Just wanted to let your organization know that we at Grassroots Motorsports magazine have started a new project, an Amazon! You can check it out at:

Per Schroeder
GRMPer@aol.com

My 1971 1800E has been in California for almost 30 years. Unfortunately, part of the first year it was in Pennsylvania. It developed some rust on the rocker panels. The rocker panels run the length of the car under the door frame. Anyway, they were getting quite rusty and full of holes.

I sent away back East for a few galvanized ones. Putting them on and painting the car was always on the back burner and an expense that I didn't want to deal with. Also, I've heard that there are few people on the west coast that know how to deal with rust. Anyway, I'm a great do-it-yourselfer.

Putting on heavy rocker panels wasn't one thing I wanted to try myself. So I went down to Orchard Supply Hardware and bought some vinyl bathroom molding. I tried several types of glue trying to get the vinyl to stick on the gold paint of the car. I spent most of the time taking the glue off that didn't work.

With some plaster of Paris as filler (dries hard and fast, and is easy to shape), I covered the sides with the molding using double-sided tape bought at an auto paint shop. It is used especially for mounting molding on cars. It's not cheap, but at $35 a roll it removes a lot of headaches. With a razor blade one cuts off the excess vinyl and it looks great. Black was the color I chose for the job.

David Spieler
DSpielvol@aol.com

Fellow Volvoides,

Hard as it is to believe, I have irrefutable evidence that our esteemed editor has told an untruth in his editorial. The offending text refers to the workload involved in getting the website and magazine together: "My enthusiasm for old Volvos and for publishing stuff about them remains undiminished. I almost have enough time and energy to pull it off, but there's none left over," Singher says.

I'm here to tell you that on every occasion I have e-mailed from the antipodes for vital assistance with some problem or other, Phil has found the time to respond in detail and with good humour. On more than one occasion he has forwarded my messages to several of his Volvo mates, and they, too, have got back to me within a day!

My last appeal for help came back answered within the hour. I figure he must have written it about midnight local time. Guess that's how he finds the time!

G'donyer, mate!

Phillip McNabb
Blue Mountains
Australia
phil_mcnabb@hotmail.com

Thank you, thank you -- we do try to help. My responses are not always quite as prompt as all that, I'm sorry to say.

Phil,

I thought you might like to know that Volvo Cars North America is borrowing our racecar for a special display at the New York International Auto Show. This is a new display consisting of only 24 current and historic race cars provided by the manufacturers. To create a sense of speed, a large (six feet square) blown up photo of the car in action will appear behind each racecar.

I consider it an honor and we are very happy to represent Volvo in such a prestigious show. Show dates are April 14 through 22.

Best to you,

Duane

Duane, my apologies for not getting this published on the Web in time for the show. I musta been busy advising Australians on how to fix their cars. Hope this issue's photo spread helps make up for it.

Hi Phil,

Thanks for listing links to my Volvo sites, also my Amazon restoration is more or less finished (are they ever?). She is a wonderful car to drive with all the improvements to engine, suspension, gearbox, interior and exterior. I'm now using the Amazon as a daily driver to visit my clients (I'm a Web designer) and enjoy the comments I get. I couldn't have done this project without all the input from you and your friends at VClassics.

Jim Hekker
New Zealand