Hi Gang;Sorry I didn’t make myself clear about the “hidden” space.It’s located behind a raise up hatch located at the back of the usually visible space behind the seat. Totally out of view, it is up under the lip of the cowl in the space where the ‘doghouse” would normally be on a VW model.  It’s approx 30 wide by 9 inches high by 12 deep.  E…[Read more]

Thanks Paul,
 Did you chek if your Duchess is marked as Grand Duchess or this one is a real “limited edition”. Any other member with a “limited edition” ?
Thanks again for your help.
Andre
p.s. As soon as the Cdn dollar get better I will buy the car….Presently the exchange is very bad for us in Cda..
 

Hi Andre,
Yup, that’s a Duchess alright. And looks like a very nice one! Go for it! 🙂
And your English is great! No worries!
 

yes, I think Bill still has them

Paul
The photos on the photo gallery are not from my car…it is a ford front engine and it was posted by error..I just removed them. I was to buy that ford TD but finally came back home without the car.
The one I have presently and that I am  restoring is a Fiberfab VW.
The Grand Duchesse is one that I want to buy and that I will drive next…[Read more]

Paul,
I just tryed again to buy a badge and It tell me That the transsaction could not be completed….the problem, i think, is on my side…
Is it still Bill Collins that I have to call for the badge ?
Andre

I just tried the Donate link and the Buy a grill badge link from the “Our Store” page. Both appear to be working again.

Hey Larry…never apologize for jumping in! The more the merrier.I agree the quote from the retired Classic guy must be referring to front engine chassis/suspensions.

Hi Andre,Interesting. I’ll take a look at my id tag and see what it says. I’m sure mine does not say limited edition.But now I’m confused. Is this the same car as the one in your photo gallery? It’s VW based, right? I assume it is because of the carpet on the firewell under your id plate.Here’s why I ask. Every, and I mean EVERY, Classic Roadsters…[Read more]

 Hi Everyone, I may be jumping in where I should not ,but I think Ringo is referring to a front engine car and Paul is talking about VW based .I seem to remember a post by Ringo a while back about changing from a gas tank to a fuel cell . I think he was putting the cell in the rear of the car . If I am getting too smart  or just showing my i…[Read more]

Paul here is the photo of the name plate
 fermidable39752.3731828704

Thanks Paul for the info..
The Gr.Duchess in question has a name plate in the front storage compartiment ( all finished with carpet…very clean) where you can read “limited edition” and this car is # 21 out of 250. Was there only 250 Duchess produced or there was a special edition limited at 250 kit ??? (I can not post the photo of the name p…[Read more]

Andre,Sorry to disagree with my on-line friends out there, but there is no difference in the kit itself. Classic Roadsters’ MG kit was properly called the “Grand Duchess”. I’ll show you the front page of my assembly manual if you want. :)It’s simply easier to refer to the car as the Duchess. And that’s what we wll do.Royale might have been a…[Read more]

RE: aboveFor instance, the Grand Duchess Royale package had the hidden luggage area in the back and the Dayton wire wheels.Ringo

Andre,From what I’ve learned the only difference was trim and options.A retired Classic worker told me all frames from the factory were the same. They could hang different suspensions and engines on them according to buyers specs. This may be why the wheels are ahead in the wells. They compromised position accuracy for ease of assembly with…[Read more]

Interesting to read of the other rides we have.I’ve got a 53 Ford truck that I’ve redone.  I kept the straight axle and put mono leaf springs and a power disc brake conversion on it.  It looks stock except for the lowered ride stance and drives very stable once I put a sway bar on it.I’m thinking about hanging  power steering on it at some po…[Read more]

Cool…In 1969, my first Asphalt Modified Stock Car had Chrysler station wagon lower torsion bars and lower arms, Lincoln upper arms and Buick spindles and brake drums…yes I said drums. It was a ’37 Chevy coupe that sat on ’55 Chevy frame rails. Semi elliptical rear leaf springs.
You kept your stock ’55 Ford frame rails too?
Your can adjust your…[Read more]

Andre,
I had the same problem. I mailed a check.
On the bottom left of the home page is Frank Devine’s address. You can send him a check made out to “Frank Devine”.
I think the badges are sold by Bill Collins 201-933-1442.
                               OR
I am sure if you contact these guys via private message here or phone, you can e-mail a P…[Read more]

I went with a 85 chrysler 5th ave,same as the volare,aspen.Has the L shaped tortion bars contained in the K frame, as chrysler calls it.This was about the cleanest conversion over the nova camaro sub frames as most I have looked at look sloppy as they lay the truck frame over the camaro sub frame and weld it up.The chrysler makes it look like it…[Read more]

Andre,
You might be able to cut out the damaged portions and weld or rivet in patch panels.
But if you need to do complete replacements of both sides of the pan, you are going to have to lift the body. The main body panels bolt to the original body mounting holes for the Beetle, which run along the outer channel of the floor pan.
My personal…[Read more]