Never really been into the blog thing so this is my first attempt
I purchased this Volkswagen of a friend who had purchased it in the early 80's already restored. The only thing that was added was firestone whitewall tyres. Jump forward to early 2004 I took a phone call from said freind who had decided to sell. He mentioned the price that he wanted and as these don't come up for sale very often I could only say yes. So now 5 years later and many happy miles this is my 1961 Typ-152 Karmann Cabriolet
I stumbled upon this at my local vw repairer. I asked if it the owner had it there for repair or sale and as luck would have it, it was for sale. The owner was called and a deal was struck so now I have another VW. Only A few things needed to be done like engine reco, new tyres, cut and polish and a good detail. Remakably it is rust free. It was originally sold new in Canberra then sold to the people from whom I purchased it from. It has been a country Victoria vehicle all it life hence the no rust. This now becomes the newest aircooled Volkswagen I have ever owned. Picture is as I bought it so as soon as the detailing is finished I will post an after photo. So I guess all I have to do now is go camping. Bring on spring
Just got given today a Hazet special tools box. Unfortunatly without any tools so now the hunt is on to hopfully fill it with the correct tools. A hard task I know. Also picked up from a local swap meet in March a hazet spare wheel tool kit. I won't tell you how much I payed for it but it was cheap compared what I have seen some people pay. As you can see I not only collect Volkswagen vehicles of which I will show you more of what I've got later on but also any thing to do with VWs. I have collected over the years a range of things from brochures , nos parts , magazines , vw accesories and toys both old and current. These I will also share with you vdubbers as time permits. To start withh here is just some of my Hazet stuff.
Cheers Jason
An early start to today for the Wagga Wagga swap meet. Usually not a great deal of Volkswagen stuff on offer but you just have to go just in case. The first surprise for the day was a mint Factory November 1963 parts list for the Type 3 1500/1600/variant and a factory 1965 Volkswagen 1500 workshop manual. Total cost for both $25.00 Yipee for me. And that was all I could find for the day for genuine Volkswagen collectables. Next, Volkswagen diecast toys. Quite a lot on offer but not anything that I really liked or needed at this present time but what caugt my eye was some 1:43 minichamp porsches. 1st a 1967 911 targa, 2nd 1977 911 gendarmerie targa, 3rd 1961 356B hardtop coupe, 4th 1961 356B coupe, 5th 1959 356A coupe, and 6th 1949 356 Gmund coupe. These six set me back $20.00 each. These would normally retail for about $50.00 each so i thought why the hell not I deserve them. Well that pretty much ended my day at the wagga wagga swap meet, all in all not a bad day.
Just been on just over two weeks holiday. I really did need a break. Plan, take in a little of the FIA World Rally Championships aka 09 Repco Rally Australia, Volkswagen drivers club of Queensland Action Day, Dealer and Media release of the new Triumph Thunderbird (work related).
Day 1 : Up nice and early to start the drive to Kingscliff NSW which takes about 16 hours a long drive I know. But I just hate two day trips, it just takes up so much of the days you have. All was going well 1200 km in 12 hours so i was right on schedual, as it was a light drizzle and rain most of the way lights and wipers was used most of the day. Travelling between Glen Innes and Grafton I noticed that my wipers were starting to go a little slower than normal and a little further on my headlights started to dim. A check of the dash and no sign of the alternator light but being 50 km from Glen Innes and 100 km to Grafton I had to press on as it was 6.30 pm and dark my 2000 model AU falcon Series II had other ideas and started to slow. Loosing power I had to pull over. Car stalls and wont restart (flat battery and one toasted alternator) and no phone service. Hazard lights on and wait for next car and wait and wait. This is not one of the busiest roads at night. A few cars drove by without stoping but eventually some one did. Luckily he had an in car phone which had signal and the NRMA was called. Gotta love roadside assist. NRMA arrives checks charging system and tells me the alternator has given up (no shit). Says he will call the tilt tray and have me and my car picked up in about 1 hour. Gee why dont we just put the new battery in that you bought with you and I follow you back using your headlights. New battery in, back to Glen Innes for a motel for the night.
Day 2 : Now Glen Innes has only one auto electrician and its now sunday morning. NRMA man said he might be able to get said auto eletrician to look at car if i'm lucky. 12.00 noon arrives and a knock on the motel door. Good news get your stuff and I will take you to the auto electrician. Five hunred dollars later and I'm back on the road and find myself getting to Kingscliff by 4.00 PM Sunday
Day 3 to 6 Catch up with freinds
Day 7 to 9 Take a look at the WRC pit/service park which has been set up at Kingscliff (3 blocks from my mums place). I did not go and see any of the rally cars in action as there are only about 10 cars in the top level and the distance and time spent to see these cars would of just taken up to much of my time (maybe next time).
Just a follow up on the second part of my holidays.
Day 10 to Day 15 : Went for a drive with my freind Bob (who was the previous owner of my Beetle Cabriolet) to a place called Stokers Siding near Murwulimbah NSW to catch up with another freind, Alan who is the owner of Stockers Siding Garage. Alan has quite a lot of respect when it comes to working on and or suppling parts for Volkswagens from Queenslands gold coast to the northern rivers area of NSW. In conversation with Alan he told me that he has now sold the garage and is going to retire. Looking arond the garage alan has quite a lot of second hand and new parts that he will keep for resale at a later date from a back yard shed that he has ( the premises will no longer be used as a garage). All his parts cars will be dismantled and the left overs will be sent off to the metal recyclers. There was nothing worth salvaging for myself but my freind spotted a 70,s Westfalia pop top. With all the original material still there it was to good to leave behind so it now resides in Bobs shed complete with cutout roof section.
Day 16 : An early start to the day was needed as myself and my two freinds Bob and Rob were travelling to Brisbane to take in some Volkswagen therapy at the Volkswagen Drivers Club Of Queensland's ACTION DAY (see photo's in photo gallery) Not being to a show in Brisbane for quite some years I was a bit dissapointed in the total number of cars that were on display compared to how big the scene is supposed to be in Queensland. The quality was outstanding for the majority of the vehicles there so compliments to those that did enter their cars. The swap meet side of things didn't fare much better for me either but there were still a few people parting with their cash for items that I guess they needed more than me. Old vintage VW stuff is geting really hard to find at Volkswagen only swapmeets now but I did miss out on a pair of 1960/61 only taillights with serviceble lenses for $30.00.
Day 17 to 19 : Check into the Mantra Resort at Salt for the Dealer release of the new Triumph Thunderbird. Second day there take in dealer meeting , see T-Bird motor dismanteld , go for 1 hour ride loop with eleven other riders on T-birds, settle down with an evening meal at peppers resort and then a good nights sleep as day 19 was the big trip home.
Day 20 : Home now, just chill out in the shed as now my holidays have come to an end, work tomorrow.
A customer of mine recently commented to me that his father inlaw had a beetle laid up in a carport since its registration had expired back in September 1994 and was considering selling. The owner originally purchased this beetle brand new back in 1965 while it was on display at the Volkswagen display stand at the Wagga Wagga show. As he had a company vehicle back then he told me he had travelled to Sydney and Melbourne once and the remainder of use was locally and on weekends to and from his favourite drinking venue. Speedo shows a total of 47184 km of which he tells me is original. Unfortunatly time has been quite hard on this example as it was never fully garaged. Even with the dry climate of Wagga Wagga it has its rust issues but really only very minor (front heater channel and floor).