Aircooled VW South Africa

I thought its about time I share this....

As some of you know, I live near Cape Town, out in the sticks. I have a nice big property in farming country where land is nearly free and dirt roads are plentyful. Luckily for me though, the tar road leading into our town ends outside my gate, so I dont have to deal with the bumpy roads...

In anticipation of "Mini Z" (our baby girl), I had to add onto the house - the one bedroom house just isnt big enough for a baby. So, with the permission of the missus I also built a man cave for me. I went through plenty ideas of how to lay it out and where to put it, but everything I came up with was shot down because I wasnt allowed to cut down any trees (my missus likes trees). So.... I thought fk this and I suggested something much larger than I ever intended, down where there arent any trees - this was allowed.
Plans drawn up, plans approved... 1 year passed and I could finally begin building.
Dec 2014, the building started
Dec 2014, my missus became pregnant
no rush....
Since I work out of the country, the building could only happen while I was home. So all in all, the building was finished about 1 week before the baby arrived in Aug 2015. (OK, there is still some things to do, but this can wait until March 2016).

As and when time allowed, I began outfitting my new workshop with a few new toys and also moved my things from the old double garage into the workshop. It really is amazing how much you can accumulate and where you can store it if you really need to.
Even though I tried to keep things neat as I moved them in, it really is a total shambles due to the lack of time and a few other ongoing projects which needed attention (the baby being one of them).

Now that I have much more space than before (I dont want to say its enough, because I fear I might prove myself wrong in the future), I can actually tackle my hobbies and projects in the hope of making some decent progress. I can hopefully also start on projects that I have been wanting to tackle for ages.
I'll also be able to start taking on some more work in the VW community as I have been planning on for a while now, but never had the space to work in.

Anyway, enough about my ideas... time for pictures.

Well done! The workshop came out very nice. Looking very neat.

SOMETHING THAT MOST OF US WILL ONLY EVER BE ABLE TO DREAM ABOUT.
WHY JUST THE ONE GARAGE DOOR THOUGH ? (OR SHOULDN'T I ASK?)
LOOKS FANTASTIC ANYWAY AND WELL DONE!

MARK

Mega awesome buddy.. thumbs up x plenty..

More like a man building! Very nice

Very nice, it is lovely when everything is open and new and fresh, especially the floor, until the VW's piss oil everywhere.

I've tried it so many times, but I just keep filling up with cars that I cant even walk through them anymore. In the last 4 years, I expanded the garages at home for 12 cars and workshop, which then filled up, then another 13 car storage at work, which filled up that I have no space to work, now I even got cars in a mezzanine for work space. Don't collect, its ruins your work space..... Everytime, you think you have enough space, but it never is.

Fortunately, I had my floor painted. So that should help in keeping oil stains away. I need to touch up a few spots.... moving a 600kg lathe tends to make a few marks.
Mark, the reason for having 1 door is simple, its to keep my privacy. I dont want people to see what I have in there and what is going on. Also, you have to drive past the building and make a full u-turn to get into it.

One thing I forgot to add... When planning this, I also took into account the reality that anything can happen, you never know if you will get sick or be in an accident. So I spent a bit extra and built it completely solid so that should the worst happen, my missus can sell what is in the workshop and use that money to convert it into a nice large house which can then generate a rental income for her.

Tony that would make any petrol head green with envy. Just love it. Keep up the good work

Keeping up with the joneses, is hard and expensive enough.........

Now we expected to keep up with the Zzzzzz's as well.!!!!!

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Love the new workshop, Tony, may you have lots of joy in it, and best of all,

it will become your and your Mini Zz's bonding shop, making a lifetime of memory's.

Great work.

Herman

Looking good Tony.not sure on your plans but good lighting is important as are wall plugs you never seem to have enough of them.
On the if something happens to you subject, I would seriousy take out a income protection plan.
If you enjoy what you are doing it makes life so much better.
Good luck and remember health is better than wealth but if you have both you will be a very happy man.

Thanks guys.
Terry, you cant see it properly, but every 3rd roof sheet is white translucent. There is no reason to turn on the lights when the sun is up.
I have 11 double plug points and four 3ph plugs.
I'll be adding plug points to the workbench soon too.

Nice one Tony, TOTAL ENVY!

Like the toys, especially the two-post lift! Makes life so much easier having the right tool for the job.

Enjoy

O yes it does... I took the exhaust off the 1302 in about 10min without having to jack up, get on floor and curse and swear. The engine came out a few min later. It really makes life easier

I zoomed in and now can see there is no shortage of plugs and light,well thought out there.
May I suggest you put white kitcken tiles on the walls there by your machine as they do get messy and spray kak all over the place and so easy to clean..
Very nice.
Dont forget all the safty signs and lines.
After working in there for a while things do seem to sort them selfs out.
Enjoy.

Well done Tony , looks awsome !