V8 Stealth Beetle Kits

[Blasted]

I don't recall anyone posting anything about this, apologies if its already been done or should be elsewhere on the site.

V8 Stealth Beetle now completed and kits available to buy.

https://v8stealthbeetle.com/

I would be really interested in knowing how good these things are, they look very trick.

[Blasted]

You tube video showing it off.


Link

[nextgen]

Back in the 1970 and 80's guys would take front engine V8 's from cars like Cadillac and Oldsmobile Tornado's with the transmission attached and rip out the rear suspension from the bug. The engine then sat in the middle of the bug. I guess they just made the wheels parallel to each other and welded them in place. Done.

One had 8 pipes in line out the back. Darkened windows so you had no clue. The License plate frame read, Ferrari's for breakfast, Corvettes for Lunch.
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[ach60]

I remember that Kelmark had V8 Bugs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelmark_Engineering
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Good Luck
Al

[VW_Jimbo]

Back in 1990, I worked at an independent VW repair shop, in Chino, California. We had a customer' Bruno, who had a 69 (I think) Bug with a Ford 305 in it. It was coupled to a C4 tranny, 9 inch rear end. Radiator was up front, small holes through the hood. It was awesome to drive!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[madmike]

Every convertion i see I ask the owner"why did you want to slow it down?' ,, most get pissed one guy said it was faster with his o'l 2276cc
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'Black Ice'Drag Buggy 'Turbo'
Rail Buggy 1915 turbo
76 Drag/Street bug 2180cc 'Turbo' 11:85 @113 mph"If I go any faster I'll burn up the Hamster" ,gets 28 mpg. also 10/09/22 11.90 @115 mph
"If I'm ever on Life Support,UNPLUG Me, Then Plug me back In see if that Works"

[andy198712]

[Krochus]

[nextgen]

Funny, you cannot compare putting a “ Horrible Yank V8 “ into a bug 50 years ago to the V8 Stealth Beetle Kit “KIT”ha.

Give credit to a guy that hacked a V8 into a bug in his back yard, without any guide book 50 years ago. ( Jump ahead to the 21 Century and compare it to THE KIT !!! Which from the Video shows a shell of a Bug being dropped on a V8 that an entirely new vehicle that was built around the engine. Shop that looks as sterile as hospital operating room, no shade trees visible.

Back 50 years, the car was a death trap vs 21st Century , a race car chassis is disguised as a bug.
_________________
email: [email protected]
The TYPE IV UPRIGHT CONVERSION MANUAL
BEETLE MAGNETIC DEFLECTOR SHIELDS
LETS TALK DUBS https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=joe+cali+ghia https://letstalkdubs.libsyn.com/ep-200-joe-cali-ty...qI3xJTCzjs

[nextgen]

Also was thinking the difference in price of how much it cost to shove the old V8 into the bug, vs building an entire car around the engine and dropping a bug body on it.

My guess $ 25,000 to $30,000 U.S.D. vs Nothing except sweat for Yank V8 Swap.
_________________
email: [email protected]
The TYPE IV UPRIGHT CONVERSION MANUAL
BEETLE MAGNETIC DEFLECTOR SHIELDS
LETS TALK DUBS https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=joe+cali+ghia https://letstalkdubs.libsyn.com/ep-200-joe-cali-ty...qI3xJTCzjs

[VW_Jimbo]

[Blasted]

I really like the idea of having a race standard beetle, unfortunately its going to be out of my reach for a long time yet.

Kit minus beetle body and engine is about 16,500 euro
Rolling chassis minus engine and gearbox is about 44,000 euro
Standard spec finished thing is about 69,000 euro

That's before you start adding all the shiny bits on top, I mean who wouldn't want to upgrade to a twin turbo or a 6.2 LS3?

There's plenty of tech detail on the site. I wonder if I keep banging on about they will give me one for free?

[nextgen]

Jimbo buy some lottery tickets, you hit the cost almost on the button.

As for safety, ha, I have 914 2.0 iny my bug and the car it came out of could do 127 mph. I took it to 100 but, it got scary, light steering etc.

Up 80 is fine. A V8 may be better due to weight. 400 to 500 lbs. but .......!
_________________
email: [email protected]
The TYPE IV UPRIGHT CONVERSION MANUAL
BEETLE MAGNETIC DEFLECTOR SHIELDS
LETS TALK DUBS https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=joe+cali+ghia https://letstalkdubs.libsyn.com/ep-200-joe-cali-ty...qI3xJTCzjs

[theKbStockpiler]

That car must oversteer like a SOB!
_________________
My beetle is not competing with your beetle. I have the yellow beetle in my town. There is a red one, a green one ......
Use all safety devices including a mask.

[nextgen]

Without doing the car right, a V8 in a bug is an ego trip.
_________________
email: [email protected]
The TYPE IV UPRIGHT CONVERSION MANUAL
BEETLE MAGNETIC DEFLECTOR SHIELDS
LETS TALK DUBS https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=joe+cali+ghia https://letstalkdubs.libsyn.com/ep-200-joe-cali-ty...qI3xJTCzjs

[capedave]

If you are going through all of that at least make it AWD!

Yea we all would not turn a test drive in that beast as it sits.

The real question is how many in the USA have plunked down a deposit?

[JoeE13]

A bit off topic but close. I came from hi perf V8 racing "kits", for that kinda of $$$ might as well get the real deal it does have a fiberglass body. This can win races, is stupid fast, balanced and can stop. I feel that beetle might get dangerous over 100 as mentioned. This is also street legal for $45K you assemble and purchase your own drive train for sub $20k. Still on my bucket list, for now enjoying my air cooled lower budget racer.

http://www.superlitecars.com/slc/
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