Wayne's Trabant.
This is how it looked when Wayne drove it back from Germany, it was his daily driver for work over there.

Wayne has also built a lot of scooters, many of which have been magazine features, but he has never done a car before this. Pretty brave for a first attempt! He made all the chassis & cage himself, on his own chassis jig, and has done nearly everything else himself too.
An early shot of the chassis under construction, a big kick-up at the rear to keep the back nice & low.
The engine is to be a Ford GT40 lump mated to a AOD box going to a narrowed 9" rear. It is to be a high speed cruiser, but certainly wont hang around!
The cage is now being constructed and new metalwork in place on the A posts. Contrary to popular belief, Trabant's are steel bodied, with an odd sort of fibrous bodywork over the frame, similar to fibreglass. All you can see here (except the roof panel) is steel.
Here the suspension is being constructed with strut jigs using Art Morrison front arms and Leda struts with Wilwood brakes. The engine is a temp one for setting up only, a brand new Ford GT40 crate motor will make its way here eventually.
A close up of the Art Morrison arms, all constructed by Wayne, you can see here the tubes (on the end of the chassis rails) that the front clip will slide onto (see lower down page). The transcooler no longer lives in this position.
The cage is now fully built with the tubs in also. Wayne opted for "square" tubs for ease of construction and also as the whole of the rear section will be flat panelled flush with the top of the tubs, from the leather seats to the tailgate.
A side view of how it will look and ride, pretty low!
The rear arches are going to be moved back two inches to be in line with the rear wheels.
As you can see it's a very short wheelbase car, so should make for some interesting handling when it's finished!
This view show it undressed!
You can see the cage and rear suspension in this shot, door bars will be added at a later date.
The heater will live between the rear tubs, with all plumbing and ductwork running in false panels up through the trans tunnel.
The CD player will also live in this area.
The aluminium fuel tank lives between the tubs and the rear panel, as does the fuel delivery system. This will all be panelled over when finished.
Here you can see how Wayne has made
a jig to rotate the body to finish weld the underside of the car, oh to have a big workshop!!
An interior shot showing the completely hand built dashboard (which looks damn good in my opinion) stuffed full of Autometer gauges, and the position of the steering & shifter.
Another interior shot, you can now see the trans tunnel, plus the shifter mount with the cigarette lighter and other electrics fitted (and an ashtray) Wayne is determined that this is to be a "real" car first & foremost, and a "rod" after, so it should have all the modern accoutrements.
All the electrics will mount where the MSD unit is shown, behind a fitted panel.
Front view with the new inner wings, the radiator panel and bodywork fitted. With the removal of 4 bolts the whole front will slide off mounting tubes for easy access to the engine for any servicing or repairs.

During this build Wayne has also found time to build a Mk I Escort with an injected V6 in it, and rebuilt his partners V6 Ford 100e.

He is hoping to have it finished in 2004.
             
Wayne has now got the new front wings,bumpers and modified bonnet fitted with the cutout for the bug catcher.
 
 
A close up of the engine and inner wings.
Steering column and shroud covering the Ford switchgear.
Rear 3/4 view with new rear bumper housing the reversing & fog lights.
Wayne is now waiting for the new rear wings to be made with the openings 60mm further back to suit the rear tyres.
The car is now stripped ready for paint & reassembly, so it may be out this summer.
Its been a while since I have added to Wayne's page, but he has been a busy boy, the car is now stripped here and has been prepped and has the first coat of paint on.
Interior with paint.
Rear view with primer/filler coat still on it.
A few weeks further on, and Wayne is busy doing the final assembly, the wiring is now going in, but he is a bit held up waiting for the new engine to be shipped in from the States.

Rear shot, the tailgate is now fitted and mostly finished, waiting for the glass to be fitted, but otherwise complete.

will it make wheels day next year? probably!!

Well, it did not make wheels day, been a while since I updated this page, but Wayne is nearly there now.
The car is virtually finished, the engine bay is detailed, engine dyno'd and all running.

Just the final jobs left to do now, lamp rings left off for the MOT to easily adjust headlamps, last bits of trim going on.


The interior still has some trimming left to be done, and a bit more wiring still to do as well.
Rear of car is virtually done, pillar vents still to be fitted, but that's about it.
Underneath the car it is just as clean as the top! Fully powder coated underpinnings, and painted everywhere else.
looking mean and low, this is one individual car! Wayne is hoping to debut it at the Watford Rods show in May, he is not planning to enter it for prizes, but I reckon it ought to win best in show, without a doubt.
See it in the flesh next month!!!
The finished interior, in grey leather.
Another view of the finished inside of the car and the dashboard.
That's it!
All done and dusted, sitting on Wayne's driveway and with many miles already on the clock.
 

The view most people will see, lol!

The end.