Here's my GL '52 Split (Alex's) story..........

[petevw]

GL'ing a Split has come up in recent conversations around here, sometimes refering to Alex's '52 Split. So, here's my story:

When i finished building my NA 2332 '72 super, i told myself i'd never do it again. It was alot of time and money.

Then a few months later, i got the call from Alex, asking if i was interested in buying it. I wasn't at first and tried talking him out of it. I was successful on two occasions during that year. Well the 3rd time around, i gave him a offer (was low and it was all i could afford), i thought i had talked him out of it again, but we all saw it on the Samba that night. A couple days later he notified me that he had a buyer in France and was going to sell.

Well, then we had a really LONG conversation....... I couldn't see it go overseas, I knew that this car was really special and needed to be finished. So i ignored the little voice inside, and went ALL IN! We then agreed on some sort of payment plan, 'cause it was WAY more than i could afford. Was purely a impulse buy. Needless to say i was broke for a long while.

Originally i was going to take the motor out of the super. But then figured this Split needed to be a monster. So I decided this 2332 needed to be turbo'd! Big horsepower, for a special car.

Here's the plan: I will be taking the Super down to Florida for the VKG Dyno Day & GermanLook.com Meet & Greet. If all goes well, and it doesn't blow up on the Dyno, the super will be parked at a friends house/shop for the winter. With my double garage available, i can FINALLY start putting the Split together. I hope to get it done for next summer.

I always catch myself thinking, is it worth it? :shrug: At the end of the day, they are still VW bugs. I could be pushing a 993 turbo/M5/M3/E55/S4/STI down the road with what i've sunk into these 2 bugs over the years. No problems, daily drivers, always starts, and no headaches. I could always get my wrenching fix, by Karting again. Worth it? I don't know.

What do you guys think?

here's some pics:

[petevw]

[petevw]

[petevw]

[oasis]

Impulse buying is a double-edged sword. It cuts when you do it. It cuts when you don't.

I just deleted a long-winded personal story no one needs to read.

Let's just say (1) you did what you wanted, (2) you didn't reneg on any obligations, and (3) you now have a plan. All three criteria fit into you being you without infringement to others.

That sounds like success to me.

(One thing from the deleted passage -- being practical has its place; but it shouldn't take up space needed for being happy.)

[darren]

Having followed Alex's story with the Split from a long time ago its good to see it wasnt split ( no pun intended ) when it was sold.
I wish you lots of luck with your excellent project. :agree:

[vujade]

Pete, Im sure we all go thru these same thoughts in our heads all the time.
Ive got over $15g's in m current project and will be closer to $18 when its
done. I couldve bought a really nice used 911 for that. Something that Ive
always wanted. Would i really be happy with the 911, I may never know?
Because at this point in my life I am still obsessed with VW's as I have been
for the last 20 years and will probably not be able to afford a 911 for quite
a while...

[tommi_nylund]

I just love your project!! Now THAT IS the way to do it! :agree: Nice paint, big-reds, 951-arms....my heaven!

You got crotch-coolers and grooved bumpers and all split-things.

Do you have any pics of your dashboard? Is it been kept original or made full of holes to mount aftermarket gauges?

Best luck for your project and looking forward to see it finished! :agree:

[Supa Ninja]

I remember when Alex broke the news that he was going to sell his Split and concentrate on his family, very respectable. I also recall the original plan for the split...it's supposed to be the ultimate GL to roam this earth! I'm glad to hear that you have recovered finacially and are back at puttingthe split back together, and doing it right. :agree:

[CLKWRK]

Hey

Actually hteres a pre story to alex's split.
When i first saw it, the body shell was stashed above a spray booth at a local racers shop in Oakville, Ontario. His name was Edgar Schumer (spelling?) he has since retired and sold the shop along with most of his vw relics including his perfect split body shell. Not sure how it got into Alex's hands, but im sure its the same body shell.

weird huh?

P.S. Im buying a Pcar, anyone wanna buy a really nice turbo ghia? It will be for sale very soon

bry

[Rob]

Hey Pete,

Justifying sinking a lot of $$ in a car is a conversation you will never win.

I've sunk soo much money into cars when I lived in Holland (driving a '79 El Camino SS or a Dodge W200 Army pickup in Europe is borderline insanity).

When I moved to Canada, I was into 4x4's and sunk a wadload of cash into a basketcase Jeep YJ. (My wife still loves to point out how much $$$ I spent).

Bottomline is: it's your money, it's your life. I don't know anything about your personal life (e.g. married / kids etc), but trust me, once that starts priorities change.

I'm in a position where I drive a very nice daily driver, and have the bug to tinker with. The main thing I want to achieve is to get the bug driveable, no matter what the condition is. A car parked in a garage will loose interest fairly quick...

So, unless it is affecting your life in an unacceptable way, I'd say go for it. Get it on the road. I've seen the car before paint, and I've seen the car in Alex's garage when the build up started and it's going to be one of the nicest bugs around.

Is it worth it ? In a sense of $$$$ ? No way. In a sense of pride and enjoyment ? HELL YEAH !

Rob.

[Axl]

Rob hit the nail right on the head . With no bug of my own at the moment , I am eagerly awaiting the day that I move to the U.S. in a year and nine months , so I can officially start looking for a cabrio bug . I miss not having a bug . The last one I owned , I sold , because I was unemployed and had no money . I truely regret that decision . I just know my day will come . Axl .

[Lazarus]

Hey Pete,

My turn to weigh in on this. I just met you at the dyno day you seem to me like a guy , not unlike most on this forum, who is very passionate about vws.I see no problem in this. I can speak from experience. I go all out in every hobby ive ever had. This has caused lots of problems with my family. That being my wife as well as others in the famlies( both sides). I say that to say this, Stay true to your own convictions. You only get once around on this ride called life. You have to live them (days) all at your best. you cant get them back. and you cant pass up cars like that . you dont those(cars) back either. so if its not adversly affecting your life (ie taking food out of someones mouth you love) do it,and fight the fights over it later. you wont get a chance like that again. thats a sweet ride ive had my eye on it since the first time i saw it. i have commented to some of the VKG guys that i wanted to see it and boy genius' cars finished . so im glad it went to someone with passion for the hobby. so i hope to be riding in it when next we meet. :agree: