|
Post by 16vvincent on Jan 30, 2008 13:14:03 GMT -5
A little introduction first. My name is Vince and I have been a VW nut for many, many years. I started my career as a gofer in a VW dealership back in 78. I am now a Technician for a Lincoln Dealer in Northern Cal, but still have a love for all watercooled VW's. A co-worker and partner in crime is also a VW nut and was also a former VW mechanic. Between the two of us we own 16 VW's. But that is not what this is about. We are always searching for that holy grail, the rare and exceptional. Dean (the co-worker) managed to come across a couple of 2 door Rabbits in the back yard of a friend of his. The two of us went out there and took a look at them, when I realized what we were looking at. 2 count'm 2 75 Rabbit Swallowtails. Neither are complete and both have been sitting for, ummm I don't know, since 1984. The tires were sunk into the ground and the interiors were shot. But for the low, low price of $200.00, for BOTH of them, we couldn't pass them up. I will post photos of them this evening and would welcome any ideas of which direction to take mine. I found this sight via VWVORTEX and it has been a useful little bit of insight into these cars.
Cheers
Vince
|
|
|
Post by Vedubauman on Jan 31, 2008 8:03:08 GMT -5
Wow, good save! Can't wait to see them. Welcome to the board!
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 1, 2008 0:54:17 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 1, 2008 0:58:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 1, 2008 1:01:00 GMT -5
The dash in Dean's is in pretty good shape, just a small crack at the corner of the speaker opening. I haven't dug through mine yet, to see just how bad it is.
I am thinking a 3A block, with a hyd head and carbs (dual webers), set of headers and a nice close ratio trans. Then do the interior old school and the exterior like a Mk1 Euro GTi. What do you guys think?
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 1, 2008 1:02:47 GMT -5
In the case of Dean's car, the wheels that you see, we put on. The car came with steels but the tires were full of mud and wouldn't hold air. I have a set of BMW bottle caps that will go on mine until I find something else (BBS RA's?).
|
|
|
Post by Vedubauman on Feb 1, 2008 9:21:35 GMT -5
Wow! Not too bad at all. Hopefully the rust issues aren't too bad. Neat to see two base model Rabbits. Do either of them have drum front brakes? Assuming both cars are defroster-less as well. Please post the manufacturing dates if you can. Send them to Dan at the Swallowtail information site. Dan@Swallowtail.infoBTW, here's the direct link on my '75. A bit outdated but still making progress. www.reid.org/~dreid/Swallowtail/Owners/Steve_Scott/steve_scott.htm
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 2, 2008 2:47:47 GMT -5
Thanks; Yes the rust, I don't think, is too bad. Mostly on the surface on my car. Dean says his is a little worse. Didn't help that the jack slipped when we were changing the wheels on his and bent the floor up. I got mine home today and am going to spend a little time this weekend finding just what I have. Both cars are disc front / drum rear. And are you asking about the rear defroster? Dean's is defrosterless, but I think that my glass has been replaced. Again later this weekend I will have a better idea. The VIN on mine is 1753393642. I will try to get more photos posted on Sunday as well. Cheers
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 4, 2008 18:31:36 GMT -5
Here is a video of Deans car running; He blew out the fuel line and replaced the negative battery cable. When done he said that it fired right up, but ran like c--p.....
|
|
|
Post by Vedubauman on Feb 5, 2008 10:00:48 GMT -5
Pretty cool to see it run after 15 years! Yeah, those Zenith carbs are the absolute suck. I have I think three carbs for mine. One rebuilt Zenith, one NOS Zenith and a new Weber replacement. I'm planning on keeping the 1.5l in mine minus all the smog equipment. Actually a lively engine surprisingly!
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 5, 2008 10:27:49 GMT -5
Dean washed his and says it looks pretty good. Photos later. And I think that Dean joined, his handle is vwdean. Perhaps he will actually write something.
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 6, 2008 9:42:15 GMT -5
This is what Dean's car looks like now that it has been washed. Not too bad for a car that until just recently was sitting in a back yard for 18 years.
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 6, 2008 12:11:03 GMT -5
Hi all;
The VIN for Dean's Swallowtail is 1753182152.
|
|
|
Post by Vedubauman on Feb 6, 2008 13:52:16 GMT -5
Amazing.
Looks like his is an early build car. Nov. 1974.
I've got to dig back into mine.
|
|
|
Post by 16vvincent on Feb 8, 2008 11:50:58 GMT -5
I haven't started to clean through mine yet, as i am trying to reorganize my garage. But Dean..... Changed the front brakes, replaced a missing freeze plug, blew a hose off, and replaced the wheels with a set off of a Cabrio that he had lying around. d**n thing is looking good!
|
|