Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2017 i VolksWorld

“there’s a big difference between spending a couple of hours on a job and, dare I say it, a couple of years” How far do you go? When do you say enough is enough? At what point do you call a halt and down tools when it comes to restoration work? The dilemma presented itself last week while replacing the rusty old running boards on my Beetle (you can read all about that on pages 82-83). I had got the old ones off, only to discover a world of flaky paint and rust on the side of the heater channel beneath. I attacked it with a wire brush, but then while underneath the car I thought it might make sense to clean off all the muck from the sills as…

Now in its 29th year, Techno Classica Essen seemed bigger than ever this year, its 14 halls spread over three stories attracting over 185,000 visitors in April. Offering an overwhelming array of cars, parts and automoblia, with many restorations displayed ‘in progress’, it was proof positive the German old car movement is healthier than ever. Indeed, the numbers speak for themselves: 1,250 exhibitors, more than 200 clubs and 2,700 private sale and auction vehicles. The importance of the show is emphasised by the presence of no less than 27 manufacturer-backed heritage departments, including Volkswagen’s. Said Otto Wachs, Autostadt’s MD: “Techno Classica Essen is the most important classic vehicle fair for us. At no other automobile exhibition do we reach as many people with petrol in their blood as in Essen.”…

Class 1: Beetles up to August 1967 The VW Books Trophy: Clive Cunio, Cheshire and Patrice Tissier, Maidenhead Class 2: Beetles August 1957 to August 1967 The John Alexander Trophy: Roy Wilson, Saffron Walden The Stuart Andrews Memorial Trophy: Andy Collins, Sawbridgeworth Class 3: Beetles August 1967 to end of German production (except Cabrios) The German & Swedish Trophy: Tim Walker, Belper The Keith Vipond Memorial Trophy: Alan Aistrup, Sleaford Class 4: Beetles from Jan 1978 to end of production The Stanford Hall Trophy: Jim Fuller, Newmarket and Robert Cross, Lutterworth Class 5: Highest scoring 1302/3 The Stan West Trophy: Howard Snaith, Towcester Class 6: Flat ’screen Beetle Cabriolets VW Heritage Trophy: Mick Johnstone, Preston and John Brooks, Walsall Class 7: 1303 Cabrios The German & Swedish Trophy: Rob Loughrey,…

“The engine had blown up, which is probably why it was abandoned” Caroline Harding,1955 Beetle Caroline’s Bug was discovered sitting in a field, covered in snow, in Sweden’s Arctic Circle. It was brought to England by some friends, from whom she purchased it. “The engine and the gearbox were both completely seized,” explains Caroline. “I’ve basically resurrected the car. I had to carry out some welding to the inner wings and under the jacking point, and a small patch repair was required to the spare wheel well and floorpan.” Caroline isn’t sure how long the Beetle had been sitting out in the open, but reckons it could have been since the 1980s. “The engine had blown up, which is probably why it was abandoned,” she presumes. “Somebody did try and…

“it was more likeVolksWorld setting a challenge for Urs to uphold Luftkraft honour” “I decided it should be based on an Oval or early dickholmer Bug” We first heard about this car in November last year when its owner, Urs Beyeler, contacted us via Facebook. There were a couple of pictures of the painted bodyshell of a sunroof Oval, and the following message: “Hi Ivan, everything ok? The Luftkraft Guys are planning to come to The VolksWorldShow. I am building up a new car… Do you think it’s got a chance to be in the show? Kind regards, Urs.” Now, the important part is the mention of Luftkraft. For those who don’t already know, Luftkraft is a Swiss VW club whose members are seriously focussed people. Here at VolksWorld,…

“some of the best original and restored VWs in the country” “It’s a family and dog-friendly show so there’s no excuse” To me, Stanford Hall is more than just a VW show. It’s a treat, and you feel you’re spoiling yourself by going. Maybe it’s the stately surroundings, or perhaps it’s the homemade cakes served in the relaxing courtyard kitchen, but most likely it’s that you’re looking at some of the best original and restored VWs in the country, all lined up in front of a lake. What is even better is there are no restrictions to viewing the cars, and the owners are never far away and are always happy to talk. So what of 2017? Well, for one, it was supposed to rain and it didn’t.…

June Bullitreffen am Murnersee Date:2-5 June 2017 Location:Murnersee, Germany Contact: http://vw-bustreffen-murnersee. npage.de VW Expo Date:4 June 2017 Location:Stonor Park, Oxfordshire Contact: www.abvwc.com Bug Run Date:9-11 June 2017 Location:Mantorp Park Raceway, Mjölby, Sweden Contact: www.bugrun.com Bristol Volksfest Date:9-11 June 2017 Location:Birches Farm, Bristol BS41 9AG Contact: www.bristolvolksfest.co.uk Hurst Dubfest Date:9-11 June 2017 Location:Hurst View,Lymington, Hants SO41 8AL Contact: www.hurstdubfest.co.uk NordseeBulli Treffen Date:9-11 June 2017 Location:Wesselburenerkoog, Germany Contact: www.nordseebullitreffen.de.to VarWagen Date:10-11 June 2017 Location:l’Argentière à La Londe-Les-Maures, France Contact: www.varwagen.com OberweserBulli Treffen Date:15-18 June 2017 Location:Oberweser, Germany Contact: www.oberweserbulli.jimdo.de Mighty Dub Fest Date:16-18 June 2017 Location:Alnwick Castle, Northumberland NE66 2LB Contact: www.mightydubfest.co.uk VWBus Treffen Date:16-18 June 2017 Location:Mörel, Switzerland Contact: http://vwbustreffen.ch VWBus Treffen Date:16-18 June 2017 Location:Lichterfeld, Germany Contact: www.bulli-den.de Simply VW Date:17 June 2017 Location:Beaulieu, Hants Contact: www.beaulieuevents.co.uk Air-Watercooled Date:18 June…

“the whole experience will pay dividends for other VW enthusiasts in the long run” Now in its 90th year, the four-day Mille Miglia is a gruelling 1,000-mile road race through northern Italy, with the intrepid JK crew battling it out amongst a field of 450 other race teams. The team will be working together to hold their own against professional racers and multi-million pound vehicles, but are optimistic about their prospects. “We’ve spent countless hours turning our Oval Window Beetle into a period correct racer in the JK workshop, and the whole team has been involved in sourcing, fitting and modifying parts and accessories to coax every ounce of power possible out of it,” says Josh Reynolds, son of JK MD Mark Reynolds. “We’ve invested a lot of time ensuring…

 The Brasilia is the Volkswagen that nearly got a motoring journalist shot – which some might say is no bad thing. It’s also the car that demonstrated how VW in Germany might have gone had it not got all obsessed with switching engines to the wrong end of its vehicles and adding water. Over a nine-year production life, in excess of a million were built, but hardly any made it back to Europe where the Golf, Passat and Scirocco were finally putting VW’s air-cooled era firmly in the past. “All in all, it was a masterpiece of TARDIS-like packaging” At first glance, the Brasilia looks like a 412. It isn’t, although it does share what has become known as the ‘Leiding nose’, the pointed, grilleless, four-headlamp slanted snout that graced…

“passion over fashion in almost every single way” Dean Hall’s Oval is one of those cars that just garners respect for its DIY mantra, club participation and overall build philosophy. While it’s fair to say very few builds are achieved without love and plenty of man hours, Dean’s ’55 has such good vibes behind it that it would make Bob Marley’s project seem like a proper stress head. For Dean, it all began when a chance bid on a ’73 GT Beetle one night became reality. “I stuck a cheeky bid on and forgot all about it,” the 28-year-old electrician tells us. “To be fair, I only offered £400, and it wasn’t until I got a winning bid email that I remembered even placing a bid.” A swift journey to…

Teenage rampage Having owned it since he was 14, Broen Messiaen decided it was time to finally get round to restoring his ’69 Beetle. But what he’s created, well, it sure is sweet! Budget air We re flying high with this low cost air-ride Beetle build The Bangkok Bus For owner Ben Clifford, this ’67 Bus became the ultimate travel souvenir Stop thief! Ways to help reduce the risk of your VW getting nicked this summer…

An original Porsche Austria ‘Salzburg’ Beetle, owned by James Calvert of Stateside Tuning, was campaigned to a respectable 40th place (out of an entry of 77) in this year’s FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship on the Costa Brava, Spain. An excellent result, given the field comprised everything from Fiat Pandas to Porsche 911s, turbocharged Lancias and Audi Quattros. The Salzburg Beetles were rallied between 1970 and 1974, taking a total of 15 wins overall, including victory in the Austrian state championship in 1971 and 1972 and the overall win in the Rally Isle d’Elba in April 1973. James found his car in Italy in poor condition, but with many of its original period parts still there. The previous owner told him it was formerly raced by Harry Källström on…

“I had to pinch myself that I actually had a car there, on display” It all began while sitting in a committee meeting of my local club, the Northern Beetle and Bus Owners Club (NBOC), when a few committee members shared how they were driving a Beetle and Buggy over to The VolksWorldShow. These have been my go-to guys for the last two decades and in all honesty, I wouldn’t be still driving air-cooled VWs if it wasn’t for all their advice and support. There followed a bit of banter that went like, “Ferguson, why don’t you enter your 1967 Bug and make it into a special 50th anniversary trip?” Now, that got me thinking. I had some leave saved up which included a Sunday (I’m a vicar) and maybe,…

Those of you with good memories, or extensive magazine collections, should immediately recognise this car. For those that don’t here’s the rub: “The car was originally built by Keith ‘Kid’ Dean around 1981,” says James Russell, the current owner of this radically modified ’66 Squareback. “Kid Dean was Dick Dean’s son. He was 17-years old when he built it, and apparently did it to impress a girl. It must have worked since he later married her!” Dick Dean grew up in Michigan and later re-located to California where he worked alongside some of the best car customisers of the time, including the Barris brothers and Dean Jeffries. In the process, he taught his son the business of building traditional-style custom cars. Although most of those customs were based on 1940’s…

 Ever since passing his driving test when he was 17, Ashley Dean has had a passion for modified cars. The first to receive the Dean treatment was a humble Vauxhall Corsa and, over the following decade, a multitude of other vehicles were subjected to his take on modifications. “I just like putting my own stamp on something, and achieving the look I think suits a car best,” Ash smiles. “Some people might like it, some won’t, but we can’t all be exactly the same.” “it turned out to be more of a polished pig that was covered in primer!” This array of modified vehicles eventually swung towards those wearing a VW badge, and a Caddy van was the last to receive a degree of personalisation before Ash’s latest and biggest…

JOB INFO Banding steel wheels is a safety critical issue, and therefore not a DIY job. The work should only be undertaken by a professional, and it is your duty to inform your insurance company of any modifications made to your car The period drag look is all the rage these days, which is why adding a few extra inches to the width of a steel wheel is still a popular custom modification. Widening a wheel involves cutting off the rim (the face of the wheel that is seen when it’s fitted onto the vehicle) and extending it with a strip of steel before welding the wheel back together again. This sort of work requires a high degree of accuracy to ensure the wheel rotates true and the band that…