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Can you make a VW from scratch?
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Patty B.
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:55 pm    Post subject: Can you make a VW from scratch? Reply with quote

Let's say you have a backbone with a vehicle registration number so it could all be registered. And that's it!

Is it possible to build an entire VW car (or van) using *only* and entirely aftermarket parts? No original VW parts-new or used.

I figure it would cost alot and take alot of work but let's not include that kind of stuff. It would probably be the most ill fitted car on the road to but what the heck.
What are your thoughts--I've often wondered.


Last edited by Patty B. on Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:51 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Jason C
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No. Not all body parts are made aftermarket. You would have to fabricate a good portion of the body yourself.
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hear that Gerson is working on building a complete barndoor 15 window bus down in Columbia...
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Migit
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can actually still buy most of the car out of NOS parts from Mexico. Even the backbone as you call it, and the shell.
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Jason C
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Migit wrote:
You can actually still buy most of the car out of NOS parts from Mexico. Even the backbone as you call it, and the shell.


NOS parts wouldn't count.

Patty B. wrote:

Is it possible to build an entire VW car (or van) using *only* and entirely aftermarket parts? No original VW parts-new or used.

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Kubel Nick
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Anyone with skills can build any car they want from scratch, but as per the topic, there's no aftermarket shell you can buy, and other stuff
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jason C wrote:
Migit wrote:
You can actually still buy most of the car out of NOS parts from Mexico. Even the backbone as you call it, and the shell.


NOS parts wouldn't count.



Why not?
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Patty B.
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Icy wrote:
Jason C wrote:
Migit wrote:
You can actually still buy most of the car out of NOS parts from Mexico. Even the backbone as you call it, and the shell.


NOS parts wouldn't count.



Why not?



To put it another way----Are there enough aftermarket parts available to build an entire car from scratch?

(I'd like to see pics of a mostly aftermarket parts car--how recognizable as aftermarket would that car be? It would probably be in the abominations thread ) Laughing
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Air-Cooled Head
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

“No original VW parts-new or used.” So VW NOS would be disqualified. But does it also disqualify Hella, Bosch, etc? They were OE, but not made by VW.

There were/are no aftermarket (made by someone other than VW, and not for VW) shells. Maybe doors, maybe decklids & hoods, certainly fenders, but not the body shell itself.

IIRC, there was a fiberglass Bug kit available, maybe mid to late 80s. But you still needed a pan/suspension, etc.
I also seem to remember fiberglass KG kit too.

So, could you take just the “back bone” and build an “aftermarket” VW? Close, but not exactly. But it would probably be less expensive (and certainly more reasonable) to buy a real one, and restore it to what you want. (Probably why the above kits never hit it big.)

Or take a shell and build a non-VW in/under it. Rolling Eyes
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are full fiberglass bodies, which could be used to make a bug from scratch, that and a MAM catalog.

http://members.cox.net/prostreetbug/html/exterior.html
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Jason C
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Icy wrote:
Jason C wrote:
Migit wrote:
You can actually still buy most of the car out of NOS parts from Mexico. Even the backbone as you call it, and the shell.


NOS parts wouldn't count.



Why not?


Is it possible to build an entire VW car (or van) using *only* and entirely aftermarket parts No original VW parts-new or used.
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67inthesouth
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:30 am    Post subject: sure Reply with quote

isn't a buggy a "vw car" ?

if you think so then yeah, sure you could lol
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ovalboy
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What about the fella on the Samba that's building his own Kubel? IIRC, he has hand-made all of the body panels himself. There's a thread on it somewhere around here.
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

BrockGrimes wrote:
There are full fiberglass bodies, which could be used to make a bug from scratch, that and a MAM catalog.

http://members.cox.net/prostreetbug/html/exterior.html


Yeah, that's it. Back in the day, I really wanted one of these.

But it's basically doing what I said above. Take a shell and build a non-
VW under it. Wink
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Resurrecting an old thread!

I was looking at the work some people do to restore / rebuild a split bus, and with the cost of even shells going way up, started thinking that someone who can weld could build a frame and with NOS or aftermarket parts it is possible to build a brand new split.

Opinions on:

1. With a frame welded up, is it feasible to build using NOS or new parts?
2. Would the cost be insanely higher than a proper purchase/restore/rebuild?

It would be cool to have a brand new splitty!
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 6:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A bus doesn't really have a "frame" like a Beetle does. That said, yes, technically I think you CAN buy enough aftermarket metal these days to entirely reconstruct a bus. You'd need a lot of careful measuring and whatnot to ensure it's "feasible" to build something that you can get all the mechanicals and whatnot to bolt onto and align correctly.
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wish I had a nos body for mine.
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 2:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Can you make a VW from scratch? Reply with quote

Patty B. wrote:
It would probably be the most ill fitted car on the road.


Not quite. Chinese knockoff cars have that title among others.



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chaosisme
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

71Survivor wrote:
Resurrecting an old thread!

I was looking at the work some people do to restore / rebuild a split bus, and with the cost of even shells going way up, started thinking that someone who can weld could build a frame and with NOS or aftermarket parts it is possible to build a brand new split.

Opinions on:

1. With a frame welded up, is it feasible to build using NOS or new parts?
2. Would the cost be insanely higher than a proper purchase/restore/rebuild?

It would be cool to have a brand new splitty!


I have seen a somewhat close to complete NOS bus. It was pretty awesome to see but I could imagine that the NOS parts to finish building it would cost a fortune if you could find them/pry them away from their owners.
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

71Survivor wrote:
Resurrecting an old thread!

I was looking at the work some people do to restore / rebuild a split bus, and with the cost of even shells going way up, started thinking that someone who can weld could build a frame and with NOS or aftermarket parts it is possible to build a brand new split.

Opinions on:

1. With a frame welded up, is it feasible to build using NOS or new parts?
2. Would the cost be insanely higher than a proper purchase/restore/rebuild?

It would be cool to have a brand new splitty!


The Barndoor topic has some interesting threads with pics detailing some almost total body fabrications. Really amazing work.
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