Less is more

Sometime less is more. Esben is a man of few words. He's not the guy at the car show holding court telling people every detail about his ride. He's not at every show either. Sometimes I run across Esben at swapmeets. He's often carrying stuff for his vast collection of vintage racing motorcycles. Esbens new toy is every bit as subtle as his personality. No frills except the mandatory fire extinguisher. Check out the periodperfect licenseplates. If ever there was a cool kit car this is the one. Why build something that looks italian out of german parts. This is more like it! I would love to have this baby in my garage!

More scientific evidence...

From our research and development unit in Aalborg we have received this piece of cruising history. Subject A: "Uncle Poul from Aars" was nothing less than the winner of the first danish cross country motorcycle rally. Then as now, cruisers are being drawn to the top of Jutland. These days its for the resurection of the old danish "Skagen" vw meets. Subject B: is Rasmus "Rasser" who besides building his engines by himself has a nasty cruising habit. The relations between subject A and B clearly adds to the overwhelming evidence that cruising abilities are infact enherited. Rasmus has also got the racing gene surfing around in his body. Wonder where he got that from.

P.S. I still need type 34 headlights and bumpers!

Don't mention the war!

Faking it

I know its a fake but still I cant sleep at night. At 40.000 DKK / 6.250$ the machine gun will be expected to work and be able to target pitbikes. All jokes aside, I wonder how the boy on the pitbike is doing?

Getting back into shape

Long time friend Peter "Plade" lives near the wizard that is hammering away on poor old Devil girl. He took a detour just to check up on the progress. I think things are looking a lot better, than last time I saw her. I'm stunned that people with these skills are actually still around. Remember I still need to find the 3 big parts for the front bumber. The horns are ok. I also need a set of headlights.

Please help!

Panel-beater-guy can't save the frontbumper. Horns are okay but other 3 parts will candidate for worlds most expensive boomerangs this year. One headlight ring has the impression of a crocs shoe in it that just wont pan out. They are kind of special, so i figure I'll need a complete set of regular headlights. Good news is the front fender is fixable!

Are cruising abilities enherited?

I've looked in my bloodlines to find out if my sick addiction to let me transport in cool stuff made of steel is a result of environment or heritage. Look at this old guys positure. He is leaned back, obviously satisfied, smilling but still concentrated about the job at hand. I believe he is cruising and not just plain driving. This old guy is my grandfathers father. I bet my family have been cruising since the dawn of the world.

She will live!

I spoke to the panel beater today. He has made the first attempt to pull Devil Girls attributes back into desirable form. He sounded positive and promised me that she would infact live. Allan Opstrup has been helpfull to provide some parts for the rebuild. I hope they will be enough. If not the type 3 detectives will have a call on their special red alert telephone.

On the picture is a type 34 that probably won't cruise again.
Lee, the owner, survived the accident (Thank god!) A woman in a truck drove over him on the freeway when switching lanes!

Remember: Against stupidity, even the gods fight in vane.

11.000 hits

Elegance in motion. How cool would it be to have the unicorn of Volkswagens? A type 3 ghia or notchback with no steel between you and the sunshine.

Vintage holiday

Came across this picture yesterday from one of our many trips in my panelvan. I thought this looked much like a 1950's or 60's holiday photograph. Apart from the 17"inch modern rim it could also be from an old commercial for fabric softener or something. Soon we will be out in the countryside again, living the good life, parking by a lake somewhere. Bus ownership is a special state of mind.

Coming home, I hope so anyway

Today the battlescared Ghia is due to arrive on these shores. At least I'm told so. In the next few days the panel beater is going to pass verdict on my Devil girl. I knew she was bad news when I heard she was red. When I met her the first time I had to be with her even though she had to be a maneater. Of eastern european origin she was more exciting than the other girls. Long leggy lines and nail-red paint was a sure trick to lure me. Maybe she was a secret agent with a mission to get pictures of strange vw parts on microfilm. Maybe the guy on the moped was a hitman reacting to a contract put on her lovely gloss black head? Oh I can't wait to be with her again.

10.000 Hits

Thanks for all the visits. This wife of an enthusiast from the states finally realized what pushed her husbands buttons. She posted this in the classifieds section of the Samba.

Get back on track • Vol. 2

Mr. Spring finally got the design I made for his seats sewn into them. I have to say I think it looks so cool. A pad on the back for a very nice car that can really rip too. Glad I could help. I like to do designs for all of you but can never deliver on exact dates due to "real" work. I do this for a living, you know. Good friend and vw owner Norbert did the actual stitching.

The house project • Sneak preview

Absolutely of topic. But I've mentioned my house project a couple of times. Thomas Winther pays a visit, fixing my somewhat leakyroof. Later we build an testet the chimney.

East block

Ran across this weird engine at the tuesday meeting at Kalø. This is how Eric Honecker managed to have aircooled fun. The fact that it has 8 plugs only ads to the glasnost.

If it's a pocketbike, keep it in your fuckin' pocket!

I thought about not posting this nightmare picture, but the blogs name IS life and cars of Gustav_t, even when life sucks. Saturday morning my beloved type 34 was hit by a guy on a pitbike. I hold no grudge against the boy, who did what almost everybody else did in Mantorp - act stupid and inresponsible. I have once been a testosteron fueled young man, and acted stupid to. This is where the eventmakers should take action. What the hell has chinese mopeds to do with old beautifull Volkswagens? Please make some noise on the forums about this issue. And lets tell people that reckless driving between people and cars is not ok. But please don't thrash the mopeddriver on the forums.

I would like to thank all the people who donated cash for the cars recovery, the people who have send me text messages and e mails and those who have used time at work to sort out the rebuild of my dream car. To those who thought they could buy this car cheap from my insurance company - don't hold your breath while waiting..

I also has to say that keeping my good friend Guller in one piece even though he was sitting in the passengers site is the most important thing.

9000 hits •

9000 hits are nice. Please note that there are no pitbikes in this picture, and everyone is smiling. It must be at a Volkswagen event.

Men at work

Guller found this picture on an belgian blog. Thomas will join us at Bug Run. I'm wondering if he can find the energy to wash and detail my car without the help of brother Stefan. On a scientific level: Are these brothers anatomicly modified? They show absolutely no butt-crack! If I as much as lean into a car that low the moon is all over the place. I to want a buttcracktolomi! Donations welcome...

Parcel shuttle testdrive

I spend last weekend at John Doe's. Cold beer and Volkswagens made the night rush by. The event was well visited allthough there was room for the rest of you guys. Next time stop by. For me the highlight was testdriving Lars´Fridolin. It was noisy inside but it drove really well. Postman Pat would jump up and down and loose his stuffings when the 1700 type 4 roared in the back. Lars is thinking about selling this sweet project but I think we talked him out of it. Next weekend is Mantorp - I hadn't had the time to look forward to it yet. I put a small dent in the bus a couple of days ago so I think I'll drive the Ghia up there.

Trust me, it wont come down!

The past few weeks have been busy on more than one acount. Lots of car events to attend to, a busy work schedule and my house project. Today the floor was laid after months of digging, tearing down walls and redirecting pipes. I have to thank the people that put in the muscle to help me out. Well, Nørholm used his brain instead of the muscle.. Thanks guys, I really appreciate your effort!

8000 Hits • Red hot

Thanks for stopping by. Keep mailing me stuff and commenting - keeps me going.

Time for intervention

Sometimes you stray from the righteous path and you need good friends to intervene. Maybe you took a liking to cough medicine or alcohol, maybe you gambled away your childrens pocket money, you took a wrong turn but good friends will love you and sit it out. When you get out of the haze of the drugs, pay the loan sharks and your children have forgiven you, you'll thank your friends for taking Jack Daniels out of your hand, holding your hair while you puked, taking you home.

Dear friends: Lars needs or help. Nobody in their right mind buys a Suzuki Cabriolet led alone gets it documented on film. Word has it, that Lars is going to the Ikast venue in this horror of a vehicle! I hope people close to Lars will pull through and save him. Put pressure on the man that has a beautifull Porsche, a type 2 pickup and a superrare swiss-spec Fridolin in his garage.

It´s not to late, Lars - walk towards the light!

The treasure of the one-eyed pirate

My old friend Peter "sore-eye" has travelled the seven seas to find another treasure. He and his trusted pack of pirates sailed for many days and many nights, living on rum alone. Look at the nice "pirates guns" who almost look like the much sought after heat exchangers for 25 hp engines. Peter got a piece of metal in the eye, so I couldn't help myself with the pirates theme. The parrot was borrowed from a guy named google and wasn't harmed. Get well soon my friend! AY-AY Captain!

Think BIG

Meet Mikkel. Mikkel is the owner of this swedish Notchback imported last year. He's also the new owner of BilTing in Silkeborg, a shop full of autoparts, recently moved into new premises. Mikkel is not afraid to take a chance in life, and I respect that. He also took a chance adding those huge chromed Porsche wheels to that lovely little car. I think it looks spot-on with the near-porsche-color. In the last 5 years the style-police have dictated 15" retro wheels for everybody. I think a change is really nice. Sorry for not posting for a week, I've been busy.

The year of the danes!

Getting a table at Mel's diner on 1st. of may is harder than getting NOS parts for your schwimwagen. But look at all those familiar faces taking no hostages. This will be our year. We want the burgers, the milkshake, the works! I've never heard so many danes since I was at a bacon-festival in spain. I anticipate an even larger gathering of danes in Hannover 08. How about Manntorp? Anyone going there this year?

Home is where you hang your hat

Christian is going to sleep in luxurious accomodations this year. Last season he bought this Graziella caravan for his resto cal bug. But Christian didn't feel quite at home before the caravan was colorcoded to match the car. If you look closely you'll notice that the pop-up section of the roof matches the rag top of Christians car. How cool is that! I cant wait to see this entourage on its way to a vw-inspired barbeque. Good work Christian and thumbs up to painter René.

Let the sunshine in • your cruiser-tunes?

I wonder what happens to the music being played in open cars? Where does it go after you had your fun with it? Does it travel to another persons ears, make them listen and buy the album? Or is it just hanging around in their head, making them wonder if they will get to know who the artist is? As some of you know I did spend a lot of time before 1.st of may to get my Ipod/coke cooler music setup to work. When it finally made its first loud cry, shredding my ears I had very little time to download the right music for a 1200 km. cruise to Hannover. I just couldn´t remember any titles of great cruising songs! I'll start and I would like you to post a comment stating what YOU think is great tunes to ride to?

• 1 "Let the sunshine in" Milk & Sugar remix
• 2 "Has your man got soul" Milk & Sugar remix
• 3 Sash! Equador
• 4 Chris Rea "The beach"
• 5 Barry White "Lowrider"
• 6 Dance Chart "I need your lovin' - like the sunshine"
• 7 Rammstein "Benzin"

Don't be shy!

7000 hits • Ready for take off!

Another 1000 hits accumulated. I would love to get your feedback as the blog evolves. On a sad note Jesper is throwing in the towel, selling his awesome rides. It has got me thinkin'. I would dry up like a raisin without the sunshine of vw-ownership. I appreciate the fact that I would be a rich man if I hadn´t sunk all my cash into wolfsburg iron for the last decade and a half. I hope to stay in contact with Jesper, though.

The one thing you dont want in your driveway

26 th of may is coming up. If your are in your right mind, chances are that you have an aircooled car ready to go. John Doe Vee Dubs is the place to be that very day. Poor Lars will have to wrench on this old beater. Its no Volkswagen, but it will have to do. To compensate for the wrong emblem on the decklid, Lars has popped it open and will let in a nice reconditioned engine. After all the one thing you wouldnt want in your driveway on the 26th is a car that wont run? Love your car Lars!

Caught in the act

Global warming - cruising with no purpose. Guilty as charged!

Taking the long way home • Vol 2

No work is getting done today. Might as well post the promised pictures of my "dirty old man adventure". That didn´t come out quite right, did it? Anyway here´s some of the pictures I took. The right answer to the small quiz was "Early bandoor panelvan". Notice the distinctive shocks. I´m sorry to say that the car was infact driven to this spot, and left to die. It wasn´t that many years ago. Don't leave old cars outside for long time. Rent an affordable lock up or this is what happens.

Hannover - wish you were there!

I wish I could shake mr. Nordhoffs hand, thanking him for all the beautifull cars at 1st of may in Hannover. I would also thank him for the friends, the experiences and the euforia this hobby brought me, once again this week. Without this hobby I would never have seen my friend Søren taking on the german authorities in a inferno of sparks in front of Mel´s Diner. Neither would I have to pull over by the roadside because of laughing so hard tears made it impossible to drive. Winning a 1 st prize at an international event was not to bad either. Can´t wait to see the video material on the Angora website. Jesper didnt make the trip because of gearbox problems and have decided to sell the rat ghia. I hope he keeps it. They are the perfect couple.