Test pilot 1

Here is a little clip of one of the first test runs out of the garage. The engine only running on three cylinders, is quite obvious when you hear the sound recorded. The problem is now solved, and the engine should run OK after some final adjustment of the timing. Oval 57 looks a little stressed out behind the wheel, could be the clutch barely releasing??

One more back on the road

Another norwegian zwitter is now officially saved from the happy hunting grounds. Being one step away from ending as a demolition derby participant (bilcross) in the early eighties, and then saved by the bell and tucked away in an old barn, the car is now finally road legal again. On the 16th of may the car was tested on the open road with the new plates freshly mounted. I still have trouble getting rid of the grin on my face, several days after the incident... All nightmares about welding and old rust are long gone. Still lots of adjustment needed, but driving down to the gas station and filling the car up for the first time, sure qualifies for a VISA commercial... "For everything else you have VISA" Sorry about the pictures, but only BW until the car is ready at the end of the month. The trained eye will spot some details falling into place.

PS! The neon sign in the background show the current gas price in Norway, all time high... I couldn't care less at the moment =)

Testing and tuning

Out of the garage it was time for some tuning. Everything seemed to work quite well after we got the new fuel tap working. All body panels are only trial fitted, so the test run was only limited this time. But a short ride, sure gives the spirit to finish this car. A 50 ies racer is coming alive. The bare metal shell, sure gives the driver a racy feeling =)Mission completed!(almost)

Before the engine had made it's first turn, the 6v crew had already placed a startnumber on the car. A full picture documetation will come when the car is race-ready... stay tuned =)

Crank it baby

The driver looks a little confused and angry here... Not getting ANY reaction turning the key. Well, only owning a 66, will set you back in the world of splitwindow beetles. After finding the starterbutton, the smile was back on his face =) Cranking up the 1750 engine, and make some nice skidmarks on the driveway, sure makes all the garage hours worth it at the end...

... and it all started in the office as always =)

What else can you do in the dark winther nights when office hours seemes like days? Dream about summer action?

Recreating an atmosphere

The first idea of "theme" for this car, was to keep the fifthies atmosphere. As the car had some changes made early on, and still many of the correct pieces intact, it was no option to make it over restored =) The patinated paint applied in the 60 ies is preserved as good as possible, with the obvious color mismatches were new paint is added. The car probably had a few touch ups along the way as well, so getting it correct all around was out of the question. Having lived a tough lifte on the road, the car is full of batlle scars and small dents. Well what do you do with a car full of scars, and wanting a fifthies atmosphere? You could follow the common road and slam it, put on some chromed replicas and get your self a nice looking rat. But they didn't have slammed rats in the fifthies, did they? Well, as the picture of the half finished interior will tell, the "theme" headed another direction =) Less is more?

Spring is here

Well, as always, a little too early =) The time preassure has been quite huge the last weeks, as I am in the middle of building a new house, and that consume ALL of my sparetime. Luckily I have some easier days ahead now, and the zwitter definitely needs some attention again. When I broke off some weeks ago, the car was rollin', but brakes, wiring and some vital chassie parts were missing. Of course many body details still have to be taken care of. But after a long dark winter, the bright warm summernights ahead will suit me perfect. Still some rivers to cross, bringing a car back to life after 25 years.