Thread: VW~ Model A~ Honda... The Freaknstein Build...

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With my shop full of un finished pre 40's hot rods in the process of being completed what does one do in his free time... Yep start another project!

Ive had it in my mind to start this project for a few years now and cant tell you guys how many nights Ive designed this thing in my head before dosing off. The one thing I cant get my head around is how to turn the bugs ass end into a coupe and still keep it bug looking? I'm thinking another hood back wards might do the job or even just fab'ing up something up from scratch. I really like what Mark is doing with his "A" coupe body. But I'm wanting to keep this close to the art work concept as possible. My 62 bug arrives tomorrow less engine which is being used as a boat anchor in the San Diego bay. Ive gathered some parts I think I will most likely be using on the build including a 30 Model A Sedan top that I have already started whittling down to size. Some glass rear 34'ish Ford style fenders and a mountain of little things that might come in handy. Being the motor is not available and the need for less body modification room in making the bug into a coupe I'm going to be using a Honda ssi motor. I salvaged the motor, trans, and axles after we put the car on its lid playing rally racer. The plan is to move the front wheel drive unit to the rear making for a mid engine set up. The boys are already looking for the turbo they want to install on it so who knows where this thing will end up?

While the concept drawing is really sweet I plan on making this more rat rod than the finished ride pictured... or at least until I get the bugs worked out. Planning on this being a very slow build as I have to squeeze this in on an already ultra busy schedule...

Any advice, concerns, or any other comments either positive or negative is welcomed. I have very thick skin so fire away guys!

Don't want to miss out on this "Bobbortunity" so I'm signing up to follow. This will be fun!

You might want to fix the camber in those back wheels.

So I got the donor to the shop yesterday. Now I will spend some time walking around it and measuring thing to try to get my head around the whole build. Tick Tock Tick Tock....

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I have the top of a Model A sedan that I can use as needed. Also some glass fenders that I may use on the back... Havent really decided yet? What do you think?

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I'm not really a "visionary" type.... I would need to hang the fenders to get a feel of the look. I'm also struggling with the back and the desire to have it look like a coupe.

Originally Posted by M.T.

With my shop full of un finished pre 40's hot rods in the process of being completed what does one do in his free time... Yep start another project!

Ive had it in my mind to start this project for a few years now and cant tell you guys how many nights Ive designed this thing in my head before dosing off. The one thing I cant get my head around is how to turn the bugs ass end into a coupe and still keep it bug looking? I'm thinking another hood back wards might do the job or even just fab'ing up something up from scratch. I really like what Mark is doing with his "A" coupe body. But I'm wanting to keep this close to the art work concept as possible. My 62 bug arrives tomorrow less engine which is being used as a boat anchor in the San Diego bay. Ive gathered some parts I think I will most likely be using on the build including a 30 Model A Sedan top that I have already started whittling down to size. Some glass rear 34'ish Ford style fenders and a mountain of little things that might come in handy. Being the motor is not available and the need for less body modification room in making the bug into a coupe I'm going to be using a Honda ssi motor. I salvaged the motor, trans, and axles after we put the car on its lid playing rally racer. The plan is to move the front wheel drive unit to the rear making for a mid engine set up. The boys are already looking for the turbo they want to install on it so who knows where this thing will end up?

While the concept drawing is really sweet I plan on making this more rat rod than the finished ride pictured... or at least until I get the bugs worked out. Planning on this being a very slow build as I have to squeeze this in on an already ultra busy schedule...

Any advice, concerns, or any other comments either positive or negative is welcomed. I have very thick skin so fire away guys!

My own building of hotrods started from mid 50's and early 60s so not into VW,thought of them as junky ugly things,but in the 70 raced them as FV n FSV even a few VW ministockers=that was fun,however there still fguly as hell to me . Your drawing is well done yet looks like a car by Salvador Dalí or something plastic left in the sun too long I think,like I said I never liked bugs,but thats just not a hotrod mix of ideas I like,not that that should even matter to you,if ya love it,build it an have fun,but never worry about old farts,I super hate rat crap n that at lest is not one of those things.
OK,if you going to do it anyway,turn the trans axle upside down so the axles are strait an tire are not looking like some one very stupid built it,like most VW I see that are lowered by iditis,also if you put headlight that low,just don't even think you can use them,they don't light the road right from that low.

Wow, why to piss in the guy's Cheerios...

Originally Posted by M.T.

I have the top of a Model A sedan that I can use as needed. Also some glass fenders that I may use on the back... Havent really decided yet? What do you think?

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Hmmm.....for those fiberglass rear fenders, I guess I'd have see them hanging on the car.....in the artist's rendering it looks like he's using some version of the original rear fenders, which keeps the rear a little more rounded & smooth, which I like, especially since it's already making a radical change to the roof line. I also like keeping the original style beetle front bonnet stretching out between those 32-ish front fenders kinda like Mick Jagger's tongue.

Keep Bob, Bob, Bobbin' along!

Originally Posted by 1slo3

Wow, why to piss in the guy's Cheerios...

No Not at all, I think it wonderful that he expresses what his likes and dis likes are. I much rather folks be honest than PC. Either you like it or say nothing at all doesnt do me any good at all. And strangely I totally understand what he is saying and agree to some extent. If he would of grown up using these little cars like I did he would probly have a soft spot for them as well?

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

You might want to fix the camber in those back wheels.

If he is going to use the Honda drive train in the rear (as stated) it would not have that extreme camber. Looks like the original plan was to use a swing axle VW transmission.




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Originally Posted by randyr

Hmmm.....for those fiberglass rear fenders, I guess I'd have see them hanging on the car.....in the artist's rendering it looks like he's using some version of the original rear fenders, which keeps the rear a little more rounded & smooth, which I like, especially since it's already making a radical change to the roof line. I also like keeping the original style beetle front bonnet stretching out between those 32-ish front fenders kinda like Mick Jagger's tongue.

Keep Bob, Bob, Bobbin' along!

All good points... I find it interesting that the tougue was the only facial feature worth exploiting on Jagger's face? And he keeps it hidden most of the time! Anyway Im not sure about the fenders either. That is one of those things that I have laying around that might or might not get used. In looking this Model A roof over I might just forgo that and build one from scratch. I can build one and change up the bead lines to give it its own look... Not Henry Fords.

Want to see a tongue or two or three you wont forget this guys! The stitch work alone would make your toes curl...