Post your first modified car

[exexpat]

I want to see the cars that got you started. If your parents gave you a crap Volvo 740, Taurus or whatever hand-me-down or something as a first car and you didn't mod it, but instead opted to save for that Civic or 3 series, don't post the Volvo, post the Civic or 3 Series that go you hooked on modding cars.

Here's mine. I finally got a device that scans old photos. Here are some pics circa 1993 of my 1969 Beetle. It was static and had about 1/4" clearance on the front beam and 1/2" to the exhaust flange. Sorry the pics suck, they are about 18 years old







This is what got me hooked and although the car isn't cool by today's standards almost 20 years later, I'm curious to see your first cars and I think others will be as well. Post 'em up.

[andybob]

Not my first car, but putting a fart can on a 99 Escort doesn't really count.

Even though its a Kia, its fun doing something not may other people have tried to do:

[exexpat]

Not my first car, but putting a fart can on a 99 Escort doesn't really count.

Even though its a Kia, its fun doing something not may other people have tried to do:

Nice! That is what it's all about. You got wheels planned?

[Dibaltic]

My bug. first car. bought and built it when i was 15


100_2645 by wolfsburgkid, on Flickr


100_2618 by wolfsburgkid, on Flickr

[exexpat]

My bug. first car. bought and built it when i was 15

Hot! Gonna guess... 1963?

[Dibaltic]

You're right! nice to know there are other aircooled guys on this site How'd you get into them?

[HooWybrow]

91 Honda Accord, spent 4 long years, almost everyday on that car... miss it all the time...

[exexpat]

You're right! nice to know there are other aircooled guys on this site How'd you get into them?

I'm usually accurate within a year. I had a friend who did a pan off on a '60 and was nearly finished. He pushed me over the edge to do full repaint and lowered my car 3 splines in the back and lowered beam, drop spindles and leaf spring pulled in the front. We had to grind about a 1/4" material on the lower front beam flanges to make it drivable. I miss this car, but god was it a PITA to drive without any air ride instant up capabilities.

[Dibaltic]

i did body off restore on the pan but left the body as is because i like the patina the paint had to it, more character in my opinion.

I can guess too usually within a year. I'm a little rusty now tho that i dont spend much time over in the aircooled forums...

My dad's the one who got me into them. actually his bug was the first car i even drove too. Can you guess what year his is?


dsc_0023 by wolfsburgkid, on Flickr


dsc_0033 by wolfsburgkid, on Flickr

[FunfGang]

First and current car, owns about a year now:
from this


to:


And finally, last set of pics before tearing down for the 5.0

[exexpat]

i did body off restore on the pan but left the body as is because i like the patina the paint had to it, more character in my opinion.

I can guess too usually within a year. I'm a little rusty now tho that i dont spend much time over in the aircooled forums...

My dad's the one who got me into them. actually his bug was the first car i even drove too. Can you guess what year his is?


dsc_0023 by wolfsburgkid, on Flickr


dsc_0033 by wolfsburgkid, on Flickr

The '58-61's are tough. I would need to see the steering wheel to keep my "within one year" SLA. I will go for 1960 though, as I don't see a passenger grab handle and sales numbers of the 58 and 59 were still a tad lower than the 60/61.

Edit: Revising guess to 1959 - trigger door handles.

[socalE320]

Heres my first car 1998 E320 still miss her

When I got it or well shortly after with black grill and euro plate


And what I turned it into

[Dibaltic]

The '58-61's are tough. I would need to see the steering wheel to keep my "within one year" SLA. I will go for 1960 though, as I don't see a passenger grab handle and sales numbers of the 58 and 59 were still a tad lower than the 60/61.

here's the steering wheel

dsc_0032 by wolfsburgkid, on Flickr

its a 1959. You can tell from the og 2 pics because of the ice pic door handles. 59' was the last year for those. but other then that 58/59 were pretty much identical.

[mojocoggo]

Not really "built," but I did a crapload of work on it including replacing the engine and re-doing a lot of the interior.

[exexpat]

here's the steering wheel

dsc_0032 by wolfsburgkid, on Flickr

its a 1959. You can tell from the og 2 pics because of the ice pic door handles. 59' was the last year for those. but other then that 58/59 were pretty much identical.

I got my revised guess in before you posted :p