The engine is "newly" rebuilt by Verne Millar. The work was done eight or nine years ago but only was on the road for about 18 months, Pigeon Point to Plymouth, before Licensing Authority took it off the road for irregular registration, the chassis and number plate are not of the same car.

It needs some restoration to be roadworthy, and of course if it is intended to be used on the road it has to be inspected then re-registered. Licensing Authority told me at that time the registration was free as the engine is under 1600 CC. It is in fact 1584 CC.

A couple weeks ago I cleaned it and tried to start it but it would not fire up. I changed the condenser and points and boom, as you can see in the images. It is running on 3 cylinders, and very noisy with no muffler, and an open No 1 spark plug port. The No 1 spark plug port is stripped and has to be rethreaded to install an insert to be able to fit the spark plug. After Verne rebuilt the engine I also replaced the starter and carburettor pushing the rebuild cost to $13000. Can't get that stuff in the Bamboo. I also have $2000 in new axle bearings and boots.

The rebuild involved a reconditioned block, or really two half blocks, bored to take larger pistons, the heads were also modified for the same reason, the crankshaft was machined and fitted with new bearings C-rods, pistons, etc.. It has an electric fuel pump direct to the standard Solex carburettor.

The body is fibreglass so there is no rot, but a little bit of damage to the front when I rammed a large stone hidden in some grass. The mechanical pop up lights assembly is seized now, and they never worked when I had the car, missing a motor. I used to prop them up with a stick. Standard VW headlights under the lids.

It needs to be completely rewired as I damaged the Bosh voltage regulator and could not get a replacement. I was advised to install a Lucas unit and reverse the polarity. This effort was done in Tobago and suffice it to say it never worked and nearly burnt the car. The harness is a cut and join with no colour coding. 

The brakes need to be overhauled, sitting for six years. I had replaced the entire system after buying the car from the previous owner.

I used to make my own "plexi-glass" windshields as I could not get a 1967 Corvette Sting Ray windshield that supposedly fits. They work for a few months then fog up. So no windshield and no wiper arms but the VW wiper motor is there and worked. The sponge padded upholstery is perished, and not suitable for an open car. The sponge becomes wet and unpleasant.