Yes i know this is a big problem. Matching numbers would be ideal, im really undecided on what to do. Any way please people tell me what the 49 shell is realistically worth, as theres only one day left to bid!!!

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I think the '49 shell will go over £1500 as it IS so solid, but there just are'nt enough differences between this and a '50 that would convince me to part with £2k for it just to get a '4'. Especially when you still have to find/buy an incorrect floorpan/running gear for it.
I have the same engine lid I paid £200 for incidentally. And the window winder mechs included would make £100 each, so I'm not saying the '49 is'nt worth it to someone.

BUT this '52 car is now a steal! :

'52 on VZI just reduced to £2k! 

Seller added lots of pics yesterday.
Its complete and in very good shape, another Swedish car 😃 :wink:
Obvious work, needs that box section under the dash fixing ( its wrong) and looks like its had 1 later heater channel fitted so you will have to graft in some curve where the flat pressings are near the centres. It wants some blasting under/inside and by the looks the roof is going to be a bit warped in the centre ( I'm just guessing here)
But its got crotch coolers ( ventilation flaps in the front quarters '51-october '52 only) which are very desirable to many people.
Yes it looks ugly, but its all surface with no visable major worrying rot at all.
This car would be the buy for me.

Anyway, just took a teabreak to see how this was going. Back to my concreting. My body's so sore this weekend I doubt I could even drive a beetle today! :? But it is for new car storage after all.. 😃 :lol:

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Lee,If you want a long term project and perform all the work yourself this is a good buy.Can't get a good view of the front wings but if they are original Split you could pay a small fortune for those alone, but i suspect they are from a later model,the backs are.
There is a lot of expense in the car judgeing by whats missing but as you are prepared to take your time i don't think there is anything you won't find.
You have to compare it to the car Owen has offered you,If Owens car is complete with all the right parts it would have to be significantly more expensive for you to be worse off.Tell us more about O's car we may be able to help you decide which car would be the better buy.Is it the Brown model he's been waiting to arrive from Sweden.

Its not a 49, but a 50. Looks decent.

https://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4652897483&fromMakeTrack=true 

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The 50 Owen is offering he has had a while i think? Its swedish, small amounts of rust in the usual places, no engine, and it has been in a accident with damage to the offside(english offside!) the window is smashed, with significant damage to the front roof pillar (will need cuting out and replacing) large dent in the inner wing around fillercap area, and the actual wing and bumper are totally ruined!
It has seats but a lot of little bits of trim missing, dash grills etc. £2700, i know this is a reasonable price, but something is telling me to hold back its a lot of money for a car thats been in an accident i feel!?? plus it freacks me out a bit! I would post a picture if i knew how to? :?
Id also prefer to ask his permision first but i think hes away at the mo as i havent heard from him for two weeks?

With the 49 i know its never going to be "original" but it is very solid and of course its a 49 which is what i set out to purchase in the first place, just that little bit more special(well i think anyway) hope this is enough info for you

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oh also the 49 was originally black and the chassis bordeaux red my two favorate split colours!!

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(i should really plan ahead) Hey Anna you could have got me to do your concreting, it could have contributed to my funds to afford Owens 50!

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I am secretly really enjoying the work, I love playing with concrete :lol: Dont worry I will post a pic of the finished carport so you can laugh at it! :lol:
Anyway yesterday I scivved off and went sailing instead :lol:

Out of the 3 cars, I still think the VZI car is by far the best buy.

Its all very well having a '49 body but if you want to show it and return it to shiny stock look, rather than turn it into a cool toy as Mr S was planning to do with it, then it will never have the value or recognition any split on its own correct floorpan will. Thats only my view though.

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Does indeed look nice 😎


No, Thats a crotch cooler and on its way back right now, not a cheap project car though.

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It depends on how much you want a '49 and how much of a rush you are to get a project car. If you really have your heart set on a '49 then wait for the right one to come along, otherwise you can pretty much guarantee that one will pop-up at the right price the day after you buy a '51 or whatever. The longer you wait, the more time you've had to save, the more you can afford, the better the car you'll be able to get.

Sure '49s are rare and don't come along too often, but one's popped up since you started this thread. How long have you had the money in your pocket and been ready to buy? if its been over a year then maybe its time to compromise and get a slightly later car. If its only a few weeks, then hold on and keep looking.

When the right car comes along, you'll know...

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Oh you guys are driving me crazy im sooooooo confused, think ill flip a coin, theres so many things to weigh up.

I think i might go for this 49'. As (ino u all hate the next words) when i sell my Rs turbo, ill have gnough money to restore this and buy another rusty project!! 😃

Anna i think you should post a pic of ur work, thats nothing, saturday my misses came to work with me to finish off a decking job im doing (horrible nasty stuff!!) i had to finish off the balastrades and she was gluing in the biscuit fillets inbetween the spindles wearing a short skirt and her white stilletos (i know yes we do come from essex) weilding a hammer.
should have seen the look on my customers face dont know weather he was in shock or more worried about the pin holes her shoes could have made on £4000 worth of wood. will teach him for only making me one cup of tea for the whole a last week!
Any way people please HELP ME, theres only 14 hours left to decide!?

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If it's any help Lee and it probably isn't.
Wouldn't buy the accident damaged car. Major headaches,especially as you say the pillar is damaged.
Wouldn't buy the '49.If you are planning a stock resto it will only ever be a bitsa.Not long ago i was offered a Heb,Rob knows the car,the fact it wasn't on it'a original pan stopped me straight away.
Robs spot on there are a lot of cars out there you would be suprised,the right car could be for sale tomorrow.
Out of the three,and if i had to buy now, i would take the volkszone car.
But why not sell the RS and just chill on the money for a few weeks.
It took me 20+ years waiting to get my cabrio.

The Brown car on e-bay de looks a bargain at the moment don't think it will stay that low.Lee this is going to wreck your head.

George, just seen the feature on your 50' now i know why you are scared to drive it. my Rs was that clean when i finished it, this is part of the reason im selling it its just to concourse to drive. Well done though i wont ask you how much its all cost, im sure you dont want to remind your self anyway! After seeing your car im even more determind to go stock.
On your advice, Im almost as undecisive as my misses when shes getting ready to go out somewhere. My gut feeling is telling me to buy the 49', like i said it will be a car i'll never ever sell. when ive got this I can then always spend years if i have to tracking down another split with matching #'s and make that my 100% (is that still possible) OE car.
If i do win it ill have to wait a week and a half to pick it up as im doing a job in the middle of Wales from this wednesday onwards. May take my Landrover hi-cap and trailer to Wales and pick the car up on the way home. 😃 Well if i win it!?
Ive got to break the news that im bringing another car home. :shock: theres already an Rs Turbo, Aston Martin DBS, Peugeot 306 turbo(her car) 2 landrovers, 3 motorbikes, 2 microlites and 3 trailers out side. I had to knock down and blockpave over half of the chicken run last month. will have to start parking on the grass if more than two people come to visit!

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Lee, so now you know why I called George's car the best vintage VW in the UK possibly the world...

No disrespect to your RS at all, but a car like a '50 Karmann is a totally different kettle of fish to restore. And you'll find this when you start on your '49. :wink: Sure, a lot of the techniques are the same (welding, painting etc.) - but you have to remember that just about nothing is available as a replacement part. I don't think you can even buy brake pads any more. Look through a catalogue for repair panels, none will be 'correct'. Look at the engine parts, none will fit. Go down your local quick-fit and ask if they do 16" crossplies. :lol: Some people collect parts for years before they even start the resto. This is the challenge you are taking on, I hope you're ready for it. I'm not doubting your ability or trying to put you off, but restoring a '49 is going to make restoring your RS feel like a walk in the park...

Now, bear in mind that I've never restored either an RS or a '49 so what the hell do I know? :lol: :lol:

'50 Karmann at One on One restoration 

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ok the final hour approaches!
I know this is not going to be easy, if i win the 49'. although you will be supprised how difficult it was to find bits for a 22 year old escort. its not a true classic, nor in recent production so OE parts were hard to come buy, well it took three years. only 8500 were made and You have to remember in the mid eighties this was the most stolen car in the world. 1 every few hours i think. hence while there are only about 1000 series 1 Rs turbos left. you have to remenber this is a mark 3, not the mark 4 they made about 18,000 of them! its not the chaved up one that you see down southend sea front. Anyway i know what you guys think of it so i wont go on! if i find out how to post a picture ill show you just how clean it is. hopefully i may be able to get it in shot next the "49" that will wind a few of you up. haha.
Anyway go to go and explain just how much ive bid to my misses, nice knowing you guys. ill let you know if i win, and if :roll: i survive.

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ok the final hour approaches!
I know this is not going to be easy, if i win the 49'. although you will be supprised how difficult it was to find bits for a 22 year old escort. its not a true classic, nor in recent production so OE parts were hard to come buy, well it took three years. only 8500 were made and You have to remember in the mid eighties this was the most stolen car in the world. 1 every few hours i think. hence while there are only about 1000 series 1 Rs turbos left. you have to remenber this is a mark 3, not the mark 4 they made about 18,000 of them! its not the chaved up one that you see down southend sea front. Anyway i know what you guys think of it so i wont go on! if i find out how to post a picture ill show you just how clean it is. hopefully i may be able to get it in shot next the "49" that will wind a few of you up. haha.
Anyway go to go and explain just how much ive bid to my misses, nice knowing you guys. ill let you know if i win, and if :roll: i survive.

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It is a big project i know. i think ud be supprised just how difficult it was finding parts for my Rs, dont forget its 22 years old. so not quite a classic and not in recent production either. And its the mark 3 series 1, only about 1000 left out of 8500. it has metal bumpers and overriders not curved plastic rubbish. Its not the mk4 series 2 that is most commonly associated with boy racers they made over 18,000 of them.
anyway i know you guys hate me going on about it, i'll let you know how i get on with the 49.
just remember it might be an escort but its going to fund one more split from the scrap heap. If i work out how to post pics i'll post one to show u guys, not to annoy u (i know it will) but to show just how clean it is and maby put some faith in you that when this split is done it will be of the same standards. fingers crossed 35 mins left

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Ive got some pictures of a mates car (have erased no plates as its not mine) still working out how to get my own pics on th pc??? :?  5326.jpg You have insufficient rights to see the content.

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Spare me Please :shock: