front seats are from a 1986 Porsche 924 and are quite cozy. I must admit, I do miss the ET's as well. Those were the crowning jewel of the car for me. I sourced the wheels from Colorado, bought NOS caps and lugs off EBAY and then polished and painted them. I see the additional gauges have been installed, the shifter, steering wheel, running boards and drivetrain have been changed. Good job with your build. Keep up the good work!