Lowlife ! ! Posted July 15, 2016 Posted July 15, 2016 (edited) This is an old project of mine I've decided to continue with. I remember one of these being built a while back, although not a copy this might be similar (from memory ) so I cant take all the design credit ok ! I bought a new shape beetle with the idea of making it look a bit radical, and something I could practice bodywork with, as its one of my weakness's shall we say ! Here's the starting point ! Edited July 17, 2016 by Lowlife ! !
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 15, 2016 Author Posted July 15, 2016 First off I got the hacksaw out and cut the roof off, I left the front pillars on for reference only....This is mocked up with 350Z wheels and a scratchbuilt rear shelf......
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 15, 2016 Author Posted July 15, 2016 Next up was a new front end, tried several before I found a old Dodge Viper that I`d nicked the engine from, mocked up it looked ok, but needed a bit of work to fit properly.........
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 15, 2016 Author Posted July 15, 2016 Viper front was still too narrow, so I had to widen it a bit......
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 15, 2016 Author Posted July 15, 2016 (edited) Made up a temporary floor, so I could cut the door out, suicide style.. Starting to look a bit more wild ! Edited July 15, 2016 by Lowlife ! !
superbike-shaun Posted July 15, 2016 Posted July 15, 2016 HI martin,,,, this is looking ace my friend!
cobraman Posted July 15, 2016 Posted July 15, 2016 Beginnings of a very cool project. Good luck with it.
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 15, 2016 Author Posted July 15, 2016 Thanks for the comments guys.......Next up was the chassis. I wanted to use the 350z chassis, or most of it, but the more I try the more it gets cut up...At present its in 10 pieces, has been narrowed, and is finally starting to fit !! I may change a few bits but here it is mocked up after the temporary floor was removed ...
afx Posted July 15, 2016 Posted July 15, 2016 Don't I recall you posting this project before? Regardless I like it.
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 15, 2016 Author Posted July 15, 2016 Don't I recall you posting this project before? Regardless I like it. Thanks JC, yes as I said at the start, its an older project, it was running on another forum but I only use this one now
Poppa mitch Posted July 16, 2016 Posted July 16, 2016 Very, very nice, like the new front. Keep the pics coming.
Randy D Posted July 16, 2016 Posted July 16, 2016 Hi Martin, This has the makings of a very cool looking car !!! You are showing some fine skills with that saw Randy
Foxer Posted July 16, 2016 Posted July 16, 2016 This is pretty cool ... VW with a Z chassis. It's got my interest as I had an Infiniti G35, the first use of the 350Z chassis which was an amazing piece of work and used under many cars.Your fitting is amazing and a wonderful piece of work.Will this be getting a 350Z engine?
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 17, 2016 Author Posted July 17, 2016 (edited) Thanks for comments guys, and yes foxer it will be 350z powered ! ! Chassis was a pain as it has to slide in to the body, I tried a few attempts until I found a style that worked. The Viper front end now has a panel underneath blended in and the very rear part of the 350z chassis fitted to the rear. Now I could scratch built a section over the rear axle, and the whole thing can slide in and out. Pics will explain it better ! Also snapped the 350z axle so added new metal shafts with a rod through the middle. Edited July 17, 2016 by Lowlife ! !
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 17, 2016 Author Posted July 17, 2016 Tried a few more body mods too ! The idea is for it to look beetle-ish, but more hi-tech street rod than cal-look ! Rear lights, door handles, boot lock etc. were smoothed out and I also removed the lower panel in the rear bumper. This will be filled with 2 big bore exhausts ! I added new front lights too, after many attempts I've got 1937 Ford lights and I love em ! ! Plenty more bodywork left, but I'm happy so far
Foxer Posted July 17, 2016 Posted July 17, 2016 (edited) Those headlights look just right! Good to see you got the trans-axle repaired and in.I didn't know the 350Z kit came with an engine and running gear. I'm going to have to look into this and maybe add to my G35 build with all the running gear. Edited July 17, 2016 by Foxer
Modlbldr Posted July 17, 2016 Posted July 17, 2016 Wow! Nice work. I think you're doing just fine with your bodywork skills. I have one of these that was given me by someone at work and the roof and pillars have been damaged. I was wondering what to do with it. I'll be watching how you progress. I have quite a few different front clips that I will have to try out on mine for ideas.Later-
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 17, 2016 Author Posted July 17, 2016 (edited) Thanks Tom, and Mike the version I have with full engine detail is this one below. Wheels are nothing like the proper F&F car but its got nice running gear and the engine looks great ! Edited July 17, 2016 by Lowlife ! !
Lowlife ! ! Posted July 18, 2016 Author Posted July 18, 2016 Basic chassis is complete so I built the 350z engine, its quite set back in the chassis so clears the VW front okay. Decided to paint it, as I wanted to try the finished body colours to make sure I was happy with them. Paint is Tamiya Lavender and Plasticote Lavender, and they match quite nice I think ! More soon....
RestoModGuy Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 Nice custom work. I'm impressed and it's looking wild. I'll be following this all the way through.
Mooneyzs Posted July 20, 2016 Posted July 20, 2016 Martin... This is going to be a really cool build up and fun to follow along. You are doing a great jog on it so far and look forward to seeing what else you do to this bad boy.
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