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1985-11-29 withdrawn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1986-11-13 withdrawn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1987-09-10 withdrawn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1988-05-05 withdrawn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1990-02-12 withdrawn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

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

2024 - Fuel System refinished

2024 - Driveshaft refinished

2025 - Rear Electrical refinished

2025 - Front Electrical refinished

2025 - Center Electrical refinished

3. Mechanical

Rear suspension installed (2023-08)

Front suspension installed (2023-09)

Rack and Pinion (R&P)  steering installed (2023-09)

Braking system installed (2023-10)

Front brakes

 Rear brakes

Standard 124 handbrake setup

R&P specific brake pedal (bent around steering shaft)

Brake booster & master cylinder (VX)

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.

Fuel system installed (2024-10)

Left bumper mount has to be installed first since the securing bolt is best accessed when the fuel tank is out

Euro cars have solid tubes but same length as bumper shocks

Tank (VX) installed - VX tank has no venting

Fill & overflow, feed & return lines and fuel level sensor are the same as FI tank

Filler (VX)  - vent is extra spigot along side the fuel return. Both are part of the filler tube

Fuel pump, pre-filter and lines

VX did not use a filter after the pump

Fuel feed and return line inside the car

Fuel pressure regulator commonly added to VX cars to replace the 'Y' return arrangement from factory. Adding a return spigot to the carb and installing a FPR provides a more consistent fuel flow and allows more choice in fuel pumps

Driveshaft installed (2024-10)

Driveshaft rear section is shorter as VX diff is deeper

Rear Electrical installed (2025-01)

Rear view - inside trunk without liner

Rear View - inside trunk with liner

Rear View - Trunk lid closed

Front Electrical installed (2025-02)

Driver Side View

Passenger Side view

Inside Engine bay view

Front view

Front view

Center Electrical installed (2025-02)