OT: new project: 964->VW Bus, somebody please talk me out of this Options

[siverson]

This is way off-topic, but this seems to be the right group of guys to bounce a crazy idea off of. I've thought about doing this for quite a while now, and I've pretty much wrapped up my 914 project, think I've sold my Audi, and nothing out there is exactly what I want.

Basically I'm thinking about "re-bodying" a 964 as a Type 2 VW Bus. Whew, there, I said it. Now, let me explain some of the details...

Project goals:

- Be totally done in less than a year (914 3.6 took me about 5 years, and I'll never do anything like that again.).

- Instead of modifying a Bus to try and get it to be reliable/perform well (-really- well), start with a whole (possibly salvaged but running) 1993-1994 964, and basically build a tube frame, cut things away, and stretch/distort a VW Bus body around it.

- when done, it would look 99% like a VW Bus. Minor dimension changes, wider wheels, but all bus.

- seat 6 nicely (3 bus bench seats)

- Tiptronic transmission, stock 3.6

- all 964 running gear and suspension. Like I said, basically build a tube frame 964 that will accommodate a Type 2 body.

- manual windows (from bus)

- PS, PB, air conditioning, heater (all from 964)

- as quiet as a bus+964 can be. Add sound deadening, but stock bus wind noise is acceptable

- end up around 3,000 lbs total

- <$50k total cost

- great (classic) styling (to me), great performance

Without even looking, this is $18k:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...&category=10156

A rusty bus 23-window shell will be $7k.

So $25k left to put it all together (maybe less?).

Steering linkage I imagine would be tricky... Mount a fuel cell somewhere, keep all 964 critical suspension geometry intact (and possibly even strengthen via the cage).

What are other good options for a $50k "biggish" fun car these days?

- Audi S4 avant - really nice, this is what I leaning towards right now, but it's $54k new (ouch), and will depreciate like crazy (yes, I know that a $50k VW Bus monster project won't hold its value either, but if it turns out nicely, I can't really imagine ever selling it (like I'll never sell my 914)).

- VW Toureg, Cayenne, any full size SUV - too big for me

- Subaru WRX Wagon, Subaru Forester XT

Boring...

But, my 964 Bus would look like this:
(IMG:http://www.streamload.com/steve/964_Bus/316800.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.streamload.com/steve/964_Bus/316817.jpg)

Info:
(IMG:http://www.streamload.com/steve/964_Bus/964_dimensions.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.streamload.com/steve/964_Bus/kombi_1961_data2.jpg)

Basic dimensions comparison:

Type 2 VW Bus (1949-1967) Type 964 Porsche 911 (1989-1994) Difference

Overall length 168.9 167.3 1.6
Overall width 68.9 65.0 3.9
Overall height 76.4 52.0 24.4

Front track 53.9 54.3 -0.4
Rear track 53.5 54.1 -0.6
Wheelbase 94.5 89.4 5.1

Ground clearance 9.4 4.7 4.7

Weight 2,326.0 3,200.0 -874.0

Possible? Impossible? A huge waste of money? The dumbest idea you've heard in a long time? Vrooom?

-Steve