New pics on last page. 
Also decided to change the name of the thread from Toys to Yoda as it was primarily my Yoda focus that funded it :lol: Yoda will also be featured somewhere discreetly on the car as tribute to his sacrifice!
A while back I mentioned in another thread that fact I was selling off my Yoda focus to partly fund the restoration of my wife's 1969 VW Beetle. The way I figure it she's not once complained about me collecting over the past 5 years, occasionally the odd raised eye brow but that's it.
I figured it was time to pay her back for her acceptance of my addiction to little plastic figures and what better way then restoring her very first car. This car was originally her Grandmothers so it's been in the family for over 40 years .
Hardest part about this resto is that she knows nothing about it. The car has been in storage at a mates farm since 2005, keeping an old German NSU micro car company. It was last driven on our wedding day and then retired due to it's condition, lack of brakes being the first that comes to mind. Her family has also come to the party with some cash to help fund it which which is great and a big help.
Five months ago the idea was born whilst I was considering what to do for her 40th Birthday which will be in October next year so I've got another 17 months to complete the project.
If it was any other car I'm not sure I'd tackle it, Beetles are so well catered for in the restoration department that parts are reasonably priced and easy to source. My neighbour has not only offered his garage but his guidance an knowledge as well which is a huge help. Bloody amazingly generous considering we've only been living here for a little under two years.
So as of two weeks ago the car was snuck down on a tandem trailer while Donna was asleep ( night shift worker ) and the resto began. It's being garaged at my neighbours house two doors up which also adds to the difficulty of keeping it hush hush.
Here's some pics of what's been accomplished so far, this is all a learning curve for me as I've never really worked on a project this large. Mostly bikes before this.
Pick up day
Strip down
Discovered the floorpan completely rusted out.
Old one cut out
New floorpan installed
So that's it for now, I'll update the thread as we make significant progress for all those interested.
UPDATE : 16/04/2014
Here's a few more pics of what's been done over the past few weeks.
My 2yr Old Benji testing out the strength of the new floor pans, he approves.
Trying to get the body work done before winter sets in.
Engine needed to come out as the body to engine seals were cactus, may as well service it while it's out. New plugs, distributor, leads, heater hoses, fuel lines, vacuum hoses and heater exchanges all being replaced.
Engine degreased and pressure washed.
First coat of high filler.
Dust coat of black will help to pick up all the low and high spots when sanding.
Update 20/05/2014
Ok time for another update, sanding time (sanding sucks).
All sanded ready for first coat of colour
After a rub down it's onto the final coats, 2 more of colour then 2 of colour with clear introduced and four coats of straight clear. I've used acrylic clear over base instead of 2 pack paint as I don't have the facility to bake the paint.
And that's about it for now, need to wait roughly four weeks til' the paint has hardened enough for a final light sand and then a buff and polish, in the mean time I've got all the parts I need to rebuild the brakes and freshen up the engine, new clutch, carbie, distributor ect.
**** me I'm learning far more than I ever wanted to know about cars. :lol:
Have to admit it's a really enjoyable experience and seeing it come along is great fun.
Cheers Ryan
Also decided to change the name of the thread from Toys to Yoda as it was primarily my Yoda focus that funded it :lol: Yoda will also be featured somewhere discreetly on the car as tribute to his sacrifice! A while back I mentioned in another thread that fact I was selling off my Yoda focus to partly fund the restoration of my wife's 1969 VW Beetle. The way I figure it she's not once complained about me collecting over the past 5 years, occasionally the odd raised eye brow but that's it.
I figured it was time to pay her back for her acceptance of my addiction to little plastic figures and what better way then restoring her very first car. This car was originally her Grandmothers so it's been in the family for over 40 years .
Hardest part about this resto is that she knows nothing about it. The car has been in storage at a mates farm since 2005, keeping an old German NSU micro car company. It was last driven on our wedding day and then retired due to it's condition, lack of brakes being the first that comes to mind. Her family has also come to the party with some cash to help fund it which which is great and a big help.
Five months ago the idea was born whilst I was considering what to do for her 40th Birthday which will be in October next year so I've got another 17 months to complete the project.
If it was any other car I'm not sure I'd tackle it, Beetles are so well catered for in the restoration department that parts are reasonably priced and easy to source. My neighbour has not only offered his garage but his guidance an knowledge as well which is a huge help. Bloody amazingly generous considering we've only been living here for a little under two years.
So as of two weeks ago the car was snuck down on a tandem trailer while Donna was asleep ( night shift worker ) and the resto began. It's being garaged at my neighbours house two doors up which also adds to the difficulty of keeping it hush hush.
Here's some pics of what's been accomplished so far, this is all a learning curve for me as I've never really worked on a project this large. Mostly bikes before this.
Pick up day
Strip down
Discovered the floorpan completely rusted out.
Old one cut out
New floorpan installed
So that's it for now, I'll update the thread as we make significant progress for all those interested.
UPDATE : 16/04/2014
Here's a few more pics of what's been done over the past few weeks.
My 2yr Old Benji testing out the strength of the new floor pans, he approves.
Trying to get the body work done before winter sets in.
Engine needed to come out as the body to engine seals were cactus, may as well service it while it's out. New plugs, distributor, leads, heater hoses, fuel lines, vacuum hoses and heater exchanges all being replaced.
Engine degreased and pressure washed.
First coat of high filler.
Dust coat of black will help to pick up all the low and high spots when sanding.
Update 20/05/2014
Ok time for another update, sanding time (sanding sucks).
All sanded ready for first coat of colour
After a rub down it's onto the final coats, 2 more of colour then 2 of colour with clear introduced and four coats of straight clear. I've used acrylic clear over base instead of 2 pack paint as I don't have the facility to bake the paint.
And that's about it for now, need to wait roughly four weeks til' the paint has hardened enough for a final light sand and then a buff and polish, in the mean time I've got all the parts I need to rebuild the brakes and freshen up the engine, new clutch, carbie, distributor ect.
**** me I'm learning far more than I ever wanted to know about cars. :lol:
Have to admit it's a really enjoyable experience and seeing it come along is great fun.
Cheers Ryan
