Fleetline Widebed Single Cab - Introducing "Farouk"

[jolas]

Watching Sean's progress with his Fleetline pick-up put the notion into my head that it was high time I made some progress with "Farouk"
This pick-up has been patiently waiting for me for the last 9 or 10 year to get my ass into gear. I bought it in 2003 or 2004 in Khayalitsha, Western Cape. This was around the time I met Fig on the "dropgates.com" forum after I posted a pic there ....
I thought I would buy it for spares/scrap, but it was too good for that. The cab area was really badly rusted, the rear surprisingly straight and rustfree. The chassis is also good.
Anyway, 3 kids later, moving house, more projects completed, all the other stuff that life throws at you, etc, etc, it is time for Meneer Farouk to live again.

We pushed it out of its hiding place about 3 weeks ago (most of the pics will be poor quality, sorry !)

[vw59beetle]

Good luck with the restoration Paul. Have you thought of a colour yet?

[splitfan]

Interesting engine conversion there

[sarel.wagner]

Good luck with that and some inspiration for ya....

Rgrds

[retrovan]

Watching Sean's progress with his Fleetline pick-up

Now Paul , thats what I call AIR (Ingasoil Rand ) Cooled... ..


Herman

[jolas]

LOL at the "aircooled" comments - you guys are nuts man ! Wernher, keeping it "stock" all the way including the colour which is off-white. Sarel, you rock man, cool pic, thanks. Sean and I were talking about Fleetline bus colours, I remember the pale blue, the sickly green, orange, white, red, that creamy/yellow colour - any more ?
Were the widebed pick-ups ever painted red, I've seen all the other colours, but not red ?

[splitbusahollic]

still stuck on the IR aircooled motor !!
nice touch ! love it !

[retrovan]

You must understand, it has a touch of Mercedes-Benz in it,

And it will "Blow" away any competition,

Because its a ........ "Kompressor" model.



Herman

But excellent work anyway, Paul.

[jolas]

After it was pushed out, I transported it to Brackenfell on a hired trailer. The roof on the back was cut off a donor bus a long time ago (another adventurous roadtrip with Pieter the blacksmith!). I had marked out where I wanted to make the cuts, and a friend had tack-welded a simple cradle inside the cab on which the donor roof could sit. That was about 4 years ago, I guess I was a bit nervous of cutting off the roof and stuffing it all up, so I lost "plak" and pushed it back into it's hidey-hole
The kids and Wendy went to Durbs for a week, and Sean and I pulled some nightshifts working on our pickups. On the first night, Sean asked me "what the hell are you waiting for, just cut the damned thing off!" So I measured a few more times and cut the damned thing off

(last pic is the replacement roof sitting in position) (and the jolas with a dirty face)

[hitlers revenge]

We heard you making a noise at Tuffex on Tuesday. Was gonna pop in but it was already 18h30.

[jolas]

Yesterday Dave ? Just popped in to get rims ready for sandblasting and powder coating

And family back from Durban, school routine, etc back, time is going to be a "challenge" again !

[Tony Z]

you are braver than I am.... maybe it comes with age?

[hitlers revenge]

Sorry Paul, Tuesday the holiday.

Those busses are looking good. Popped in today without telling anybody, to grab a sneak peek and photo, but the staff soon had Sean come running to see who was eyeing the busses.

Where are picture updates Paul???????

[jolas]

eish patience man ! Takes time to upload these pics !

[jolas]

On the second night we did some trimming and final tweeks before Sean brought out the welder and put his skills to use. I had the big job of holding a wet rag and "cooling" the metal as he welded in random areas - to avoid warping.