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AirKooledGarage Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2012 Posts: 314 Location: Wisco
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Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 7:38 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Bay Window Rescue - Long term project |
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Final details coming together. The color matched Haro frame came back from paint and TMI got me some more of the Saddle vinyl to wrap the walk through delete panel.
Look away purists. Before paint, I had welded a matching diameter tube connecting the seat panels. The intent being to create an upholstered panel to cover the back in a similar style as a traditional bench seat Bay and make it look like it belonged there. Pretty happy with the results.
Using the rubber mat as a template, trimmed out some carpet. Struggled with the color (this was second attempt), but I'm liking this one.
Wrapped rear carpet as well and built up the Haro. _________________ 1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug |
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AirKooledGarage Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2012 Posts: 314 Location: Wisco
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Posted: Mon May 27, 2019 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Bay Window Rescue - Long term project |
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Finally coming together! Seven years since we dragged it home and dreamt up this crazy plan to build a Cal Style Bay window out of a gutted 73 Bus. This thing had no motor, no trans, no interior and only minimal wiring, really just a metal box. It had sat in the So Cal desert for decades dissolving every piece of rubber, but had virtually no rust. This week we're at the tail end of the build and it's maiden voyage.
Roped in all the windows, last piece was the near 50yo windshield and not surprisingly it cracked. With only 10 days until the first show we had hoped to attend. Research put it close to $350 to get another one in time and still had to install it myself. Hit up the local Safelite out of morbid curiosity. Turns out they had one in stock, could install it in 48 hours (with new rubber) for $340. Ill take that. Guy came out and had it wrapped in less than an hour. not stoked on the spend, but happy with some fresh glass (rally makes the old windows look bad).
Garage built bench came back from pro level upholsterer looking pretty decent. Surprisingly comfortable considering the limited foam and zero spring content.
Took it to a local Cars & Coffee for the maiden voyage. Air shock compressor failed in the driveway, no gas gauge and no speedo. Not a great start, but it rode butter smooth (not bad for 9" drop), went straight, stopped well, shifted awesome and overall was effortless to drive. A solid outcome considering every single part, system and assembly has been rebuilt replaced or heavily modified. I was pretty stoked it didn't burst into flames.
Fun twist, family in a crazy clean camper (they had recently done a run from Wisco to Cali in it!) stopped in and talked VW's. Forgot how tall these things sit stock!
Some final tweaks and sorting the gauges and compressor and it'll be officially wrapped. Next up is a Bug In in Minneapolis and a handful of shows throughout the Midwest. _________________ 1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug |
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metz Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005 Posts: 278 Location: Norway
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Posted: Mon May 27, 2019 11:56 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Bay Window Rescue - Long term project |
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Congrats! Looks like a million. Wouldn't mind more pictures _________________ 68 panel
64 ghia coupe |
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AirKooledGarage Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2012 Posts: 314 Location: Wisco
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Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 4:51 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Bay Window Rescue - Long term project |
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Will do a proper photo shoot this week _________________ 1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug |
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AirKooledGarage Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2012 Posts: 314 Location: Wisco
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Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Bay Window Rescue - Long term project |
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Dragged this thing three and a half hours up to the Twin Cities Bug In 33. Great group and killer show (they even had Bruce Meyers there!). 120ish cars and easily half bus's. Looked like a Westyfest.
Got front row seating and a ton of compliments. Really stoked on the response. Still need to button up a bunch of stuff as well as color sand it, but it showed pretty well.
Fun surprise, we won best mod bus!
Should have some time to do a legit shoot in the next few days. _________________ 1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug |
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cdennisg Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20231 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Bay Window Rescue - Long term project |
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I started my VW enthusiasm with that show in 1987. Always a good time, and it is run by very good folks.
Bus is looking good man. Nice work! _________________ nothing |
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AirKooledGarage Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2012 Posts: 314 Location: Wisco
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Bay Window Rescue - Long term project |
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So, some seven odd years later it's done. Crazy journey, but we stayed true to the original plan (down to the color) and made it happen (even moved it from So Cal to rural Wisconsin mid build).
Now what? Not sure yet, but so far we've enjoyed a handful of show and a little putting around (and confusing the local farmers).
Thanks to all the Samba folks that have chimed in along the way (BusDaddy for sure!) and sorry to all the purists that stopped following the build when I dropped it on its junk.
Recent shoot:
_________________ 1973 Bus
1974 Long Body Buggy (sold)
1965 Manxish buggy (kids car)
1961 Patina Bug |
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Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 3789 Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: 1973 Bay Window Rescue - Long term project |
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Super clean, tubs were well-executed, they have that stock-ish sheetmetal look. You've matured quite a bit since those first pics on page 1 |
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Vee Dub Nut Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2004 Posts: 1183 Location: Dallas, GA
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 9:11 am Post subject: Re: 1973 Bay Window Rescue - Long term project |
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Man I love this thing... makes me want to tub mine and drop it more _________________ Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2006
67 Beetle (TBD)
74 Transporter (EJ25 Swapped) - Build Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
See all my VW pics on Instagram @ vee_dub_nut |
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