Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
I have been holding off on posting a project thread, but as it is finally coming together I thought it is time to post the thread.
I had a bargain A2 that I spotted. It had been laid up for two years, had front end damage and a suspect coolant issue (later confirmed as a head / head gasket problem).
So definitely a “lost cause) as many of you know I have “rescued” lots of A2s up to now, but this was not a feasible rescue.
It did not have a great spec (apart from a red leather interior, sold to Sarge at a nice low price which made both of us happy).
I was then left with a few usable parts but nothing of any value so I was going to take off what I could (I am not in any state to strip cars any more due to age!)
So while looking at the shell I thought “I know what I could do, the front end was of no use but the back end was ok”.
So I decided to cut the car in half and make a trailer out of the rear half and throw the front half away.
Nice and light and with the roof, doors and tailgate left in place (and operational) it would be a very useful and practical trailer. Ok so being honest here, I have no use whatsoever for a trailer, it was just that it would be a crazy idea and should turn a few heads.
I contacted Kaz at Surrey Auto Works (SAW !)
I knew of his business and I bought some wheels from him (he also refurbs alloys and often has sets for sale) and when I visited him I saw the A2 pickup that he was building. So I decided to ask him to do the main construction.
I suggested the best place to cut it was just in front of the B pillar (to retain the strength) I figured out that I could cut the rear section of the front doors and use that to cosmetically “tidy up the shape”.
Kaz did a brilliant job and grafter on a steel A Frame (which I will be electrically insulating to prevent any reaction with the aluminium.)
I bought a new braked tow hitch and so the trailer soon became mobile.
During this time I managed to hear of a “Mega Spec” A2 TDI SE that had almost every possible extra including a TOW BAR!!!!!!
Better still the car was exactly the same paint code as the trailer!!! Sometimes things just slit into place.
I managed to temporarily wire in the A2 rear lights to the tow bar electrics and so it really does look and act like a normal A2 from behind.
I have taken it to my “paint and body guy” who is currently filling in the large hole caused by the cut.
So it will come back sealed and painted.
Timmus will then be working his “Electrickery” to ensure that the central locking and tailgate opening works on the trailer. He will also be installing a wireless rear view camera that I will have on when the ignition is on so that I can see what is behind me when driving (sincevthe rear view mirror in the car is of no use when the trailer is hitched on.
I have a pair of 17” sport alloys to go on the trailer to match the 18” ones on the car.
The interior will be sorted so that it has plenty of compartments under the flat floor.
The windows in the trailer will have the darkest tint possible (to hide the contents) and I am sure that I will be doing some other things to it too.
I must admit that when it is hitched up to the car it does look weirdly amazing.
Some pictures so far. (By the way, the wood panneling over the hole is being covered by Aluminium)
Steve B
I had a bargain A2 that I spotted. It had been laid up for two years, had front end damage and a suspect coolant issue (later confirmed as a head / head gasket problem).
So definitely a “lost cause) as many of you know I have “rescued” lots of A2s up to now, but this was not a feasible rescue.
It did not have a great spec (apart from a red leather interior, sold to Sarge at a nice low price which made both of us happy).
I was then left with a few usable parts but nothing of any value so I was going to take off what I could (I am not in any state to strip cars any more due to age!)
So while looking at the shell I thought “I know what I could do, the front end was of no use but the back end was ok”.
So I decided to cut the car in half and make a trailer out of the rear half and throw the front half away.
Nice and light and with the roof, doors and tailgate left in place (and operational) it would be a very useful and practical trailer. Ok so being honest here, I have no use whatsoever for a trailer, it was just that it would be a crazy idea and should turn a few heads.
I contacted Kaz at Surrey Auto Works (SAW !)
I knew of his business and I bought some wheels from him (he also refurbs alloys and often has sets for sale) and when I visited him I saw the A2 pickup that he was building. So I decided to ask him to do the main construction.
I suggested the best place to cut it was just in front of the B pillar (to retain the strength) I figured out that I could cut the rear section of the front doors and use that to cosmetically “tidy up the shape”.
Kaz did a brilliant job and grafter on a steel A Frame (which I will be electrically insulating to prevent any reaction with the aluminium.)
I bought a new braked tow hitch and so the trailer soon became mobile.
During this time I managed to hear of a “Mega Spec” A2 TDI SE that had almost every possible extra including a TOW BAR!!!!!!
Better still the car was exactly the same paint code as the trailer!!! Sometimes things just slit into place.
I managed to temporarily wire in the A2 rear lights to the tow bar electrics and so it really does look and act like a normal A2 from behind.
I have taken it to my “paint and body guy” who is currently filling in the large hole caused by the cut.
So it will come back sealed and painted.
Timmus will then be working his “Electrickery” to ensure that the central locking and tailgate opening works on the trailer. He will also be installing a wireless rear view camera that I will have on when the ignition is on so that I can see what is behind me when driving (sincevthe rear view mirror in the car is of no use when the trailer is hitched on.
I have a pair of 17” sport alloys to go on the trailer to match the 18” ones on the car.
The interior will be sorted so that it has plenty of compartments under the flat floor.
The windows in the trailer will have the darkest tint possible (to hide the contents) and I am sure that I will be doing some other things to it too.
I must admit that when it is hitched up to the car it does look weirdly amazing.
Some pictures so far. (By the way, the wood panneling over the hole is being covered by Aluminium)
Steve B
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