Mk1 Cabriolet Project - Dorset

Not had fun changing the hood.
The original hood on had one gas strut on the passenger side, is this normal?
There bracket was on the car on the other side, but nothing on the hood.
Looks like I am missing the bracket on the end of the strut too.

No gas struts at all on replacement hood.

The replacement hood also doesn't have the latches that you press to release the hood when it is in the open position.
I can't see how they come off the old hood frame, looks like they are riveted on.

Also the person who removed the hood from the car handily cut the interior roof lining by the parcel shelf so it doesn't fit under and there's a massive gap!
Looks like I'll be changing the hood again.

And the tension cable snapped!

But at least it's on and water tight.

i will be selling some leather seats soon if youve any interest?

Hmmm you should have two gas struts. One each side.
If you don't have the release latches on the replacement frame it looks like you may have been sold a power hood frame. These don't have the latches as the hydraulic rams hold it in place, in the down position.
It would mean repl cing with a age related frame. VW changed the frames three times not inc the power frame options on later cabbies.
Early frames sit higher out of the back and later covers don't fit.

looking good!

if you ever wana change and have the steering wheels for sale can you let me know as im after a wheel like that

Cheers

Rich

Thinking of selling this to buy a T5.

Will do an advert in the next couple of weeks.

Contact me if interested.
Lots of new parts, Weber carb, all new brakes, new tyres, rebuilt cylinder head, very tidy.
Drives spot on.

Cheers

ive just bin lookin at ur cab mate. I got the same colour as u but i noticed the trim around ur bumper. It looks gud i might just ask on the forum if any 1 has that trim for sale

Time to wake up the cabriolet.

Insured and taxed now.
1 month MOT left.

Insurance was cheaper than 6 months road tax!

Took it for a 10 minute spin and the radiator fan came on.
Not sure if there's a problem or not. Need to take it for a longer drive.

Felt good to be back in the car, has been in the garage since October. Started after a few turns.

Looks smashing mate. I would give it a blast up the motorway and a nice A road run if possible.

Good luck

Really tidy cabby pal.

Love the grill and accessories.

Thanks for the comments.

The badges have been in the family for a long time.

The AA one is my Dad's from when he worked at the AA.
And the other one is an English Electric Motor Club badge and was my grandpa's and is from the 50/60's.

Awesome. True vintage and personal.

Nice to see a clean mk1 with subtle and original mods.

Finally passed it's MOT today.
Never ever using that garage again!

I have been taking my cars to a little garage in Bridport, Dorset for nearly 10 years now.
They use a Vauxhall garage for MOT's and everything is normally fine.
Including my 1961 Beetle, 1996 T4 and various other older and not perfect cars I've owned.

This time however the MOT tester failed my Mk1 for the drivers seat not being easy to move backwards and forwards.
I bought some Mk2 Golf seats and new springs for the mechanism. All working and tested by the garage.
MOT tester failed the retest as he said it still didn't work smoothly.
Adjusted it again and sent it back.
This time it came back with 5 advisories that weren't on the first MOT. I only did 30 miles between the first MOT and retest!

Thinking about contacting the MOT people as the seat was exactly the same on the MOT in 2012 and didn't fail, and no advisories either.
How can there be different advisories on MOT's days apart?

Makes me want a pre 1960 car instead!

Just sold it to someone from Tavistock.

I had so many spares it filled the back of a Passat estate with the seats down!

Sad to see it go. It didn't want to start when the buyer went to drive off. Always started first time for me!

Think I will get a tin top next time.
A carbiolet just adds so many more things to go wrong and fix.
Glad to have my garage back too!

TheCobb said

Just sold it to someone from Tavistock.

I had so many spares it filled the back of a Passat estate with the seats down!

Sad to see it go. It didn't want to start when the buyer went to drive off. Always started first time for me!

Think I will get a tin top next time.
A carbiolet just adds so many more things to go wrong and fix.
Glad to have my garage back too!

I done the same. Bought an s1 tintop to be practical