Overhaulin'

Classic VW Beetle Performance?

I've been investigating a project car for some time and i was thinking about the older Beetles the other day and they seem like a perfect project car. Rear wheel drive, Rear engine, Lightweight and if driven on the street they get good MPG. What more could u ask for? I'm really just looking for some insight on the subject of performance beetles. Air cooled or water cooled? Engine size? Any years better then the others? (i know they r basically all the same with minor differences). Any places or websites i could find performance parts? I don't think I've ever even rode in an older beetle so any and all help will be GREATLY appreciated thank you. This car will be street driven but main focus will be on performance.

Public Comments

1. Not fast by any means, but lots of fun. All came air-cooled; go ask your local parts guy for a 1965 vw radiator cap, lol. You can drop in a motor off eBay for about $2k and have a beast of a car. Factory ones are 1600cc (1.6 liters or about 100 cubic inches). Go for a super beetle, very good car. Mid 70s probably best.
2. lots of performance mods available.. everything from bolt on parts like carbs and exhaust to full tilt crate motors.. CB performance has some wild turbo stuff available but there are tons of parts companies out there ... SCAT is also a big one for parts and crate engines..
3. Negative. Do not go for a super beetle like the other guy mentioned. A true VW fan does not like supers. Check out www.thesamba.com for lots of information. As far as performance stuff cb performance has some good stuff. So does www.lowbugget.com And not all beetle came with 1600cc dual port engines. Some of the newer (70's) ones came with that motor but they did make a 1400cc and 1300cc both in a single port engine. All of these work great when tuned correctly but can be kinda tough to get to that point. Good luck.
4. I have a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle. I know, they are the absolute perfect car. You forgot that parts are very very cheap and easy to get, and very fun to drive. Please don't customize it. I beg you. You will regret it, especially since stock ones are getting more valuable by the day. I am busting my ass trying to restore stock Volkswagens and turn customized ones back to stock to try to save them, and all you want to do is make them extinct. Either keep it stock or stay away from type 1 Volkswagens.
5. www.thesamba.com That's all you need to know. Come on over, join up and read the forums that are available for every model range of air cooled VW. Please read all the sticky threads in the forums before posting. Plenty of good info.
6. Personally i HATE super beetles. I have a 64 myself however would much rather an older split window beetle. the lowest stock engine is a 36hp motor that will have some issues going up hills and what not, however their are folks out their turbo charging their motors as well as getting a much bigger block (2400+ ci) putting out 200+ HP. So really you decide what you want. although the more power = more price, however their still GREAT motors and get great MPG, power to weight ratio, and all my friends describe mine as a gokart on steroids.
7. Then air cooled V W engines is not what you are looking for. Why? They are long stroke engines(just like diesels and farm tractors) Low reving engines that have a lot more torque than horsepower(more pulling power).. Always been that way and that is the basic design. Performance and long stroke do not go together. So, stop looking for it. And you too can be rich by the money you will save. They were designed to be simple and reliable. And they are. They never won at NASCAR's test track and never will. But you will average a 100,000miles on an engine. Ride in an older beetle first...and you will see, they were made to get you from point A to point B reliably(week after week). Perfect car for going to work.