Retro Racer Beetle.
Discussion
Evening all!
This is my first and only car... a 1972 1300 VW Beetle.
As you can see I've taken a bit of a different route with it compared with most beetle owners.
Old wheels in these photos...
And some history...
2006
Got it through its first MOT under my ownership in September 2007:
Painted it on a Sunday afternoon in October '07 with yacht enamel:
Changed the seats and door cards too. Note the rare US Spec drivers seat and harness.
Early 2008, time for clear lenses, flared exhaust, spot lamps, bumper over riders and a subtle suspension drop.
Summer 2008, added decals and home made roof stripes:
Tinkered with it a fair bit more and now I have this:
So basic specification is as follows...
Bodywork = utterly crap but my view is that if it doesn't make the car drive better, its not worth spending money on ATM.
Suspension = Full overhaul with all new adjustable front beam and all rear rubbers replaced. Lowered approximately 2" all round running 1.5 degrees of negative camber on the rear - the best set up for handling on a beetle.
Shock absorbers have all been replaced with uprated gas charged items and the rear 'Z' bar has been shimmed right up to tame the swing axle.
Steering = all worn components replaced including rod ends and steering damper to tighten things up. Urethane bushes used where sensible.
Interior = US Spec high back drivers seat, Securon harness, Porsche 912 tachometer, all sound proofing and carpet stripped out and extensive lightening, quick shift, fire extinguisher, sports steering wheel, stainless switch panel, period Kumficar accessory passenger headrest.
Brakes = Full overhaul of rear brakes to stock specification and front disc brake conversion including uprated front pads. Hydraulic hand brake on its way...
Exterior = Kamei rear spoiler / rain guard, Raydyot spot and fog lamps, bumper over riders, clear indicator lenses, lots of stickers and a Desmo roof rack for when I need to carry stuff. No roof tat here thanks!
Wheels = 5.5j Wide stock style steel wheels fully chromed with some nice retro Goodyear 185/70 rubber.
Engine = Stock 1300TP with home tuned (de-baffled) stock exhaust:
Period Reece Fish carburettor:
I will be building something a bit more special in the near future with some luck. A 'hot'1300 / 1600 sounds like a good challenge to me.
So anyway the car is a hoot to drive and really handles well for a Beetle, now I just need a little more power.
Long term plans are for a full bodywork restoration and to return the exterior to a fairly stockish appearance to make a bit of a sleeper!
Hope you like it.
This is my first and only car... a 1972 1300 VW Beetle.
As you can see I've taken a bit of a different route with it compared with most beetle owners.
Old wheels in these photos...
And some history...
2006
Got it through its first MOT under my ownership in September 2007:
Painted it on a Sunday afternoon in October '07 with yacht enamel:
Changed the seats and door cards too. Note the rare US Spec drivers seat and harness.
Early 2008, time for clear lenses, flared exhaust, spot lamps, bumper over riders and a subtle suspension drop.
Summer 2008, added decals and home made roof stripes:
Tinkered with it a fair bit more and now I have this:
So basic specification is as follows...
Bodywork = utterly crap but my view is that if it doesn't make the car drive better, its not worth spending money on ATM.
Suspension = Full overhaul with all new adjustable front beam and all rear rubbers replaced. Lowered approximately 2" all round running 1.5 degrees of negative camber on the rear - the best set up for handling on a beetle.
Shock absorbers have all been replaced with uprated gas charged items and the rear 'Z' bar has been shimmed right up to tame the swing axle.
Steering = all worn components replaced including rod ends and steering damper to tighten things up. Urethane bushes used where sensible.
Interior = US Spec high back drivers seat, Securon harness, Porsche 912 tachometer, all sound proofing and carpet stripped out and extensive lightening, quick shift, fire extinguisher, sports steering wheel, stainless switch panel, period Kumficar accessory passenger headrest.
Brakes = Full overhaul of rear brakes to stock specification and front disc brake conversion including uprated front pads. Hydraulic hand brake on its way...
Exterior = Kamei rear spoiler / rain guard, Raydyot spot and fog lamps, bumper over riders, clear indicator lenses, lots of stickers and a Desmo roof rack for when I need to carry stuff. No roof tat here thanks!
Wheels = 5.5j Wide stock style steel wheels fully chromed with some nice retro Goodyear 185/70 rubber.
Engine = Stock 1300TP with home tuned (de-baffled) stock exhaust:
Period Reece Fish carburettor:
I will be building something a bit more special in the near future with some luck. A 'hot'1300 / 1600 sounds like a good challenge to me.
So anyway the car is a hoot to drive and really handles well for a Beetle, now I just need a little more power.
Long term plans are for a full bodywork restoration and to return the exterior to a fairly stockish appearance to make a bit of a sleeper!
Hope you like it.
Edited by OldSpeed on Tuesday 14th April 22:46
Edited by OldSpeed on Tuesday 14th April 22:50
I have to say, I usually don't like this direction in bug modding but mate,
that is GORGEOUS. It looks absolutely perfect, the wheels and rubber make it. An absolute credit to you, well done good sir.
Now get a powerfull engine in there and give those hot hatch owners what for!
Stunning.
that is GORGEOUS. It looks absolutely perfect, the wheels and rubber make it. An absolute credit to you, well done good sir.
Now get a powerfull engine in there and give those hot hatch owners what for!
Stunning.
Twit said:
Thats fantastic, easily the coolest car I have seen on here in ages. Its great to see someone going in a different direction where bugs are concerned!
Cheers!Hairspray said:
It looks fantastic 
In the spec as it is now, but without the stickers, I think it would look even better!
I concur. The stickers are there to hide the really shocking paint. When I give it another spray I'm going to ditch them. In the spec as it is now, but without the stickers, I think it would look even better! chuggabugga70 said:
I have to say, I usually don't like this direction in bug modding but mate,
that is GORGEOUS. It looks absolutely perfect, the wheels and rubber make it. An absolute credit to you, well done good sir.
Now get a powerfull engine in there and give those hot hatch owners what for!
Stunning.
Glad you like it. Powerful engine you say?that is GORGEOUS. It looks absolutely perfect, the wheels and rubber make it. An absolute credit to you, well done good sir.
Now get a powerfull engine in there and give those hot hatch owners what for!
Stunning.
Work is now in progress:
Stu R said:
absolutly love it
warmfuzzies said:
Top drawer, and what a way to make a different statement, hats off fella.
Kevin
Great to see this encourages such a positive reaction. Thanks for all the compliments guys. Kevin
A mysterious package arrived the other day containing two brand new Hella 1303 / Mk1 Golf H4 headlamps. Al Kaholik from Volkszone had seen my moaning about my knackered old lamps and kindly sent me these for free:
With a bit of messing around I soon had them adapted to work with the earlier beetle headlamp rims etc and now I have a completed halogen conversion with BRIGHT lights for the first time evar...
;D
Having replaced all the electronic fuel gauge components at least once and it still being utterly crap I bit the bullet and converted to the cable operated system earlier bugs had as standard and it works a treat.
I hate using incorrect year parts but this was a case of function over form as was the black paint on the dash grills with early chrome strip...
Finally I am in the process of adding oil pressure and temperature gauges under the dash and have just rebuilt the Porsche 914 tachometer as the needle was sticking against the dial face.
Thats all for now folks.
With a bit of messing around I soon had them adapted to work with the earlier beetle headlamp rims etc and now I have a completed halogen conversion with BRIGHT lights for the first time evar...
;D
Having replaced all the electronic fuel gauge components at least once and it still being utterly crap I bit the bullet and converted to the cable operated system earlier bugs had as standard and it works a treat.
I hate using incorrect year parts but this was a case of function over form as was the black paint on the dash grills with early chrome strip...
Finally I am in the process of adding oil pressure and temperature gauges under the dash and have just rebuilt the Porsche 914 tachometer as the needle was sticking against the dial face.
Thats all for now folks.
Fruitcake said:
That looks the business! 
I think I prefer the old wheels on it, sans wheel trims. They look more suited to the 'period rally car' look than the newer items.
The wheels are the same. The new ones 5.5j though whereas the old were 4.5j. Now I can run better tyres. When the crap Brazilian chrome on them gives up the ghost they will be going black just like the old ones. I think I prefer the old wheels on it, sans wheel trims. They look more suited to the 'period rally car' look than the newer items.
Been cleaning up the dash a bit. Ditched some of the inappropriate stickers.
Edited by OldSpeed on Thursday 4th June 13:38
Edited by OldSpeed on Thursday 4th June 13:38
OldSpeed said:
Fruitcake said:
That looks the business!
I think I prefer the old wheels on it, sans wheel trims. They look more suited to the 'period rally car' look than the newer items.
The wheels are the same. The new ones 5.5j though whereas the old were 4.5j. Now I can run better tyres. When the crap Brazilian chrome on them gives up the ghost they will be going black just like the old ones. I think I prefer the old wheels on it, sans wheel trims. They look more suited to the 'period rally car' look than the newer items.
Love the car, really.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff