Discussion
once you have it road legal and registered there is room for almost anything in the back! Beetle boxes can be strengthened considerably, but a modern box will always be better in the long run.
These things are built one at a time by hand, all the bending and fabrication is donr here by us, so changing details like the front bar would be simple!
These things are built one at a time by hand, all the bending and fabrication is donr here by us, so changing details like the front bar would be simple!
The rear end is on torsion bars, you just turn the splines to raise or lower. We still have to raise the rear, it was just right without the engine, but sagged once it was put in!
Yes there are panel options, both internal so you can see the tubes, and external. We also have a laser cut clear polycarbonate set in development!
This is the most modern "proper" beetle, so you have independent rear suspension, struts up front, disc brakes etc, so it will drive well. Scooby engines are VERY easy to bolt into the back too if you want the extra horses while keeping the flat four look.
Yes there are panel options, both internal so you can see the tubes, and external. We also have a laser cut clear polycarbonate set in development!
This is the most modern "proper" beetle, so you have independent rear suspension, struts up front, disc brakes etc, so it will drive well. Scooby engines are VERY easy to bolt into the back too if you want the extra horses while keeping the flat four look.
beleive it or not that macpherson strut front is already lowered several inches!!! I dont think we are going to build many of that version as I am still not certain on the legalities, we have had no problems, but it is subjective as it could be said the front of the shell is part of the chassis because it carries the struts. What one inspector thinks is Ok another may not. I would hate for a customer to go to the trouble of building only to have to IVA when the whole point of these is a cheap fast non IVA build.
As for performance, they are being compared next month by Kit Car magazine, and the discovery based 4wd version will be tested too, so we shall see then.
As for performance, they are being compared next month by Kit Car magazine, and the discovery based 4wd version will be tested too, so we shall see then.
We have sold quite a few now, they are a good car for the money, and you really cant beat the "elemental" Kart-like feel of driving around in a rollcage!
We built the 1303 versions to look like the old tamiya sand scorcher style cars. It does not really work for me, but they are VERY popular. main advantage is they have proper IRS
I think an IVA version with wishbones and long travel coilovers would be really cool.
Our IVA testing station is about 800 yards from my house, and they are very helpful chaps as they know about the charity and have always been there for informal advice. I might take the 1303 down and have a chat about the front end... A definitive answer would allow us to possibly go foward with a wishbone front option.
We built the 1303 versions to look like the old tamiya sand scorcher style cars. It does not really work for me, but they are VERY popular. main advantage is they have proper IRS
I think an IVA version with wishbones and long travel coilovers would be really cool.
Our IVA testing station is about 800 yards from my house, and they are very helpful chaps as they know about the charity and have always been there for informal advice. I might take the 1303 down and have a chat about the front end... A definitive answer would allow us to possibly go foward with a wishbone front option.
the front is already independent, even though they share torsion bars, as the bars are held still at the beam centres so they effectively act independently. The front of a bug beam is also adjustable for caster and camber as standard, so you can do a lot of fiddling with them.
To be frank its not the front end that needs help in the handling stakes, the rears, non IRS can suffer if not set up right from some wheel tuck under hard cornering like the old Triumph heralds did. It is not really a problem with the rails as they stiffen up so much due to weight loss they really do handle like karts!
It is possible to add coilovers to the existing setup, and also possible to lop off the top mounts of the dampers and add a coilover that meets the spaceframe instead.
To be frank its not the front end that needs help in the handling stakes, the rears, non IRS can suffer if not set up right from some wheel tuck under hard cornering like the old Triumph heralds did. It is not really a problem with the rails as they stiffen up so much due to weight loss they really do handle like karts!
It is possible to add coilovers to the existing setup, and also possible to lop off the top mounts of the dampers and add a coilover that meets the spaceframe instead.
Yes, I think the disco will be marginally cheaper to buy donors. With the added advantage that disco chassis do not really rust much.
Beetles are still plentiful, but prices vary hugely with no real logical reason.
I just got back today from a 400 mile round trip to pick up a restored beetle rolling chassis, with engine, V5 etc, decent wheels, V5, Tax exempt, for £450, but they are getting harder to find cheap. Realistic budget for donor with minor repairs is around £1000, you can get a disco for less.
One thing though, if any major assembly on a disco is buggared it will probably cost more to replace than the bug equivilent.
It's swings and roundabouts, and hard to compare, as although they will have the same overrall look, they will be very different animals indeed!
It will be good to have the disco version finished this month so you guys can take a look
Beetles are still plentiful, but prices vary hugely with no real logical reason.
I just got back today from a 400 mile round trip to pick up a restored beetle rolling chassis, with engine, V5 etc, decent wheels, V5, Tax exempt, for £450, but they are getting harder to find cheap. Realistic budget for donor with minor repairs is around £1000, you can get a disco for less.
One thing though, if any major assembly on a disco is buggared it will probably cost more to replace than the bug equivilent.
It's swings and roundabouts, and hard to compare, as although they will have the same overrall look, they will be very different animals indeed!
It will be good to have the disco version finished this month so you guys can take a look
The land rover Disco/ rangie based version
Here are some sneaky pics.
front and rear not done yet, but trust me it will look great ;-) Front will have hinged skeletal bonnet/grille/wings, rear several bolt in options from seats, to load bed/pickup, to winch and spare wheel carriers etc.
Here are some sneaky pics.
front and rear not done yet, but trust me it will look great ;-) Front will have hinged skeletal bonnet/grille/wings, rear several bolt in options from seats, to load bed/pickup, to winch and spare wheel carriers etc.
ugg10 said:
The disco version looks a beast, SBC v8 conversion for me or go the whole hog and add an LS1.
Hope you did not get too cold on the way into work today ! I followed you in the Red IRS Rail (reg ***390L) down the A272 this morning between Petersfield and Winchester, it look so cool (in more than one) and has given me a boost to get the v6 engine closer to completion over easter.
That was the new owner, he is loving it. Was he poodling along or zooming?Hope you did not get too cold on the way into work today ! I followed you in the Red IRS Rail (reg ***390L) down the A272 this morning between Petersfield and Winchester, it look so cool (in more than one) and has given me a boost to get the v6 engine closer to completion over easter.
Someone else showed me that yesterday! That's not one of mine, but we have built a few similar trucks in the past. I swore we would never touch Land Rovers again after getting a hernia working on one, (long story) but we have gone back to this Disco road legal version because so many people asked.
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