Post by 58jake on Nov 24, 2012 3:30:42 GMT -5
One day while buying parts at Wolfsburg West for my '59 a guy came in and posted two ads on their bulletin board. One for a '63 and one for a '58 european. I immediately asked if these cars were close and that I was interested in the '58. He said yes, I said can we go right now and look at it? He said yes and with me being about and hour from home already we were off.
Upon arrival it looked a little rough. All four fenders had ben trimmed, and even the H apron was cut to match. It was gutted, but had a claimed to be fresh 40hp in it. Although that is what the guy he bought it from said. (funny story, 7 years later we finally opened up that 40hp to find out he was correct. it was never ran, but had got a tiny bit of water in one cylinder that we are replacing.) So a deal was struck, $300 changed hands and he actually hauled it to my house! Oh, and it also included the semaphores!
The car was a black widow's nest! so once I sorted them out, and a few cases of bug bombs, I started to clean out all the crap inside. After that the bug sat untouched for a few years until I moved it indoors. Initially I was going to build a gasser out of it. So all the fiberglass body parts were sourced. Then awhile later that plan was pushed off for a future car, and this one was going to be a street/strip car. Just couldn't bring myself to cut up a usable '58 semaphore car.
Work has not actually fully begun yet. There is a handful of metal work that needs to be done first. Driver side heater channel, both rear body mounts, luggage shelf, rear bumper mount area, driver's rear quarter panel, passanger side front quarter panel and rear apron need to be replaced. I have spent the last few years gathering original metal to make these repairs, even going to Phoenix to buy a partial shell of a '59.
The final out come will be a 100% as from factory stock body, with the only exceptions being carbonfiber front and rear hoods (painted to match of course, it's not a honda) and a removable H apron. It will be show quality and run roughly a 12 second 1/4 mile. The engine and tranny are done, just waiting on a few more metal sections and my garage space to become free. I have even gathered european wire tube fenders for the front and dimple fenders for the rear.
As I got the car
In "gasser" trim
On Cap-Part wheels with all correct german fenders
Pretty much the way it sits today, but right now in a dark corner of storage.
The ride home from Phoenix with the donor '59 body
I do have a small amount of metal that I will not be needing if anyone is interested, including a full roof section.
Upon arrival it looked a little rough. All four fenders had ben trimmed, and even the H apron was cut to match. It was gutted, but had a claimed to be fresh 40hp in it. Although that is what the guy he bought it from said. (funny story, 7 years later we finally opened up that 40hp to find out he was correct. it was never ran, but had got a tiny bit of water in one cylinder that we are replacing.) So a deal was struck, $300 changed hands and he actually hauled it to my house! Oh, and it also included the semaphores!
The car was a black widow's nest! so once I sorted them out, and a few cases of bug bombs, I started to clean out all the crap inside. After that the bug sat untouched for a few years until I moved it indoors. Initially I was going to build a gasser out of it. So all the fiberglass body parts were sourced. Then awhile later that plan was pushed off for a future car, and this one was going to be a street/strip car. Just couldn't bring myself to cut up a usable '58 semaphore car.
Work has not actually fully begun yet. There is a handful of metal work that needs to be done first. Driver side heater channel, both rear body mounts, luggage shelf, rear bumper mount area, driver's rear quarter panel, passanger side front quarter panel and rear apron need to be replaced. I have spent the last few years gathering original metal to make these repairs, even going to Phoenix to buy a partial shell of a '59.
The final out come will be a 100% as from factory stock body, with the only exceptions being carbonfiber front and rear hoods (painted to match of course, it's not a honda) and a removable H apron. It will be show quality and run roughly a 12 second 1/4 mile. The engine and tranny are done, just waiting on a few more metal sections and my garage space to become free. I have even gathered european wire tube fenders for the front and dimple fenders for the rear.
As I got the car
In "gasser" trim
On Cap-Part wheels with all correct german fenders
Pretty much the way it sits today, but right now in a dark corner of storage.
The ride home from Phoenix with the donor '59 body
I do have a small amount of metal that I will not be needing if anyone is interested, including a full roof section.
