Late Models...

[smurf67]

i was just browsing the greenhearts forum and found this awesome late looker :

are there any other photos available? this is one bad ass looker IMHO

Now this is a good looking late bug wouldnt mind this sitting on the drive. Very nice

[speedwell]

what do you think about this late convert model  he was at the car/coffee

[John Rayburn]

Cool!

[bugnut68]

I'm glad to see there's more tolerance on late model cars here than, oh, say, on the Samba.  I totally dig the late model Cal Look cars, primarily up to '70 (since that's what I've got )  but my buddy who passed away three years ago had a really nice '73 standard Cal Look Bug with 1915, IDAs and a Berg 5.  Sweet car, that one was, and unfortunatley neither Jason nor the Bug are still with us today.   

[Neil Davies]

Neil, very sorry to hear about your torn disc. Positive thoughts and prayers going out to you for a quick recovery.

On a brighter note, sounds like your car will turn out nice. Can't wait to see pics when you get better.

Thanks Mark, appreciate it! I feel like such a moron for doing it too!

Anyway, apparently the shell was painted last night! I saw it briefly yesterday with the inside painted and it looked ace! Different to my original plan, but nice nonetheless... I always thought of anthracite grey (L469) as a blue grey, but this has more brown in it. Changed my idea of blacked out window trim and handles, they're all going back to stock, but no side trim, that just wouldn't be cal look!

I'm very lucky in that my Dad and my friends who I rent my unit with are working on the pan in my absence! Fortunately they're taking pictures - I can't wait to see them too!

[Rennsurfer]

Anyway, apparently the shell was painted last night! I saw it briefly yesterday with the inside painted and it looked ace! Different to my original plan, but nice nonetheless... I always thought of anthracite grey (L469) as a blue grey, but this has more brown in it. Changed my idea of blacked out window trim and handles, they're all going back to stock, but no side trim, that just wouldn't be cal look!

I'm very lucky in that my Dad and my friends who I rent my unit with are working on the pan in my absence! Fortunately they're taking pictures - I can't wait to see them too!

COOL! Can't wait to see pics, Neil. You're right about that color... it has a touch of brown, but a very nice color, nonetheless. The stock trim color is a good decision, too. Keep The Lounge updated, sounds like another nice late Looker is on the horizon.

[Neil Davies]

Dad sent me some pics today, so here's a single one, just as a taster!



Really pleased with it - the painter has still got to do all the panels, but Dad and Lee are going to try to get the shell bolted down to the pan by the weekend. Spoken to VW Heritage about when some of the parts are going to be delivered - TMI are having a couple of delays so looks like it'll be next week I get my order. I could do with the headliner and new wiring loom soon to crack on with the rebuild!

While I was looking at old pics in my PC, I came across this one of my old '70.

I bought it from a mate who had gone to Australia travelling for a year - I paid for his garage rent every month and got the car in return! Dad and I replaced the heater channels, did a couple of small repairs on the quarter panels on one side and that was it body wise! Cut and turned beam, built a little 1641, detailed the sprints and that was it - I loved that car. Sold it to a guy who then sold it to his brother, who ran it around for a few years. Lost track of it then. It's the one car I regret selling!

[Rennsurfer]

Love the new color, Neil... looks really good. The '70 was a nice car, as well. Keep up the good work... that's gonna be a fun car when you're finished building it.

[roland]

Nice Neil! looking good...

[Neil Davies]

Love the new color, Neil... looks really good. The '70 was a nice car, as well. Keep up the good work... that's gonna be a fun car when you're finished building it.

Thing is, it's not for me! I was going to build it more traditional late '70's/early 80's cal look and smoke around in it for a while with my 2007 motor and original 8-spokes, then sell it on to fund the '51 resto at a later date. My cousin wants to buy her husband-to-be a Beetle for his 40th birthday and asked if I knew of any good ones... so I volunteered mine. I know it's going to be solid, reliable and above all, safe. Nothing worse than a friend or family member asking you to look out for a car that then turns out to be crap!

Think I've got about 4 weeks to finish it, and my back still isn't right...

Nice Neil! looking good...

Roland, it's not going to be as good as yours!

[Jalle]

My car

[BeetleBug]

Looking GOOD Jallle! Congrats with your new car.

[Nico86]

Looking GOOD Jallle! Congrats with your new car.

Yep very nice ! Love the interior.

[Nico86]

Looks nice but I would remove the Robri gravel guards.

[ian c]

hey niel .
how you doin .

is the back going to be right in time for you to finish the car ??

maybe it would be cool to get the car finished say roadworthy , but only 90 percent , and have the guy finish the little jobs himself ?

would give him the chance to have worked on his own project ,
and you get to sit watching , drinking tea and shouting orders at him !!

[Rocket Ron]

My car

nice car mate

tracked down my drinks can, pm me your address and I'll send it out. When you get it you acn send one back to me. Ok? 

[speedwell]

very 80's 

[Sarge]

A couple of shots of the '69 when it had chrome rims.

[Sarge]

...and after the chrome rims.

[Neil Davies]

Sarge, did you ever have the Porsche wheels and the chrome trim? That would have beenan awesome combination!

[speedwell]

love the car with babygasburner and black trim and love car with nosebra 

[j-f]

Could be fun to try some chromies on my 68. Sarge's car and mine looks very similar. 

[Sarge]

Sarge, did you ever have the Porsche wheels and the chrome trim? That would have beenan awesome combination!

No..., never thought of it, but you make a good point.  Maybe on my next one

love the car with babygasburner and black trim and love car with nosebra 

Thanks, bro!

Could be fun to try some chromies on my 68. Sarge's car and mine looks very similar. 

I always liked the easy maintenance of chrome wheels..., no black fingers

[Diederick/DVK]

love the pic with the mahle wheels and nose bra! 145 and 165 tyres?

by the way, you look like a frickin giant in that photo with the snowy background!!

[Rennsurfer]

Smoke, mirrors, and trick photography. If you ever meet Sarge... he's a lot shorter in person.

 

Oh... hiya, Sarge.

[Sarge]

love the pic with the mahle wheels and nose bra! 145 and 165 tyres?

by the way, you look like a frickin giant in that photo with the snowy background!!

The tires were 195/60's front and 205/60's rear Pirelli CN36.  Stock front beam with Avis adjusters..., handled like a champ!

Smoke, mirrors, and trick photography. If you ever meet Sarge... he's a lot shorter in person.

 

Oh... hiya, Sarge.

I used to be pretty tall, but lately a lot of my height seems to be moving to my wasteline for some reason

[Rennsurfer]

Sarge, what year(s) did you have that late model? What size engine(s) did you have in it?

[Sarge]

Sarge, what year(s) did you have that late model? What size engine(s) did you have in it?

Sharon and I bought it new from Don Burns when I got home from the Army in 1969.  It died out in front of the house December of 1992 when two drunks ran their Dually into it.  It had a 1776 with Kad's and an Engle 110 for a long time, followed by Weber 44IDF's..., then a 2017 with Okrasa 78.4, Engle 120, and IDA's.  The 2017 never seemed to be quite "right"  as I switched up the ring and pinion from 4:12 to 3:88 and I couldn't get the tune spot on.  It was a fun car to drive and we toured a lot in it (see On Vacation thread).  I was sad to see it go.

[Jim Ratto]

I like the whole different feel/look a later car has.
They look better with more tire than a 67-earlier car. They seem "tougher" not so dainty and fragile. Closer to their big cousin the 911 too. And I can attest, a nicely setup IRS car with some business under the engine lid sure is a lot of fun to drive. Seems like later cars don't get so wrapped up in the "what makes a cal look car?" hype. They're "allowed" to be real cars.

[Rennsurfer]

Sarge, that sucks. Sorry to hear about how that car's life ended. I've read the Vacation thread(s) involving your travels with that car. Sounds like you both had a lotta fun with it. And rightly so.

Jim, I've always thought the same thing about late Bugs, too. Your post is spot on. I've always wanted to build a Savannah Beige '69. Maybe one day.