TheSamba.com :: View topic - Stock 1965 with SP 1200 Motor in Desert (Now w/ Pics/VDO)

Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:47 am

henry roberts wrote: i'm no expert, but i'd take off the hubcaps. if they aren't fitted they can't fall off.

i'd also get some marsden matting/psp and a shovel and strap them on the roofrack. even if you don't need them, they look the business.

this stuff. ww2 marsden matting/perforateded steel plate

http://www.exploroz.com/Utilities/showImage.aspx?i..._TN800.jpg

Oh hubcaps are securely in place as have installed new hubcaps clips/rivets from WW. So no worries there.

Matting/Shovel is great idea. But matting should be too costly for that. How about a replacement, something like block of woods or may be wide wooden slates?

Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:16 am

Your car is awesome!! I love the look and the bias ply tires. The sand looks like fun to drive in. Keep up the testing.

Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:11 am

conrad1468 wrote: Your car is awesome!! I love the look and the bias ply tires. The sand looks like fun to drive in. Keep up the testing.

Thanks conrad1468. When I brought her home from previous owner some 09 months earlier, she was rotten like hell with surface rust all over the body and all the filth in the cabin. But the interesting thing was that she was mostly complete and still had all the original (though badly worn out/beaten) interior in place - even the anthracite floor matts.

Anyway, slow progress on cleaning her up and adding the missing bits, have made her turn out into something where you see her at.

Even though restoring her to a shiny finish was always a choice but I rather like the survivor look better than the shiny one personally so I decided not to restore her just yet...May be couple of years down the road I would take that route.

Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:19 am

reezvaan wrote:

But matting should be too costly for that. How about a replacement, something like block of woods or may be wide wooden slates?

The matting works best because it's fairly light weight and the way they punch he holes in it you get some grip on the tires. It's also pretty strong, so it can be used as a bridge to help get you across ditches and such.

If thats out of your budget, a couple pieces of 2 x 6 cut about 4 feet long would fit up in your roof rack and might come in handy. Just make sure evrything up there is tied on very well!

Another alternative to the mat is a couple pieces of expanded steel 6 inches wide and 4 feet long. They sort of act as snow shoes in the sand and give you something to get a grip on.

Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:22 am

drscope wrote: reezvaan wrote:

But matting should be too costly for that. How about a replacement, something like block of woods or may be wide wooden slates?

The matting works best because it's fairly light weight and the way they punch he holes in it you get some grip on the tires. It's also pretty strong, so it can be used as a bridge to help get you across ditches and such.

If thats out of your budget, a couple pieces of 2 x 6 cut about 4 feet long would fit up in your roof rack and might come in handy. Just make sure evrything up there is tied on very well!

Another alternative to the mat is a couple pieces of expanded steel 6 inches wide and 4 feet long. They sort of act as snow shoes in the sand and give you something to get a grip on.

I shall see what can I get in my budget to come handy in case such measures are required (which I am sure would be required at some point in time in the desert).

Wed Jan 11, 2012 4:58 pm

This is what we're preparing for;
Next VW Destination: Cholistan Desert/Punjab/Pakistan

Tramac & Dirt Road Leading to Cholistan Desert

Cholistan Attractions/Rally Kick Off Point in the heart of Desert:

Derawar Fort

Abbasi Mosque

The Desert

The Rally Route

Wed Jan 11, 2012 5:52 pm

Looks like a blast! Beautiful place in the pictures.

How far is the start of this run from home?

Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:09 am

drscope wrote: Looks like a blast! Beautiful place in the pictures.

How far is the start of this run from home?

Start of this run is some 191kms/119 miles (roughly 03 hrs) drive from home and another 220kms/140miles of desert/rally run. Going to be fun.

Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:45 am

Here is a pic of my backyard.. I hope you enjoy the ride. Good luck

Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:59 am

mykidsbug wrote:

Here is a pic of my backyard.. I hope you enjoy the ride. Good luck

Lovely sight in the pic there!!!

Thanks for the wishes pal.

Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:51 am

drscope wrote: Looks like a blast! Beautiful place in the pictures.

X1000. This looks awesome man. Hope you have a great time! Post plenty of pictures when you get back.

Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:54 am

fluxcap wrote: drscope wrote: Looks like a blast! Beautiful place in the pictures.

X1000. This looks awesome man. Hope you have a great time! Post plenty of pictures when you get back.

Place is beautiful beyond expression. Sure, will try to document the whole event in hundreds of pics so stay tuned and watch this space.

Thu Jan 12, 2012 3:51 pm

When is this event?

Thu Jan 12, 2012 3:55 pm

drscope wrote: When is this event?

The rally kicks off in March, but I am planning to take my bug to the venue in the end of the current month for some fun with family and friends.

It would be a test run too in kind, which would help me assess what necessary changes/measures to be taken before its rally time.

Would share the picture from this trip as well as rally pics

Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:02 pm

Don't forget to include pictures of the other cars on the rally too! We want to see them all.

Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:10 pm

drscope wrote: Don't forget to include pictures of the other cars on the rally too! We want to see them all.

Sure thing, but if you want some real beauty from Pakistan, there are a few which you could always look at. Here are a couple of stars (among many) to have a look at;

Billo - 1960 Truck Art Beetle from Pakistan
http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/cool-classic-cars-latest/165463-billo-1960-truck-art-beetle-pakistan

Grey Matter - 1969 1200 Economy Bug - A Journey to 14500 feet above Sea Level
http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/171430-deosai-babusar-vw-beetle-you-mad-yess

Trust me, none of you wana miss having a look at these two threads if you really want to know what STOCK bugs are really capable of! Both of these bugs would be accompanying my "Patina" on the desert rally along with other bugs in March.

Sat Jan 14, 2012 2:31 pm

Tried 7.00x16LT NDCC Military tyres borrowed from my brother's M151 MUTT. Here is what the bug looks like with them on;

But too wide, rub against the spring plates so this size is a NO but they looked super cool, didn't they?

I think, I will have to find 6.00x15 NDCC from somewhere and I believe they would do in the desert. Would they? What do you guys say? Please also comment what bads should I expect by mounting 6.00x15s as in terms of suspension/steering gear wear etc.?

Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:58 pm

reezvaan wrote: drscope wrote: Don't forget to include pictures of the other cars on the rally too! We want to see them all.

Sure thing, but if you want some real beauty from Pakistan, there are a few which you could always look at. Here are a couple of stars (among many) to have a look at;

Billo - 1960 Truck Art Beetle from Pakistan
http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/cool-classic-cars-latest/165463-billo-1960-truck-art-beetle-pakistan

Grey Matter - 1969 1200 Economy Bug - A Journey to 14500 feet above Sea Level
http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/171430-deosai-babusar-vw-beetle-you-mad-yess

Trust me, none of you wana miss having a look at these two threads if you really want to know what STOCK bugs are really capable of! Both of these bugs would be accompanying my "Patina" on the desert rally along with other bugs in March.

VERY COOL LINKS! Thanks for sharing those!

Looks like you will be in good company for your trip!

Sat Jan 14, 2012 4:05 pm

drscope wrote: VERY COOL LINKS! Thanks for sharing those!

Looks like you will be in good company for your trip!

Yep you are right...Even though we dont have too many of pre-67s left unfortunately in the country but there are hundreds of post-67s and we dont shy away from putting our bugs to challenges. We rather believe in driving them than keeping them parked for shows once we've restored/readied them.

Wait till you see a 55 Oval bug's (still running on her 1100 SP motor) climb to 9000 feet in falling snow.

Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:38 am

Q: How does a Bug look like in the middle of a desert with Stock Wheels & Stock 1200 40HP SP Motor?

A:

Stay tuned to find out more answers, I have plenty more to share :)