AMT Der Beetle Bus-OOB Version Completed

I'm going to try something out here. I was brain storming for a different look than the vehicle being "jacked up" in the back. I want more of a lowered looking stance so I've got this spare '54 Chevy Panel Wagon body and decided to check something out. What if I cut the rear wheel opening out like so,

and then trimmed the bottom up so that it evened out at the body line on both sides of the wheel opening. I think I might be able to flatten this out a bit to get away from the body curvature and graph this in because l like the way this is lookin' so far.

Soo besides bein' cool as H.... amburgers ....

Now your gonna have a Volk-Chev-Tiac  Vroom vroom

YaHoo! burnin' rubber now!!!

Wow. Okay this is going to be extreme.

What colors do you imagine this thing in? I'm seeing it in a two-tone white over baby blue - surfer style. With white or baby blue matching rims. Or both lol.

However this turns out, its going to be epic, I'm sure of that.

Thanks Steve! Hopefully I can pull all this off. I'll be a loooooong while on the engine build for this one, that's for dang sure.

I appreciate your comments as well Mike. As far as color goes I think I'll be going with MM's De Ja Blue for this one. I was wanting something like Duplicolors Electron Blue and this is really close to it.

Ooooo!. Yeah, that's going to be purdy! I'm behind you on that one.  :)

Thanks and I almost forgot. I may go with GM Chameleon just because it's just a cool color. Look at it in one direction and you get a green, another and it'll be blue and another and it'll turn purple.

Chameleon it is! Paint code 79U-Mystic Teal Metallic. I'll be getting some mixed up at my old dealership body shop this week.

Joe, have you been tested for insanity? Love that color!

Okay, Okay , Okay...whew...It has taken me a couple of days to recover from the rolling on the floor, tears running out of my eyes, uncontrollable belly laughter that has been brought on by your veiled attempts to not go all out on this.  But, I've gathered myself together and now I can pay you the due homage that your VW deserves. Doing the full on body surgery is very cool Joe. I like your vision for the bus and, so far, it looks like you are pulling it off superbly. I had a good friend who had a Camaro painted in poly chromatic paint similar to that and it was boss. Love the choice. 

Lee: Sometimes I wonder. lol. Thanks buddy!

Joe: Yeah I know. Stuck my foot right in the ol' kisser yet again.Next time remind me so I can get a big kick in the a$$.  Thanks for the kudos and yes.............that's probably the best color I've ever seen on a factory build.

This thing is looking real mean with your modjustments...

Thanks Bob. Hopefully I can pull this one off. lol

Today I graphed in the L/H fender skirt and got it glued in. I've got ALOT and I mean ALOT of body work to do to get this to look good. I also cut out the rear wheel tub section so I can widen the wheel tubs and narrow the center section. Again LOTS of work to do. Paint is being mixed up at the dealership that I used to work at so that should be ready in the coming week or so. Of interest is the fact that it's acrylic paint that's used in the body shops now.

Here's where I'm at as of now:

Folks this doesn't look like a whole lot of progress but rest assured that it's huge for me because of all the work involved but I feel pretty good about the outcome. I've still got to relocate the spring perches and use a different rear axle and suspension but I'll get to that a little later. Here's some progress pics of the wheel tub and center section mods...........

Before:

During.....

I also managed to clean up the header exit cut out holes on the sides of the engine/ transmission cutout area. Here's the results. Still have some sanding and filling to go on the wheel tubs but it's minimal.

I'm also still working on the clean up around the rear wheel opening on the body. It'll be a bit before I post any substantial progress. Right now it's all in the idea and development part of the build.

It appears that all your surgical efforts are turning out just fine. Regardless of the time you feel is required it is going to be wonderful. Great work so far. I like where you are going with it.

I like that color also and the fender skirts too cool 

Thanks Joe and Nick. Won't be on this one again until Friday morning and as of now that's a good thing. It gives me time to plan out my next move.

All that work is paying off in killer results

 Man thanks Bob! I'll be back on this one again this Friday. I've about got my system worked out between the two builds that I'm doing right now. Monday thru Thursday I'm on my Arado 234 "Blitz" and Friday thru Sunday I've got extended benchtime per day on my VW.

I've been all over this thing like a rat on a cheeto filling and sanding and more filling and sanding on the body, roof and the wheel tub area of the chassis. Posting pictures would be a complete waste of time as it all looks about the same but this is the point at which I have to spend most of my time ensuring that this is all going to come together without looking like "Frankenstien". There'll be a payoff in the end I know but I sure wished this part went quicker because I can't stand body work.

Ok I got a little more benchtime during the day and I think I've got the rear suspension about figured out to where I can put the wheel in just the right place. I turned to AMT's 67 Chevelle SS396 for that. I sectioned out the framework for the axle well and graphed it into place. I had to shave some off of the axle mounts themselves so I could position the tire /wheel up into the wheel well a little but I think I've got it about where I want it right now. Still gotta figure out the chassis frame work and fabricate rear springs but those shouldn't be too big of an issue. Getting the rear suspension/ differential combo was the hardest part I thought.

This is another great example of your "imag-eering" skills.

Sorta like Darryl Starbird meets Harley Earl.

Model On Brother!  we await your next revelation with baited breath

Thanks Steve. "Baited breath" lol. That's a good one!

Well .......I got the primer coat applied and so far it looks pretty good. I've still got some work to do as there are a couple of things that didn't show up under the wipe down prior to priming but it looks like it's all manageable, but hey, a guy can't do all this cutting and hacking and NOT have any body work left over to do you know.   There are a few bubbles in the primer and I couldn't for the life of me figure that out until.............I let my dog outside and found out that it was raining lightly. There aint that many thankfully and a little sanding outta get rid of the few that are there. Whew!! Got by with that one! 

yup, that primer stage. When it ties it all together.

SprueOne

yup, that primer stage. When it ties it all together.

 

More sanding on the body this morning after yesterdays priming stage. Just didn't like how the R/H side turned out and I had to dump the front fender flares as they didn't coincide with the flareless rear wheel openings so I got rid of them. No pics today but made what I feel like was alot of progress in the way of body work. I'm feeling pretty good about it so far. Next weekends push will be on the roof to smooth that all out. Till then.............it's back to the Arado............

The modifcations are looking terrific Joe. Given the extent of body surgery you did having a few flaws seems like an epic success to me. Super work my friend.

Coming right along, Joe. You're an ambitious fella.

Thanks Joe and Greg. I spoke with Rick Dobbertin today on the phone ( the owner of the J2000) and he's going to send me some engine detail photos on the engine so I can get all the hose and harness routing correct so I'll be looking forward to that.