Aircooled VW South Africa

OK. Not pretty. Looks tough though.

After owning more than 100 different VW's over time, and still working at a local VW dealer I would say that I have the VW sickness good and proper.

Mine current VW is a 1985 Vanagon (Microbus), it started life with a 1.9L watercool engine, but it gave up after a few thousand miles, antifreeze leaks everywhere. So I dumped that motor in favor for a Subaru engine, it was like day and night difference in power over the stock engine. But it did not have the torque for towing, so we opted for a V6 engine swap (apparently very popular at one time in South Africa) Well the power was good and towing improve by leaps and bounds, but you still had that big piece of cast iron hanging out back. And that made the bus a little tail happy.

There has to be a better way to get the best of both worlds, and after researching I found that a mid engine V8 would be the way to go. With a lot of measuring and planning I found that a 1985 Buick Riviera with front wheel drive is just the thing, you just cut the frame on the car and a big hole in the bus and insert motor and trans. (well more involved than that) It is a little slow going at the moment because of work, but hope to have it running by next spring.

Pic is of a Vanagon similar to mine (color etc.) just mine got stock wheels on. Will take some pics of conversion.

Well Watercooled I think youv'e got the terminal bug sickness!! VIVA Watercooled... The man not the machine.... Maybe you can help us with some info and help us settle a discussion, read through this thread http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopic.php?t=4351 and give us your opinion please?

I have a very modest list compared to some.
At present i have a vanagon dual cab as my daily it is a supurb vehicle.
I have project 63 11 window and a lowlight bay panel both far from complete.
probably my favourite past vehicle was my 13 window delux fully restored it was a beautiful but I had to sell it to finance family costs.
It is currently ued as a wedding and school formal car in Sydney.
In the future i hope to obtain ( from a dealer who is going too send it overseas anyway so as not to offend merlin.) a fleetline that I will restore for a wedding car in portmacquarie on the north coast where i now live. M

Here's a pic of my "survivor" 1965 Meyers Manx.....



and my Sand Cars Unlimited 4 seat sandrail with 1915 VW / dual 40 Webers



& my 1972 Standard (non-super) Bug, being turned into a Class 11 off-road race car......



A Class 11 race car......(NOT mine, mine is a work in progress....

nice rides yo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love that sand master

You know monte or Eddie by any chance?

Hi Bill,


I love the green buggy and that racing beetle look so full of confidence .
cheers baron

BARON wrote:Hi,
I think you can also add the Puma to your list as it surely is more than a kit car.As usual Im on the minority list so will have to listen more and talk less. (KIT CAR)

BARON.

Hi
The PUMA is definitely not a kit-car, though many people seem to have that impression because they were constructed around the beetle chassis. There were two local production runs of these cars and I believe that they are again due to be produced locally.

I am of the opinion that they deserve a place on the list and should not be lumped with the kit-cars

Replica

HMMM Puma added but that broke it
Seems everyone has to vote again!
You can also change your vote now if you change cars

Hi,

I'm new on the forum and own a 1951 vw beetle, a lowlight ghia, 66 ghia, fastback variant, 2x1957 model beetles a sunroof beetle the curved screen beetle and just purchased a 1963 mdel beetle.

Welcome!

It looks like a nice collection of cars.Post same pics.

Rashaad wrote:Hi,

I'm new on the forum and own a 1951 vw beetle, a lowlight ghia, 66 ghia, fastback variant, 2x1957 model beetles a sunroof beetle the curved screen beetle and just purchased a 1963 mdel beetle.

Welcome brother!!

Please post some pics of the Fastback

vader wrote:There is one that has been left off the list...... VW Baja Bug. The one and only "BosPadda"

thats what i have a 1600s converted into a baja bug ,only thing i dont like is the kit i have has got square lights!yuk!its just imoral to put square lights on a beetle...

1977 beetle 1600 twin port