Fastback spoiler/lip/wing discussion

[KallumR]

Hello all,
For a very, very long time, i've been entertaining the prospect of adding a rear lip/spoiler to the back of my Fastback primarily for looks [judge as you will], but also for a bit of highway stability/light track use.
Now, I simply cannot find examples of people having done this in any capacity, which I find surprising. I'm really curious to see how it looks, even how it handles and how its put together but theres a frustratingly little amount of detail on any of it - perplexing for a car subculture heavily into modding and mucking around!
Honestly, the ideal option would be a spoiler/lip that mimics the 911 whale tail, in adjusting the silhouette at least rather than slicing a hole in the boot. Even something reminiscent of Datsun 240z's little 'ducktail' spoiler as it was called could look and function well.

Now the real crux of this post, has anyone put a wing on their Typ3? - or, does anyone have images of Fastbacks with anything i'm describing here, or, does anyone have any idea how one would go about adding a spoiler/lip/wing to a fastback.

Thanks all for having a look for me, keen to see what people think/post,
K.

[Heres a picture of my fastback, maybe to stir the creative juices!]

[KTPhil]

You don't really need more downforce at the rear. The main problem at highway speeds is all the air that gets thrust under the car. Some have fitted a reshaped front spoiler to the body under the bumper. As long as you don't scrape it off at intersections and parking curbs, it may help. I can't find the thread, but someone found a specific later-model (water-cooled) VW model whose spoiler didn't need much modification. I've thought about this, if only I could find the part!

[W1K1]

The kamei spoiler for Superbeetles is what I used, they fit well with some trimming around the brackets. The rear doesn’t need help with staying planted, but the front certainly does. We get 100km/hr winds and the kamei keeps mine planted on the road, not buffeting around with the gusts.

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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jim_martin_engine_build.php

1973 super
1965 squareback 1500E
1971 bay window westy- subi swap

[DQDan]

Fasten your seat belts folks, this thread is about to take off...

While a lot of purists would probably say no way, the fact is the fasty certainly is the closest shape to our tapered cousin the 911, and they make those wings look badass!

[DQDan]

A google search for whale tail on a beetle came back with a LOT of crazy ideas, none really looked right to me, I can't imagine it would be too different on a fasty.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1&a...SNY-3ORapE

[Kai4130]

This topic is most definitely not for the purists. Loving it.

Here’s my notch, not the best picture of a bolt on spoiler.

[Peters Van]

looks pretty good to me

like the wheel arch flares and the spoilers...... its a nice combo
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1965 Type 3 Panel Van
1963 EH Holden Station Wagon

[akokarski]

you could search for early 911 spoilers for some ideas. same era, but different bumpers though..


https://www.google.com/search?q=1970+911+front+spo...mp;bih=634

[oxsign]

Interesting........
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1971 Squareback, fully bagged, 1776.
Build thread here.....
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[old_man]

So having owned a 911 for over a decade and spending a lot of time on the internet I have picked up a few things.

1) If you do something to the back make sure you do something to the front.
2) It doesn't create down force. It reduces lift or 'spoils' it.
3) They only start to work at high speed. Probably higher than most fast backs will ever go. Take a look at the chart below. I find it interesting.

That being said, if you are doing this for looks or just because you want to: Have at her and don't let anyone tell you other wise.

[kinggeorge13]

Found this thread today as I was thinking much the same thing: Not much on the internet of anyone fabricating a rear spoiler to "improve" the look of the rear of the VW fastback. I have a 1967 Fastback. Kind of a British racing darkish green. It's been repainted by a previous owner. I love the look of these cars from any frontal viewpoint. Their old-school Porschey look is unmistakable. But I'll admit and you can all slay me here if you like, the rear view disappoints me a little every time. It's not that it looks really bad. It just could look so much better. I often wonder if a properly placed rear spoiler would not make it look so much sportier. It does drive sporty. I love driving it. If I had fabricating skills and any kind of an eye for figuring out what looks good, I'd make one. If I could find one or a kit, I'd buy one.

Before you go all psycho at me, remind yourselves of the tons and tons and thousands of VW Beetle modifications made to be racier and sportier. I don't often see those folks getting bashed. So I hope you don't judge those of us with Fastbacks that imagine what bolting on a cool-looking rear spoiler might look like. I personally would be doing it only for the looks. Mine will not be going the speeds that would invoke much effect from such a device.

I do have to figure that one reason there are not readily available rear spoiler kits for the VW Fastback is there just was not that many of them sold and far less still on the road today. Not like Bugs and Buses that are still all over the place. So economically speaking, it's likely hard to come up with a business case to produce and market these to so few vehicles and admittedly even less owners who would want them.

I'll still think about it....

[kinggeorge13]

For example. A slightly smaller (not as long) rear spoiler as in this one from a 1976 Porsche 911 might look ok. Not exactly this but something kinda like this.

[KTPhil]

Why stop at one?

[kinggeorge13]

[Bobnotch]

[Mike Fisher]

[quote="DQDan"]Fasten your seat belts folks, this thread is about to take off...

While a lot of purists would probably say no way, the fact is the fasty certainly is the closest shape to our tapered cousin the 911, and they make those wings look badass![/quote

I just found the 12"X18" color print of Doug Harvey's King Plush fasty drag car I bought at the 2006 Invasion in Myrtle Creek, OR. I should get it framed!

https://www.google.com/search?q=Doug+Harvey%27s+Ki...yqqKJPgSM:
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https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[Jacks]

A early 911 duck tail might look kinda cool.
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Jack Staggs
Actual name

[Nate M.]

I found that at about 90mph, the front of my Squareback would begin to lift noticeably and it would dance a bit. At over 100mph, it could get a little scary if you were on a narrow road.

So I fitted what's called a "Flex-dam" from www.914rubber.com to the bottom of my fiberglass front bumper. After proper reinforcement underneath the car to support it from the back side and tie it to the chassis, it has made all the difference in the feel of my car at high speeds. It did slow the car by about 4mph at Bonneville so we would take it of there. It made the front rock solid on the track.

My rear wing only ensures that every single bit of road mud gets stuck to the back of my car. I have no data or even anecdotal evidence that it performs any real function back there, it just seemed like it needed one to round out the look.
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Regards,

Nate M.

Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature

For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!!

[Nate M.]

I always thought a Porsche 993 auto deploying rear wing would be a natural fit on a Fastback. If you used an electric speed sensor off a rear axle along with an arduino chip to run it, a cleaver person could have something really cool and functional.

This type of wing:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mnzumotRLqY
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Regards,

Nate M.

Squarsche build
Heavy Metal Affliction feature

For heaven's sake, put a type4 and a Porsche 5-speed in there. . . It's the right thing to do!!

[fastbackdavid]

Like this:

Look this guy, Glenn Christian Bjerke, up on FB. His Fastback is about as Porsche as possible. At least on the outside.