.......when you did see it and exclaimed how great it was. I have the letter you sent to that effect the following week at home somewhere to.

There is another human being, the one that showed me the way. He's a well-respected long-time veteran of the vintage VW scene, and knows more than you'll ever do. Please, don't use personal insults, its not fair on anyone. Please remember last summer when Rob had to a shut-down. At least think of his efforts.[-x


I'm appalled. You cannot expect to post such a slur on someone and threats too, delete it all and think its all okay then still make a further 'covert' threat later. This type of thing brought the site down and I came off it also.

You've branded me a liar, some weird sort of crank and a Nazi lover, (Ovaltine in four posts). 'Some weird sort of crank' is how many people outside the hobby consider us anyway, we don't want that sort of attitude within it too. As for working on cars I've had countless Beetles over the years (and I mean a damn lot, probably more than anyone here, and more you've sat in). I've revived many dead Beetles with hard graft and sweat to see them back up on the road with an MOT. I even restored a Routemaster bus wreck I hauled from a field and it is back in central London tourist service - and I'm proud of such an achievement.

You don't strike me as someone that would work hard to save a rusty breaker's car.

Now that letter and CDs. Yes I tipped my house upside down and have them. 'Never trust a man that lives on a mountain' mused my old gran. As well as thanking me for letting you come to my home and view my collection, (what a blunder I made), your letter goes on to say; 'Your '49 is the finest most original split I have seen, even on two visits to Camberg.' You then go on to enquire the chance on buying it. I'll post the whole letter as a scan if that's what you'd like. The letter is dated July 1998, so how has my undercover Waxoyled, stored '49 changed so much since then?:?

Since I became the owner one of the most famous Beetles in the world you have been at my throat on these forums. I think I've had enough now.

---

Driving a vintage car around London is not my idea of a relaxing time. In a rural area such as where you live it would be nice to do.

Get a grip, George. You live an awful long way away from London. How the hell do you know what I do at home year-in year-out. I can't believe your neck. Why you but no-one else keeps on with this personal stuff. This is only a forum, we collect old cars in our own way. I've a different angle, but so what my cars will live on for years to come and have new owners.:sleep:

My views are different to many here, that's what a forum's for debating, not lies and insults, calm down, its a hobby.:wink:

More to the point, get your own vintage VW before telling me how to keep mine.:thumbdn:

---

OK lads...been out all day...now...what's going on!:d

---

:idea:

Someone who follows me around everywhere John, and knows all I do it seems, now on here criticising the way I do it.

And George, I've just checked that touch-up paint, its called Garnet Red. Oh dear, you're wrong again.:p

---

:idea:

Well all's good in the world...I was afraid you'd be at each others throats again.:lol:

---

Ahem, SOMEBODY (Rob?):roll: altered my post it was 1950!



No, its just that they are a very rare experimental packet.:d

---

I have deleted all of my posts for the last two days from this thread.
It is a decision i have made alone.
I will bide my time and tackle the problem on a future date.
While it's sometimes funny to see a bit of alternative entertainment in the long run it doesn't do this place any favours.

Whilst I can see your point George a thread like this is just...a place to vent general frustrations in the hobby.

Maybe we should be talking in more general terms rather than specifics but with the best will in the world someone is going to cite a particular example and someone takes offence.

I thought the Top Gear topic was well, topical and pertinent to the site but sadly a particularly nasty, (malted milk drink) individual made sure it took a bizarre turn at the off.

The Volksworld mention seemed to upset Jules but for my part it wasn't having a go at the magazine itself but the way of the hobby has changed...they just report the change and reflect the hobby as it is...heavily dominated by modified VWs.

If we keep on that way there's no reason why we can't voice our opinions without setting a sour tone. It will get heated at times but that's because people care about their hobby.

I say carry on until one of the regulars says...ENOUGH and we change the subject.8)

---

.......when you did see it and exclaimed how great it was. I have the letter you sent to that effect the following week at home somewhere to.

There is another human being, the one that showed me the way. He's a well-respected long-time veteran of the vintage VW scene, and knows more than you'll ever do. Please, don't use personal insults, its not fair on anyone. Please remember last summer when Rob had to a shut-down. At least think of his efforts.[-x


I'm appalled. You cannot expect to post such a slur on someone and threats too, delete it all and think its all okay then still make a further 'covert' threat later. This type of thing brought the site down and I came off it also.

You've branded me a liar, some weird sort of crank and a Nazi lover, (Ovaltine in four posts). 'Some weird sort of crank' is how many people outside the hobby consider us anyway, we don't want that sort of attitude within it too. As for working on cars I've had countless Beetles over the years (and I mean a damn lot, probably more than anyone here, and more you've sat in). I've revived many dead Beetles with hard graft and sweat to see them back up on the road with an MOT. I even restored a Routemaster bus wreck I hauled from a field and it is back in central London tourist service - and I'm proud of such an achievement.

You don't strike me as someone that would work hard to save a rusty breaker's car.

Now that letter and CDs. Yes I tipped my house upside down and have them. 'Never trust a man that lives on a mountain' mused my old gran. As well as thanking me for letting you come to my home and view my collection, (what a blunder I made), your letter goes on to say; 'Your '49 is the finest most original split I have seen, even on two visits to Camberg.' You then go on to enquire the chance on buying it. I'll post the whole letter as a scan if that's what you'd like. The letter is dated July 1998, so how has my undercover Waxoyled, stored '49 changed so much since then?:?

Since I became the owner one of the most famous Beetles in the world you have been at my throat on these forums. I think I've had enough now.

---

ENOUGH...change subject.:roll:

---

I think there is a time and a place for opinions and when threads go off track it's usually because someone has voiced their opinion at an inappropriate time or can not back it up with any kind of evidence.

Take the VW38 thread for example, I was posting photos up of this important car because Christian no longer posts here (although he still visits regularly). Why doesn't he post any more? Well, I would think he's fed up with people telling him he's got something wrong. To be fair this happens on theSamba as well, but he's been accused of everything from not putting the split in the centre to the front wings (fenders) being the wrong shape, to it being too shiny etc. etc. And now his door panels are supposed to be wrong as well! This is all despite the work being done by some of the most talented people in the world, but only after a lot of meticulous research in the Porsche archives, the prototype museum in Germany and the VW archives/museum looking at reference cars and talking to experts and uncovering previously unpublished photos and plans. The people who tend to spout these accusations have seen a VW38 once in a book... 😳

For example, RT posted about the door panel in his '47 and how similar it is - which in itself is interesting, but how do you therefore draw the conclusion that the VW38 panel is wrong? The answer is of course that you can't and so a little argument starts because it's not based on any kind of fact.

I posted up about the 4 page feature of the VW38 wedding in Volksworld - because it was relevant to the topic, but RT then started ranting that Volksworld is doesn't cover enough stock cars and has no place on a vintage enthusiasts shelf. Of course, RT is entitled to his opinion but is it appropriate to start slating the magazine in a thread titled 'VW38 progress'? answer: no its not. Someone interested in the VW38 story, either now or some time in the future should be able to find the thread and read it with interest without having to wade through tons of off-topic rants. If RT feels its a topic worthy of discussion then he should start a new thread about it.

Then theres the age old discussion about what year Rattletrap is and whether its a special experimental version or not. The only evidence given is the old chassis number that states its a '52 - so the topic is now locked until someone can provide any evidence of anything else (evidence is not the same as an opinion). And one of the most famous Beetles in the world? I have to admit that I'd never heard of it since it popped up on this forum - vaguely remember seeing it in the Classic Volkswagens books, but it certainly didn't stand out as anything special (and my opinion hasn't changed since then).

The 'Real Beetle prototype' thread is another ambling example of the type of thread I dislike. The basis of the thread is interesting and clearly VW paid Tatra a huge amount of money for something - but thats about the only 'fact' that we know, the rest is just 7 pages of guesswork and supposition.

Generally, my advice for anything controversial is - Back it up with facts or let it lie.

---

OK 1998,13 years ago.
If you say you have the letter there John,i will conceed on that one,like i say 13 years ago a lot happens, and i had forgotten about that.My apologies to all here(except yourself)i'm sure after 13 years i may be forgiven.
Right,i will be the first to admit at one point i was interested in purchasing the '49.If you remember you had me drive all the way to London on a Sunday morning with a view to buying the car.Only to be told when i got there,you didn't want to sell it.I remember the conversation,i offered you £12K cash.
You had a Standard '52 there at the same time,a blue one,You told me that if i had offered you that kind of money the year before,i could have taken the both cars at the same time for the £12K.You put it down to you having bouts of depression when you felt like selling the lot and moving on.You also said that if i found you a London routemaster,you may possibly part with the car.Thanks for wasting my and a friends time dragging us on a 500 mile round trip for nothing.Oh!BTW he posts here and we are still in contact so i'm sure this can be confirmed.Can you see where some of the anamosity is coming from now.
Do us a favour and post two pictures,one the day you took delivery and one from today,that way we can all see the neglect you have given to the car.Don't forget when i viewed it the whole car was covered in Waxoil and looked like a big furry ball,hard really to see what exactly was what,you said a couple of years ago,you had cleaned it up so a photo shouldn't be too hard.
Next,the subject of me calling you a Liar.Said because of the way you overhype the qualities of your cars.......
"My all original paint '49".........You've admitted to painting arrears with Ford rattle can Garnett Red.........So that statement was untrue.
"My original Unrestored '47".........But i know the car was restored to put into the museum from which it was taken to go to auction.It's been repainted,if you find a good solid car that needs no welding and you repaint it, re-chrome the bumpers etc.You have restored it.......So that statement is untrue.
And of course R*tt**t**p........We all know the stories you insist on maintaining about the car are incorrect......So those statements are untrue.
Next subject,me threatening you,you have used two quotes from me earlier today.The fact that i didn't want to go any futher into this matter and was expressing i would talk to you at a later date in person,hence saving all the good people on here the aggro,cannot be seen as threats of violence.You are being far too sensitive and obviously playing for the sympathy vote.
I went back and deleted the posts as i felt i had been unfair to the forum.It did not mean i had changed my opinion of you.
And finally,you state all this is because you own the most famous beetle in the world,you know, the one that is going to be star of the show at the next Lavenham:rofl: Sorry that honour goes to the crew at H.O.A car that you have done nothing but slag down on here.Sorry dude,i wouldn't have R**tt**t**p if you gave me it,it's your boring manner of posting that makes me have a go,not your car.

Actually, according to Volkswagen, the original chassis number indicates that Rattletrap "left the factory" on january 15th 1953. The record makes no reference to it being a Prototype or even having any unusual "M" numbers...

Mike

---

Apologies, I thought it was December 52, so I was a month out...:oops:

---

No worries, it's good to get these things straight! :wink: :d :d

Mike

---

Edited cos I was in a bad mood when I wrote the original posting!

In the world of Fender guitars, an original, unmolested Stratocaster is rarer and worth a lot more than one of a similar vintage but cobbled together from bits. They have a name for these - a 'Partscaster'.

R********p is no more than that. In Beetle terms it's a 'Splitcaster'. Something made up of bits. Very nice and all that but not 'an original and unmolested' car like the supposed '47.

A simple way to sort all this out would be to post a pic of the '47. For some reason I seem to have seen loads of pics of the Splitcaster but not one of what would be a far more interesting car - an original and unmolested 1947 Beetle.

It was me – I got it locked.:oops:

I gave the Mini a damn good panning. Its creator, Issigonis was another designer that 'borrowed' ideas. Worse, some keep on harping on about it being the 'car of the century' with its revolutionary space-saving transverse mounted engine – an idea 'borrowed' from German makers DKW who'd done that back in the 30's.:x

I guess Rob thought I'd gone too far, or maybe he has an old Mini with his New Beetle.:lol:

---

Picasso once said "Bad artists copy. Good artists steal"

No designer comes up with a completely new idea, each is an extension of what came before it. All cars can trace their roots back to the horse and cart, probably even before that. The mini is a great car compared to some and lousy compared with others, just the same a the Beetle.

---