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Mattimus
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2003
Posts: 111
Location: Austin, Tx
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 Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:11 pm Post subject: Templeton the Rat - 1961 |
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I figure I could probably post my most recent ride here. After a 6 year and $20k+ custom project of my old blue 69, I sold it and purchased two ratty bugs. My current 61 and a 67 that I have since sold and purchased a baja with. The 61 that I have dubbed Templeton, had sat in a Texas barn since 1980. A friend pulled it out with plans of fixing it up for a daily driver. He never touched it, and it passed hand one other time (still untouched) before coming to me. I decided to keep this one mostly stock this time, save for a good lowering job and cage. Currently I have a 4" narrowed beam, dropped spindles, completely new brake system, foglights, a set of 1961 Tx plates, and a slew of replacement german parts. As I type it is being fitted with its new NHRA legal cage (I've had two friends in serious bug related accidents in the last year) and is awaiting the transplant of its new ragtop from another 61. Color will be the correct L87 Pearl White (I got the birth certificate) with all stainless trim and rechromed bumpers and handles. Thats about it for now....
Here is what I sold:
Here is the 61 out of the barn:
after some striping of parts:
And as it sits for the most part today:
Check out those kick as seats:
Thanx for checkin out my new toy. |
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Kais Collection 
vintage treasures
Joined: February 18, 2005
Posts: 1570
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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ferfer6
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2005
Posts: 145
Location: Idaho Falls,ID
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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Me likes!!
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Serenity now! |
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DMNCLNR
Sir Camp'alot
Joined: November 12, 2003
Posts: 2897
Location: Newport Beach Ca
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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Huge step up for you sir. Like divorcing Rosie O'donnell and marrying a young dirty girl and cleaning her up! 
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To his their own PBJ
Pl@y@ #1 |
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furious_01
Samba Member
Joined: July 04, 2005
Posts: 19
Location: M-TOWN, CA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| VICIOUS rat. :2gunfire: anyone could hold their head up high in that ride. nice work. even nicer find. congrats. |
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Towel Rail
Horizontally Opposed
Joined: April 15, 2005
Posts: 4622
Location: SE CR IA US NA PE
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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"Charlotte's Web" -- I win!  |
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Mattimus
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2003
Posts: 111
Location: Austin, Tx
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:05 am Post subject: |
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| Towel Rail wrote: |
| "Charlotte's Web" -- I win! |
Congrats, sir. Hit the nail on the head with that one. 
Thanx everyone for the praise. I can't wait to get it back from getting its cage so I can tinker some more. I need to do some more bodywork, then its time to paint! I'm stoked. I'm also rebuilding a 1600 with better heads and cam to drop back in it for a little extra oomph till I can finish my T4 buildup ($$$). Hopefully I'll have it driving in time for Ennis and the Bus 'n'Bugtoberfest coming up.  |
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axe
Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2005
Posts: 16
Location: Moncton, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:36 am Post subject: |
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Bloody awesome! I love the stance, and the door graphic
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1986 Golf
2001 Jetta VR6 |
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slammedtiki
Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2005
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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| where did you get the 4in narrowed beam ? |
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Mattimus
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2003
Posts: 111
Location: Austin, Tx
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| slammedtiki wrote: |
| where did you get the 4in narrowed beam ? |
Kustom Coach Works. I don't care what people bitch about them for, I like the beam. Not a single problem with it. Running a set of 135's on stock wheels. Only minor rubbing on the headlight buckets. |
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iamtheredworm
Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2005
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:06 am Post subject: |
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thats so right,well cool-what more can i say-like it a lot. |
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az350x
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2005
Posts: 232
Location: Mesa, Arizona, USA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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| What'd the cage set you back? Sounds like a good idea. Anyone else on here done any less-obtrusive front-end reinforcing for safety, without going full cage? My main worry is taking a hit from the front and it folding up on me... |
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rundgerob pimplepants
Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2005
Posts: 2
Location: colorado springs, CO
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| Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Dont paint it........theres this thing called "clear".... |
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Mattimus
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2003
Posts: 111
Location: Austin, Tx
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| Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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| az350x wrote: |
| What'd the cage set you back? Sounds like a good idea. Anyone else on here done any less-obtrusive front-end reinforcing for safety, without going full cage? My main worry is taking a hit from the front and it folding up on me... |
[b]
If you are gonna get a cage for safety, don't cheap out on it. Iv'e had two friends get t-boned in these bugs. One lost his wife, almost his daughter, and put himself in a coma for 6 months. The other just got hit at "25mph", and was in ICU for weeks. His bug is below. In the end, I will be paying about $800 for a fully tig welded, NHRA legal to 9.99 sec, cage with removable side protection, and a better than Kafer Cup rear suspension brace. There is a pic below of the preliminary setup of the sidebars and hoop. I'll get better pics this weekend.
And here is my friends 67 after a "25mph" tap...
[/b]
Last edited by Mattimus on Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mattimus
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2003
Posts: 111
Location: Austin, Tx
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| Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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| rundgerob pimplepants wrote: |
| Dont paint it........theres this thing called "clear".... |
If the car wasn't covered in cheap ass white rattle can, then I would keep it OG. But alas, its another example of PO syndrome. Plus, now I got a rag to put in it next week!
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Mattimus
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2003
Posts: 111
Location: Austin, Tx
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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More cage pics:
Cage was produced by my friend, Matt Quinn (mq1918 on here), a TXPRA racer and a welding master. Check out his photos on here to see some of his other work. |
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thebucket
Samba Stockbroker
Joined: April 06, 2004
Posts: 3734
Location: Houston Texas
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Mattimus
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2003
Posts: 111
Location: Austin, Tx
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| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| thebucket wrote: |
| how much of a bath did you take on the 69? |
I got what I wanted out of it. Close to $7k. I never expected to get any more for a fat chick. Plus, its not what you got in it, but what you learned while putting it together. I learned that everything I did to that car will never be done again.
Whats up with your oval? I haven't seen any pics in quite a while. |
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Mattimus
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2003
Posts: 111
Location: Austin, Tx
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| Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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I figured its been a while since I updated this thread. So here it is. I cut my roof and installed a rag clip. Picked up an assembly for cheap and am finishing the overhaul on that before I slap it back in there with the beige/tan canvas cover. I welded in a new battery section even though I could have just POR15'd the pinholes. Went ahead and coated the whole pan with POR15 as well. Got the traction supports hooked up to my cage. Painted the cage Sandstone to match my e-brake, steering wheel and ashtray. I cut my rear apron off (via spotwelds) and am just waiting on new bumper bracket sections so I can replace the rusted out ones. I have a new OG apron from another 61 that I am going to work with to make it removable so I can swap between my stock motor and the turbo setup I'm farming out. The body still looks dumpy, but I'll work that out ater the major work is done. I'm not ashamed to drive my rat.
Traction Support
attached to rear of cage
Painted cage
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Skim
Rants Master
Joined: April 15, 2001
Posts: 17082
Location: GFK 31 Year Vet
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| Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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Mattimus, you gonna have it at Ennis come spring time?
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GFK
Samba since before the towers collapsed. Still here.
1953 Kabriolet
1954 Sunroof
1959 Lowlight Ghia vert
1960 Lt Grey Double Cab SMZ LEGIT
1963 Deluxe Turkis Walk Thru 15 Window OG Paint |
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