My Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess is just foam.
I built the car in 1982, been on the road since 1983.

Nobody said beauty was cheap

All purpose VW repair tool, a good mallet!

Dupont ChromalusionAny good body shop should be able to get it for you.

dgray joined August 30 2010We hope to hear from you dgray. Open a new general discussion threead and introduce yourself! And stop by the registry thread (click the link in my signature) and add yourself to an ever growing list!Looks to me like a green body with deep burgundy fenders & running boards.

Congratulations Captain.
I hope you told the new owner about us!
 
 

Mike,
That is a good observation with two huge variables.
The various kit manufacturers instruciotns may have been different.
And the more significant, what the the home builder actually do? Did they follow the instructions? Misinterpret? Do something different on purpose?
That is the beautiful and the ugly side of a home built car. 

My stock VW shifter is fine.Right hand drops very naturally to the shift lever.Actually a better relationship to the steering wheel than in the original Beetle.PMOSSBERG40436.3703819444

Wow….Those consoles look great.Curse my Duchess bench seat!

Great stuff from Ed. You distinguish yourself sir!
Just a comment on the “climate control” or lack thereof.
Something you will want to check is whether or not the heater boxes are hooked up. They may not even be installed. Some builders repalce them with j-tubes.
The way you plan to use your car…you need them!
You will also want to add a…[Read more]

Yes,the stock brake pedal is square to the floor. http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/product_info.php?product s_id=1437Click the picture to enlarge it.

Just for the record, Ed did not contradict me.  I merely offered an answer to Mandolin’s question about storage.I’ve not always made the best life choices. So I leave those discussions to you counselor types.

Mike,I am certain your brake pedal lever is bent to the right (towards the gas pedal). Clutch looks ok.The entire assembly rides on one axle. And it appears to be attached to the center tunnel OK.

Hi mandolin,My Duchess lived outside for the first several years of it’s life. It’s now been on the road with me for 27 and a half years. (You can see it in my pmossberg photo gallery.)I had a good car cover. An Evolution 3 I think the fabric was called. It was the best of the best at the time.I made one mistake in that I let the cover get dirty.…[Read more]

I’m in Glendale, usually, at least once a year, Helping my friends Gary and Tracy empty a wine bottle or two.Gary happens to be the owner of a fine early year MGB and an active member and past president of the Arizona MG club. His club membrs are pretty open minded. I think they would accept a reproduction, altho it might cost a few extra beers.…[Read more]

There could be variations by year, but I doubt it. By anything I have ever seen, this was modified.And shortening the clutch and brake pedals, does two things I do not like.First, the obvious, the brake and clutch leverage is greatly reduced. You are working harder to engage the clutch and to apply the brakes. The brake issue concerns me more than…[Read more]

Just a comment on newkitman’s postClassic Roadsters manuals are NOT in teh Download Manuals section yet.I need FrankieD to do that.If you want a copy, send me a private message.Actually, I believe a combination of PinkMG’s suspension softening and some ballast provides the best handling car. Without a couple hundred pounds over the front axle, the…[Read more]

Muir’s books are THE BEST VW repair and maintenance books on the street!

Likr “red” said, the original kit manufacturers provided assembly manuals.
These are not owners’ manuals in the traditional sense. I varying degrees of detail, they were the “big car” equivalent of the instructions in your plastic scale model kits.
Also, I would bet that thsoe that bought turn-key cars received nothing.
If you can get an assembly…[Read more]

“You” are not saying it’s a 52 MG, DMV would be doing that. It does not magically transform your kit into an original. No one will be deceived by it.And for the record this is not NJ drafted legislation. This bill proposes adoption of model laws developed and written by SEMA. Laws that are working well in other states.Having a title that says 52…[Read more]