Gidget 23 rebuild

[Griffin]

okay so I know a few people know the bus... or piece of shit 23 as tony wombwell called it...
I bought in 2015 and have been quietly working away on it for some time now, I cant take the credit for the welding (I do the labour) that's my friend Achim
Dipped in late 2015 at redistrip revealed a lot more and worse rust ...
We have replaced full panels where possible and remade a lot where the classic fab ones were either not available or the quality was crap (lots of crap)
Rust between the roof and sills so the whole roof came off and was redone, ditto front vent.
Doing as original as possible
Plan is to have looking original although I have kept the front beam and original gearbox / reduction hubs and have rebuilt later beam with Sherman discs and IRS rear. Dave Butler has done a gearbox and I will build a 1915 motor in the future. Theory is to look original but be driveable.
A few pics along the way. getting close to thinking about paint, will be original brick red and beige white.

[Griffin]

a few more.... getting there
Roof back on last month, now on getting the trim strip trial fitted, safaris etc.

[Griffin]

this weekends to do list
measure and cut rear tail light holes
floor plates / clip things for middle and rear seats
test drill and fit front safaris
finish off filling mystery dash holes

[steveo69]

That's very nice indeed.
Big job done well. Well done

Where'd you get the deluxe trim? Is it the original polished or new.
Cheers
Steve

[rabidkombi]

Great commitment and fantastic work,really inspirational
Thanks for sharing

[kombibob]

Wow! A lot of good work going on there.

[byronbus]

Great job, lots of work but worth it

[splitthis]

Are they Gerson front door skins? How were they to fit?

[jvm]

Inspirational indeed - more photos please

Great work

[Griffin]

door skins
- yes gerson and yes fitted pretty well and happy with them.
Panels some thoughts that stand out
Good ones
autocraft full left and right sides upto belt line were a good fit (shipped in from the UK by DHL but still cheaper than local)
skylight panels from autocraft, inner, outer and fronts all 99% perfect

Not so good
tubs above front wheels were less than perfect with some bad moldings, lots of work to fit
Gerson panel above engine lid, the outer was good but the inner hopeless and looked nothing like the original and holders for the wires 90 degrees out

need to think about paint, will be on a rotisserie. any recommendations for someone in Sydney ideally near Brookvale but happy to travel

a few more pics of the extent of rust and proof a SC can tow a bus...

[Griffin]

my wife tells me its not really a POS anymore and I should be referring to her as "Gidget" as slowly getting better...

[okrasa power]

Looks like a great challenge but great to see it being saved!!

i remember seeing it in Rods shed when it first came in

Good Luck

Mikki

[Squidy]

Maybe talk to young Matty Chonjacki at Taylor and Botham in Brookie, they may be able to do it or know someone who can

[vanell]

Great job mate well done, you should paint underneath and inside yourself, after all it gets covered all in trim, and only people you run over will see underneath, that way you can fit the running gear and steering coz most panelbeaters hate cars that can't be pushed around, and it will save you money and time, keep going mate stay in control of it, if you can achieve this result so far you can try paint as well, buy a spray gun an go for it. Ian

[Cam Biscuit]

Had a bit of rust then..?! Great project mate