1979 Artz VW Golf Bodied Porsche 928.

[Darin Bastedo]

I just finished cutting up three rabbits into tiny little pieces. As creepy as that sounds it was imperative that those poor little bunnies be sacrificed for this project. I'm building a replica of the 1979 Artz VW Golf bodied Porsche 928.  I remember reading about this car in the December 1979 issue of Road & Track. I was always facinated with sleep cars, Q-ships as the germans would call them. The AMG Hammers, The original BMW M5, anything that hid it's light under a basket. This car was possibly the start of that. It was the antithesis of the American performance car paradigm. No bold graphics no spoiler or fender flares, just horse power and torque in a small unassuming package.

in this case German madman Guenter Artz wrapped a widened Golf body around a Porsche 928. but is wasn't just widened. As you can imagine The VW Golf and the Porsche 928 are quite different in almost every dimension, so nearly every body panel needs to be modified. Artz solved this by scratch building every body panel except the doors, I on the other hand grabbed three Revell VW Rabbit kits, a vintage Revell Porsche 928, and my razor saw, and let the car-nage begin.

I carefully measured every cut, being cautious not to cross too many trim pieces or body lines, as getting them lined up and straight again is very touchy. 

The wheelbase of both cars is actually very close in length, but unfortunately not in its position under the car. Thus the finished product takes on a the look of a 60's altered wheelbase dragster.

The Revell Porsche 928 is typical of Revell at the time, it builds up well, but is lacking in detail...

Since the Engine is such a focal point of this build, my plan is to make the engine compartment as detailed as possible. I carved a buck out of basswood and vacuum-formed the basic shape of the shock tower, and used Evergreed tube stock and sheet to finish it off.when the time comes I'll add the shock mount hardware.

[Foxer]

I like this idea! 

[djflyer]

Excellent!!  I had seen some pictures of this car not long ago and added it to the future "build list".  I will definitely be following this one as I picked up the Gunze 928 with the complete driveline.  One thing I noticed from the pictures is it looks like the top has been chopped on the 1:1 (at least compared the Golf/Rabbit kits I have).

One question is did you extend the engine compartment to fit the chassis?

 

[Darin Bastedo]

Excellent!!  I had seen some pictures of this car not long ago and added it to the future "build list".  I will definitely be following this one as I picked up the Gunze 928 with the complete driveline.  One thing I noticed from the pictures is it looks like the top has been chopped on the 1:1 (at least compared the Golf/Rabbit kits I have).

One question is did you extend the engine compartment to fit the chassis?

 

The Roof is stock height, as the doors of the 1:1 were used unaltered. The altered proportions make it look chopped though. I lengthened the Rabbit / Golf engine compartment 7mm.

[Darin Bastedo]

I now have the basic body roughed in with all the hard points established. I still need to finish up the engine bay and front bodywork as well as  create a wooden buck so I can vacuum-form the new windshield. Once I have the front end finished I can make the new hood. 

[StockBoresMe]

Extremely cool. Thats a whole different version of a widebody golf. Two thumbs way up

[Chuck Most]

You're a mad man. A MAD MAN, I SAY!!!! 

[Foxer]

Looking amazing!

[iamsuperdan]

This is fantastic.

 

[espo]

I also like the Sleeper concept. This is much better than stripes scoops and words allover the body the body of an otherwise standard car. Great body work altering the wheel base and width of the body.  

[Dann Tier]

Cool idea!!!......great work!!!!

[Davewilly]

Very Cool....cant wait to see how it turns out....off to a great start so far

[Darin Bastedo]

More progress on the Killer Bunny. I have the front bodywork roughed in. There will be a lot of filling of gaps and sanding of cut lines but the basics are all here.

I made a patch panel for the gap in the rear fenders.

It's really starting to come together...

I also widened the head liner to make the finished model look like it came this way. I know this is just the beginning, I need to make widened bumpers, front air dam and valence. Widening the grill will be a huge challenge.

[Foxer]

I know there's a lot of work ahead, but this is really coming together. It's going to look like you didn't do anything (until the hood is opened), especially on the scaleless monitor. 

[Darin Bastedo]

I have the front valance widened and installed.. Next up is the grille and bumper. I thought the grille would be toughest, but the hood is going to be a huge challenge I figured out to get every thing proportional I'll need at least 4 hoods to cut up. The tightest cut will be the hood vent area.

[Darin Bastedo]

Sorry it took a while to do this update this but I was measuring for the hood and grille, and found that I had made the passenger front fender 1mm too long, so I had to take it apart and re section it then reassemble it. I did however get the grille widened and it fits perfectly. 

[Darin Bastedo]

I've made more progress on the Build this weekend. With the help of Revell, I was able to do the hood. The only part of this build that required sacrificing more than three parts was the hood. I wrote Revell, and told them what I was up to and asked if they could spare a hood, and they got one out to me. It had to be lengthened as well as widened. I offset the seam in the front for added strength.

I also managed to widen the front bumper.

The under hood bracing was added to both stregthen the hood, as well as replicate the original hood's under-detail. In enlarging the hood I was able to save the original hood hinges and retainers, so the hood will hinge like the standard kit.

The hood has the correct number and spacing of vents, just like the Original 1:1 car.

I'm still working on the engine bay and interior. I should have updates on those later in the week. 

[Darin Bastedo]

The original Revell Porsche 928 engine bay was plain and not terribly realistic. The only element of the original engine bay that remains hear are the basic inner fender structure. It was very basic, but was a great basis to build onto...

The 928 chassis actually looks pretty good, and should really look great once I paint and detail it. There are several ejection pin marks that need to cleaned up but other than that it shouldn't need much work.

I'm trying as best as I can to duplicate all the detail of the real car, some of it likely won'y be visible when I'm done but what is should help the realisim.

 

 

[StockBoresMe]

I can't wait to see this bad boy in under glass

[Ace-Garageguy]

Supremely cool. I remember when the crazy 1:1 was built. A friend of mine stationed in Germany mentioned he'd been on the autobahn and a Rabbit (Golf) had come up behind him, flashed his lights, and passed him like he was walking.   

[Darin Bastedo]

The killer bunny is in primer now. There are still some more bodywork to finish up, but all the major stuff is done....

I was able to retain the opriginal hood hinges and they operate the same way they did in the original Rabbit kit.

 

 

[StockBoresMe]

Its really starting to shape up. Keep at it! I'm anxious to see the next round of pics