scottyrocks
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 9,160
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- Isle of Langerhan, NY
That's a bay window. The splitty single and double cabs are worth even more of a fortune.
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- Thread starter Tin Pan Sally
- Start date
That's a bay window. The splitty single and double cabs are worth even more of a fortune.
Very nice vehicle. It's good enough that I thought it was real for a moment until I saw the twin torsion bar VW front suspension.
Did you do build it yourself or is there a company that makes replicas?
I bought it from a guy who bought it from a guy who built it. I don't know of any company that makes the body kits now. Almost everyone of them I've seen were built in the 1980s on 1970s VW frames/motors.
scottyrocks
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 9,160
- Location
- Isle of Langerhan, NY
So, Ginger's (1963 VW Type 1) engine is on the bench. I am prepping to install the thermostat system that was so often taken out of these cars because people, well ya know, knew better. 
I'm waiting on some leads for parts because the correct thermostat itself is no longer produced by anyone.
And while the engine is out I figured I'll change the transaxle mounts, and look at the axle seals at the transaxle, as well.
I'm waiting on some leads for parts because the correct thermostat itself is no longer produced by anyone.
And while the engine is out I figured I'll change the transaxle mounts, and look at the axle seals at the transaxle, as well.
GHT
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 9,320
- Location
- New Forest
In the early 1960's, the humble little Mini was given an upgrade, a distinct separate model known as the Mini Cooper S. That car went on to win the Monte Carlo Rally three years in a row.
The success of the Mini Cooper S led to an increase in sales, especially when celebrities like Mick Jagger and Peter Sellers owned one, and if you couldn't afford the real deal, you could always put Mini Cooper S decals on your humble version.
But that plagiarism that would lead to all sorts of problems for the classic car fraternity fifty odd years later.
Nowadays the Mini Cooper S is so rare that when one is found it attracts an incredible amount of interest. So when this one was found under a pile of junk in a lock up garage it went to auction just as it is.
The UK system of car registration means that each new car will have a VIN, that's a Vehicle Identity Number. Then it will also have a chassis number and finally, a registration number, or licence plate, as it's known elsewhere. These three numbers are what buyers refer to as matching numbers. When the car's numbers all tally up it's the real deal. Remember the plagiarism? Some unscrupulous types would not only put Mini Cooper S decals on their car, they would upgrade the engine to match, that's why to collectors, matching numbers are so important.
At auction the newly found Mini Cooper S went under the hammer at £18000, that's eighteen grand. The buyer will also need a new body shell at a cost of twelve grand and probably a further twelve grand for all the running gear, electrics, interior and so on. It's a lot of money for a rot box, but if the new owner gets it right the car could easily sell for sixty grand.
Here is what the buyer bought in a fiercely contested auction:
The success of the Mini Cooper S led to an increase in sales, especially when celebrities like Mick Jagger and Peter Sellers owned one, and if you couldn't afford the real deal, you could always put Mini Cooper S decals on your humble version.
But that plagiarism that would lead to all sorts of problems for the classic car fraternity fifty odd years later.
Nowadays the Mini Cooper S is so rare that when one is found it attracts an incredible amount of interest. So when this one was found under a pile of junk in a lock up garage it went to auction just as it is.
The UK system of car registration means that each new car will have a VIN, that's a Vehicle Identity Number. Then it will also have a chassis number and finally, a registration number, or licence plate, as it's known elsewhere. These three numbers are what buyers refer to as matching numbers. When the car's numbers all tally up it's the real deal. Remember the plagiarism? Some unscrupulous types would not only put Mini Cooper S decals on their car, they would upgrade the engine to match, that's why to collectors, matching numbers are so important.
At auction the newly found Mini Cooper S went under the hammer at £18000, that's eighteen grand. The buyer will also need a new body shell at a cost of twelve grand and probably a further twelve grand for all the running gear, electrics, interior and so on. It's a lot of money for a rot box, but if the new owner gets it right the car could easily sell for sixty grand.
Here is what the buyer bought in a fiercely contested auction:
David Conwill
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,854
- Location
- Bennington, VT 05201
So, Ginger's (1963 VW Type 1) engine is on the bench. I am prepping to install the thermostat system that was so often taken out of these cars because people, well ya know, knew better.
I'm waiting on some leads for parts because the correct thermostat itself is no longer produced by anyone.
And while the engine is out I figured I'll change the transaxle mounts, and look at the axle seals at the transaxle, as well.
Gotta love that. Just like virtually everybody I've ever met who is into "hot rods" believes you can't over-cool an engine but then can't figure out why their plugs are all carboned up. I hope you find a correct solution. With the interest old VW's still retain, I'm surprised there isn't a generally accepted solution among the restoration community.
Good luck with the project!
scottyrocks
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 9,160
- Location
- Isle of Langerhan, NY
Well, there is. Put it back to, or keep it stock. Because a true restoration means stock.
I am currently in the process of hunting down the correct pieces.
scottyrocks
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 9,160
- Location
- Isle of Langerhan, NY
Speaking of Minis, and after looking at the photo at the end of your post, I was reminded of the Project Binky video series. In it, two engineer/car builders not only bring a clapped out Mini back to life, but use the engine and drive-train from a completely different car, as well as modifying just about every area of the Mini in the process, in sort of a snowball-rolling-down-a-hill fashion.
The project, initially estimated to take a few months, is now in its 5th year, if I heard correctly.
I am posting Episode 1 here, but there are a total of 24 episodes now, and just about all of them are extraordinarily, and often tongue-in-cheek, entertaining.
I learned a lot watching these, and had a lot of laughs, as well.
vitanola
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,254
- Location
- Gopher Prairie, MI
Side shot of the Flivver on the job at the Park:
"Through-the-windshield view of my boys laying water mains:
The new causeway to our island, from the driver's seat of the Flivver:
"Through-the-windshield view of my boys laying water mains:
The new causeway to our island, from the driver's seat of the Flivver:
Todd Harrington
New in Town
- Messages
- 16
1934 Hudson Terraplane
Last edited:
I had some fun driving my '27 Bugatti (replica) across Old 105 in the mountains near where I live. I took it out on the same dirt road the other day and got caught out in the rain, but yesterday it was nice and clear. Perfect weather for "motoring about" on the back-roads in the mountains.
p51
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,116
- Location
- Well behind the front lines!
I was comically slack over the winter with my '44 MB.
Extreme stresses at work, a cough that lasted a couple of months, a bad winter, home improvement projects my wife demanded that never seemed to end, it all meant the Jeep went forlorn over the winter.
Anyway, I checked all the fluids (topping off a little here and there but nothing was dry), charged the battery and got it fired up yesterday evening after work. I was surprised how quickly it turned over.
Some neighbors on my street moved in since the fall, so a couple of surprised looks greeted me when I did a test drive back and forth down my own street (I didn't go too far, just in case).
Sure felt nice to be behind the wheel again!
Extreme stresses at work, a cough that lasted a couple of months, a bad winter, home improvement projects my wife demanded that never seemed to end, it all meant the Jeep went forlorn over the winter.
Anyway, I checked all the fluids (topping off a little here and there but nothing was dry), charged the battery and got it fired up yesterday evening after work. I was surprised how quickly it turned over.
Some neighbors on my street moved in since the fall, so a couple of surprised looks greeted me when I did a test drive back and forth down my own street (I didn't go too far, just in case).
Sure felt nice to be behind the wheel again!
1930artdeco
Practically Family
- Messages
- 671
- Location
- oakland
Those are fun to drive! Glad you got her back on the road again. I finally got my A back on the road and boy was it nice.
Mike
Mike
p51
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,116
- Location
- Well behind the front lines!
I took my Jeep to a local airshow weekend before last. The second shot is in my backyard (now mowed) before I went to the show:
Peter Bowden
Practically Family
- Messages
- 598
- Location
- united kingdom
p51
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,116
- Location
- Well behind the front lines!
I had my 1944 MB in a parade in Centralia, WA along with my living history group (we had a timeline of vehicles from about '42 to the 90s, sadly the guy with the 41 Ford GP had to leave before the parade).
Mine is on the left. The extra gear in the passenger seat was from one of the guys riding with me up to the staging point:
Mine is on the left. The extra gear in the passenger seat was from one of the guys riding with me up to the staging point:
p51
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,116
- Location
- Well behind the front lines!
On Saturday, I took my '44 MB to a car show just a few miles from my house:
On my way back home, I stopped at a red light to make a left turn and to my right, a modern 4-door Jeep pulled up with the windows rolled down. I heard from the passenger, yelling, "Okay, look to your left! I NEVER WANT TO HEAR YOU REFER TO THIS THING AS A 'REAL JEEP' TO ANYONE ELSE EVER AGAIN! That is a real Jeep over there!"
I looked to my left and saw a very embarrassed looking driver and a very angry-looking female passenger who just yelled at him.
I could imagine the conversation that led to this (maybe he'd pulled the 'real jeep' comment on a friend of hers with a Grand Cherokee or something?) and it was funny to hear her comment.
On my way back home, I stopped at a red light to make a left turn and to my right, a modern 4-door Jeep pulled up with the windows rolled down. I heard from the passenger, yelling, "Okay, look to your left! I NEVER WANT TO HEAR YOU REFER TO THIS THING AS A 'REAL JEEP' TO ANYONE ELSE EVER AGAIN! That is a real Jeep over there!"
I looked to my left and saw a very embarrassed looking driver and a very angry-looking female passenger who just yelled at him.
I could imagine the conversation that led to this (maybe he'd pulled the 'real jeep' comment on a friend of hers with a Grand Cherokee or something?) and it was funny to hear her comment.