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Apr 23, 2017 11:55:21 GMT
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Hi I've been a member on here for nearly 10 years owned lots of retro and interesting cars but never kept them long enough to justify a thread. I like old VW's a lot and Beetles in particular (I don't know why!). I turned 40 last year and decided to buy myself another Beetle (I have owned 2 in the past). It has a kind of ratty, hot rod type look and had a lot of work done, lowered, narrowed, 1641cc engine. I won the auction on ebay and went on a 200 mile trip with a mate to collect it. After one false start (seller informed the car wouldn't start just as we set off) we collected it, the round trip took 7 hours! It was worth it! It's also a keeper! Here it is:  |
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Last Edit: May 7, 2017 18:53:54 GMT by garrett
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Apr 23, 2017 11:58:38 GMT
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Apr 23, 2017 12:08:15 GMT
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Once I got home it wouldn't start, a suspected starter issue. I took it to a local specialist and he diagnosed that the starter was the problem and changed it. After that it ran fine and I took it for local jaunts most weekends and in the week if I could. I got the car in November and in December I decided to sell my daily (a 2013 300bhp Focus ST Estate) and buy a heavily modified Audi TT. Here it is with Beetle:  It was (was, yes I've sold it!) running 270bhp, on air ride and 18" wheels. Once that had gone I decided to start changing the Beetle up a little. I removed the roof rack:  Took a little while to get used to the look, as I do like a roof rack, but I don't think it suited the style of the car. |
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Apr 23, 2017 12:33:28 GMT
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I wanted the car to have it's tired look but with nice shiny wheels. My options where to get the Riviera's on it refurbed or buy something new. I not a fan of Riviera's, but I am of sprintstars, so that's what I got. I was excited to get them so test fitted one as soon as I picked them up. I didn't have enough clearance to jack the car up, but some wooden centre pieces my cousin lent us for my wedding last year proved useful!  I also noticed that my front tyres were on the wear bars when taking the old wheel off so new front tyres were needed, but this was a good excuse to get slightly lower profiles. Last Saturday I had the wheels fitted. New tyres on the front and the rears swapped over.   I'm very happy indeed! |
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Last Edit: Apr 23, 2017 12:34:27 GMT by garrett
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Porsche
West Midlands
Kev from B'ham.
Posts: 4,725 
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Apr 23, 2017 12:57:47 GMT
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Lovely looking Beetle and I much prefer the Sprintstars.
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I've always liked Rivieras but they have to be on the right car. Good choice on the Sprintstars though, and it looks a million times better without the roofrack!
Tell us more about the engine - is it stock with just the bigger pistons or cam, carbs and header? It's pretty easy to double the power of a 1641 for a couple of hundred quid!
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1968 Cal Look Beetle - 2007cc motor - 14.45@93mph in full street trim
1970-ish Karmann Beetle cabriolet - project soon to be re-started.
1986 Scirocco - big plans, one day!
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voodoo57
Club Retro Rides Member
That's not 2 metres! come a little...Closer!
Posts: 2,868
Club RR Member Number: 137
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Fancy a 'Chop'?  |
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Looking forward to the "uh oh, best get the welder out..." thread :-)
Love it.
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Thanks for the comments! neilsdavies: I don't know much about the engine as it was already fitted when I bought it. I do know it leaks oil! It's booked in to a specialist for early June to have a look. voodoo57: that's a lovely Beetle fad: the car seems solid (for now!) |
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Pfft long way off yet! But cheers. It did make me cry...
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Your oil leak doesn't need a specialist. They ALL leak oil (no I don't care who claims theirs doesn't, it does!). But they are easy to button up and get less leaky.
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Apr 27, 2017 10:37:39 GMT
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when they don't leak they run really well, for about 2 minutes then they seize up  as a racer I know found out, to his expense! |
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Apr 27, 2017 11:35:36 GMT
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when they don't leak they run really well, for about 2 minutes then they seize up as a racer I know found out, to his expense! No oil under it = no oil in it... :lol: |
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Apr 27, 2017 13:09:29 GMT
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when they don't leak they run really well, for about 2 minutes then they seize up as a racer I know found out, to his expense! No oil under it = no oil in it... :lol: to be honest I've only put in a "glug" since I found it was leaking. I check level before I drive it and it barely changes! |
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zook71
Part of things
Posts: 994
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Apr 27, 2017 13:51:47 GMT
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Nice beetle garret, not enough yellow on the road tho', here's mine trying to tip the balance  |
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1974 Triumph 2000
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Apr 27, 2017 17:49:53 GMT
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I'll tip back in favour of red!   Both of these ran the same 1584cc motor at various times - stock crank, rods, pistons and barrels, cam, heads and valves. Heads were match ported to the manifolds for 36DRLA Dellorto carbs, ignition was a 009 with electronic module, 1 5/8" merged header and 1.25:1 ratio rockers, lightened flywheel and a 1700lb clutch. Had a similar motor dyno'd at 85bhp at the wheels, and this one was enough get the race car down the 1/4 mile in 15.7 seconds, although the close ratio gearbox and slicks helped! |
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1968 Cal Look Beetle - 2007cc motor - 14.45@93mph in full street trim
1970-ish Karmann Beetle cabriolet - project soon to be re-started.
1986 Scirocco - big plans, one day!
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After selling my TT and thinking a Smart ForTwo would be a good idea (it wasn't, unreliable rubbish), I decided to go retro for a daily driver. Said daily is a 1983 Porsche 924    I have new plates on the way with pre-2001 font. I really like it so far. How it will perform as a daily I'm unsure. Have a pic of the Beetle which I think captures its stance nicely (in front of my wife's Essex special Land Rover!) and a proud driveway shot!   |
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Love it!!
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