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GKL 7
11 years ago
Without you accusing me of being anti-Swedish,what's that got to do with Volkswagens?
I'm sure there are countless cars that have higher milages than Rattletrap.But they are all a little irrelevant here.
Old Blue
11 years ago

Without you accusing me of being anti-Swedish,what's that got to do with Volkswagens?
I'm sure there are countless cars that have higher milages than Rattletrap.But they are all a little irrelevant here.

GKL 7 wrote:


Firstly I've not accused you of being anti-anything.

The salient feature of Rattletrap, and therefore this thread, is the claimed mileage of the vehicle, which is generally thought of by many reading this thread, in terms of a record for a motor car, rather than merely for a Volkswagen Beetle. I myself do not doubt Tony Levy's claims of mileage, or even the year of manufacturer for the car, which I and many others here it would appear reading through, have known of going back many, many years before VW shows.

Tony's acclaimation is well deserved, whereas the present owner, who has even adopted the car's name, (Facebook and so on), enjoys glorifying in Tony Levy's achievement, while not actually doing anything to further the vehicle's status. Has anyone seen this car out and about in the last 18 or so years?

I think that to put things into perspective as 10 BXK being an 'incredibly high mileage car', it is in order to draw attention to other marques that have achieved amazing mileages, and the Volvo in question has set a bench mark, with a 3 million total mileage, so it is relevant.
1956 VW Beetle, 1962 Morris Minor, 1968 VW Beetle (Old Blue), 1972 Morris Mini, 2005 MGTF

Blue, blue, Electric Blue, that's the colour of Old Blue!
GKL 7
11 years ago

Tony's acclaimation is well deserved, whereas the present owner, who has even adopted the car's name, (Facebook and so on), enjoys glorifying in Tony Levy's achievement, while not actually doing anything to further the vehicle's status. Has anyone seen this car out and about in the last 18 or so years?

Old Blue wrote:



As Rattletrap probably won't get driven again, it has no relevance.


The post about the Vovlo was made in order for you to have a stir.Because it failed to work, you put the boot into the owner.
You could say i am not without sin but at least i've met the guy and he is totally aware of who i am.

So you hide behind the mask of your user name making insults.Oh yes you really are a tough guy.
Rattletrap
11 years ago

Petrol is a lighter fraction of a barrel of oil typicaly hydrocarbon chains of between 4 and 12 carbon atoms long.
Diesel is a 'heavyer fraction or 'cut' consisting of hydrocarbon chains from around 9 upto around 21 long.
this range can be further split 9-16 (Kerosene) and 12-21 (diesel), type you put in your tank. There are tolerances on product specification and refinerys will exploit this to produce as much of the most valuable product at the time so some of the Kero may end up in the diesel or vice versa depending on demand. Kero overlaps with gasoline (petrol) so the same applies here.
Like I said before it gets complicated, product spec is not only density related but products may need to meet flash, freeze, vapour pressure to name but a few. There are not only 'isomer variations in hydrocarbon formation but varring levels of Hydrogen saturation all having different influence on finished product and blended acordingly.

Petrol engines mix fuel and air, compress the mixture to relitively low pressure and then control the ignition time with a timed spark.
Diesels first compress air to relitively higher pressure (about twice that found in petrol engines) generating high temp, fuel is then injected at the appropriate time and auto ignites.
I guess diesel just does not lend its self to spark ignition as its a lot less 'gassy' fuel, you'd just end up with an oily spark plug.

harveypj wrote:


Thanks for such a good reply harveypj.:beer:
Just one small question, like most diesels, my diesel Golf had glow plugs, but my Routemaster bus does not have them but fires up brilliantly from cold. Why do some diesels not require the plugs?
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rattletrap
11 years ago

As Rattletrap probably won't get driven again, it has no relevance.

GKL 7 wrote:


Rattletrap's time on the road will come again.:smile:
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rattletrap
11 years ago

Firstly I've not accused you of being anti-anything.

The salient feature of Rattletrap, and therefore this thread, is the claimed mileage of the vehicle, which is generally thought of by many reading this thread, in terms of a record for a motor car, rather than merely for a Volkswagen Beetle. I myself do not doubt Tony Levy's claims of mileage, or even the year of manufacturer for the car, which I and many others here it would appear reading through, have known of going back many, many years before VW shows.

Tony's acclaimation is well deserved, whereas the present owner, who has even adopted the car's name, (Facebook and so on), enjoys glorifying in Tony Levy's achievement, while not actually doing anything to further the vehicle's status. Has anyone seen this car out and about in the last 18 or so years?

I think that to put things into perspective as 10 BXK being an 'incredibly high mileage car', it is in order to draw attention to other marques that have achieved amazing mileages, and the Volvo in question has set a bench mark, with a 3 million total mileage, so it is relevant.

Old Blue wrote:


Not sure about the thinking behind this post, (Morris Minors come to mind?) but then I'm not sure about the Volvo's mileage either.:thumbdn:

Rattletrap spent much of the last 18 years in a private museum, where it was a little neglected.

As Rattletrap probably won't get driven again, it has no relevance.

The post about the Vovlo was made in order for you to have a stir.Because it failed to work, you put the boot into the owner.
You could say i am not without sin but at least i've met the guy and he is totally aware of who i am.

So you hide behind the mask of your user name making insults.Oh yes you really are a tough guy.

GKL 7 wrote:


Yes, if we are just going to get down to high mileages of just any vehicle, then there's no end. My Routemaster will have covered more miles than Rattletrap, as most Routemasters have done. But then some Routemasters have covered more than that of the the Volvo in question, which itself is questionable - as some have indicated on that car's page - the numbers just don't add up.
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rattletrap
11 years ago
Back to the Rattletrap topic proper!:smile:

I disconnected all electrical connections from the starter motor, and cleaned all the contacts until nice and shiny including washers (this time using rough glass paper to file out all corrossion). A light coating of grease was applied and all reconnected good and tight, (replacing a tired 'female' connector). The same for the battery connections and battery posts.

I trickle charged the same old 'useless' battery for 24 hours, and refitted under the rear seat, connections done good and tight, again with a little grease. Turned the key, and the starter spins a treat, and old Rattletrap fired up with relative ease compared to how he was.:beer:

Schoolboy stuff and just basic care of a vintage car I hear many of you mutter.:mellow:
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
GKL 7
11 years ago

Back to the Rattletrap topic proper!:smile:

I disconnected all electrical connections from the starter motor, and cleaned all the contacts until nice and shiny including washers (this time using rough glass paper to file out all corrossion). A light coating of grease was applied and all reconnected good and tight, (replacing a tired 'female' connector). The same for the battery connections and battery posts.

I trickle charged the same old 'useless' battery for 24 hours, and refitted under the rear seat, connections done good and tight, again with a little grease. Turned the key, and the starter spins a treat, and old Rattletrap fired up with relative ease compared to how he was.:beer:

Schoolboy stuff and just basic care of a vintage car I hear many of you mutter.:mellow:

Rattletrap wrote:




So get out there and put some miles on the old girl. :thumbup:

Any other info back from the museum,surely they've been back in touch.Us old doubters are waiting to be proved wrong.
Rattletrap
11 years ago

So get out there and put some miles on the old girl. :thumbup:

GKL 7 wrote:


Rattletrap's a boy, he wears a bow tie as in my avator:oops:
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rattletrap
11 years ago

Any other info back from the museum,surely they've been back in touch.Us old doubters are waiting to be proved wrong.

GKL 7 wrote:


Yes George, and you old doubters may yet have your way.:shock:

The Museum have given as much information as they have purely on the body number. They say that they cannot add any more specific information without the original chassis number.

To date the only thing that has been suggested is that Rattletrap may have begun life as a Standard model but with factory added Deluxe body trim for serving officers in the American forces as indeed the special order cars were so supplied. As discussed here pages back, Rattletrap has no Deluxe headliner grippers or door pillar cloth grippers, the same as a Standard model.

Maybe this could be the reason (or part of) why the chassis was dumped for the 1953 one - driving on cable brakes with a crash gearbox being hard work.:?
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
AW
  • AW
  • pre67vw Junkie
11 years ago
Ok then let the lad stretch his legs :wink:







Andy W
Rattletrap
11 years ago

Ok then let the lad stretch his legs :win
Andy W

Originally Posted by: AW 



:rofl:
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rattletrap
11 years ago
Nice but subtle changes with graphics here Rob:beer:

I thought Rattletrap's folder had gone to blazes:omg:

Just a thought, but it might be good to have the user's real first name in the avator area now:?:

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rattletrap
11 years ago
It appears that Rattletrap (that's the car, me or both?) were noticed by our absence from the Lavenham vintage meet this year:

https://forums.pre67vw.com/yaf_postst19404_Humble-Pie.aspx 

Well, I do have the intention of getting Rattletrap back on the road to drive next year, especially as I do not have to MOT him anymore being so old.

Is another Lavenham meet planned though. I know its early days to be asking...:?
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
AW
  • AW
  • pre67vw Junkie
11 years ago
It would be nice to see him again. The last time was at VW Action many years ago.






Andy W
Rattletrap
11 years ago

It would be nice to see him again. The last time was at VW Action many years ago.

Andy W

Originally Posted by: AW 



Was that after the car's resurrection, or when he was smashed-up:?:

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rattletrap
11 years ago

John,

Did you ever get the choke cable out for Rt ? I was perhaps reading into things that you were getting it ready to drive .No mot worries as I believe it's exempt.


Mike.

Originally Posted by: Sunroof53 


I'm trying to keep Rattletrap items together to avoid forum mixing, I know Rob prefers that, so I've moved your question here.

Choke cable well stuck, Mike. Will be fitting an auto choke carb as suggested by Mike Peckham, easy way out I know:oops:

Where an old car is MOT exempt, as is Rattletrap, and it has no washers fitted, is it now the owner's decision to allow the car on the road without them?

In the MOT days, one garage would let it go, but another would say to fit them:?
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
AW
  • AW
  • pre67vw Junkie
11 years ago
I saw him before and after the smash. One of the Mags did an article about him after the smash with photos. If I remember correctly the front end was cut off. But I guess its already been said or you have the articels







Andy W
ianmac
11 years ago
42 pages dedicated to a car that no one has ever seen in years or even know if it still exists. In fact i don't believe any vehicle restored by House of Haselock is still around, we need current pictures as evidence to its existence or I think we should claim Rattletrap is dead and lock this thread forever :wink:
GKL 7
11 years ago
Pics are here somewhere Ian,both where it was stored for years and on the new owners drive.
Suggestion to John,why don't you drive it to where you first saw it,jubilee celebrations if i'm correct,London city centre,no problem.Take youself a new picture.
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