Examples of our work @ Bughaus - Aircooled VW Restoration & Repair est.1988, Nottingham (0115) 958 9265

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Examples of our work

Back in the early 90s this '64 1500S Notchback was Andy's main car but it wasn't the shining example seen here.

Sold in 1995 to long time friend Mike Dempster who decided to do a ground up restoration.

All of the bodywork and floorpan restoration was carried out at Bughaus leaving Mike to source and refit all trim and overhaul mechanically.

Now owned (and obviously very well cared for) by Wayne Cooley and Caroline Boorman.

On the show circuit since 1998 it has won a prize or two.

Featured in Volksworld in 2010 some 12 years after being restored.

Thanks to Mike, Wayne and Caroline for the photos.

These photographs show progess to date on a 1967 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet. As you can see this is an "every last nut and bolt" job and will include some serious modifications.

Awaiting final parts to finish the body restoration.

Back to the beginning, after paint stripping previous bad repairs come to light.

Starting on the structural body repairs (not sure what's upset Rob).

Sill inner strengthener repaired and painted.

...before outer sill along with front and rear wing sections are added.

Once structurally sound the body is removed.

Largely rebuilt running gear, rear discs fitted but waiting for fronts.

Outside of the shell after etch priming and priming.

Everything underneath gets the same treatment.

All of the trim needs to be trial fitted at this stage.

...before the very long job of preparing the primed bodywork for paint can begin.

After being imported from India, where it had a really hard life, this 1966 Split Screen Van was treated to a complete body and mechanical restoration at Bughaus. Fitting IRS and moderate lowering at the front have updated the ride making it a perfect daily driver.

Creative Engineering IRS kit rear forks welded in place.

Some of the VW's being worked on during March / April 2004. All three have had extensive restoration work carried out along with general maintenance over the last five to ten years.

Another project from 2004. The owner of this Beetle had Bughaus attend to the bodywork before he took it away on a trailer so he could do all the mechanical work and fitting up himself.

Back in 2000 we carried out body restoration on this '68 Type 3 Squareback for Thor Anson. He later sold it on to his brother, Bede, who drives it when on leave from the R.A.F.

This is Rob's '72 camper, bought as a £600.00 "basket case" it needed all the usual panels. Now spends most of it's time on the M5 and A30 en route from the Midlands to Cornwall.

Not many people have owned and run the same Type 2 for the past 19 years but then not many would use a "bar code" as the starting point for a paint job. Martin's van is a real workhorse and has been around Nottingham almost as long as Bughaus. We have only fairly recently done work on the van but during Summer 2007 carried out the structural job as seen in these photos.

With new inner sill in place, some floor supports repaired.

Large repair section made up ready to be fitted.

After many more repairs the floors go in last.

This '67 Beetle owned by Lee Norton had extensive restoration work including replacement of the whole roof section. It is seen here in the very last stages of painting then on collection day ready for Lee to refit at home.

Owned by Lisa Grzeskowiak this '73 Westfalia had a particularly bad area of rot at the O/S rear roof. As five panels come together at this point repair work is rather involved. The photo sequence shows how this type of work is carried out.

Outer roof cut away to reveal inner frame

First section to be repaired is the top of the window supports...

Rob's '51 split window, deluxe, sunroof Beetle during the early stages of restoration.

Andy bought this '72 panel van from the original owner around 1995, ran it for a couple of years then sold it on, last seen (Still with original signwriting) at Stamford Hall '02.

The photographs seen on this web site are intended to show a little of the sort of restoration work carried out at Bughaus. It is not all "shiny paint jobs", although there are some of those, we feel it is more useful for customers to see exactly what goes into their project before the paint is applied.