UK Resto-Cal Volkswagen Forums

[trent]

Hi all
I guess some of you may seen me posting on here already...well I can now come clean and share with you that I am the new owner of Mike's 1955 RHD Oval Cabriolet Beetle.

I picked the car from Mike yesterday morning and drove to Action in her - my first VW show for many years.

Here's a pic of me concluding the deal with Mike and of course, while I look happy, understandably, he does not! Of course not planned but the house next to Mike's has been sold and that 'sold' word managed to get into the photo right above our heads.

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Mike really has to be thanked for taking this car on and saving her. Any Cabriolet Beetle is expensive to restore, but with the exception of a Heb or a split Cabrio, a pre-August 1955 car is in a different leaque to anything else out there.

So, I know you'll all want to know what my plans are. Well I will tell you and some of it may not please all but hey, it's my car, so my rules!

Firstly, let me tell you that although I'm an old git, VW's are not new to me as my first ever car was a 1968 1200 almost 24 years ago - yeah I don't look old enough right?...ha, ha! Since that car I've owned a '54 ragtop, '56, '59, '60 RHD Cabrio (regret selling but now fixed!) '64, '2 x 65, '68 1500 with steel sunroof (nice!) '72 and a '73. Not all of these were runners though...and...one very special '65.

That was a full on Cal-Look car which after meeting Stu Betty at Action yesterday, Iwas surprised to learn from Stu that mine was a car many people took insperation from, including Stu himself. - tks Stu!

The car started out as a dove grey 1965 1200 but with the infamous Colin Burnham 'Air Cooled VW's' book in hand, I spotted Peaches 'N Scream and thought ok, I'll make a UK version of that car. So when I had finished with it had been turned Peach, was running detailed 6x15 Fuch (4.5x15 as a spare), was dechromed, one-piece windows, lowered, detailed 1641cc engine, VDO dash, new interior, and detailed undersides including a flip-up fuel tank - one of the first in the UK.

I debuted that car at Stonor Park in 1989 (Gees, almost 20 years ago!) and it went on to win numerous trophies at places like Stonor, Bug-In and VW Action. I dug out some photos of the car, see below:

At Stonor Park 1989


Stonor '89


Kicking it with some bad ass Hot Rods at the South Coast Custom Car show in May 1990 - note the flip fuel tank and So-Cal style mirrors underneath the front highlighting the painted and chromed beam. Also note the colour of the tank and beam used on the inside of the Fuch...pure Cal-Look all the way!


The detail under the tank. Note the mirrored bulkhead panel, unthinkable today.


This shot taken at Bug-In 1990, showing the engine detail


So now that I've estabished my VW pedigee, I hope you're all rest assured the Cab has gone to a good home. What's next then.............

Well, final changes and tweaks will be made to the build of the car as it progresses but just to tell you, I'm not a fan of the Rat-Look as I'm sure you can tell from the '65 it's gotta be paint and detail for me, so for the car's rebirth, here's the plan so far:

The bodywork will be completed (not to be greedy, Mike left me some things to attend to!) and the original pan will be stored. Once complete, the body will go off to SPL for chemical stripping & e-coating and then it will be paint. It will be repainted the original colour, L232 Iris Blue and in time will receive a dark blue hood.

Why store the original pan? Because the car will be running a 2110cc (or bigger) engine with an uprated, possibly Berg 5 transmission and to maximise the driveability of the car, an IRS set-up will be used at the rear. I've already acquired a 1956 pan which will be used for the build up. Besides this the chassis will keep drop spindles and will run 4 wheel drilled dics all controlled by air shocks. I'm not a huge fan of the super narrow front end look and so the beam will be changed for one that is not so narrow and the front Fuch will be changed from 4.5 to 5.5, again to maximise driveability. Wheels will stay detailed Fuch.

Rest assured though that the bodywork will remain totally standard with maybe the exception of some nice period accessories. New interior and carpets will be fitted with every item, replaced, rechromed or repainted. The car will be converted to 12v and I plan to fit a 'hidden' hi-fi system.

As many of you know, projects of this nature take time, so there's no deadline, but that said, it would be nice to take a 20th anniversary of my '65 showing win at Stonor Park 2009!

I'm already stockpiling parts, here's some of them:

The 1956 pan (will be made to look like a pre Aug-55 pan - relocating the heater control know, correct seat runners etc)


NOS brake fluid reservoir


NOS Hella headlights


NOS bumper overriders


NOS accessory indicator arm (flashing red end)


NOS ignition, door and T-handles with matching keys


The two 5.5 x 15 chromed Fuch, already here from California (thanks Greg!)


So, that's about it for now, as I know there is so much interest and many followers of this car, I will aim to keep you updated via this thread.

Massive thanks once again to Mike Attewell for getting the project this far - thanks Mike, I hope you were not too disappointed at seeing her go yesterday as you'll soon have your new ride to think about and you were right, she rides really, really well, and once I joined the A34 at the M40, that old 30hp motor managed to hussle me along at constant 60-65mph. Nothing could have been cooler than sitting at the controls of the old girl, crusing hood (yeah, what hood?!) and windows down in the August summer sun - just fantastic.

As I guess the scene will never see a Ratty Oval Cabrio quite like this car again, here's some photos I shot on the way back home from Action - hope you like them, you'll not see her like this again.........................

Cheers
Martin

Oh, and if anyone has some NOS or really good Oval or inner 'ribbed' rear wings, bumper's an 80mph 55 trip speedo or anything you think may be of interest, please let me know!

[Rob E]

sounds like you need to speak to the Greenhearts, as big motors and gearboxs and irs are more their bag.....just to clear things up, RW and resto cals are more about a nice slammed car, but retaining alot of the original style features.

good luck with the resto
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[trent]

H'mm, don't want to get into a debate about a "what is, what isn't" Rob as I think there's too much narrowed mindeness for that but are you saying the car should not be talked about on RW as it doesn't constitute a Resto-Cal?

Apart from being lowered and on Fuch it'll look externally and internally standard which to my mind fits in with the rules! Just asking as I'll go elsewhere if I don't "fit in".

[Rob E]

i was just setting out what this website is about, nothing else.

we dont do custom. this is a restocal forum, the reason why nick set it up.

good luck with the project. i think you have the right people for the restoration
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[trent]

Understand Rob but you're still implying the car should now not be on here, which of course, if this is the opinion of the majority, I'll oblige and remove the postings.

Very interesting how you define custom from Resto-Cal. As I say, not going to get into a debate but as there are US German Folks cars running large motors and uprated transmissions, surely these should not be considered Resto-Cal then? As far as I'm concerned adding IRS, a large motor and uprated transmission does not make it a custom. But like me, you're entitled to your view.

Please let me know if others feel the same. If they do, I'll happily move the thread to a more suitable forum.

Tks for the resto wishes.
Cheers
M

[Rob E]

nope im more then happy to see this car evolve on here

im not implying that you should not be on here at all, this is a public forum, people can post what they want. i just think your plans are misleading....

theres alot of people who may not like your plans due to the extreme rarity of this car, but fair play for thinking outside the box

good luck with the project and like you say, your car, your rules just dont break out the chromed tinware just yet
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[trent]

Sorry if I misunderstood you Rob, reading what's written can always be miscontrude as something else

To make it clearer, the car will follow as close as possible the Resto-Cal rulebook. That's why I'm modifiying an Oval pan (not even one year later!) and not sourcing a ball-joint IRS pan from a semi-auto.

So all bodywork, and I mean all bodywork will be rock stock as will all fasterners and fixing's. There'll be no chrome going on in the engine bay (plans are for black engine tinware and body colour painted firewall etc).

Seats will be the original items just reupholstered. No flip fuel tank, no fancy colours. Externally, (and under the bonnet) to look at, the car will look like a standard 55 Vert, but slammed on earlies. Well ok, you may see a Berg 5 gear shifter but after looking at lots of US cars, that's not outside the rules...

I'd like to keep the thread here as I think it really does deserve to be here more than in those "other" forums.

[Rob E]

couldnt agree more with your last sentence

keep us updated with photos
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[jono73]

Loved the car as Mike had it but look forward to a new rebirth, good luck with the project. My car isnt strictly restocal even though its heading more that way as time moves on, once people are clear with your intentions im sure you like me will find everyone here very helpful and friendly.

[kai]

[tonser]

Hi Martin

Congrats on getting one of the most talked about cars of the last year - I look forward to seeing its progress. Your plans are not too dissimilar to mine for my 60 kabrio (though I'm keeping the OG chassis and not going IRS).

Good luck with it.

Tony
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*WANTED* - Drivers door for 60 rhd kabrio, NOS front and rear panels and kabrio semaphores too !

[blistered]

Your plans sounds interesting.

Personally I'd ditch the IRS and stick with the swing axle and just have a built box or something. If anything it'll save you a whole heap of hassle and money converting the pan.

Almost seems a shame to restore it but I'm looking forward to seeing it done!

[Dai-mond]

Hi Trent

Hope all is cool?
First up Massive congratulations on the new purchase. Its an amazing car and worthy of a detailed restoration.
Mike,( Along with Ben)has done loads of work on The cab and i for one feel that we've been really lucky to see the car rolling at shows this year as it is, Slammed, narrowed and full on resto cal. Mike could have decided to do a full resto straight off and none of us would have had the pleasure of seeing it in the state it is now. So thanks Mike.

Your plans sound great Trent. I think your passion is the main thing that comes across, not too mention the HUGE list of previously owned Vw's. !
Even though some of your ideas arent , as some people have said - "resto cal" as you stated .. your car , your rules. and to be honest all styles change and adapt over time and i think thats all your doing.
This cab deserves to have a whole lot more time , energy and money spent on it and im sure the finished result will look amazing.

Im chuffed that you "want" to post your work in progress on Restowagen. Im Glad that you haven't bought the car and taken your thoughts, views and experience elsewhere. I look forward to seeing the progress of the cab and seeing the updated pictures of how it makes the transformation from "Mikes Rat Look Cab" to "trents Concourse Cab" _ big engine and all!

Best of luck with it and thanks for including us.

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BBC Member No. 3

[trent]

Tks for the comments guys (shame I missed you at Action Tony I would have loved to have a natter about old Verts).

Right then, deep breath...been thinking about your comments overnight and I'm starting to lean towards keeping her on the original pan and forgetting the IRS.

After all, a Vert is all about crusing and not 'street racing' so I'm thinking I don't really need IRS at the rear. In addition, and this is something that has been bothering me for some time, the car is too historic not to be running around on its OG pan.

So there you go, that just saved a few $$$ I did say the plans would change as the project evolves

[da Fandango]

Trent - You're as welcome as anyone else is on this site.

I went with Mike to view this car when he bought it and its been great watching the progress develop on here to where it is now, and it will be great to see it enter the final stage and become the car it deserves to be. Before Mike bought it, it had been off the road a very long time and it was fantastic to see it rolling back on the road again where it deserves to be!

Having read your plans, It sounds like you're gonna do a good job! Everyone does have their own opinion of what Resto Cal is, but the lines between Resto Cal and Cal Look are becoming quite blurred. Many Cal Lookers are now retaining the full trim, stock interiors, etc, and the only thing separating an increasing number of them is the engine and stance. My view is, that if done properly, Resto Cals can have big engines - it seems to be the next step forward. Take James' 58 Vert for example, that has a 1776 out back and a hidden A1 exhaust so if the engine lid was down and the car not running, you would almost never know it had a larger CC engine.

Yachtybugger is putting a larger engine in his Vert - I heard it was 2332? and it will be done in a way that it integrates seamlessly with the overall look of the car. As long as the stance is right, and the temptation to go nose down, arse up is avoided then IMHO it will be a Resto Cal.

Personally, I'll be running a 2276 in my '56 with discs up front, etc, but the rest of the car will be stock. its not easy to gauge an engine size from just looking at it, so if you wanna discount bigger engines from being Resto Cal, then everyone who runs twin carbs would effectively be out the window..

I do agree that IRS is not the way to go with a Resto Cal - unless you use camber shims out back! I have gone IRS on my drag car for safety reasons, after watching several S/A drag cars over the years unload at the rear during deceleration and get into trouble. This can be overcome on an S/A bug using limiting straps. Having read that you've changed your mind about the IRS anyway I think you have the opportunity for a killer stance to make the car now..!

Besides, it would be awesome to see some 'buckaroo' Resto Cals give the Greenhearts a run for their money!

Good luck with the build! Look forward to seeing the progress unfold!

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