Denzel #158 restoration project progress

[qwerty]

Can anyone tell me what car the exterior doorhandle comes from on my 1958 Denzel? Mine are pitted pretty bad, and I would like to find something better to start with. Pictures in coachbuilt gallery are from a friend's car.
There is a small logo with a wB and Birmingham and a small dog on back side of grip, so I am assuming maybe a Triumph, Morris, ???

Thanks
Mark

[JeffL]

[Bruce]

I agree, those handles look great!

There are 2 kinds of platers out there.
One plater will strip the existing plating, then they will grind the outside down until the pits are gone. Then they'll replate. This results in a handle that looks quite different.
The better plater will strip the chrome, then fill the holes so the overall shape isn't changed. Then after polishing, will replate them. This costs quite a bit more than the average VW guy is willing to pay.
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[qwerty]

Thanks for the info on plating. The handle is not mine but from a friend's car that I took pictures of. Mine are pretty pitted and it might be easier/cheaper to find a set from another UK car... I just don't know which one!
Mark

[beetleseb]

They look a little like a mark 3 mini

http://www.minisport.com/acatalog/info_9-01098.html

Or possably MK1 cortina

Both too late but they might well have used a handle off an old model

Hard to tell for sure.

I'm in the UK so if you get stuck with shipping etc let me know

Seb

[Neil Davies]

[SiMedlicott]

maybe look to the key **edit sorry these were ignition keys**

http://planefacts.co.uk/keys/

Wilmot Breeden of birmingham

previous employes / apprentices through the 50's talk here

http://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=13128

I have replied to the thread through a friends account for you- fingers crossed

[qwerty]

Thanks to all! I think I have found that they are the doorhandles of a 1954-58 Nash/Austin Metropolitan! The clues about the manufacturer was the key!!! I am going to a shop in LA that specializes in these parts tomorrow and will see what he has...

went to the Birmingham site - very interesting to read the comments about the old days in the factory. Thanks!

Mark

[drscope]

How about some pictures of your Denzel!?
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Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[vwovalguy]

[passoa55]

x3
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1950 Hebmuller #458
1955 lowlight lizard green
1955 original paint oval
1956 1600 super V-sunroof Porsche
1958 lowlight ghia black
1963 firetruckred 23 window
1967 SO42 westy
1969 original paint Westy
1970 one owner 1300L bug

[peter schepens]

Not sure about the denzel but here is also a discussion on the doorhandles....
http://forums.pre67vw.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=17331

Best regards.
_________________
Zelensis, glassfibre body made in Belgium , disigned and built on a VW platform About 25 body's built.
Hebmuller info wanted for http://www.hebmueller-registry.com/home.html

[qwerty]

Yes that is my car in the links - I will post some more pics here this weekend. Dropped the gauges off at no hollywood speedo to be refurbished - these guys knew all about them, and have the silkscreens etc, as they have previously restored Tom N's gauges some years ago. Picked up some new door handles and inner handles/winders today also in No Hollywood. Dropped off interior to upholsterer - waiting for seat frames from chrome shop... Progress!!!

[qwerty]

posted some pics in coachbuilt gallery.

[qwerty]

Posted some pictures in the "coachbuilt" gallery of the completed chassis restoration. It is coated in red oxide primer which is the original finish. Ray and Bryan have remade the headlight buckets and are fitting the aluminum skin to the front. Denzel put a oil/tar impregnated burlap type material between the steel chassis and the aluminum skin originally to avoid electrolysis - Ray is looking into replicating this material.

Got the brake parts - actually a combination of Fiat Topolimo and Multipla style master and wheel cylinders. Has aluminum/webbed brake shoes. Ray had some brake lines made up.

Gauges and gas tank sender are in to North Hollywood Speedo - they have the silkscreens and will clean and get all mechanisms working - and will also make a new tach cable and oil temp line (ether filled?)

Apparently the rear brake/tail and front turn signal lights are from Lucas - I am currently trying to locate some new/better ones.

Ray is in the process of making up some mufflers/piping/heater boxes for the engines using my complete set as a pattern. He has already made most of the engine tin pieces that are different than stock VW - I think he has 5-6 Denzel engines to build for various folks....

Dropped off interior to upholsterer - trying to find the red vinyl with burgundy specs in it as original.

Mark

[qwerty]

Can anyone help identify what the steel center of these Borrani "Bimetal" wheels was originally used on? Fiat. Lancia, Maserati???? the ones I have are really pitted, and the local wheel company could take the rims apart and replace with a better center if I can find a source of the steel center as a donor. I am also trying to figure out what kind of hubcap went between the three "points". Anyone have any ideas??
Thanks,
Mark

[cooperati]

To hazard a guess, id say with using Fiat brake components there is a large chance the centre's might be 500c, or 1900. What diameter are they?

Front lights look very like Mini Cooper front units, rear (are they flat or domed?), i suspect a BMC vehicle to carry the same with the Nash connection, if flat id say a30, domed perhaps MG TD. What else, bar Nash, where the agents selling?

[overrestored]

just buy a set of Lancia Borrani's...they look a lot better!

see:

http://www.borrani.co.uk/Lancia-Bimetal-Borrani-Wheels.php

[peter schepens]

This is what I found on the wheels in Google
"Borrani Bi metal felgen"
http://www.borrani.co.uk/Lancia-Bimetal-Borrani-Wheels.php

and the Borrani company made Rudge wheels also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borrani

http://www.oldspeed.ch/pages/carrosserie.html

and in German a brief history from the company.
http://www.denzel.at/ueber_uns/daten_und_fakten/geschichte.php
I think you can contact them, maybe they can help you out, I was told several years ago that they still have 2 cars in the dealership.

Best regards.
_________________
Zelensis, glassfibre body made in Belgium , disigned and built on a VW platform About 25 body's built.
Hebmuller info wanted for http://www.hebmueller-registry.com/home.html

[[email protected]]

Man I wish someone made replica denzel wheels ...i would buy them in a heart beat...