Project Spidervx
This is the story of Spider Europa VOLUMEX #172 (of 500)
(click here to view all Spidervx project photos as a gallery)
1. History
According to the Fahrzeugbrief (German registration document) the date of initial licensing for the car was May 10, 1985
Two owners are recorded - 1st owner License Plate WN-YT 1
The operating service history:
1985-05-10 in-service
1985-11-29 withdrawn
1986-03-13 return to service
1986-11-13 withdrawn
1987-03-24 return to service
1987-09-10 withdrawn
1988-03-30 return to service
1988-05-05 withdrawn
Magazine article license plate WN-YT 1
Collector cards license plate WN-YT 1
WN-YT 1 now painted without stripes, VOLUMEX decals or wheel arch extensions. Now with black wheel centers, black top and red interior
2nd owner License Plate B-VX251
The operating service history:
1989-05-03 return to service
1990-02-12 withdrawn
Apparently the motor was damaged and the car became inoperable and was parked having covered only 38,000km
Photos of car after sitting for 26 years unused
A restoration was started sometime around 2016
Many parts were beautifully restored (cleaned, painted or electroplated and chromated)
Several new parts were acquired (including a new old stock VOLUMEX supercharger)
The car was purchased by me and brought to Canada in February 2019 (the car body and 14 boxes of parts)
Car delivered to shipping terminal in Germany
Car picked-up from shipping terminal in Canada
2. Restoration
2021 - car body painted
2022 - rear suspension refinished
2023 - front suspension refinished
2023 - Rack & Pinion Steering refinished
2023 - Braking System refinished
3. Mechanical
Rear suspension installed (2023-08)
Bilstein shocks (VX)
Progressive rate lowering springs
Plated short lateral rod (VX)
Wheel studs (VX)
124 spider volumex rear diff (VX)
Open diff & 11/41 ring & pinion (VX)
Front suspension installed (2023-09)
Bilstein shocks (VX)
Progressive rate lowering springs
24mm anti-roll bar (VX)
Wheel studs (VX)
Larger hubs (VX)
Taller spindles (VX)
Shorter bumpstop (VX)
Same this side
Rack and Pinion (R&P) Â steering installed (2023-09)
Same as late model spiders (85.5 year cars)
R&P crossmember with rack mounts (R&P) & longer A-arm mounting bolts (VX)
Manual rack & R&P specific steering arms
Relocated steering shaft hole (R&P)
R&P specific upper & lower steering shafts
R&P specific steering shaft firewall gasket
R&P specific pedal box/steering shaft support
R&P specific brake pedal (bent around shaft)
Braking system installed (2023-10)
Front brakes
274mm ventilated front disc (VX)
Caliper mounting bracket (VX)
Brembo caliper (fixed mounting with single 48mm piston each side) (VX)
Rear brakes
Standard 124 rear brake compensator, discs and pads
Rear calipers with larger 38mm piston (VX) vs 36mm (STD)
Standard 124 handbrake setup
R&P specific brake pedal (bent around steering shaft)
Brake booster & master cylinder (VX)
Booster 8" (VX) vs 7" (STD)
Master cylinder len. 167mm (VX) vs 190mm (STD)
Master cylinder bore 22mm (VX) vs 19mm (STD)
This change, together with the caliper & disc changes, provides improved braking (and allows space for the supercharger to be mounted).
Note: The master cylinder brake line outlets are in a different orientation and have a different thread. The brake fluid reservoir is mounted further to the side otherwise it fouls with the booster.