Welcome to the build!
Of course, it's not an original, like I could afford that! It's a "Kit Car" that was originally made in 1977 and sold for $4,779.00 to the gentleman I purchased it from.
He also bought a donor VW Beetle and registered everything.
He even got the tags and it's registered as a California Non-Op
right now.
This is basically a new car. The first owner did a lot of the
work already but never fully assembled it. There's 2 miles on
the odometer and that was probably factory testing.
I've decided to go with a Candy Apple Red body with Midnight
Black fenders and a single thick line of white pin striping. The
seats and top are black and I love the mix of richness and a
Circus/ Steampunk feel with the red.
There's a place a block
away from me called "Victoria Supply" and it's chock
full of brass! I plan on spending a couple hundred there on
bright work and accent pieces.
Gas or Electric?
I haven't decided if I want a 1600 VW crate engine, a Porsche engine, or an electric motor. In order of cost it would be; Crate, Electric, Porsche.
Each has advantages but electric would open a lot of possibilities while also limit usability. Electric cars are for city driving and short runs mostly.
I'm also toying with the idea of a parallel hybrid. Putting a small gas motor in to charge the batteries. It wouldn't be 1 to 1, as in it still wouldn't run forever, but it would extend the range and also allow for desert or camping use. The generator would charge the car and run camping gear.
An XE3 Project
XE3 has been an entertainment industry staple since 1981.
We have built props, sets, infrastructure buildings and venues all over
the world and worked in television, movies and live theatre for over 25
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