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Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:29 pm

It has been 7 years since we did our last SEMA show car, our 1958 pearl white ragtop Beetle, some have chosen to call it our flagship vehicle. The event was monumental in the growth of our business. With the sale of the last SEMA vehicle finalized, we can now get started on our next project, and it includes a 67 Vert!

After a 14 hour trip from San Fran, the pair have arrived at the HQ. More pictures to come

The blog on it is here http://airkewld-2012-sema-project.posterous.com/

Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:45 pm

Can not wait for this one! :lol:

Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:15 pm

Subscribed!

Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:53 pm

Watching it as well

Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:03 am

We just uploaded some pics on FB here http://airkewld.co/Hsaotu

More to come later...

Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:16 pm

So, day one has passed, we looked at the Vert for about 20 minutes and came up with a few ideas. We are going to paint him black and we are not going to use chrome anywhere on the outside of the vehicle with the exception of one thing. The Prototype All-Aluminum 17" Smoothies. Ya, I know, Super Sick right? More on those later.

We are going to remove a couple of things. Turn signals, Over rider holes, Factory Antenna, Squirter, Factory door handles* ( A trick is up our sleeve), Exhaust cut outs and some various holes.

Bumpers will be smoothed and painted, 66 trim will be installed and paint matched, all window frames will be paint matched, a split window antenna will be installed, Blacked out head lights, tinted tail lights with LED's.

I have an idea to hide the entire wiring system from the naked eye but not using covers. But utilizing tubes. We will see how that goes. The rear engine compartment will be smoothed, wiring will be hidden and the seals will be switched out to Mexican Beetle Seals that attach to the hoods.

We will be designing a new set of horn grilles, bumper brackets, hood crest that will make the womens panties drop, new hood emblem and paint matched and fitted running boards. We will be utilizing the factory hinge pins but using our Oblique mirror heads on them instead of the stock mirrors. Paint matched custom hood handles and Door Handles from Kin-dig-it designs would be used, Check them out!

Suspension - The plans call for a 5" Ultimate Narrowed beam set up for Fox Racing Adjustable Coil Overs that will affix to a pan head that will be shortened and raked by 1" and 3 degrees. The goal up front to have it at 1.5-2" at ride height and have the wheels in the center of the wheel wells. In the rear, we have a new product in the worksand we're calling them I-Arms. What are these? They are 100% brand new IRS control arms that are built I-Beam Style and shortened by 1" on each side. We are going to run IRS so we can get this ride at a height, camber has never seen before. No trans lifts, no sheetmetal mods will be in the works. An ALL-NEW Coil Over System is in the works that will bolt on and narrow the track a total of 2" in the rear to stuff the big 17x8" Aluminum Smoothies in the rear with the most wheel lip we can muster.
The Chassis will be set up like our Ultimate Chassis found here utlizing the fore mentioned coil overs, RaceReady BAD Series Disc Brakes, Smoothed Chassis with all the tricks mated to a MEGA Trans from Buggyworld and a 2609cc Motor outfitted with so many tricks, you will have to go to SEMA to see them.

Wheels - We got in touch with a hoop manufacture to create some prototype smooth lip 17x7 and 17x8 aluminum wheel hoops that we will mate out Billet centers to. The original idea was to satin black the hoops and red anodize the centers, then it hit me. The sickness of all sicknessesesesss. Polished wheel lips and Carbon Fiber Centers with no caps. I have wanted to introduce a new line of Carbon Fiber parts, let's just get it started early. We will Aqua Graphic the centers prior to bolting them together with one new touch. On the aluminum versions, we are going to bolt the bolts, all the way through the wheel with some Black ZInc 12 point bolts. Like I said earlier, the panties will be droppin'! Right now, we have a lip difference of about 3/4 of an inch front to rear, my goal, 2.5" difference front to rear. Epic.

Interior - Paint matched tunnel exposed with a paint matched Black Mamba Shifter, Airkewld's New Billet Pedal Assembly paint matched, Our new Cam Driven E-brake handle, paint matched as well with red leather interior with some carbon fiber high lights. Custom made black square weave carpeting, Red Leather door panels with some cool billet tricks. For the dash, we are going to install some carbon fiber dash grills and Glove box door with billet trim in black, our 3 gauge Radio mount, Billet dash knobs, and steering column gauge mount. Hopefully our first 16" Porsche 356 Style Billet steering wheel will be done in time. Who knows what else is in store for this build, but you can be sure of one thing, It will be my best work to date.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:16 am

Great, will the emblems and horn grills be available any time soon?

Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:22 am

Airkewld wrote:

We are going to remove a couple of things. Turn signals, Over rider holes, Factory Antenna, Squirter, Factory door handles* ( A trick is up our sleeve), Exhaust cut outs and some various holes.

You sure? Looking at production numbers, 67 is rarer than an oval vert. Seems a shame when you could get a 68 (twice the production) to chop up.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:31 pm

chickengeorge wrote: Airkewld wrote:

We are going to remove a couple of things. Turn signals, Over rider holes, Factory Antenna, Squirter, Factory door handles* ( A trick is up our sleeve), Exhaust cut outs and some various holes.

You sure? Looking at production numbers, 67 is rarer than an oval vert. Seems a shame when you could get a 68 (twice the production) to chop up.

To bad it's his car

Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:53 pm

chickengeorge wrote: You sure? Looking at production numbers, 67 is rarer than an oval vert. Seems a shame when you could get a 68 (twice the production) to chop up.

It's happening, so I am pretty sure. No disgracing this car, just giving it its proper Re-Birth.

http://airkewld-2012-sema-project.posterous.com/the-brother-is-brought-to-his-knees-dismantle

Brandon took the lead on the 67 Sedan, he brother to the 67 Vert. He had the body off in about 2 1/2 hours and we got the body loaded on the trailer and placed in storage. If anyone is looking for a decent 67 Body, hit me up. We are only using the chassis on this one. The body is complete with 66 fenders.

The actual chassis looks great, minus the house carpet that was installed by a certain previous owner that will go un-named for the shame would be to brutal to show his face in public again. The chassis will be disassembled in the morning and will be off to chemical dip to soak and get ready for the transformation. I am in need of one the Airkewld Kleenex boxes just thinking about it.

So if you haven't understood what we are doing yet, we are going to build two chassis exactly the same, but one will have the completed 67 Vert on it and the oter will showcase what actually lies beneath it. Yes, say it with me, BAD ASS! More pics later.

Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:55 pm

Hefner wrote: Great, will the emblems and horn grills be available any time soon? Stay tuned for updates on those along with all the other parts, I will list links here when they are available.

Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:42 am

I wanna go to SEMA so bad now... how can i convince dad to make it a business trip.... hmmmmm

Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:09 am

damn, this year i'm notting comming over for SEMA :(

Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:38 pm

Cant wait to see it at SEMA. :D

Don't know about the fake carbon water transfer pattern on the centers though. It's kinda cheesy/Auto Zoney for a car of this profile. The rest of the car seems well planned out and I know will be built with amazing quality/craftsmanship. Just seems a fake carbon pattern won't do those badass wheels justice. The smooth lip and offsets will look awesome.

You got a booth number yet?

Wed Apr 11, 2012 4:09 pm

^^ I figured he meant real carbon... carbon faux-ber is probably the stupidest shit you can possibly put on a car

Wed Apr 11, 2012 4:26 pm

chickengeorge wrote: Airkewld wrote:

We are going to remove a couple of things. Turn signals, Over rider holes, Factory Antenna, Squirter, Factory door handles* ( A trick is up our sleeve), Exhaust cut outs and some various holes.

You sure? Looking at production numbers, 67 is rarer than an oval vert. Seems a shame when you could get a 68 (twice the production) to chop up.

who cares,,, your adding all the verts made from 53-57 and then all the verts made in 67 and saying that 67 verts are rarer than oval verts? thats a 5 year production run vs 1 year?? 67 is the most played out clapped out year ever. . Im sure this build will come out cool not my taste but itl be quality.. Never understood why some people hold 67s in such high regard.. I lump them in with 68+ I dont see the mystique with em never have never will but to each his own..

but your statement comparing the rarity of 67 verts to oval verts is not a good one... Take a cherry resto 67 vert and put it next to a decent shape needs work 53-57 vert and see what sells and what dosent... Then im sure that 68 verts are rarer than oval verts aswell..

I agree the fake carbon fiber is a joke, I dont like the "billet crazed" shit they do to much anyway its just to much to see every part billet..and im not a fan of the 17' smoothie but my opinion dont matter.also the carbon dash grills and glove box? seems alittle honda tunerish. I do like to look at the builds they do just to see the over the top ness that goes on.. But the auqua transfer carbon fiber c'mon like mentioned totaly autozoney and cheesey

Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:07 pm

50ate wrote: chickengeorge wrote: Airkewld wrote:

We are going to remove a couple of things. Turn signals, Over rider holes, Factory Antenna, Squirter, Factory door handles* ( A trick is up our sleeve), Exhaust cut outs and some various holes.

You sure? Looking at production numbers, 67 is rarer than an oval vert. Seems a shame when you could get a 68 (twice the production) to chop up.

who cares,,, your adding all the verts made from 53-57 and then all the verts made in 67 and saying that 67 verts are rarer than oval verts? thats a 5 year production run vs 1 year?? 67 is the most played out clapped out year ever. . Im sure this build will come out cool not my taste but itl be quality.. Never understood why some people hold 67s in such high regard.. I lump them in with 68+ I dont see the mystique with em never have never will but to each his own..

but your statement comparing the rarity of 67 verts to oval verts is not a good one... Take a cherry resto 67 vert and put it next to a decent shape needs work 53-57 vert and see what sells and what dosent... Then im sure that 68 verts are rarer than oval verts aswell..

I agree the fake carbon fiber is a joke, I dont like the "billet crazed" shit they do to much anyway its just to much to see every part billet..and im not a fan of the 17' smoothie but my opinion dont matter.also the carbon dash grills and glove box? seems alittle honda tunerish. I do like to look at the builds they do just to see the over the top ness that goes on.. But the auqua transfer carbon fiber c'mon like mentioned totaly autozoney and cheesey
I didn't say anything about what sells and what doesn't.

There were 7597 1967 verts produced. In 1957 there were 8196 verts produced. I'm sure there are more '67's out there at this point, but it's still a rare car.
In 1968 13354 verts were produced. -Almost twice as many as 1967.

Any of them are rare cars compared to 500,000-1,000,000 sedans in any given year.

It's not really a matter of your opinion.

Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:32 am

chickengeorge wrote: 50ate wrote: chickengeorge wrote: Airkewld wrote:

We are going to remove a couple of things. Turn signals, Over rider holes, Factory Antenna, Squirter, Factory door handles* ( A trick is up our sleeve), Exhaust cut outs and some various holes.

You sure? Looking at production numbers, 67 is rarer than an oval vert. Seems a shame when you could get a 68 (twice the production) to chop up.

who cares,,, your adding all the verts made from 53-57 and then all the verts made in 67 and saying that 67 verts are rarer than oval verts? thats a 5 year production run vs 1 year?? 67 is the most played out clapped out year ever. . Im sure this build will come out cool not my taste but itl be quality.. Never understood why some people hold 67s in such high regard.. I lump them in with 68+ I dont see the mystique with em never have never will but to each his own..

but your statement comparing the rarity of 67 verts to oval verts is not a good one... Take a cherry resto 67 vert and put it next to a decent shape needs work 53-57 vert and see what sells and what dosent... Then im sure that 68 verts are rarer than oval verts aswell..

I agree the fake carbon fiber is a joke, I dont like the "billet crazed" shit they do to much anyway its just to much to see every part billet..and im not a fan of the 17' smoothie but my opinion dont matter.also the carbon dash grills and glove box? seems alittle honda tunerish. I do like to look at the builds they do just to see the over the top ness that goes on.. But the auqua transfer carbon fiber c'mon like mentioned totaly autozoney and cheesey
I didn't say anything about what sells and what doesn't.

There were 7597 1967 verts produced. In 1957 there were 8196 verts produced. I'm sure there are more '67's out there at this point, but it's still a rare car.
In 1968 13354 verts were produced. -Almost twice as many as 1967.

Any of them are rare cars compared to 500,000-1,000,000 sedans in any given year.

It's not really a matter of your opinion.

I say chop cut and modify all he wants!
They do awesome work and I dare someone to come up with higher quality parts and support.

Furthermore, I have a 51 CC split and its getting a crate of AK parts that are weld on/bolt on. If you own it, you can do as you please. Nay-sayers be gone!

Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:31 am

8) Cant wait bro...I guess ill see you at Sema for sure...You still owe me that beer :wink:

Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:54 am

yup quality was never doubted in my statement.. i just dont care for the billet stuff... no doubt this car when done will be out of this world... nobodys gonna care that he did it to a 67 vert