79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,607
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That should look good. I imagine the lenses should be vertical for reflectors to be at correct angle so a small filler panel between lamps & bodywork? Worth mounting so chrome between indicator& reflector lines up with body crease?
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The plan is to mount them a touch higher and further out and flush with the old mount rather than at the weird angle in the pictures, which will make things like the reflectors do their job. I'm not going to try and line up the chrome with the body crease because it throws everything else off, instead I'll emphasise the outline of the light rather than the smaller details.
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dw1603
Part of things
Posts: 591
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A stroke of luck with the lights, I'd never have dreamed that they would be so close to fitting. Does overshadow the bumper somewhat. I wonder if Diff has any plans for the the Desoto bumpers that were on his shoebox? A bit of judiciousness with a hacksaw and they'd look fabulous, especially when you make the fender skirts.
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You'd need more than a Hacksaw to make those bumpers work even though they are a great shape.
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Holy carp, I attacked the car with an angle grinder! It's okay, I have a plan. I've been thinking about how best to fit these Corsair lights, and what would require the least amount of materials and fabrication without compromising the end result. If I had a welding machine, I would have made a start on some of the fabrication too, but I'm lacking in quite a few tools at the moment, namely the drill which I forgot Dad had borrowed back from me so once again, the light cluster doesn't sit as flush as it will when this is done. I decided it best to attack the dented side rather than repairing it to stock. After fiddling about with cardboard and eyeballing stuff I decided the best course of action was just to set to with the old rhubarb and custard machine and make the car the right shape for what I wanted to do. Note: I hadn't lined the cluster up perfectly in this shot, as you'll see later. If I'd had the power drill, I would have drilled the new top bolt hole so this sat flush, but for now this is what I've done and this is my thoughts on it. As you can see, the little plinth that usually sits under the Polo lights has had the face cut away to let the Corsair lights sit inside it, matching up with the original mount. I've not decided yet if I'm just going to get the bodywork to fit flush with the back of the cluster, or if I'm going to build the bodywork forward to french them in a little. I can't make a final decision on that until the tailgate is back on and the cluster bolted into place properly. To get the cluster sitting properly, I plan to weld a whole plate over the original bracket and drill new relevant holes for the bulb holders and the bolts so it all fits properly. There will likely be nothing needed on this side of the bodyshell, it all lines up as good as it needs to. This is the side that will need the bodywork altering, though which direction I go in exactly I've not yet decided. I'll make up my mind when the light clusters are bolted in place properly. Here's what it looks like underneath. When the new plate is applied to the old cluster hole it will extend down into the old plinth and have a new curved piece added to bridge the depth and match the profile of the bottom of the Corsair cluster. The face of the plinth will need building up a bit too because I didn't get a good accurate cut here. It should look good when done. The tailgate will need some shaving off the red section and probably a small peak cut out of the black top half just to get it to look right and not obscure the light cluster but that should also be a straightforward cut and weld job. Now, if the agency pull their finger out and actually give me some paid work I can get this sorted out, it's the only thing holding me back on it really.
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Sept 2, 2012 20:10:43 GMT
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Not a lot has happened since the last update, aside from me regularly mopping the car out because my cover is full of tiny holes - I'm blaming the age of it, and cats. I'm lacking time, money and to a small degree motivation because of the aforementioned items. We'll get there though. Recently, my brother bought himself a '99 Skoda Felicia LXi estate which we've been spending a lot of time cleaning out. The other night we were looking at the Tarantula alloys on the Polo which, since getting those lovely Lancia wheels, I must admit I've fallen out of love with a bit. We found out that the Felicia and the Polo share all the same vital statistics so tried a little experiment. Hmm, that fits slightly nicer than the Tarantulas and the design is in keeping with what I have planned. The shape of the wheel centre with the hub cap on isn't too dissimilar to the Lancia alloys either. The steels are a bit thinner and the tyres a bit taller, but they fit with a bit more room to spare. Not only that, I love how they look up front. Currently, the plan is to just change the centre cap badges for VW or Wolfsburg or something else appropriate and leave the steels as they are for now. Best of all, my brother likes the Tarantulas better on the Skoda and I must admit I think they look more at home there than on the Polo, so everybody wins! Well, once he gets some better looking tyres on them.
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I'm going to disappoint you all with this post, so for that I apologise in advance.
Personally, I've reached the end of the road with project Wilhelm. Ideally, I'd like to see him rehomed with someone that will at least finish off what I've started and get him on the road, but realistically I don't think that will happen.
I've struggled to be motivated and to find the money to get this project done the way I see it in my mind's eye and right now it's sat on the drive just wasting away. It seems wrong to just leave the car there doing nothing and being unable to progress with it.
Stuff I know he needs are: Handbrake cable Windscreen Rear light clusters fitting - some modification work here New tyres New headlights, sidelights and grille fitting Paintwork finishing New carpet New headlining (cut out, ready to sew and fit) Original rear side windows refitting or some fabrication to make the pop-outs fit. Line of weld on the floor pan, no patch required.
I know that I can't control what happens once I let him go and I know I'm unlikely to see much money for the project as it stands unless someone really, really wants to carry the torch.
So, if you might be interested in taking him on drop me a line and make me an offer. I don't expect anyone will, but I think he has to go now.
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I'm going to be working towards getting this car MoT'd to improve chances of selling it. Shouldn't take too much, the expensive bits will be the windscreen and the backbox, really.
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Without meaning to sound harsh, I think you're going to have massive trouble selling this car full stop simply due to the high level of personal modification you've done to it. It's not like it's generic Polo slammed, rat look, sticker bombed rubbish that will easily sell. It's a shame you've decided to let it go, I really enjoyed seeing what you were doing and where you were going next, mainly because it's so unlike something I'd do, I had no idea what might be coming. Which ever way you and the car go, good luck.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Knowing me, I'll end up getting the car all ready for an MoT and then not want to part with it again. I'm going to try and find the time over the next few days to actually get some stuff reattached and keep the weather out.
I'll not get what he's worth, I know that, and I'll be waving goodbye to a lot of hard work and ideas. The straw really is the car accident in the Princess, it's going to hit my finances pretty hard and with the past 18-24 months being such a sea of cr@p something, somewhere, had to give and unfortunately I think it's this.
We shall see. I'm not trying too hard to find a buyer, which probably means I don't want to sell him that much, but I my gut is telling me that it's time to let Wilhelm go, sad as it is.
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Oct 28, 2012 16:37:23 GMT
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Stay of execution/sale: GRANTED
My desire to sell or break or scrap the Polo was half-hearted at best and born of events conspiring against me to achieve a pretty tough goal given my circumstances.
I've been persuaded to leave the Polo under the tarp over the winter and not think about him until the weather and my finances improve. After looking at it from all angles, parting with this project at this moment in time would generate nothing but regret, disappointment, a space on the drive and a small amount of pocket money. There weren't enough pros to balance out the cons of giving up.
So I'm officially putting the Polo into hibernation, much as I am with the Princess (who comes home tomorrow morning) and running 1 car and incurring the costs of 1 car until I've saved up some money to get the other two moving again.
I'm sure this decision will come as no surprise to regular readers. Could I really ever have been as serious as I thought I was about parting with a car that's been part of my life for 12 years and that so many people recognise as an outward expression of myself? Wow, that sounded remarkably douchey, but you know what I mean.
Nothing is easy at the moment, I still have a good amount of catching up to do, but I'm in work, I'm collecting a suitable daily next weekend and there's a chance that things will pan out if I get a few good breaks over the next year or so.
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Nov 26, 2012 19:10:31 GMT
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Nov 26, 2012 19:49:04 GMT
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shame to see the actual car go but atleast the princess will live on!
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EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,920
Club RR Member Number: 108
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Nov 26, 2012 20:06:03 GMT
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As a fellow Polo owner I should be saying the opposite but...
Princess > Polo
A sad day but it's the right thing to do.
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Car is now provisionally sold to begin life as a new project for someone else.
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Jan 10, 2013 18:08:49 GMT
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My story with Wilhelm the Polo has now come to an end. Paperwork signed over, car towed away by a similar vintage Scirroco. I was very sad to see him go, but sometimes you have to face the reality of your limitations and situation and hope you're making the right decision to let someone else take over.
Obviously, I'm always going to be interested in this car's future, so if you do see it about, do feel free to let me know.
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foxy99
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,376
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It is pretty sad. I always feel that on a world where you spend so much time and money doing/dealing with things you don't want to do that it doesn't seem fair that you can't follow through the things yo really do want to do but realistically to restore one car is a mammoth task (for most people) so doing two or more is very seldom going to work out. I learned tonight that my old Royale is going to be broken up and in some ways it's a relief. That way I can't entertain thoughts about buying it back etc. Just focus on one car. (says me with 3 cars and 5 motorbikes lol )
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1974 Daimler Double-Six VDP 1965/67 Hillman Imp pick-up 1984 VW Polo breadvan 1970s Yamaha Twins (4) 1976 Honda SS50ZK1
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now in my possession, doing what i can without power on the g/f's farm, which is bracing in this weather, hoping to get things finished for the summer, i'll be keeping the front springs, everything else swapped or about to be.
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