International Vintage Volkswagen Forums

Hello im looking for some information on a 1958 lawrence rometsch ive never seen one before until about three years ago.I just want to know what i need to look for and how much it will cost to put it together.Really im just scared to put down the money whithout knowing if the parts are available and i dont know how to tell if the engine is correct.  DSC00258(2).JPG You have insufficient rights to see the content.  DSC00259.JPG You have insufficient rights to see the content.

What information are you looking for? They were hand built from aluminium, on a VW chassis using the running gear and many little items from the VW. They are very specialised cars to restore and restorations can become very expensive depending on the amount of bodywork required. As to final value, they're not the most desirable coachbuilt but they are still a coachbuilt and are pretty rare.

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[quote=pre67vw]What information are you looking for? They were hand built from aluminium, on a VW chassis using the running gear and many little items from the VW. They are very specialised cars to restore and restorations can become very expensive depending on the amount of bodywork required. As to final value, they're not the most desirable coachbuilt but they are still a coachbuilt and are pretty rare.
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First thing to do is to get the chassis number and engine number and check that they are from the same year car, if you want to go further you can supply both of these to VW and get a birth certificate - this will tell you if these two items left the factory together along with some other details of the original Beetle.

Rometsch never received official permission to convert VW's so they had to buy complete cars to convert, VW made it difficult for Rometsch. So there won't be information from VW other that the original car that was made.

Is it on this list?
https://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=8687 

If not, could be a great find!!

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Hello,
Advise:
Be aware that the aluminium body sits on a metal frame. Where the alu touch the metal you can get bad corrosion causing the alu getting thin and brittle. ( read useless) in that spot.
Be aware that all parts are there as you will have difficulty to find replacements.
Bumpers, trim, small parts...etc. And in case they are missing...have to be recreated.
The rear window is sort of plastic. Most of them brake or get yellow due to sunlight. Replacement announced.Finding the window will cause difficulty.
Did you took a look at the registry with picts on the forum here? If the car is there you should as arround what the condition is. Best thing to do, asking someone who knows about Rometsch cars: owners, restorers, and Collectors.

Best regards and succes. And if you buy it...post some picts. Thanks

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Hallo,

I am running the Rometsch Lawrence registry and made the list of known cars. (see the topic about the Rometsch Lawrence regsitry) and also here:
https://www.rometschregistry.org/lawrence/index.htm 

These cars are difficult to restore, but with the correct connections everything is possible. There are windshields and bumpers available together with some other small parts. Also I know prople who can make the Plexiglas rear windows. Currently a couple of Lawrences are in restoration and as owners we work together to get parts for our cars. (I own car nr 561)

Regarding the numbers. Rometsch used a beetle chassis. They didn't get a chassis from VW, so they always bought a car or used a car from the client. So, you can't tell that a certain body belongs to a centain chassis.

Regards
Patrick

thank you very much for your input the car seems to be decent but ill look it over good like you say i dont like to buy usless stuff.I dont see it on the registry but ill try to get a picture.the car is just burried and hard to get to.  DSC00267.JPG You have insufficient rights to see the content.

I wouldn't worry too much about whether the engine is correct or not. Most of the Rometsch cars have different engines. As long as the engine you ultimately get is of the appropriate design and era... nobody really cares. The cars are so rare... nobody is going to pass on a perfectly decent Rometsch because it has the wrong engine... it's not like there are lots of them to choose from!

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this car was parked here in 1969.  DSC00259.JPG You have insufficient rights to see the content.

good score... thumbs up :beer:

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@micronaut

if you like you can send me an email or a message

Im just restoring a rometsch lawrence coupe and can give you some more information.
(the green one on patricks list).

regards
Rene