project rattlebox

Cast your minds back a few years to a better time. a time where your author was much younger, fitter, thinner and single and ai might say, a hit with the ladies. Back then i was obsessed with Beetles and I certainly got through a few. I had at one point an apple green 74 that i did nothing with, just ran it till ths mot expired then sold it on, minus it's decent engine.

A few years ago I was offered the car back. I didnt have a bug at the time so tookl the opportunity, especially as he was prepared to wait for the cash (he's still waiting as it happens!)

The shell has deteriorated drastically and needed a lot of work, including the gutters down the full length of the car, both sides. that is a mojor major job. The decision was made to scrap the shell and build something else.

Fast forward a few weeks and a mate offered me a solid but tatty, ex drag race shell. It is an early 60's shell but was converted to a wizard roadster in the early 90's and then campaigned ont he drag strip. I paid £50 for it.

Sadly it was delivered on the back of a pick up and the heater channels bent in transit. subsequent mioving of the shell has caused the bent steel to start to crack so it needs work. I has also slept outsice, uncovered for the past two years so has deteriorated more.

Anyway, the time has come to take action. i decided to start a thread in the hope that a bit of encouragement will stop me from stalling.

This is going to be done on a mega low budget, Some welding work is going to be done by our verry own chataholic, Roccy but I am hoping to do some of the easier bits myseld.

Heres some pics from a few years ago...





i9 think i know what the future holds for this but if anyone has any ideas, feel free to shout out. The screen has been chopped off by the way. that's pretty much all i did to it!

i am thinking silly low mild to dull engine (to start with), tidy engine and running gear, matt brown/rust on the body, welded doors, zero filler so all the welds and plates show. interior will be a pair of mk2 seats(need to source) with all the foam and fabric removed.

minimal electrics. front lights and indicators to me housed on gas masks (need to source)

any parts gratefully accepted!!!

dave bout time, cant wait for this to unfold


much love liam

now thats something to really get your teeth stuck into...your plans sound really interesting...like Liam, cant wait to watch this unfold

Sounds great what you've got planned i wish you luck lol!

I've done something to it!

Wasn't sure where to start but really wanted to do something. I've not a lot of spare cash currently so i am doing jobs that won't cost much.

Also not really done much with cars and tools for ages so need to improve confidence a bit. So...

I remembered that some of the wheel bolts were on really tight but i'd only tried removing then with a socket a few years back. So i got the breaker bar out and freed them all off. No drama and nothing snapped!

I bought a pair of axle gaiters years ago and these are well beyond split so that's going to be job no 1 - i told you its going to be a steady build lol!

Before they go on i want the axles cleaned up and painted. So i've started that!

Next week, we'll watch some paint dry together.

well done dave. doesnt it feel better doing the job urself instead of others doing it?

there will be no getting out of having this beaut built as i'll be pushing on with the welding as soon as i am taxed and have fixed ma brakes so i will be up in brig melting metals together with u .....

forgot to do a "before" pic but this is the other side...



and this side is done. axle cleaned, sanded, rust treated, primed and painted. new axle gaiter on



did i mention i did some welding?? well i have! plugged 4 holes in the inner wing. its a start!

woop woop ur getting started now dave happy days...

did you take any pictures of the welding ??

good stuff, love to see a bit of aircooled resto stuff