The key differences between the Speedster and the Convertible D are the windscreen, rear window, rear cowl, side windows, door pockets, seats, convertible top and boot, and badging.
Category Archives: German
After: 1957 Lloyd LP-600 Alexander
The father of the Lloyd was Carl Borgward, one of Germany’s more ambitious automotive entrepreneurs. His company now known as the Borgward Group produced cars of four brands, which were sold to a diversified international customer base: Borgward, Hansa, Goliath and Lloyd.
Before: 1957 Lloyd LP-600 Alexander
The Lloyd Alexander featuring a four-speed gear-box was offered, in parallel with the Lloyd 600, between 1957 and 1961. One difference visible from the outside was that the Lloyd Alexander included an opening hatch into the rear luggage locker, whereas drivers of the Lloyd 600 had to reach behind the rear seat in order to access the luggage locker.
Before: 1972 BMW 2002
This shortened design of BMW’s New Class Sedans has become a cult classic and is still as well regarded as when it was released. This example has sat dormant in the state of Hawaii until it was brought to mainland and is now starting a restoration.
Aircoolness
What is cooler than an air-cooled Porsche 356! Seeing the freshly rebuilt original numbers matching engine going back into the 1959 Porsche 356 A 1600 Convertible D by Drauz is very cool. It is a 1,582 cc OHV air-cooled horizontally opposed four-cylinder 1600S engine with dual Solex carburetors.
Belgian T5: 1961 D’leteren T5 Porsche 356
One of just 473 built this special Porsche 356 succeeded the Drauz built Porsche Convertible Ds. Founded in 1805 D’Ieteren is still in the automotive business today.
After: 1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Now painted back to the original Ravenna Green color this Ghia shows off the body lines well. Needing just about all of sheetmetal replaced from the doors down this car has been rescued to live on for many more years.
Add the Plaid
Removing the racing seats and installing a set of plaid buckets into this 1980 Porsche 911 makes all the difference in the interior. It is now not only functional but stylish.
1641cc Crate
The engine for the 1966 Volkswagen Beetle has finally arrived from GEX International and this extra power from the dual port heads should be a huge improvement. GEX offers a 36 month warranty on this engine and claim they have run them all on the bench before shipping.
Before: 1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Before: 1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Ran when parked but that was 30 years ago! Although rust has taken hold of this car it is complete and has the very rare dealer installed air conditioning. Look for faster than normal progress on this one as we have a deadline.
Uncommon Dyno
We have had the DynoJet for just shy of a year now and by the end of the year it will have seen a fair share of interesting makes and models. The DynoJet is great for much more than just finding out how much power or torque a car makes. You can analyze the fuel to air mixture, ignition condition, finding leaks, engine break-in, and even aero dynamic effects on gearing.
Usually too Busy
With the fab shop shut down for the holiday it is a good time to share a glimpse of what we are doing in there. Media blasting, powder coating, metal forming, and welding all happen in this room. We stock around fifty colors of powder and will do from a single part for a walk-in customer to supply production parts for machine shops and manufacturers.
More Progress: 1966 Volkswagen Beetle
The parts have been rolling in for the Beetle and it is easy to see changes day by day now. The new black cloth interior is going to compliment the orange paint job completing the great look on this Volkswagen.
From Zuffenhausen
Porsche had the early cars built by various coach companies for them. In this picture Porsches built by Reutter Karosserie, Drauz Karosserie, Karmann, and Porsche AG in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen are all represented.
Before: 1959 Porsche 356 A Convertible D
Built by Drauz in Heilbronn this car is the rarest of the production Porsche 356 models ever manufactured for a full year. The Convertible D was meant to be a “weekend racer” and was built with a removable windshield among other significant differences from the Speedster.
1987 Porsche 911 Targa
After a lot of work the engine is rebuilt in the Porsche 911 and it is ready for many more miles of driving. Broken head studs were the first indication the engine needed to come apart on this one. 1987 was the first year the 911 got the Getrag G50 unit with improved synchromesh.
Volkswagen Crate Engine
Today a new crate engine arrived from JCS Volks Machine for a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle that we have sorting out. The engine arrives almost complete, just add an air cleaner and exhaust, mount your clutch and then bolt it up!
1959 Volkswagen Dune Buggy
There are parts of a project car that can be a mystery. The owner of this Buggy got the car most of the way and we worked out the last bits to make it stop and go.
1969 Volkswagen Beetle
She loves her 69 but the engine hadn’t been given any love. The previous owner had sealed the entire engine with just RTV and no gaskets. Once cleaned up and sealed this one will be good to go for years.
Progress: 1966 Volkswagen Beetle
After restoring the chassis this winter and fixing rust issues on the body the two are finally ready to be mated again. The Chrome Orange is going to look amazing in the sun on the Beetle and nobody can wait to see the color painted on the outside.
