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View Full Version : RADBAK - A 64 Squareback - Hi-Tech Style



radback
02-24-2009, 06:48 PM
Hi there!

OK it's not an American car, OK it's not a Pro-Touring, but I think it might interest some people here.

So here is the RADBAK (yes, no C):
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527606-1.jpg

I started this project in 1991 and I gave up in 2000 just after coming back from BUG JAM UK (the biggest international VW event in Europe) where it won Best Modified Type 3 and Volksword Magazine Special Award (not bad for an unfinished car).
I left my car untouched between 2000 and 2005, then I started to change the front beam then gave up again.
The car is still not finished today and won't be by me (no more place, tools, money, desire to do it), so if you're interested, it is for sale.

Here some more pics I shot yesterday (you'll find the full specs below):

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527607-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527608-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527609-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527611-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527612-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527613-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527615-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527614-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527610-1.jpg

Before giving you the full specs, here is for those who don't know about this car, a pic of a perfectly stock one, so you can see the work done:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/527742-1.jpg

Specs:
* Make and Model: VW Variant (Squareback)
* Year: 1964
* Color: Audi Europa Blue (pearl)

* Body mods:
Deseamed body, rounded doors and bonnet, sealed fenders.
Door handles, front turn signals (now inside lights), chromed trims, louvres under the windshield, vw emblem on the hood, licence plate place on the bonnet all shaved. New rear valence, new dashboard with Porsche 914 counters.

* Wheels: RS Escort Ford 6.5/15 polished
* Tyres:
-Front: 195/45/15
-Rear: 195/60/15

* Brakes:
-Front: 68 squareback discs redrilled for Ford (powdercoated)
Talbot Calipers (Bigger)
-Rear: 68 Drums redrilled for Ford (powdercoated)
-Dual master cylinder painted.

* FloorPan: Sand blasted and powdercoated.
* Front beam: from a 58 Type 1 with dropped spindles.
* Rear beam: changed for a 69 IRS model (powdercoated)
- axles and spring plates chromed, urethane rubbers.

* Gearbox: stock IRS 8X31 from a 1303ls convertible.
* Engine: Porsche 914 2l stock, except dual 40idf carbs with shortened inlet manifolds(3,5cm less) and short K&N filters
-4/1 stanless steel BAS exaust with Supertrapp muffler,and a 009 with electronic ignition.
Brackets where made to support engine and gearbox, and oil filler has been shortened to fit under the engine door.

* Suspension: hydro-pneumatic suspension kit, custom made by Max's hydrolics UK .

* Accessories: Electric 1 piece windows, Dakota-digital remote control to open both doors, bonnet and raise and lower the car.

* Interior: Honda CRX seats, professionaly trimed with pale blue Alcantara fabric (like Suede), back seat modified and trimed with the same fabric.
Budnik steering wheel on a polished column, plus other billet parts (mirrors etc...).

* Many, many new parts (too much to list! like NOS front fenders, bumpers, many mechanical parts, lights etc...) and I'm sure forgot some mods...

PS: Remember, this project was started in 1991 (actual design date from 93), so no air bag kits at this time, and wheels where usually in 15, but except this, I think it didn't aged too bad...

I hope you enjoyed it https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/icon_smile-1.gif

slowcamaro
02-24-2009, 07:33 PM
dope.

6'9"Witha69
02-24-2009, 07:58 PM
For sale in the Projects section??

radback
02-24-2009, 08:09 PM
For sale in the Projects section??

Well, it's an unfinished project...

and as I'm located in France, I doubt I will sell the car here, so it's not an add, I mentioned it's for sale just in case...

PT_79_TA_461
02-24-2009, 09:24 PM
dude, your in france!!!!!!!!!!! your soooooooo close to the Ring......im so gelous!!!!!!!

Memphis
02-25-2009, 02:00 AM
hmm the pics aren't showing up for me, sounds cool :)

neki67
02-25-2009, 02:26 AM
I would love to see the pics too . . . . .

radback
02-25-2009, 06:37 AM
Thanks Picasa! :machine:

I put pics from another server, I hope they will stay there.

fast Ed
02-25-2009, 07:16 AM
Sweet Type III !! Nicely done, good luck with the sale.


cheers
Ed N.

gearheads78
02-25-2009, 07:19 AM
sweet ...in my VW days I owned several type III's including a couple Notchbacks. One day I would like to do one again.

Paul_J
02-25-2009, 08:30 AM
Nice car! I can appreciate a nicely done VW as I'm building a '54 Beetle using a mid mounted 1.8L Twin Cam and an Audi A4 transaxle. A Euro- Pro Touring Street Rod with lots of American attitude.

Damn True
02-25-2009, 08:43 AM
Cool car. Nice photos too!

brrymnvette
02-25-2009, 09:09 AM
That's pretty cool. I've never seen one before.

Motown 454
02-25-2009, 10:02 AM
Very nice.

icebird84
02-25-2009, 10:12 AM
excellent project and very cool nice photos

radback
02-26-2009, 01:33 PM
Thanks for your comments guys!

WS6
02-26-2009, 01:41 PM
Nice pics and car. Is this is some parking garage you happen to know about or park in? I've noticed the TA was pictured in the same location. It's a great location and sets a nice industrial no fluff only serious business type mood

radback
02-26-2009, 02:30 PM
Nice pics and car. Is this is some parking garage you happen to know about or park in? I've noticed the TA was pictured in the same location. It's a great location and sets a nice industrial no fluff only serious business type mood

This is my parking.
Not very convenient, but very photogenic I think.
I even shot a short movie there.

1971CHEVELLE
02-26-2009, 03:23 PM
Sweet...VW...COOL PHOTOS

jaybee
02-27-2009, 08:27 AM
That's an awesome car, it never occurred to me that a squareback could look that good.

b-man
02-27-2009, 09:59 AM
Your Type III looks great, brings back a flood of memories from when I was hard-core VW guy.

Back in '79 I built up a '69 Squareback.

It started out as a $300 wreck, light blue in color. I was able to drive it home.

At first I replaced the stock fuel-injected 1600 with a 1756cc engine with twin 42DCNF Weber carbs and an Engle 110 cam.

It just never had the get-up-and-go that I wanted, these Type III cars are about 300 to 500 pounds heavier than the Type I bugs depending on what year bug.

I swapped in a bone-stock '64 Buick V6 (225 cubes, 155 HP. 9:1 compression, 1-barrel Rochester carb)using a Kennedy Engineered Products adapter plate, flywheel, pilot bushing and 1700# clutch pressure plate. The trans was geared up as tall as could be done using a 3.875 ring and pinion and a Type II bus .82 overdrive 4th gear (all air-cooled VWs have an overdrive 4th gear) so I ended up with a 3.44:1 final drive.

The radiator sat up front where the spare tire usually lived, the spare found a new home on top of the fuel tank. I cut a license-plate sized hole right where the stock license plate location was and made a cutout under the bumper about the same size to let the radiator get cool air.

The hood was punched full of louvers to let hot air escape, the package shelf inside the trunk also had a hole cut in it to let hot air through to the louvered hood. Aftermarket twin electric fans kept the radiator happy in traffic.

I used 1-1/2" copper tubing that was run undernath the floor pans and a few pieces of rubber hose where flexible connections were needed to run the coolant.

This crazy machine has 30 ft of radiator lines and only 3 ft of exhaust tubing, twin turbo mufflers were hung off of the stock exhaust manifolds. The dual 2" exhausts exited through the one stock pipe notch in the rear apron along with another I cut in the opposite side.

It was finished in buffed-out Ditzler 9000 black enamel and had a set of 14X5-1/2" Porsche alloy wheels with 165 & 185 Michelin XZX radials. Had a set of early european tail lights lenses that flowed nicely with the rear body lines and some euro front fender side markers. All the side trim was shaved, rechomed stock bumpers without bumper guards front and rear. The side windows were all tinted, I used really dark tint for the rear side windows.

When it was finished it looked like a Porsche 911 wagon. I ran it down the 1/4 mile and it ran a 15.18 at 89 MPH, launching easy so I wouldn't tear up the transaxle. Top speed was 115 MPH.

I loved that Squareback, I sold it back in 1984 to gather up the some of the down payment for a house I was buying.

Bart

zman1969
02-27-2009, 04:36 PM
Cool ride! I had a 66 Squareback for a short time with plans 20 something years ago old, it got rear ended and i let it go. VWs are cool :yum:

radback
03-01-2009, 06:53 AM
b-man: a V6 in a square? Interesting!

b-man
03-01-2009, 07:52 AM
b-man: a V6 in a square? Interesting!It was a blast to drive.

Tons of low-end torque. A lot of the time I would just use 2nd and 4th gear to drive it!

A stock 6-volt starter with 12 volts running through it started it up easily, never had any issues with the starter.

I built a box to cover the engine that was just at the height of the lower edge of the rear side window openings to replace the flat factory engine cover. You couldn't really tell there was a V6 in it.

It moved down the road pretty well. It was fun project, I really miss driving it.

It sure got a lot of looks when it was out on the street, the black-painted body on that car was perfect. I block sanded that thing for what seemed like forever before painting it. :smoke:

For those who like VWs, check out this thread to see another interesting one:http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/showthread.php?t=528429&highlight=corvette

Tig
03-03-2009, 07:54 PM
Beautiful car and awesome job on the build. Do you have any pics of the engine and interior?

radback
03-05-2009, 01:17 PM
Beautiful car and awesome job on the build. Do you have any pics of the engine and interior?

Thanks!

here some pics:

Engine needs some cleaning, but the car never saw a drop of water since reconstruction 10 years ago!
So... there is some dust in some places.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/530848-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/530849-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/530850-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/530851-1.jpg