Pushiepirate

In Sydney recently wandering around and spotted an old gem up a lane way.

No front brakes, no air cleaner, fully old school shovel.

At first I thought the roll on the tank was just painted but it looks like it's a raised

tube section.. 

Had to add an arty B&W image.

After a couple of big sessions we have a drive train and it works! As I have stated have been concerned about the weight

with the buggy body. Story within itself scored a bonnet locally in great condition, so now we have a Volksrod!

Also had concerns about the gearing and brakes, no worries with the gearing plenty low enough to get going and cruise,

if anything will probably have to gear her up a couple of cogs. Brakes are better than expected as well, all four rear wheels

have brakes which helps, operated from a lever mounted outside the seats, emergency braking Fred Flinstone style!

Plan to run her without the front bar maybe rig up a small nurf bar, pretty happy with where she’s at, looks like a Volksrod?!

Whooohooo we have some progress, control as in steering in,

also revisited the front end. Was going to have a rigid front end

but thought what the heck, had the bits so went with suspension,

see how she goes, if work out couple of bolts and she goes back

to a solid set up!

So you can steer her how about propulsion, mocked up the pedal

position, the way things are looking they will sit lower.

As I said up the top want to keep the VW theme rolling, so first VW

bit a Ratty 60’s steering wheel.

I live very isolated so you often fix and build things with what you have.

Also as with most things I’m on a budget so best thing about this build

so far what I’ve spent. Only items I’ve laid out cash on, some welding rods,

the tyres, some spring washers and the steering wheel, all the rest scrounged

from local tip, gotta be happy with that!

Been a Veedub fan since my teens, collection stuff that lived in a box for

ages, found a bird cage stand and re purposed it as a shrine to the VW.

Couple of semi rare items, the red 50/50s one year only Australia and Italy,

also some Snowflakes up the top. 

VW lounge light, used a big valve for the stand, actually casts a VW emblem on

the roof above.

So after a couple of big days finally got the rear end sorted, originally had the drive wheels out beyond the body.

Revised this they now sit nicely in the space where the VW engine would have sat. So in a sense have the motor

where it should be! Next sort out the chain drive, plan is to have two idlers up to the pedals.

The outer wheels take some of the load, hoping most of the weight comes onto the middle drive wheels,

all four have suspension, outers leaf springs, inners coils. Scored the outers off a children’s pram, the inners

off an old school suspension mountain bike.

After the drive system is sorted front end and steering, long way to go but getting there!

Any tips criticism gratefully accepted.................? 

Been a VW fan for yonks, had both a 1960 and 64 Split window  Kombies

a 64 Beetle and a 74 ex Australian Army 9 seater Kombi, wish I'd kept one

of those Kombies! 

Time has flown, ten years ago nearly I saved this old J & S buggy

from the clutches of a brutish Banyan tree that was going to gobble

up the old thing. The pan was gone to rust heaven, managed to save

a few parts from the motor, what’s left of front end and transaxle

are still at the whims of nature in the bush.

As found…..

As she sat under a tarp for nearly ten years……..

Been thinking and talking about doing this for an age, finally got the

time, no work, so getting into it, she is going to be a worm burner,

down with the snakes, as in low!

Will be two person pedal powered with a central VW steering wheel

so both occupants can share the driving. Will have brakes but only on

the rear wheels of which there will be four, two driving, two coasting.

Been hoarding (collecting) bits for her for a while, some old school

head lights found in a junk shop, front bar scored at the local dump.

Made up the windscreen from an old windy frame, can fold down

safari style.

Probably obvious, she's a bit heavy so have made her so the buggy

body can come off and she can go as just the frame.  Really want to

keep the VW flavour, steering wheel, badges, chasing up some ratty

hub caps, more on this later…..