Ultimate Daily Drive Beetle ( Theory Build)

[DeutchKraght]

This is what I would consider the ultimate Beetle:

A completely original or ''better than factory'' restored pre-1960 big window (for practical driving) Beetle with the following:
* airbags (possibly disguised in OG looking steering)
* Roll cage
* ABS braking
* Seatbelts
* 4-wheel drive
* Performance suspension (lowered and to ensure car doesn't roll)
* Wide rims (smoothies for me) with performance tires
* Performance gearbox
* Power steering
* >2l aircooled turbocharged engine (think 400+hp)
* LED lighting
* Keyless entry and start
* Alarm and Tracker
* and a performance CPU

Basically a Audi RS5 in VW Type 1 clothes.

Would this even be possible and if it is, has anyone done something like this?

Feel free to post your Dream Beetle or discuss what is and what isn't possible in old Type 1's.

[79SuperVert]

For a million dollars, sure, you could do that. Or you buy an RS5 for US$100,000, a perfectly original Beetle for $40,000, and have $860,000 left over for beer or whatever...

Just saying, the thought of spending $1 million on a dream Beetle is just so far removed from what a Beetle is about. If you had $1 million why wouldn't you buy a McLaren P1 instead?

_________________
Central Jersey VW Society

Wanted: Art Collins VW (Savannah, Georgia) items - license plate surrounds and other items. Also ivory "AM", "FM" and "SW" buttons for a US Blaupunkt Frankfurt.

[obesepolice]

I have to say, I would build a lemons racer super beetle and sponsor the team with a cool million.

Damn that would be fun.

[DeutchKraght]

I think you guys are taking the ''million dollar'' part a bit too serious.......... Killing the thread.
Im just gonna change the name of this thread. Don't be so literal.

[WD-40]

[TheRustySuper]

Could be an interesting build. I would imagine that with some changes utilizing existing products, a Beetle could be on par with a lot of the economy cars on the market today.

If you utilized a Super Beetle as a base (preferably big window just 'cos of the real dashboard), you could rework the suspension to provide better handling characteristics. Of course disc brakes would be easy to do as well. In all honesty I wouldn't bother with power steering or power brakes...I've never felt like those were something that my Beetle "needed" to be more modern or comfortable to drive. It's a small light car and those things are just additional complexity.

A mild engine wouldn't be too difficult to build, and you could put a Gene Berg 5-speed in it if you wanted more gears. Remember the Beetle is a very light car and doesn't need 200+ horsepower to be quick. A set of salvage yard seats would provide additional adjustment and support and again, not terribly difficult to install either.

A/C kits exist, pretty simple, and I feel like a heater blower kit might be helpful too. (Sitting in traffic when it's below zero out is always cold for me...)

I feel like airbags would open up a whole can of worms...I wouldn't want to just stick airbags in a car they weren't designed for. However, an integrated roll cage (especially with enforcement in the door area) would be a good idea if you could pull it off.

Other goodies like a modern sound system, heated/power seats, power windows, etc. are entirely doable if you have the time, resources, and desire.

I think that what it ultimately comes down to is how far do you want to go? If you want all all the luxuries that come with a new car, a modern economy car would probably be a better bet. Definitely would be cheaper, there's a whole host of economy cars (not all of them horrible) that can be bought new for under 18k or so. All that being said, I would be really interested in seeing such a build, I've always thought it would be cool to "update" a Beetle.
_________________
My '72 Super

[63Ragtop NZ]

This is how I would do it.

(i'm sure there are better pics of this beast)

but use a oval rag shell.
_________________
If you can't join them, beat them!

[Joel]

That was pretty well what i had in mind when I built mine.
A classic Beetle on the outside but with all the mod cons of a modern car for daily driving.

Although when you start talking things like ABS, AWD, airbags and power steering most people would say just start with a new Beetle.
_________________
Quick little bug, you got a Porsche motor in that?
1974 Germanlook 1303 2.5 Suba-Beetle

[Akantares]

I think one of those Zelectric Beetles would be the ultimate daily driver bug.