Any aircooled VW fans here?

[czartim]

Surely I can't be the only fan of these little autos. What do you have right now? What have you had? Any good stories? Here's my list:

'70 Beetle (first car in '96, still trying to relocate this one and buy it back)
'77 Beetle (40xxx original mile car. Dad sold for way too little.)
'66 Bus (Gave to my dad when I left for college years ago. Now I maintain it.)
'70 Fastback (Found in barn across street from fiance's house. Cool car, but had to let it go so I could buy an engagement ring)
'70 Karmann Ghia (Current project on hold due to lack of funds. Christmas gift from Fiance')

I have also owned several water-cooled VWs:

'96 Jetta 2.0
'00 New Beetle TDI
'02 New Beetle Turbo S 1.8T (Current daily driver)


The newer cars are okay, but there's just something about the old ones.

[czartim]

Here's a couple of shots of my project Ghia:

[FrankB]

Always been a fan and have owned a 69 camper,loved that damn thing, a 69 passenger van, a 72 bug, and a 84 jetta 2 door. Almost bought a hotrodded kharmen ghia with dual webbers, it was a little too much dough at the time. Frank B

[RPB67]

Very Nice photos.

Nice car.

Congrats

[partagaspete]

I remember a few years ago I saw an early 70's VW beat an american muscle car in a drag race. I could not believe it. When the light tree ran down the VW just squated down and took off, no spinning wheels or wheeling popping. The tires just dug in. The funny thing about it was this particular VW was pretty in great shape and everything but it was not all hopped up looking. it looked more stock than anything. I heard he had between 225-300 HP in it.

T

[Lumpold]

used to own a 79 RHD Auto bay window bus... God I miss Cosmic Freddy. Some good times were had in that wagen, but now I need to save up for a new one!

[Lumpold]

Originally Posted by partagaspete

I remember a few years ago I saw an early 70's VW beat an american muscle car in a drag race. I could not believe it. When the light tree ran down the VW just squated down and took off, no spinning wheels or wheeling popping. The tires just dug in. The funny thing about it was this particular VW was pretty in great shape and everything but it was not all hopped up looking. it looked more stock than anything. I heard he had between 225-300 HP in it.

T

911 engines fit perfectly into the back of a bug.. of course you have to upgrade the entire chassis/suspension/brakes (or so I beleive, I think czartim might know a bit more than me though...)

[(909)]

I don't think that you would want to stick a 911 motor in a Bug. You could build a rippin Bug motor for a heck of a lot less money, blow it up and build it again and still be money ahead.

I live in So Cal and was a teenager in the 70's which was prime time for VWs. I used to go to Bug In whenever it was in Orange County and have been around friends with VWs. Check out www.littlegiantkiller.com this guy works on my Porsche and has been racing VWs for years and has some very fast cars. Lloyd has had VWs running 8s, 9s and 10s, I don't thing you'd get that much from a flatsix Porsche motor considering the weight difference once you changed out the engine and transaxle.

I had a friend that had a big bore bug that ran nitrous oxide and needed wheelie bars to keep it hooked up, thats fast!!!!!

Stay pure, stick to the bug motors

[czartim]

You could install a 911 motor, but you would want to also install a beefier tranny, bigger brakes, and maybe even coil over shocks. I've seen plenty of 2.0 engines in bugs and they are plenty big. For my Ghia I want to build a turboed 2110 and maybe add nitrous. The turbo on a 2110 should put me between 200-225 hp. Adding the nitrous would probably just kill me.