TheSamba.com :: View topic - Not really a barn find but close...SCCA Rally veteran in NH

Sun May 03, 2009 11:52 pm

Vacuum that thing out, and fire it up!
That really is a cool find :D

Mon May 04, 2009 3:40 pm

freak, remember that Euro-spec Supers had front disc brakes with the 1600 engine as standard equipment. I'm not familiar with what brake caliper those had, or if it was shared by another VW-Audi model of the era (very likely). So your car might just have a Euro-spec conversion. Then again, since the Super utilized front struts, maybe they were shared with the Type 4 (411, 412)?

So what's a worse smell inside- droppings or mothballs?! Try vacuuming the seats and carpet, then spraying them with "Febreze"...

Amazing rally results with that stock-appearing engine! Can it be that it had a more powerful engine during its active rally life, then put away with that stocker it now has?

Mon May 04, 2009 5:32 pm

Rome wrote: freak, remember that Euro-spec Supers had front disc brakes with the 1600 engine as standard equipment.

Actually, I was not aware of that so thank you for that info. I wish I had paid attention better all those years ago when I talked to the PO, I remember him telling me about the brakes, but the details are lost in time

Quote: I'm not familiar with what brake caliper those had, or if it was shared by another VW-Audi model of the era (very likely). So your car might just have a Euro-spec conversion. Then again, since the Super utilized front struts, maybe they were shared with the Type 4 (411, 412)?

All sound plausible, the numbers stamped on them are V1502. There is something else stamped on them as well but it is too fuzzy to read. I'll have to check the left side when I get that wheel off to see if it is any better. As a note, they appear to be cast aluminum since the color in the pics are the actually color as I found them, not even brushed off

Quote:
So what's a worse smell inside- droppings or mothballs?! Try vacuuming the seats and carpet, then spraying them with "Febreze"... Droppings, urine, exploded road flares mixed with the wonderful aroma of musty fabric. Ah, the sweet smells of a long lost car:)

I have a brother in law who does boat detailing, I think I'll give him a call and see if he has any magic stuff. I have a lot of work to do:)

Quote:
Amazing rally results with that stock-appearing engine! Can it be that it had a more powerful engine during its active rally life, then put away with that stocker it now has?

Apparently, the stock motor is in NJ (I should be getting it in a couple of weeks) and this is the modified motor. The widow passed on from the mechanic who built it (not the PO), a gentleman named Bruno Kreibich who unfortunately is stricken with Alzheimer's, in a note she found in the paperwork has the engine in the car as a:

1971 AE block
69mm balanced
90.5 balanced
Bruno cam (I assume ground to his specs?)
ported/polished ports
reworked carb (WEBER 34 ICH)
recurved distributor

Now, all I can confirm is the carb is a Weber replacement W 222XXXX and the block is stamped AE 568772. I guess the rest will be seen when I get the motor out and apart. For giggles, I've pumped the cylinders with Marvel Mystery oil and after letting it sit for a few days, i might try to get it to spin before pulling it. I'll let you know what happens.

Since I haven't really put this out there, my plans are to restore this but not as a show car. It can't compete without having to replace some of the special vintage safety equipment like the cage, seats, belts, etc. I've been doing a lot of thinking about this and the only real option I see is to restore it like it was 30 years ago, not as a show car but as a racer. The vintage equipment will stay. I've looked it over and can see the places where damage has been repaired and patched. I'm going to leave those just they way they were. I'll probably have to do channels and pans, but I want to fix it as close to how Al would have done so while campaigning it. In other words, if Al would have cut out a damaged piece and welded a patch panel in, that is what I'll do. I'm going to repaint the car of course, but I've already got lines on most of the decals, either as actual replacements or to borrow to have replacements made. I contacted Uniroyal but those decals are not available (nor did they really care that I asked) but in the vintage pics I posted from Paul Jaeger, it ran with Pirelli logos at one time too, so I might go that way. I guess I'll have to see what more photos I can get from the family and take it from there. My plan is to have it ready to go for the 2010 New England Forest Rally in July of '10, and then hit as many northeast rallys as possible. I'd love to find some affordable ham radio mobile unit and get my license so I can use it as a course car but I'll have to see what I can do once it is on the road.

I appreciate everyone who has shown an interest in this project.

Mon May 04, 2009 5:56 pm

Two thumbs WAY UP to you, sir! Keep up the GREAT job and please keep us informed (with pics!).

Thu May 07, 2009 5:00 am

Minor update, still disinfecting it, there is rodent crap everywhere so I'm being very careful cleaning it up. I did mock up the lights I got for it just to feel like I'm doing something:) They are vintage KCs and Cibies sitting on the original attachment points. I'll have to enlarge the holes for the mounting bolts, but I like 'em.

Thu May 07, 2009 5:11 am

in the b&w photos the bigger lights are in the center.

just putting that out there lol

Thu May 07, 2009 5:44 am

a.graham52 wrote: in the b&w photos the bigger lights are in the center.

just putting that out there lol Crap, you're right. Good thing I didn't mount them!

Thu May 07, 2009 6:49 am

with the same pictures your can also tell that its been re registered at least once.

Thu May 07, 2009 7:15 am

a.graham52 wrote: with the same pictures your can also tell that its been re registered at least once. One of the things I found in the passenger pouch besides schematics was several insurance cards from different years showing the reg #. Both plates are represented, looks like the plates changed in '79. I hope to talk to the PO's widow in the next couple of weeks and get more history.

Sat May 09, 2009 9:10 am

Freak, the name Bruno Kreibich rang a bell- an old VW mechanic friend of mine Hans knows him! If you want me to see if I can get contact for you (if BK is still alive) pls send me a PM.

Are you wearing gloves and a face mask as you remove all that animal crap?

Those rally lights look great in front! See my Gallery for some driving lights on my green '77Beetle :wink: .

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/128437.jpg

Sun May 10, 2009 3:57 pm

I believe Bruno is still alive but has Alzheimer's, a real tragedy for anyone.

Thank you for your concern, yes, I wear a respirator and gloves as well as long sleeves while cleaning this thing out with lots of disinfectant. Good reminder to all of us working on old cars, rodent urine and feces are nasty stuff and can carry things like hanta virus.

I like your car! Nice. I like the cages on the lights, makes it look tough.

Sun May 10, 2009 4:56 pm

This is one of the Coolest Vw stories i have read in awhile! Keep the updates coming!
If it were mine, I would build it back to its original rally specs. That's a true piece of ACVW history.

Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:22 am

Anything new to this car? it started like a very interesting topic.

Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:28 pm

Actually, yes. I've been talking to a writer for a while now and the deal is in place, the restoration of this car will be documented and published as a series of articles for Hot VWs mag. I've been holding off on working on it until things got sorted out...plus I really need to finish my all-steel baja project (almost on the road, YAY!).

I will in the next week or so have some more vintage pics of the car, Bill scanned a bunch in recently, I just need to swing by and put them on a thumb drive to bring home.

I'm hoping to start the actual work the car within the next month. I promise to keep you posted!

Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:58 pm

That radio is worth some money if it still works :wink:

AM/FM with the slider switch in tact. The faceplate alone is rare. I love this thread.

Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:56 pm

Looks good, man. Got a job and a half, though :P

Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:35 am

Freak182 wrote: Actually, yes. I've been talking to a writer for a while now and the deal is in place, the restoration of this car will be documented and published as a series of articles for Hot VWs mag. I've been holding off on working on it until things got sorted out...plus I really need to finish my all-steel baja project (almost on the road, YAY!).

I will in the next week or so have some more vintage pics of the car, Bill scanned a bunch in recently, I just need to swing by and put them on a thumb drive to bring home.

I'm hoping to start the actual work the car within the next month. I promise to keep you posted!

If you are telling me that Hot VW's is DEFINITELY doing a series on this, I will subscribe for the first time in years. That is excellent.

Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:48 pm

Did you say you are in Somersworth?? I would love to come by and check this thing out.

Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:33 pm

Likewise, I'd love to come by and lay eyes on this car. I've been following this thread as well, and I like the way you're planning to restore it - true to the spirit of the car.

Stray

P.S. Second on the Hot V.W. subscription! Tell me when you're ready for them to publish and I'll subscribe.

Tue Sep 15, 2009 3:36 am

I'm (and the car) actually in Dover and work in Somersworth. Shoot me a PM if you are in the area and want to come by, VW people are always welcome and I'm really easy to find:) I've got to push it out this weekend and take a bunch of detailed, hi-res shots of it pre-restoration, hopefully it doesn't rain.

Looks like I'm going to have to subscribe to HVW myself, haven't had a subscription for about 10 years.