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Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:10 am

Step 1: Look at some pictures on the Samba, and fly out to view the car in April....

Step 2: Agree to buy car, wire some money over as a deposit, and agree to come back in June, having written a contract up

Step 3: Fly out to Stockholm, and get picked up from the station in Uppsala in a '58 ragtop:

Step 4: Fit some temporary extra brake lights to the Split that you brought over in hand luggage - that single amber brake light in the pope's nose isn't going to cut the mustard on the M25 Motorway round London remember!

Step 5: Learn how to double declutch driving up and down the road

Step 6: Have a look round previous owner's garage...

Step 7: Wave goodbye to previous owner:

Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:10 am

Step 8: Start driving to Gothenburg

Step 9: Stop for the night in quaint little hotel:

Step 10: Keep driving in the morning - it's over 500km!

Step 11: Arrive in Gothenburg:

Step 12: Visit the maritime museum in Gothenburg, and walk around an old destroyer, and submarine....

Step 13: Drive to the port:

Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:11 am

Step 14: Find the Ferry you're going on:

Step 15: Say hello to some crazy Swedes going to a Rolls Royce show

Step 16: Drive onto the Ferry - it's a freight ferry, so mind the lorries!

Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:12 am

Step 17: View your cabin for the next 2 days:

Step 18: Look at sea:

Step 19: Look at sea:

Step 20: Dock at Tilbury docks in London:

Step 21: It's the former pirate radio ship, Radio Caroline!!!

Step 22: Drive round M25, thanking god that you put those brake lights on.

Step 23: Arrive home, safe and sound....

The End (or is it just the beginning......)

Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:28 am

Awesome!! Congratulations :D

Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:15 am

Rhodrich,
Congratulations! Great story and photos of the whole experience. The story just begins. Keep us posted on whats happening in the future.
Two years ago this week I was shipping my split over from Sweden to Charleston, South Carolina. I was rather nervous while the car was on the boat coming over. Praying the ship would'nt go down.
Looks like a real nice car. Is that original paint and interior? What are your plans for the car? Nice motor the previous owner has. :shock: :wink:

Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:07 am

WOW! What a story! GREAT pics, must have been a real adventure. I would love to tour Europe in a split.

My '50 came from Sweden also, and like lurkinstock said, I too was sweating the thought of my poor split in dark container over the ocean.

Thanks for posting the adventure, keep is posted on what you discover of your "new car"...!

Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:05 am

johnshenry wrote: WOW! What a story! GREAT pics, must have been a real adventure. I would love to tour Europe in a split.

My '50 came from Sweden also, and like lurkinstock said, I too was sweating the thought of my poor split in dark container over the ocean.

Thanks for posting the adventure, keep is posted on what you discover of your "new car"...!

I know! Your split came from the same guy as mine..... I've got to email you about a front loom....

Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:45 am

61vdubbug wrote: Awesome!! Congratulations :D

x2 :D

Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:09 am

Very Cool ! , Reminds me of my adventure just a year ago picking up my Beetle in Belgium and traveling to Bad Camberg and Surrounding Germany then Back to Belgium to be shipped to the USA.

Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:56 am

Thanks for the kind comments everyone!

It was a bit of a mission - I was worried the whole time about breaking down, but I needn't have - the car performed faultlessly!

As for plans, I'm going to slam it and put it on earlies.... :lol:

Only kidding! It's recently been resprayed (on the outside), but still needs some fitting back, so that's the main job - I have to recover the passenger seat, put back the door cards, sort out the sunroof, put the wings on properly etc... I've also got to fit dual filament rear lamps to replace those temporary brake lights and allow it to pass the UK MOT (inspection) to get it registered.

Other than that, it just needs driving! It's pretty solid underneath, having sat in a display at a dealership since 1971. There are a few bits to be tidied, but nothing needs doing straight away. It can be improved gradually over time.

The engine in the car is a 30hp from an industrial motor that is really strong (1000km from new), but it comes with it's original 25hp (stored for the journey in place of the passenger seat), which runs fine, but is a little tired, and ripe for a rebuild. Do I rebuild it, or do I just roll with the 30hp, and just keep the 25hp until the 30hp gets tired? Decisions decisions.....

Yes, this is only the beginning! I'll keep you informed of progress!

Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:20 am

Rebuild the 25hp at your leisure, find all the rare "bits" that it might be missing ( the correct, hard to find ones, like a jacketed K manifold, star coil, etc). Lovingly paint the tin a piece at a time.... all the while still driving the car with the 30hp......

That's my vote.... :lol:

Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:18 pm

Excellent Story and Pics!!! Congrats man... beautiful car!

Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:19 pm

Nice pics Rhodri! Glad it ended up in such good hands :wink:
And as you mentioned...don´t forget to drive it...a lot!!

Jonas/ the seller

Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:45 pm

I could only dream that would happen to me. Awesome story!! :shock: :D

Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:13 pm

congratulations Rhoders

=D> =D> =D>

Lavenham :?: :-S

Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:33 am

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
One more nice car leaving Sweden......but I see it came in good hands :lol: good luck with your nice rag :D

Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:46 am

Congratulations with your 'new' split ragtop...., cool 8)

Great story and very nice pictures, I always love it when people share these stories with kindred spirits here on the samba :D

:idea: So, now that your split has got used to ferries, why don't you bring it to this show in August:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=289748&highlight=lier
If it can drive all the way from Sweden, making it to Belgium will not a problem I guess...? Lier is only a 220 kms drive from Calais (and half that distance from the ferry port of Zeebrugge) :wink:

regards,
Paul

Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:57 am

Bengt H wrote: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
One more nice car leaving Sweden......but I see it came in good hands :lol: good luck with your nice rag :D

Yes, Sweden is now THE place to look for nice cars. Don't feel bad about them leaving. Main thing is that they end up in caring hands of other enthusiasts. And it makes the ones that stay put, worth even more.

Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:14 am

Great story/pics Rhodrich. The car looks lovely.

Pics remind me of the time I lived in Gothenburg. Great place.