Oct '68 13S Manx 1

[Marlin]

I found this body back in 1994 or 1995 in a small field beside a barn.
It was the body itself just sitting there. I purchased for a small sum, brought it home, and put it with the rest of the bodies/buggies I had at the time. When I moved in 2005, all were sold but My 1st fiberglass buggy, which is a Spatz, and this one. We moved again in 2008 where I stored it in the basement. In 2010, I sent pictures to Winnie for verification and to be added to the registry. In June, I joined the Manx club, and by July the family and I were on our way to Big Bear to meet Bruce and Winnie for the first time.

Taking into consideration its original, survivor condition, I chose not to restore the buggy but to preserve it. It is a little banged up, scratched up, and cracked but it is original.
The ID plate and rear emblem was intact but the front badge was missing.
The abs dash was there but in poor condition.

I would like the end result to look as if the buggy was pulled out from a barn, cleaned up, and put back on the road. The build has been challenging in the sense of preserving and acquiring period correct parts. To find a true survivor in a barn or garage is few and far between. Finding one is a challenge in itself.
I decided to build one (Barn Find Looker).

Pictures are just prior to buffing the gel coat.

Here is a link to the pan shortening process
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=

[Marlin]

I added only one adjuster to the beam. I like to start my cuts with pipe cutters.
This gives a true guide for the rest of the cutting all the way through with a port-a-band or sawzaw.

Perfectly in place welding

[mackmix]

That's perfect! Love that you're keeping it original!
_________________
1971 Westy (The Mean Tangerine)
1969 Lambretta GP 200
Lambretta Race Bike #14 RIP
Find yourself!

[Marlin]

Thank you Mackmix
There's something about original old school buggies that's just got that cool factor about them.

[Marlin]

I made a new dash frame

The ABS dash is in really sad shape

Tried plastic welding the cracks and patched a hacked radio hole

All repairs made, will be spraying with a textured peal coat to cover it

[oprn]

[Marlin]

I was fortunate to have a Samba member that was restoring his manx and was selling his used front and rear bumper,roll bar,windshield, and skid plate.
This helped tremendously with some of the correct parts.Thankfully he didn't mind boxing and shipping these to Georgia.

The front bumper/ nudge bar needed a little persuasion with the rubber mallet

[Marlin]

68' H case for the engine. Externally, a manx power stage V build.

[vw7266]

I have nice set of dietz 820 headlights if youre searching for the proper ones for your manx. Keep up the great preservation work

[Marlin]

Body bolted in place

[adams77]

Nice work!
_________________
If Stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out? ....Will Rogers

[BL3Manx]

Really impressive restoration.

When I rebuild a Manx, I weld up the extra or misplaced holes in the dash frame. The angles and bends are hard to duplicate

It looks like you have a pair studs to mount the steering column on the crossbar. Those were originally hollow spacers bolts fit through

[Marlin]

vw7266 ~ Thanks for the 820's, (a piece of the puzzle I didn't have)

adams77 ~ Thank you!

BL3Manx ~ Thank you! The bends were tough for sure.
You are the expert, I've read many of your posts in the past
and I've learned a lot. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[Marlin]

The manx adapter adds to the length of the steering shaft,
so I took out about 2 inches to keep the steering wheel in its normal position. The manx steering wheel was a little rough so I used peal coat on the it,
we'll see how it holds up. The dash turned out pretty good.

[Marlin]

I new the gel coat would buff really good so this is why I decided to go the preservation route.

Making progress on the engine.The 009 is only there for the build.
An 010 is what was used I believe .I'm thinking of using the newer cast steel distributor that looks like an 010 but has internals of the 009 made by kuhltek.
61-62 shroud is original paint

[legotech7]

Nice build. Where did you get the rubber sleeve for your hood and tank? the hole location is the same as mine.

[Marlin]

It is a 49-55 Chevy truck filler neck grommet

[legotech7]

Really?. I Ordered one for a 69 vw bus, I hope it fits.. Thanks....

[Marlin]

progress on the Manx power engine

Allmost complete

Used Koni shocks painted with new decals

Sand commands just for rollers,to worn and cracked to run on the road

820's installed

[squareweave]

Wow, I've missed this thread up until now. Great job on the preservation work. Keep the updates coming.