i own a classic mini at the moment and i have come to the conclusion i don't like rust (surprise surprise)

i will be at uni for the next 3 years come September and want something low maintenance but still have that classic/iconic look.

i have found: http://www.absmotorsport.net/index.php/mini/body-shells/fra-mini-body-shell-delux-kit.html

which is the monocoque part of the mini entirely out of fiberglass, so i was wondering if there was anything similar for the beetle?

i know a lot of you will now say that the chassis will rust, but i have found a solution to that already

reason for the bug? plenty of spares, easy, simple and everything i like about the mini, except the mini is impractical, not rear wheel drive and hates those stupid trapezium speed bumps that normal cars can straddle and i have to slow right down for...

i thought its worth a shot asking on here before joining a vw forum just in case someone on here knows...

thank you
chris

Hi,

You can get GRP wings, bonnets, engine lids, doors etc, but as far as I know, no one makes a complete GRP shell for road use. (Obviously a lot of the drag beetles have plastic bodies.)

quote:

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Originally posted by Kwik
i own a classic mini at the moment and i have come to the conclusion i don't like rust (surprise surprise)

i will be at uni for the next 3 years come September and want something low maintenance but still have that classic/iconic look.

i have found: http://www.absmotorsport.net/index.php/mini/body-shells/fra-mini-body-shell-delux-kit.html

which is the monocoque part of the mini entirely out of fiberglass, so i was wondering if there was anything similar for the beetle?

i know a lot of you will now say that the chassis will rust, but i have found a solution to that already

reason for the bug? plenty of spares, easy, simple and everything i like about the mini, except the mini is impractical, not rear wheel drive and hates those stupid trapezium speed bumps that normal cars can straddle and i have to slow right down for...

i thought its worth a shot asking on here before joining a vw forum just in case someone on here knows...

thank you
chris

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The beetle cup had plastic body's and space frames

not really looking for a space frame bug, as i do want to use it daily, just low maintenance..

i might get in contact with a few custom fibreglass manufacturers... surely it wont be much more than those minis?

Lot of work to create the moulds if going to a full monocoque tub, I know as I'm working on my own daft composite monocoque..plenty bit head scratching and thinking inside out back to front..

not only a lot of work , but wont be a decent monocoque if you follow the steel chassis exactly , you could of course re engineer dr ferdinands work , it would be much easier to spaceframe it .

but my point was that its been done with the mini, so why not the bug?

i know it wont be very strong and the absmotorsport site do recommend roll cages with the mini kits, but i think a spaceframe would just lose the simplicity of the beetle.

bassically i just want a rust proof beetle. if i cant find a fibreglass one i guess changine the bonnet, doors, boot etc will be a start...

the Mick Hill V8 beetle moulds still exist