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Have you ever seen this rollcage?
Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 8:44 am
by timgud
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_ ... c_id=18032
Here's what I know about the Thing. I have a teletype sent to the previous owner from Johnnies Speed and Chrome discribing the Thing in the picture from around 1982.
The cage fits under the soft top, is gusseted in the corners, has clean bends throughout, has a cross bar that keeps side impacts from coming into the drivers and passenger sides. Has a bar that runs from one side to the other in the rear right above the firewall with a long travel shock mount on each side and the trailing arms have been beefed up and have an extra shock mount added as well. There is also a matching brush guard with alluminum skid plate up front as well.
Any ideas where this roll cage was built? Do you think it was produced as a Thing accesory or a one off cage built for offroad use?
Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 9:20 am
by MNAirHead
It looks 1/2 after market and 1/2 custom fabbed.
I'm not aware of anyone professionally creating a top that would make it tough to use an OEM top setup.
Maybe this one belongs to Ralph Nader (181 humor)
The car looks very straight....
T.
Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 3:58 pm
by Bob Ingman
Tim I can tell you 100% that it is not a factory roll bar. The front was not addressed w/factory accessory bar. As yours is it would have hurt sales by restricting access to the interior.
I like it though. Looks serious. Good luck. Bob Ingman
Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 8:22 pm
by timgud
MNAirHead wrote:It looks 1/2 after market and 1/2 custom fabbed.
I'm not aware of anyone professionally creating a top that would make it tough to use an OEM top setup.
Maybe this one belongs to Ralph Nader (181 humor)
The car looks very straight....
T.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_ ... c_id=63092
I should have posted the picture I took later that shows it fits under a factory top. It wouldn't work with a hardtop though as it is too high in one spot. Unsafe at any speed huh! LOL. Thanks for the compliment it is actually pretty straight and a luckily has a perfect floorpan so in a few years if I decide to tear it down and restore it I have a good solid thing to start with.
Hello Bob:
The bar that is on the sides is right at the height of the bottom of the doors so it actually is quite easy to get in and out of. While those VWOA five point cages are nice I kinda like this set-up better.
I was hoping to find someone who knew the kind of work Johnnies speed and chrome did in the shop to see if it may have been put together there. It's the only thing that makes any sense to me.
Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 10:10 pm
by Bob Ingman
Tim I like it too. It looks off road. I`d trade my factory show bar for it in a minute. Best of luck. Bob Ingman
Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 6:00 pm
by ericj8
I have a 6 point roll cage in my Thing that would clear a top. It also has coilovers tied into it in the rear and a bar that runs along the back of the seats so you can add 5 point safety belts. It was built by Neils Fabrications but he is no longer in the business.
I am willing to sell it if you are interested. I am going to be getting a tube chassis from bumper to bumper. I do not have a clear picture of it but I can take one. This is the best one I have now
http://img15.photobucket.com/albums/v45 ... thing1.jpg
Eric
Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 9:14 pm
by MNAirHead
Howdy.
Would be tought to determine if it ws a Johnny's Custom Job.... bending tube is more of an artform.... would probably be easier to guess it close to a specific fabricating pro...
Not sure if anyone else has the same opinion... looks like a 4 point cage with some added pieces....
You do have an excellent set of sides etc to mount 3 point seatbelts to.
T.
