Hey BigRaceDad,Back with some additional info, now that we know it’s a Duchess.Classic Roadsters used reproduction MG-TD pieces for most of the missing  items you mentioned, including the grill shell and slats, head light buckets, headlight brackets and door handles, latches & strikers.You can try Moss Motors for all of the above…but will pay…[Read more]

Hi BigRaceDad
I have my complete Duchess VW assembly manual.
I really should get it PDFed so Frank can put it up on the “download Manuals” page.
Meanwhile, let me know if you want a photocopy. Send me a private message with your snail mail address. 
And just for the record…50s is still young. I hit the magic 50 in 2008. When I built my Duchess…[Read more]

Welcome aboard!I’ve been around these cars since the early 80’s and don’t recall a manufacturer “American Custom Cars” Empress I.Looking at your pictures, I believe you have a Classic Roadsters Duchess and American Custom Cars was an assembler who badged the cars as their own.Classic Roadsters is the only kit that has the small bump in front of…[Read more]

Welcome aboard Widetrack! We look forward to seeing your cars.

Glad to help Chuck.
Let us know if it works out. It’s a tight fit inside the turn signals, but a couple quick connects do fit in there. That will leave you with only the two wires coming through the fender and into the body.

Chuck,I just took a closer look at the photos in your gallery. It looks like the turn signals are mounted directly to the fender without a mounting pad.You need part #281-068 from Moss Motors ($3.80 a pair). It’s #1 in teh diagram at the following site: http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexI D=32859

Hi Chuck,Is that your white Duchess in the photo gallery? Your posting mentions VW turn signals, but the ones in the photos are reproduction TD turn signals. There is room within the reproduction turn signals to make the wiring connections, so that the only thing under the fender is the wire leading into the body. I suggest you simply remove the…[Read more]

Now follow that grill badge to Carlisle. 🙂

Looks great Rob

It takes me 2:30 to 2:45 from New Providence NJ to Carlisle PA.
Take a look at Carlisle Produciotns web site
http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/index.asp

Geoff,
Welcome aboard. Nice car!

Rich,
Welcome aboard. And what a great find. I love that Jordan learned to spell his name between 2005 and 2006.
As for a spring get-together…I expect to see all these cars at Carlisle’s Kit Car show in May. Come on guys and gals. This show pulls people from all over…and my definition of all over is essentially  “east of the Mississippi.”
A…[Read more]

Great news Frank. We were glad to help!
PMOSSBERG39797.9331481481

Hi Chuck,
I have an adjustable seat kit for a Classic Roadsters bench seat. I bought it many years after my car was done…and never installed it.
It’s basically a two piece steel frame that attaches to the floor pan and central tunnel, along withe the brackets and miscellaneous parts that attach to the seat bottom and the seat frame to enable the…[Read more]

The FiberFab Pinto and Classic Motor Carriages Chevette builder manuals on the “Download Manuals” page have a variety of chassis diagrams, but none that have measurements. It’s a good place to start. But you will have a lot of calculating to do.

Hi Darrel,
Welcome aboard. The TD and Gazelle replicas have a lot in common, so I’m sure you will find some help here. There are a couple other Gazelle owners in the group, although I have not seen any postings form them in recent months.
Perhaps you’ll draw them out of the woodwork!
Probably the easiest way to tell a front engine body from a rear…[Read more]

I searched all over Moss last night and could not find them. I tried again…and there they are…in “exteriors”, “accessories” http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexI D=29619

Hi Ringo,I’ve seen high gloss and matte. Both look great. IIve never heard the owner of a TD with a high gloss dash complain about glare. So it’s really a matter of your preference.My own is not gloss. I simply prefer that look.And that’s part of the beauty of the kit car world. They are not 100% original reproductions, so you are free to experiment.

Ah well. Then I guess we can’t convince you to drive to Carlisle Pennsylvania for the big kit car show in May! 🙂

Sweet ride. Thanks for posting pics.Where in NY are you?
PMOSSBERG39775.9991435185