The aircooled Volkswagen Beetle just might be the perfect car to get started with the automotive hobby. They can be found on the cheap, aftermarket parts are plentiful, and perhaps most importantly, it’s hard to think of car that’s easier to work on. Depending on your taste, you can build a factory-style resto, a slammed cruiser or a wicked-quick drag machine. While you don’t see too many old VWs built for circuit racing, they actually have plenty of potential in that department as well. Case in point, this neat little Bug we came across at Gatebil.
The car was built by Norway’s Baard A. Christiansen, who originally picked up the ’73 1303 S back in 1997. At the time the car lacked a motor, but in the years since he’s built the Volkswagen up into a formidable little track weapon. A baby Porsche 911 if you will.
Sitting out back is a 1,914cc flat-four with twin Dellorto carbs and other high performance goodies which help the car generate 118hp at the rear wheels. This might not sound like a lot of power at first, but when you factor in the Beetle’s light weight it becomes a potent combination. There’s also an LSD, adjustable suspension and disc brakes with 15-inch Porsche Teledial wheels.
Inside there’s a full roll cage, a set of OMP Volkswagen Motorsport seats along with VDO gauges and custom carbon fiber door panels using Porsche 964 door pulls.
Outside, you’ll find the bumpers, running boards, front spoiler and headlight rings all made out of carbon fiber too. There are also Mk4 Golf side markers and a Mk1 Golf fuel filler, and the whole body is coated in Porsche’s Midnight Blue Pearl.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about embarking on an aircooled VW build, and seeing how Baard’s project turned out only makes me want one even more now. As this circuit-tuned Beetle shows, the possibilities are endless.
Mike Garrett
Instagram: speedhunters_mike
mike@speedhunters.com
Photos by Larry Chen
Instagram: larry_chen_foto
larry@speedhunters.com
Really into the 944 wheels.
Up next a LB bodykit for the classic BUG. Looking forward to that.
emotional_r I'm going to be a little pedantic here mostly because those wheels were first released on the Porsche 924 in a four lug configuration long before the 944 was even being considered as the next step in the cars evolution.
PowerTryp Fair enough, sorry mate.
do it, build one!
stick with the corona wagon! see it through!
Am I the only one who thinks this is just missing the racing stripes, and the number 53 on the door? It's a race car that can drive itself!
robzor Crown! But yeah it's not going anywhere
Mike Garrett robzor My bad! I know how it is though, I've got a 240Z in slightly worse shape than your crown and its always tempting to be looking at other projects. Do you still have the miata or did that go the way of craigslist as well?
Mike Garrett robzor duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude, but wagons are the shizzle ma nizzle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOyl0woEFD0 (it had to be a triumph as thats what I own)
Wow, just what I was considering too!
That's an interesting dynamic, a squished volkswagon describing a porsche is considered an insult, but a raised porsche describing a volkswagon is considered a compliment.
Car looks great, just the kind of features I like, short and to the point. Keep them coming!
emotional_r PowerTryp Happy to educate. If you like the platform you might be interested to know that Magnus Walker has picked up a turbo 924. http://www.magnuswalker911.blogspot.ca/2014/03/931.html
It will be interesting to see what he does with it.
For extra credit, try cramming a Corvair engine in there. A flat-six, air-cooled and cheap!
Fett
Reminds me of the Nordstadt build from the early '70's. VW Bug bodyshell mounted on a 914-6 pan with a Porsche Carrera engine mounted amidship. There are supposedly a couple still around.
I'd bet a lot of money that mines faster LOL
[URL=http://s586.photobucket.com/user/Fiatdude/media/photobucket-9396-1351404541552.jpg.htmlIMGhttp://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss306/Fiatdude/photobucket-9396-1351404541552.jpg/IMG/URL]
MattAtDoyle why would you want to slow it down with one of those anchors????
Red, carmel droptop, slammed, subi swapped. Formula for a great bug. Yup
@robzor Let me get that 240z of your hands then
There was a time in my childhood when I confused the two...
@Fiatdude A 300-HP "anchor"?
Those door pulls were only on the RS America/Carrera version of the 964. (I know, I know, I'll stop now.)
Always liked the "German look" Beetles. That one looks like it would be quite the blast.