So I've had my car for a while, and I just finished up my bachelor's degree, so I got it out of storage to start working on it again. Here's what I brought home in 2006, got it for $600 I think. The story goes that this was originally a drug dealer's car, and he went to jail shortly after the car got painted. His girlfriend sold it to a friend I had in one of my classes who was into restoring mustangs, and I bought it from him because he wanted it gone. It had quite a bit of money dumped into it, and although it had some really tacky stuff, I saw a lot of potential, so I picked it up.
Parked next to my old '72 that I flipped on its roof one morning. Had a quart of bondo on the roof and never drove quite right after that, so I stole most of the goodies I had and sold it off.
This was just about exactly as much fun as it looked.
My good 'ol 1600 S/P in the middle of a doghouse and alternator conversion.
Streetglow brah!
They're actually still on the car because I have to take the runningboards off to get them out, and I just haven't bothered. I promise, they will go. Although I did try powering the ballast box to see if they worked. They didn't.
Fast forward one year from when I bought it. Before I left for college, I managed to get the car running to my parent's house, but it was still far from complete electrically. Over the course of my first year's summer, I completed the wiring and daily drove the car. Got a summer job and pretty much sunk all the money into the car. Up to a total of $1300 at this point:
I forget what I traded the centerlines that came with the car for, but I know I ended up with these 914 sport wheels with tires for the back, and some other stuff. At the time I was in the middle of de-tinting the windows and putting black rubber on the car.
Looks good that low. Surely the previous owner didn't cut the springs that much. Right?
Wrong. yellrhd from SBO sent me some stock springs for free (nice guy!), and although it's at 4x4 status, at least it's functional. Something's not right with the camber on my left rear wheel.
By the end of the summer, I had gotten the car street legal save for a license plate light, and I finished installing all the interior bits that came with the car. Really don't care for the black velour everywhere, but hey, it was free.
I put the car away at the end of the summer, and was too busy to go get it for the next three years. Went to get it last week, and it's pretty much the same as it ever was. I *think* the condenser died on me, so I had to trailer it home. The ebrake cable snapped getting it up on the dolly, and I accidentally pushed a dent into the front apron getting it off the dolly. Anyhow, I bought some goodies to take care of my shimmies:
This red wire was causing battery drain. Not sure what it does yet, but I don't get drain anymore.
Remember when I said I disliked that velour? Well, compound dislike for three years turns into utter disgust. Hey look, a map light!
Did this today. Need another pass to get off all the rubber cement, but the dash basically only has one crack and a few little chunky bits. The cracks are filled with silicone, so other than the fact it was completely dipped in glue, it's pretty nice.
So yeah, working on the bug again and it feels good. I want to turn it into a vintage-look autocross racer. I'm taking a lot of inspiration from the 70's RS Porsches.