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Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:49 pm

i pulled this info from the edmunds site.

The movie car is powered by an air-cooled, four-cylinder, horizontally opposed FAT Performance 2,332cc race motor that has a 10.5-to-1 compression ratio and twin Weber carbs. The result is a 190-hp engine that runs on 125-octane unleaded racing fuel. Given the car's 1,834-pound weight, it isn't a complete surprise that the little bug ran 132 mph at California Speedway. Stopping power comes from aluminum calipers with 11-inch front discs and 10-inch rear discs. There is also a quick-release Speedway Motors steering wheel, Deist window net and a full complement of racing gauges.

The NASCAR version also uses a JAZ 8-gallon fuel cell, Firesafe Halon fire suppression system, Sterab oil cooler and coil-over Fox nitrogen shocks with Sway-Away torsion bars.

Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:53 pm

Hey, do you have the URL for that site. That car sounds bitchin'.

Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:56 pm

Only 132mph ain't gonna cut it in a NASCAR race.

Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:01 pm

ghiadude wrote: Hey, do you have the URL for that site. That car sounds bitchin'.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=106120

Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:16 pm

All those specs are correct. 3 of the 4 "Nascar" Herbies were set up this way, with one having a stock 1600 for Lindsay to drive. The cre clocked the car at 138 mph at California Speedway before the car ran out of aerodynamics. There was still plenty of engine and suspension left. And I can vouch for this as I have seen a Nascar Herbie up close at Mid America, and let me say that there was nothing in this car that wasn't set up for racing. The car is very light weight, with hollowed out doors, fiberglass hood, fenders, and decklid. They were all real sunroof cars, and the serious race ones had metal plate welded in underneath to make the cars hardtops(nascar rule) complete withescape hatches in the roof. A custom built roll cage(not a fake one) which was built to and inspected by nascar officials. 4 wheel custom made disc brakes on 13 inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle racing slicks. single racing seat with full nascar harness, removeable steering wheel, empi shifter, custom pedals, fully functional fuel cell and nascar filler neck. The one I saw was nascar Herbie #2 which was a 63 body on a 68 IRS pan.

Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:20 pm

Quote: a 68 IRS pan.

Maybe '69?

Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:05 pm

could be a former 68 autostick IRS pan, unless he meant to say swingaxle....

-Andy

Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:50 am

Cool!! I'd written off 99.9% of the movie as CG! That's great to know that there was more to Herbie than movie magic.

Now... gotta order me a set of those winking blinking headlight eyebrows!!! :lol:

Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:38 am

Glenn wrote: Only 132mph ain't gonna cut it in a NASCAR race.
Pace Car Glenn, Pace Car.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:03 am

Glenn wrote: Only 132mph ain't gonna cut it in a NASCAR race.

Just needs a little bump draft.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:11 am

dragstart wrote: Glenn wrote: Only 132mph ain't gonna cut it in a NASCAR race.

Just needs a little bump draft.

Here's some math.

Assume a 3.875:1 ring and pinion, a 0.82:1 top gear and a rather large 235/60-15 tire (26.1 tall)....

at 132mph the engine has to be turning 5404rpms.

I don't think a Type 1 engine will last at that speed for any period of time.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:24 pm

Glenn wrote: dragstart wrote: Glenn wrote: Only 132mph ain't gonna cut it in a NASCAR race.

Just needs a little bump draft.

Here's some math.

Assume a 3.875:1 ring and pinion, a 0.82:1 top gear and a rather large 235/60-15 tire (26.1 tall)....

at 132mph the engine has to be turning 5404rpms.

I don't think a Type 1 engine will last at that speed for any period of time.

I don't think thats the point.
Race engines for any application are only built to last the duration of the total distance of the race in question.
Chris.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:30 pm

Most NASCAR races are 400 or 500 miles.

Do you think a Type 1 engine can last anywhere close to that when running over 5000rpm?

BTW... most drag race engines are torn down after 5 miles.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:33 pm

Herbie3Rivers wrote: . They were all real sunroof cars, and the serious race ones had metal plate welded in underneath to make the cars hardtops(nascar rule) complete withescape hatches in the roof. .

Why wouldn't they just glue a sunroof skin onto a non-sunroof car?

Glenn, they could have used an aftermarket 3.44 R&P with an aftermarket .70 4th gear.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:35 pm

Glenn wrote: Most NASCAR races are 400 or 500 miles.

Do you think a Type 1 engine can last anywhere close to that when running over 5000rpm?

BTW... most drag race engines are torn down after 5 miles.

It was a movie? I don't think the NASCAR crowd would be real receptive to a VW in the race...

How long are the "Kafer Cup" races in kilometers? I think they run pretty fast top speed for some fair duration don't they? I guess they are all running type4 power tho' LOL :wink:

Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:48 pm

Bruce wrote: Glenn, they could have used an aftermarket 3.44 R&P with an aftermarket .70 4th gear.

3.44 r/p, 0.70 4th, 235/60-15 (26.1) = 132.02mph @ 4614rpm.

Still pretty fast.

And true... it's a movie.

Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:00 am

130+ MPH on a bug that is under 2000 lbs. All i got to say is ...WHOOOA

Thu Jun 30, 2005 12:27 pm

Claire wrote: Cool!! I'd written off 99.9% of the movie as CG! That's great to know that there was more to Herbie than movie magic.

Turbocharged Porsche engines were used in the first movie. A few of the racing scenes were filmed at over 100 MPH, IIRC.

Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:41 am

i dunno about all those specs the only thing that threw me off in the movie was how there was so many 4th gears, and the whole new beetle valve cover fitting on an old bug?!?!?!?!?!

Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:27 pm

Towel rail, the racing Herbie used for the first movie had a porsche 912 motor, not a turbo charged one. You couldn't even get a turbo 911 in 1967 when the cars were built.