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Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:15 pm

I can't wait to see the end results of this restoration.

Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:49 pm

overrestored wrote: Dave wrote...

"I believe it is the only surviving coupe known to exist, is that correct? "

So far as I know you are correct Dave... there is only one split windshield coupe... but there are at least three surviving curved windshield coupes... two in the US and one with the Grundmanns.
It's just an unbelievably georgeous car as it stands now, you can see the beauty of the craftsmanship. I was amazed to see how good the body was with the fenders off, yeah surface rust, but not like bad disentegrating body rust hole issues.

This car will be one to really drool over when it's done. Any idea of what color it will be? I'm sure it will be restored to it's original color?

Thank you.

Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:03 pm

Yeah, i cant wait to see it when its all finished.
I want to come out there and see it in person also. At the show, soon. :)

Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:21 pm

Ten months have passed since the world's oldest Rometsch Beeskow returned to Das Vaterland, and the Grundmann family definately mean business when they do restorations. The wonderful, very early Coupe (#117) is now coming together very well.

After blasting - it confirmed the old truth about "it is alway worse than it seems"... In February 2009 it looked like this:

All aluminium eventually came off and Grundmann's skilled panel beater reworked old damage and the needed rust repairs to the steel structure. The aluminium skin was also massaged back into shape. The Beeskow's were hand built very much like an old model airplane. The steel skeleton is simple, folded sheet metal plates, riveted and welded and bolted together. Over wooden bucks the aluminium skin was hand formed to the wonderful drawings of Mr Beeskow and this was then folded onto the skeleton. In any restoration of a Rometsch Beeskow, this procedd first has to be reversed...then repeated. A lot of work in just ten months...

Last week this wonderful one-of-a-kind Coupe looks like this:

The super cool fenderskirts are handmade and back on...the alu skin is fitted and ready to be locked in place. The whole steel structure is primered, rust protected and some areas have been pre-sprayed with the light blue period Mercedes color that has been chosen for the final result.

Christian/kdfkid says it is going into to the paintbooth in a few weeks. The chassis and all other parts are already completed and restored. Mroe than likely we will see this car debut at one of the major, indoor European oldtimer shows this winter. Stay tuned...

Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:59 pm

Build-records, photo evidence and literature show that there was very very few, maybe not more than one Coupe built by Rometsch that was of the first generation - "big bumpers, old dash, split windscreen, small rear window". Chances are that this period picture is the very #117 in the flesh back in the days. Now under restoration in Hessisch Oldendorf. Therefore it is good to see the skirts back on. Traugott has his hat ready...

Sun Sep 20, 2009 1:41 pm

Hello Oystein,
thanks for posting the pics. We will show the car at the Techno Classic 2010 for the first time .
Christian

Sun Sep 20, 2009 2:25 pm

More pictures from this great and extensive restoration:

What a design:

A good view of the structural work and extensive hand work involved in building these cars in the war-recovering Berlin:

The designer Johannes Beeskow was contacted by Mercedes seeking permission to use the exotic and stylish "fender eyebrow" as shown here on the ex-Holland, ex-Lenny Copp, now the Grundmann Collection Coupe:

The man with the plan and the great talent - The Grundmann Collection's very own body man. Next project: a 1938 Beetle:

Sun Sep 20, 2009 11:41 pm

Hey split personality...

those fender eyebrows first showed up on a 1949 lincoln.(a Ford brand)

So Mercedes didn't need Beeskow's approval. I used to think that they were first seen on the Beeskow... and was sad to learn that they had been first on a Lincoln... oh well.

Sure is nice to see this car with the fender skirts again!

Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:23 am

overrestored wrote: Hey split personality...

those fender eyebrows first showed up on a 1949 lincoln.(a Ford brand)

So Mercedes didn't need Beeskow's approval. I used to think that they were first seen on the Beeskow... and was sad to learn that they had been first on a Lincoln... oh well.

Interesting! I was just referring to what Johannes Beeskow (RIP) told us over the photo albums at Hessisch in 2001. He was telling us this story and also saying that he never got any of the promised royalties.

Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:03 am

Boy Lincoln was all over those fender eyebrows, huh? I wonder if they were truly the first?

Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:03 am

I don't want this fender eyebrow discussion and the Lincoln to hijack the thread on this wonderful hardtop Beeskow... so please direct any further comments on the fender eyebrow subject to this other thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=378334

Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:09 pm

Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:16 pm

not to hijack....by the way this coupe may be my favorite car of all time.....theres always some mention of coachbuilt aluminum bodies being "beat out over wooden bucks" but werent the wooden bucks actually used as a "stage" to check fit on HAND formed partial "panels"?

Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:12 pm

hugheseum wrote: werent the wooden bucks actually used as a "stage" to check fit on HAND formed partial "panels"?

yes you are correct. the panels are bent on english wheels... and with plenishing air hammers... and by hand with hammers over leather bags of sand. The bucks are used to test and re-test the fit of the work.

Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:29 pm

SplitPersonality wrote: The steel skeleton is simple, folded sheet metal plates, riveted and welded and bolted together. Over wooden bucks the aluminium skin was hand formed to the wonderful drawings of Mr Beeskow and this was then folded onto the skeleton. In any restoration of a Rometsch Beeskow, this procedd first has to be reversed...then repeated. A lot of work in just ten months...

I understand that these cars were hand built, no two are alike, and all that, but at this point isn't there a pretty complete set of reproduction bucks floating around?

I'm not trying to make light of the work and skill involved, I'm just wondering. I mean, one guy in Germany makes the buck for a right front fender and another in Italy makes one for a left rear and so on, and after a few years all the pieces start to add up.

Is there so much difference that you couldn't at least get a very rough panel using one of the existing bucks? Maybe a fender formed enough that a good metal man could do the final fitting and finishing? Or is there so much difference between cars that this isn't possible?

Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:57 am

Hi
here are some new pics of the coupe - it will go this week to the paint shop
Christian

Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:12 pm

Thanks christian these pics made my day. =P~

Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:50 pm

Looking at the photos reminds me just how hard it is to restore these cars!

It is no wonder so few of them survived. Very nice to follow the restoration. Thank you for the photos.

Will this car go to VW to sit next to the blue split windscreen cabrio?

Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:05 am

Hi Eric,

no why should we sell our Coupe VW ?

They will just get it for the Essen Motor show.

Christian

Mon Nov 02, 2009 4:08 am

overrestored wrote: Looking at the photos reminds me just how hard it is to restore these cars!

Tell me about it!