a softer ride...

Yesterday I replaced my (too) stiff red Koni front shocks with some Boge units, originally for BLMC Mini Coopers rear end. Now the ride is much softer - good for my neck, which was often hurting after a ride over Germany's bad quality (and still decreasing) roads...

 minumum length nearly the same

the dampers are shorter in overall height, but as the Volksback is lowered, nothing to worry about...

As VW was using for the Type 3 front beam the exact same dampers as for the Swing axle VW Beetle rear axle units, I believe all of the sporty versions are way too stiff for the lighter Type 3 front end...

While I was at it, I removed the slight surface rust from the front rotors and gave them a light coat of heat resistant black paint - not fully dried in the pic...

my star...

... today at the star station...

I enjoy every minute in the Volksback!

Oldtimertreffen "alte Dreherei", Mülheim

 Today we visited an old industrial estate in my hometown Mülheim, the "alte Dreherei", est. 1874 for their annual historic car meeting, here are some of the countless entries, from BIG to little:

 a future classic:

a crazy mix of several model years...:

familiar faces...

here a cool shot of the location:

 read more about the "alte Dreherei" project:http://www.alte-dreherei.de/

Later we took a trip in a historic street car:

 wooden slate flooring, wooden seats, wooden everything...

heater system:

 light bulbs 1949:

this 1 1/2 deck bus was there, too - chassis buildt in 1972, in duty from 1974 to 1984. The Coach body was buildt by company Ludewig in Essen - look here for more information: http://www.anderthalbdecker.com/chronik.html

both vehicles were displayed from the VHAG, you can have your birtday party in a streetcar as well, look: http://www.vhag-evag.de/

Overall it was a real nice meeting, free entrance with a historic car, coffee and cake prices were o.k. - even though the coffee price doubled from Saturday: 50 cent to Sunday : 1€ - other than that something to mark for next years calendar!

Oldtimertreffen Burscheid Hilgen

Yesterday we visited the weekly classic car meeting in Burscheid Hilgen - here are some pics:

 I remeber a school mates father did slalom racing with one of those in the 70ies...

 familiar pair:

I like the mix of cars and bikes from all decades!

Here is a nice bargain I found: A "Victor 360 Spezial" steering wheel with VW horn button and crash pad as well as the matching "T251" boss for the old Volkswagen style steering column!

even the ABE was attached !

Käfertreffen TÜV Solingen 11 Juni 2012

Today I visited the TÜV in Solingen for their 4th annual Käfertreffen. The tight space was already more or less packed of old VW's when I arrived at about 10:45, here are a few snap shots...

still a cool set of wheels:

Jubi- Beetle with 16" front and 17" rear AZEV wheels:

These 2  bay windows were in immaculate condition: