50's Retro Ruffrod cab project...

Have you done so much to the car today that it just doesn't fit into one section, or are you too damn lazy to split it all up? Either way, this is the section for you.

Moderators: kamzcab86, CalAltaDubber

Stampede
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 3:39 pm
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Fredrikstad, Norway

50's Retro Ruffrod cab project...

Post by Stampede »

Hello all!

New forum member, I was told to visit you so here I am.... :)
Tought I'd make a tread about my project that has been lurking in my garage for a while. Slowly but surely developing.... :)

The car, an '81 cabby with a 1.8 GTI engine with a carb mounted, don't ask me why, previous owner business!

Been playing around with the idea of making a 50's Bonneville ruffrod style cab for along time. So when this baby entered my garage it was time to set the plan into life.

Matte black paint, white top with no rear window, 14 inch steelies powdercoated red, with whitewall tires and Moondiscs.
Some other period pieces will also find it's way to this project. Peep-mirror, A-pillar search light, lionpaw exhaust tail, and also some "until further notice" secret parts! :cool:

The car is painted in my own garage by yours truely! Just to get that real homemade ruffrod 50's finish on the paintjob.
I've also started putting the car back together.

I'm posting som in progress shots from this winter, and also some pics of parts and other stuff I'll be mounting on the car.

Waddaya all think? :rolleyes:

Ripped, but with new doors, new brakes and adjustable coilovers mounted. I also cleaned the car totally on the underside and applied new anti-rust goo! shitty job!

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Some bodywork, new front and front fenders, plus welding shut the old mirror holes.

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All spray spackled and primered ready for the matte black paint.

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The paint is on, with just the ruffrod finish I wanted.

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Went overboard one day when I was working from home. Not much work that day as you can see. Masked and painted flames in true 50's custom spirit. :cool:

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Original rearlamps ready for modification.

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Modified and mounted! Here you can see the lionpaw and part of the restored chromebumper as well.

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Whitewalls, the lionpaw (before mounting, of course) and a couple of secret trick parts! ;)

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And I just had to get this, kinda blends in with the rest of the car...

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The front is slowly turning cool.....
I did a small trick on the lower grills by adding a chromestrip to the top and bottom of them, to kinda resemble the frontgrille.

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Polished doorlock mechanisms

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TMI carpet and rear seatcover arrived!!

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Old style chrome handles mounted, just sitting there waiting for their little black inserts.... ;)

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Matte black and chrome, kinda cool don't ya think??

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Since I was temporarily short of funds this summer I mounted stuff that I've had laying around since spring.
I mounted the rear hatch, the new upholstered rear seat, new TMI carpet, the cabframe and also polished some parts and added some chrome...

Here's some pics....

Polished doorlock bolt....
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Rearhatch mounted...the hatch is being modified this winter but it'll do for now!

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The rearseat with the TMI upholstery...

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The carpet set also included new carpet for the rearshelf and sides too...nice!

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Some rock'n roll stuff! :cool:

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Some windowframe chrome...

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Hmm... I wonder what this is?? ;)

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A sneak-peek of how it'll look with the Moondiscs. Smaller rubber and whitewalls will be added shortly.

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Things were moving slowly forward this summer...

Got started mounting the top, plus I also got my hands on some more Moon parts. The Grant steeringwheel in red flake will blend right in with the rest of the theme, in my opinion.
I just had to have the Moon hornbutton with the Maltese cross on it.
A Moon Brody knob and 3" Moon peep mirror just complements the look I'm going for.

Here's some pics....

Started the cab mounting...

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Da steeringwheel and Brody knob.....

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3" Moon Peep....

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Da wheel mounted, I just dig this :cool: ....

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Here's some more pics, starting to look really bitchin' now, don't you think??

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...more to follow!
Last edited by Stampede on Sun Nov 06, 2005 3:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
People who think they know everything greatly annoy those of us who do!

Due to current financial constraints, the light at the end of the tunnel
will be turned off until further notice.
Stampede
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 3:39 pm
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Fredrikstad, Norway

More pics and stuff...

Post by Stampede »

Yihaaa... made my own dials! I went with a pinup babe theme and here's the result.... =)

Found an old 50's Caltex logo that I used as a sign above the gasgauge, looks better than the standard one I think... :cool:

So waddaya guys think??

Speedo...
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Tacho...
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Tank...
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Temp...
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Well, here's the finished instrument cluster! :D

I think it turned out great, the pic doesn't do it quite justice, but you get the idea.

Painted the needles in a color called Garnet Pearl and the screws and needlebases in Silver fox.

I also applied a small text in the empty black area below the indicator lights, just to indicate that this IS a driver.... :cool:

Anyways, here it is...

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Oh yes!!!

Took her for a little spin on some local roads this weekend, and man she worked! Stiff as hell but it's supposed to be like that! ;)

Got the seatupholstery on the front seats mounted yesterday, and mounted the seats this morning. Man, I love my job solution, working from home!
Some minor details left to do inside and outside.
Next in line is mounting of my CD player and some speakers with retro covers. And this winter, back into the garage for removal of the engine, and a paint and finish job in the enginecompartment.

Here's some pics after the little testdrive...

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Later.....
People who think they know everything greatly annoy those of us who do!

Due to current financial constraints, the light at the end of the tunnel
will be turned off until further notice.
User avatar
J-Dub
Posts: 187
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 2:56 pm
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Ontario Canada

Post by J-Dub »

That looks amazing man!! Good job on everything. I especially like what you did with the instrument cluster.

Oh and welcome to the board
kuklaki
Admin Type Person
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Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2002 4:11 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1989
Location: Cartersville, Ga
Contact:

Post by kuklaki »

This is by far one of the best projects I have ever seen put together :shock: Everything is so well thought out and put together. I'd have to say that the guages are my fav mod on your car-way tooo hot!! How the heck did you re-calibrate everything to make it work with that guage setting?

Very very cool! Thanks for posting that here 8)
Oh yeah, and welcome to TRF!!
2nd 89 Cabriolet 8v (Crabby Cabby)
01 Jetta GLX (bun warmer)
87 Scirocco 16v (TWINS!)
71 Karmann Ghia (air sucker)
03 New Beetle turbo S (black widow)
01 Suzuki SV650 (go nekkid)
SoCal_Cabby
Postus-Whorus-Maximus
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 2:49 pm
What year is your cabby?: 0
Location: Escondido, CA

Post by SoCal_Cabby »

where the hell did you find the euro smalls?

you car is beautiful, great job
Stampede
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 3:39 pm
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Fredrikstad, Norway

Post by Stampede »

Thanx for the cudos guys! Great to have my work appreciated! :)
SoCal_Cabby wrote:where the hell did you find the euro smalls?

you car is beautiful, great job
Thanx man!

The chrome euro smalls, well, found the rear one on a junkyard up here in Norway, and the front one is a reproduction part. Bought here: http://www.volkswarenhaus.de it's a company in Germany that specializes on repro parts for old dubs...
Last edited by Stampede on Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
People who think they know everything greatly annoy those of us who do!

Due to current financial constraints, the light at the end of the tunnel
will be turned off until further notice.
CalAltaDubber
Frozen Guy in the Northern Country
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 11:10 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1987
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Post by CalAltaDubber »

Stampede wrote:Thanx for the cudos guys! Great to have my work appreciated! :)

[...
Thanks for sharing here Stampede.

I told you the crowd here would love your car.

BTW welcome to TRF. Hope to hear more from you.
Phil

'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)

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Dub Delay
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:28 am

Post by Dub Delay »

Nice ride!!

I didn't think it looked that good until I saw the pics with the whitewalls. The combo of the whitewalls, salt flat discs, and white top really makes that car pop! It looks awesome. 8)
It takes a real man to drive a bunny....
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dubchickshubby
Posts: 164
Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 9:32 pm
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Rhode Island

Post by dubchickshubby »

VERY NICE JOB INDEED! :thumbup: Kool Kulture all the way!

I've been WAY outclassed! :shock: I did the Rat Rod based on $0.00 budget, but I can see it's well worth spending some cash!

I'll still stick with being the "first" though... thankyouverymuch :lol:
Her car, my tools. It's all about sharing!
///Ocean State Dubs
'87 red/white Cabby
'92 Triple white Cabby(an 8V decked and overbored nightmare. 303 Cam baybee!)
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VWnoob
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Posts: 372
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 6:26 pm
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Chino Hills, CA

Post by VWnoob »

That Cabby is SICK!!!!!! I love it!!!!
Its was great to literally watch the transformation with the pics! Awesome job bro!
I gotta get me some chrome smalls too!

Jim
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BigDaddy90Cabby
Exploited Staff Member
Posts: 1247
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2005 10:37 pm
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Location: Corpus Christi Texas
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Post by BigDaddy90Cabby »

Why the hell can't I see any of the pics??? only getting red x's!
Jimmy
1990 Cabby
Corpus Christi, TX

http://www.cardomain.com/id/bigdaddyjimmyjam
"That's funny, I don't care who you are, that's funny!"
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VWnoob
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Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 6:26 pm
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Location: Chino Hills, CA

Post by VWnoob »

Jimmy, what browser are you using?
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lowredcabrio
Posts: 379
Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2005 7:17 pm
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Location: Canada
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Post by lowredcabrio »

IM on internet explorer and am getting red x's too. :?:
Lukai
check out my cabby here
|c|a|b|b|y| My Anti-Drug
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VWnoob
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Posts: 372
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 6:26 pm
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Chino Hills, CA

Post by VWnoob »

Hey guys, this is a known issue and could be a number of things.
Try this link http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283807
It has many resolutions to the possible problem.

Jim
CalAltaDubber
Frozen Guy in the Northern Country
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 11:10 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1987
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Post by CalAltaDubber »

Na, I think the problem is with Stampede. It looks like server issues to me.
Phil

'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)

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