The CAMROSE BOOSTER, February 28, 2017 – Page 18
The automotive section of
Breitkreitz built his own classic car By Murray Green
W hen Wilf red Breitkreitz saw an advertisement to build your own classic sports car with a kit, he jumped at the opportunity to assemble a 1952 MG TD Roadster. “I purchased a 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle chassis to build the car onto. That is what fit this particular kit,” said Wilf. “It came from Classic Roadsters in Fargo, North Dakota. Along with the kit came instructions on how to build it step for step.” The vehicle is a standard transmission, 1,600 CC engine, rearwheel-drive roadster. The rest of the vehicle arrived at his door step in nine huge boxes. “I had an appointment in Minnesota to go to and, at the airport, they had a model of this car sitting in it. That’s where I got the idea to build one,” he recalled. It represents the state-of-the-art in engine design, transmission and suspension for 1971, with the classic feel of 1952.
“I was still working at the time, so I could only work on it in my spare time,” he said on the project. “I moved to Camrose 10 years ago and I was determined to have it finished before we moved.” It took Wilf several years to build but, in the end, he had a brand new car that represented his urge to own a classic. He avoided the time consuming task of autobody work. “I assembled it and everything fit perfectly. Going step by step, I slowly built it. I was looking for something to do and I was interested in cars, so that is how it started. It appealed to me, so why not make one.” He built the car in Wainwright, but moved to Camrose after his retirement. “I have driven the vehicle very little. I’ve just gone around town. I have been thinking of taking it to the Camrose Cruise, but so far I haven’t,” said Wilf. “Once I get more time, I would like to share it more at car shows.” His new car has no
Wilf Breitkreitz created a classic car from nine boxes of parts.
airbags, no safety belts, no roll bars, no glass side windows and no real roof. The driving experience is about as 1952 as you can get. “I had a lot of fun building this car. I spent many hours on it. I hate to think of how many,” he joked. “The kit at that time to purchase was about $7,000.” After the assemble was completed, Wilf had the car appraised at
more than double of what it cost him. “Today, I estimate it would be worth around $20,000.” Visibility is excellent. There are no blind spots because there’s nothing like a window or a roof to obstruct the view. Air conditioning is natural. Storage is almost nonexistent. There’s no trunk because that is where the motor is. “I filled the front where normal cars have
an engine with sand, to weigh down the front to keep it level,” said Wilf. “I put carpeting in the interior, which was supplied in the kit.” The MG TD has truly classic looks, not unlike early Jaguars and Triumphs. The design is magic. It’s elegant and absolutely stylish, with a disproportionately long hood.
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