First heartbeat since 1979

Yesterday my friend Guller and I visited "VW-arne" who is a guy with many years of experience as a vw mecanic. I bought the NOS 30 hp engine for the Split bug of him about five years ago and we agreed to start it up together when the time was right. So we hauled the floorpan to his house and had the ceremonial ignition and she fired right up - the car has been silent since 1979 when it was disregarded by it owner and left for dead in a farmhouse. I do need a 25 hp distributor - I want my NOS 25 hp cap on to make it look somewhat right.

Goodbye to the swiss cheese

Michael became a father a month ago which meant he had more important obligations than being in my garage looking over my shoulder while I was welding. So I took the last few sessions over a long weekend and got it done. I delivered it at his home adress just as his new little family got back from their first drive together. Man was he pleased to see a rotfree oval in his driveway. I am really happy with the replacement of the mangled quarterpanel inner-fender. The new used one ,who besides being pink, looks completely at home was a fun and challenging job to do. Now of to the sandblaster then paintshop.

Always wanting more...

Like a moth to a flame I get drawn to vw´s that are nothing like you´ve ever seen before. I find my self keep wanting more weird vehicles when ever I see them. I´ve made the comparison before. I am indeed an addict - a weekend drug abuser seeing a new flourescent tablet must feel exactly like I did when I saw this freak of vw nature. I have yet to find out what lovely wolfsburg drugs are in the mix but I am confident I would get the rush once again when firing this perverted baby up.

The panelvan - please vote...

I am currently refurbishing these old Cosmics alloys. I bought them because i think the price was right and I needed a little project (as if I was running out of things to do).
Im considering putting them on my panelvan instead of the 17" wheels. What do you think? Should I save them for the ghia, the splitbug or maybe even the fastback? Please vote in the sidebar.

I want one!

Oh my god I need one of those! Its a Saab mobile home

Spa - here we come...

Tiles are up..

Springtime at Casa Negra

Spring has finally arrived at Casa Negra. Saturday the ice on the slope leading to the house was gone. It was time to move Gullers bus. The final assembly has been delayed due to cold working facilities. Now theres shelter with music, tools and coffee.

Hunt for fuel...

I think I just got lucky. I´ve been looking for one of these for ages. I finally found the stash...

Gullers Bus

Finally a sneak preview of all Gullers hard work. He did all the welding himself. His original jobdescription was welder/joiner of stainless steel, but this is still new ground to him. I think he did extremely well don´t you?

Michaels "swiss cheese"

Almost rot free after 7 grinding and welding sessions. The swiss cheese is no longer full of holes. Until now we have changed the following parts: Rear valance (keeping the H-panel), rear bumper hangers, rear fender fastener panels, End of heater chanels, the channels, the NOS vw firewall!, front inner fenders, and the entire spare wheel well in one piece. I can really recomend this part instead of joining the 5 parts yourself.

New Workshop • Drywall

I finally got started on the drywall part of the process. I also got the lights connected. I put op 50 meters of wire rails in the ceiling. The workshop is actually just a side project from my real project - the main house - which now sports a brand new bathroom. On top of that I have my friend Michaels "swiss cheese" on vacation in the old garage. I weld on that whenever my own projects is not enough.

There is hope..

What is it about auto-painters? After thinking for three months Gullers paint guy finally took the first step and stripped it to bare metal. I guess we´ll might be flying to Hannover in this baby after all?

Salvation 2

I got all the dirt and sadness out of "Der schweizerische Agent". I lowered her a bit and added some nice parts. 1968 personal steering wheel, NOS rear light clusters, Genuine red US lenses (different from the repro ones), some good bumpers, Porsche 914 Pedrini wheels, new fuel system and more. She is already an "L" model which means right side mirror, pop-outs, red interior, two back up lights. She will be for sale soon.

Next victim!

Michaels Swiss Cheese is blasted. I have promised him to weld in some new panels during the winter. I actually look forward to get some welding burns in my shorts again..

What the fuck?

Beutler type 2 - I want it!

Salvation

I got a new little project. I bought this squareback from my old friend Frank. It sat unloved beside his house and had lost its former glory. The car itself is extremely solid, but at some time the engine was removed and some steering parts, lights and so on. It also got some patina, that I personally don´t care for. It will be up for sale sooner or later so if you wan´t the patina let me know before I have it repainted. The car is originally from Switzerland and has never seen salt. Those are original Revieras, but sadly they weré promised to someone else.They would suit this car perfectly.

I´m back!

Been a long time since I posted. I decided it was time to gather some exiting pictures and words again. The outside structure of the shop is almost done ready for winter and i´ve returned from Spa. Tell me if you´ll still be looking our if you´ve given up on life-and-cars-of-gustavt.blogspot.com?

Michaels swiss cheese

Michael can´t find any more detailing to do on the pan of his 57 oval. He has done a really great job and now its time to tackle the body. As you can see we have some work to do. But I can´t believe that this car was discarded as scrap after being used as a donorcar. We found all the correct parts again and bought a few panels.

I think this car will rock!

Danish Busmeet #3

I finally took part in the annual danish busmeet. With 36 hardcore busfans you don´t need a lot of gimmicks to have a good time. From Tonny´s old barndoor to a T3/T25 van all years of aircooled busses was present. I joined 4 other busses for the long drive. All except mine were 67´s. I fell in love with the Velvet green "Freedom Camper" of Søren and Susanne.