Roadster build

Nice!  Yes, please keep us posted on progress.

I like the little extra feature - indent for rear bumper ends, fog light cut outs and torson bar access caps.  Looks like rear fog lamp mounting area too?

Yes Wolfgang all the little details there. It was molded from an original t-5 roadster.

Rear lamp is reverse light

@PaulEnvemo posted:

Rear lamp is reverse light

I think they repurposed that in USA for some safety regulations. I’ve seen lots of references to “rear fog light” in European parts catalogues.

That hella lense has certainly made the rounds between VW and Porsche cars.

I thought of adding that backup light to my IM roadster many time but I keep resisting as I would like to keep it as original as possible so I have yet to find a real solution it a hidden light Under the engine subtlety

That's a "B" replica, correct? Like a '60 roadster?

Yes , Stan…molded from a ‘60 roadster. Full monocoque tub with 356 floor pans.

This is gonna be fun to watch.

Here are some shots of the prototype showing the floors and back seat area.

Nice!

had a few of these steering wheels made for the roadster project. Work with VW steering shaft. Billet horn button with or without logo. Trying out on the Envemo for now.

Anyone use these Brazilian VDO replica gauges? Bought a few sets of these as well. I like that it is not the digital odometer but don’t like that the gear is visible on the trip odometer. Call me a stickler…but it annoys me. Tach and combo gauge look super though.

I used the same set of Brazilian VDO gauges in my CMC (356 A) back in the late 1990s.

Everything has worked well and as advertised except for the infamous trip meter odometer which quickly died when I had the temerity to try to reset it to zero while moving.  That was the last time it worked, 18 years ago, but the main odometer just keeps chugging along.  Everybody now knows that you cannot zero them while moving.  

The latest VDO gauges (with the GPS speedo) on’t have that problem.

The electronic Tachometer works well with minimal needle floating and has the added feature of going nuts when your electronic ignition module is starting to fail.

So these gauges aren’t actually made by VDO. They are by a company in Brazil called Cronomac. The sets come complete with fuel sender and oil sender. Along with the lightning harness and bulbs. The font on the odometer is ehh and the gear is visible on the trip odometer as mentioned. Overall nice gauges.  The ones you mentioned gordon I have in my envemo and we’re actually made by VDO Brazil when they were in business. The odometer is definitely done nicer. Now the only choice by VDO are the digital ones made in India…nice but too modern for this old fart.

Gordon is right, I was warned when my original IM had those gauges, touch the reset while moving and say goodbye to the OhNometer.  BTW I like the B series wheel on a B series car very much

@IaM-Ray posted:

I thought of adding that backup light to my IM roadster many time but I keep resisting as I would like to keep it as original as possible so I have yet to find a real solution it a hidden light Under the engine subtlety

Henry at IM put mine in the Carrera fins. Thin LED strip. Pretty much out of sight, but very cool and useful.

@IaM-Ray posted:

I thought of adding that backup light to my IM roadster many time but I keep resisting as I would like to keep it as original as possible so I have yet to find a real solution it a hidden light Under the engine subtlety

Ray, do you see the tiny round LED light by the lower left corner of my plate?

It's a bicycle headlight converted to run on 12v, I used a 5 volt regulator(7805) to feed it. Since my battery is right there I tapped off that to power a relay. The relay only has power when the parking lights are on. I figured I only NEED a backup light at night. Honestly, the power draw is so little I didn't need the relay.

FYI, it is certainly bright enough to see, it gives a nice flood. I guess I could have hidden it better under the grilles, but my badges would be in the way LOL!

Great Idea Danny, there are many nice bike lights out there.

Here are some more shots just after paint. So some additional info on the body….It is a full monocoque  incorporating the floor pan, rockers, rear seat area etc. all molded from an original. The nice thing is that the inner rockers are not huge like the pan based speedsters so more authentic seats can be used. The monocoque utilizes a honey comb structure bonded in as well as steel for the door hinge and lock posts. Fiberglass Matt and cloth are used on this car but we are going to do one in carbon fiber in the near future. The tub is then mounted to a custom square tube chassis with IRS torsion tube and low original style low tunnel.

This is such a cool project, Paul.

The inner rockers on pan-based replicas are ridiculous, and much wider than they'd need to be. I'm glad to hear that you corrected that.

Any pictures of the chassis? Did you retain the VW VIN, or are you planning to register with a manufacturer's certificate of origin?

Wow, Paul! That's really cool, and it looks great in arrest-me-red!

Stan

On this car he didn’t use the section where the vw chassis number is stamped. That section was modded to do the low tunnel. So being in NY state I am going to go the MCO route because they assign a new vin here anyway.  I have  some pictures of the chassis…just want need the ok from the builder to share.  I will say it impressed the heck out of me.

Stan. Here are some photos of the chassis

Here’s the monocoque

This car is going to be amazing, Paul.

Wow, love it...does he have others for sale..,.?

At the moment there is one more BT5 roadster being built and things are in motion for two BT6 twin grille roadsters.

This is so very very cool. You're amazing, Paul.

All the credit goes to the builder Stan…amazing craftsman who has built custom cars for more than 30 years…I’m just the parts chaser.  I’ve wanted a roadster for a long time with all the improvements to make a solid daily driver. Can’t do that with an original at the prices these days!

@dlearl476 posted:

I think they repurposed that in USA for some safety regulations. I’ve seen lots of references to “rear fog light” in European parts catalogues.

The same style of Hella backup lights used on '67 Bugs, Karmann Ghias, Type 3's and God knows what else.

Been a while since I posted any updates. Finally to do point where it is being loaded and shipped to me. The attention to detail is incredible. It even has the rain gutters for the top. Covid, supply chain, container/shipping prices through the roof. It’s been a journey.

Another of the rear

Here’s one they did in Meissen blue.

😲 Awesome!

Yeah, they both look fantastic!

Very cool, Paul!  It'll be great to see your car when finished.