Justin & Muttley
Well-known member
Dear All,
Well, what can I say - after a very hectic 6 weeks of hard work, secrecy, plotting and sleepless nights it's all over - it was Joy's (my wife) birthday yesterday and I thought you might like an update... (It is VW related so apologies to anyone that doesn't think it belongs here
)...
It started in late January when I saw this:
It's a '67 bug that had been laid up for a couple of years, but I saw the potential and hatched a plan...
I had 6 weeks before Joy's birthday, 21st March, to get it roadworthy, legal and running well - and I had to raise the money and keep it all secret too!
First thing I did was take it for an MOT - it failed of course! Jobs to do:
Replace front beam (the old one was rotten).
Lots of welding around O/S seatbelt anchorage.
Lots of welding around rear O/S suspension mounting prescribed area.
Brake lights not working.
Horn not working.
N/S headlight not working.
O/S side light not working.
Replace front shocks.
Replace points, dizzy cap, rotor arm, HT leads, plugs etc.
Service engine including carb overhaul and reconnection of auto choke.
Respray bonnet.
Source and fit interior carpet sections.
Remove Hammerite used by previous owner to 'protect' paintwork, chrome bumpers and headlamp rings.
Polish car.
Service brakes.
There were other things but you get the idea...
My wife knew I was up to something, but when she let slip that she thought I was making some furniture for her I didn't exactly go out of my way to set her straight :evil: :lol:
Got the bug to my parents' house (enclosed drive and base of operations) and started with a polish to raise morale:
Sourced a replacement beam on VZi (thanks andy_k!) and began, with lots of help from my brother in law, to replace it, then bagan the welding etc...
Got everything slowly ticked off the list and got the MOT two weeks ago (thanks to Ray Chandler at Station Garage, Fareham) and began the 'tarting up' element culminating in a quick blow-over of the bonnet last wednesday - we were set!
For the big day my sister drove to car to Joy's daughters' house and my Mum & Dad wrapped it:
We arrived and I led Joy down the road (blindfolded!):
Then, off came the blindfold and... voila!!
Joy's reaction was a real picture - she didn't have a clue!! She was absolutely made up and couldn't wait to get in and take it for a spin:
Have I won the 'Best Husband in the World Award'? According to Joy, YES!!
I'd like to thank all the people that helped with the project (sorry if I've missed anyone ), including:
My Mum & Dad, Sister & Brother in law (plus their girls who helped with the cleaning), my step-daughter and son in law, Big Tim & Little Tim at Tim's VW in Portchester, Terry (Harlequin on EarlyBay.com) for the carb screws, andy_k (on VZi) for the free beam, Jon for the chrome window clip, Ray at the MOT garage, Gadget Boy (Deano) and others for their sound advice and everyone else - I couldn't have done it without you all.
Joy loves the bug, it was definately worth all the effort - look at how happy she is:
Well, what can I say - after a very hectic 6 weeks of hard work, secrecy, plotting and sleepless nights it's all over - it was Joy's (my wife) birthday yesterday and I thought you might like an update... (It is VW related so apologies to anyone that doesn't think it belongs here
)...It started in late January when I saw this:
It's a '67 bug that had been laid up for a couple of years, but I saw the potential and hatched a plan...
I had 6 weeks before Joy's birthday, 21st March, to get it roadworthy, legal and running well - and I had to raise the money and keep it all secret too!
First thing I did was take it for an MOT - it failed of course! Jobs to do:
Replace front beam (the old one was rotten).
Lots of welding around O/S seatbelt anchorage.
Lots of welding around rear O/S suspension mounting prescribed area.
Brake lights not working.
Horn not working.
N/S headlight not working.
O/S side light not working.
Replace front shocks.
Replace points, dizzy cap, rotor arm, HT leads, plugs etc.
Service engine including carb overhaul and reconnection of auto choke.
Respray bonnet.
Source and fit interior carpet sections.
Remove Hammerite used by previous owner to 'protect' paintwork, chrome bumpers and headlamp rings.
Polish car.
Service brakes.
There were other things but you get the idea...
My wife knew I was up to something, but when she let slip that she thought I was making some furniture for her I didn't exactly go out of my way to set her straight :evil: :lol:
Got the bug to my parents' house (enclosed drive and base of operations) and started with a polish to raise morale:
Sourced a replacement beam on VZi (thanks andy_k!) and began, with lots of help from my brother in law, to replace it, then bagan the welding etc...
Got everything slowly ticked off the list and got the MOT two weeks ago (thanks to Ray Chandler at Station Garage, Fareham) and began the 'tarting up' element culminating in a quick blow-over of the bonnet last wednesday - we were set!
For the big day my sister drove to car to Joy's daughters' house and my Mum & Dad wrapped it:
We arrived and I led Joy down the road (blindfolded!):
Then, off came the blindfold and... voila!!
Joy's reaction was a real picture - she didn't have a clue!! She was absolutely made up and couldn't wait to get in and take it for a spin:
Have I won the 'Best Husband in the World Award'? According to Joy, YES!!
I'd like to thank all the people that helped with the project (sorry if I've missed anyone
), including:My Mum & Dad, Sister & Brother in law (plus their girls who helped with the cleaning), my step-daughter and son in law, Big Tim & Little Tim at Tim's VW in Portchester, Terry (Harlequin on EarlyBay.com) for the carb screws, andy_k (on VZi) for the free beam, Jon for the chrome window clip, Ray at the MOT garage, Gadget Boy (Deano) and others for their sound advice and everyone else - I couldn't have done it without you all.
Joy loves the bug, it was definately worth all the effort - look at how happy she is:
