Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i dune buggies and hotVWs

In this issue, we devoted several pages to preview one of the best VW shows on the planet: the Internationales VW-Veteranen-Treffen Hessisch-Oldendorf, held in Germany (June 24-26). Most folks familiar with this show simply call it “HO” or “Hessisch Oldendorf”. I am sure a handful of readers have traveled to Germany and experienced this premier vintage VW “treffen” before and have already booked their trip this year. But in case if you have never been, read on. This rare opportunity to be part of this event comes only once every four years – and it is only a couple of months away now. This means you can still make it. To know more about Hessisch Oldendorf, check out our piece on page 40. It’s impossible to show everything in only…

As we mentioned last month, meeting fascinating people with great stories and talents is one of the joys of our hobby. Meet Tom Lawhorne, aka “Earl McSquirrel”, member of the Local Volks club in Tampa, FL. Earl is the proud owner of Ruby, his 1962 Deluxe sunroof sedan. Let’s let Earl share his story. “I bought Ruby on eBay over 15 years ago from a guy in Alexandria, Virginia. She was maroon with a worn velour interior, an incorrect sunroof cover, some lower rust issues, and mechanical problems with the 1600 single port engine. My intent was to turn it into a high-end custom/hot rod show car. While sorting through all of these things, I started painting ’60s graffiti on it for fun. It was just going to be temporary.…

The two zero-tailpipe emission vehicles transfer the design of one of the greatest automobile icons – the VW Transporter. Last month, in this FYI section, we reported on the rebirth of an icon, the electric ID. Buzz. European models go on sale this year. A long-wheelbase passenger model will debut on the North American market in 2023 and will go on sale in 2024. It is likely that the Cargo model will not come to the U.S. market. The ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo will first come onto the market in a few European countries during the third quarter of this year. The features and specifications that follow apply to European models; details for the U.S. version will be available closer to launch. The new ID. Buzz and ID.…

THE NUMBER ONE ITEM ON THE VW FANS’ BUCKET LIST Having been involved in the Volkswagen magazine industry for over 25 years, I am lucky enough to have witnessed more than the usual number of VW events in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. This is probably why I’ve often been asked by VW friends, “What is the best VW show in the World?” and “Which VW show should you visit at least once in your VW life?” Well, my answer is always the same. Whether you are a custom/Cal Look fan or a hardcore vintage VW freak, there is ONE you need to attend at least once in your lifetime – the Internationales VW-Veteranen-Treffen Hessisch-Oldendorf. Most VW enthusiasts, who see the affair as the pinnacle of vintage VW Treffens, call…

Trends come and go like waves in the sea. While the past two decades have been dominated by Cal Look and drag racing in Germany, circuit racing is making a comeback. Andreas Ruppert and his Aircooled Race Weekend in Meppen, Germany, play a major role in this. Planned as a one-day-meet in 2018, it morphed into a full weekend event just one year later. It also took place during the pandemic – without spectators unfortunately. However, this did not detract from the popularity of the event. Quite the contrary in fact. The five or six former Käfer Cup pilots, who took part in the first meeting, got the word out to other drivers from back then. In addition, Andreas Ruppert promoted and planned a Käfer Cup Revival for the fourth…

Those of you who have struggled with fitting VW engine tin will know what this article is about. It’s a challenge, especially when working with aftermarket parts. Let’s see what’s involved. The soon-to-be owner of this project Bus engine specified that a working heater was a must. Rather than choose an aftermarket “36HP” shroud, he supplied a nice genuine VW “doghouse” unit. This will be combined with all the other aftermarket tin pieces which are imported. Many folks simply don’t have access to good genuine VW tin parts, and the procedures outlined here may help them to get a good result. Why not use the imported fan shroud? Our engine is slightly wider than stock because of the cylinder spacers used with the 74mm stroke. It’s common knowledge that the…

Time is such a strange commodity. We spend a lot of it, beg for more of it, and probably waste too much of it. With all that being said there are times that I will forever cherish and people that I have met through time that have left a lasting impact. The VW family has been a big part of my world and it’s incredibly surreal to think that I have been a part of it for nearly 40 years. How could that even be possible? Throughout the years, there have been many friends and acquaintances in the scene and so many of them putting forth such a positive energy. It’s that energy that keeps me coming back again and again to the shows and events. I still love the…

So far, I have been able to cover the first five models of Buses in five separate columns. The sixth version to show up on the scene is a little more complicated, so I will take multiple columns to talk about the Westfalia camper. These were the factory-approved camper which were made under contract by the coachbuilder Westfalia in Weidenbruck, Germany. They are also referred to as “Westies”, and I will use both names and call them Buses just to mix it up a bit. The first conversion of a Type 2 for camping by Westfalia was done for a private customer, a British army officer who requested that they build him camping equipment into a Bus in 1951. Very little is known about that first Westy, other than the…

This highly detailed 1971 Super Beetle is the product of a recent JBugs YouTube project. The build process was broadcasted via the company’s channel through the years. But wait, why select a Super Beetle? Believe it or not, Super Beetle parts are some of the most popular according to JBugs’ sales numbers. So, for JBugs, making how-to videos via their YouTube channel with such a vehicle just made sense. They are more affordable than other earlier models too. Sam has never been a big fan of SBs, but always thought the high-performance-oriented Euro/German Look was pretty cool, and it would be nice to inspire viewers who have never been fans of the model. A PROJECT CAR FROM A FRIEND E46 M3 LAGUNA SECA BLUE WITH 17-INCH BBS WHEELS FOR THAT…

This SO23 visited 11 countries after being purchased in 1960 Indiana resident Earl Haas has found an SO-23 Westfalia with a well-documented history, complemented with fantastic vintage photos. They go back to 1960, when the first owners traveled through 11 European countries with their brand-new purchase! While perusing the aisles of Cincinnati, Ohio’s excellent VW & Porsche Reunion last fall (see last month’s issue), we kept on being drawn to a beautiful, all-original 1960 Westfalia. A conversation with its current and second owner, Earl Haas from Carmel, Indiana led us to realize that the vehicle was very special indeed. Besides its outstanding restoration and camper equipment in tiptop shape, it happens to have a great story, illustrated by a series of old color photos. We needed to find out more……

VW dealers offered air conditioning as an option for Beetles beginning in the 1960s, however they were somewhat rare. Once installed, they were considered to be too power-hungry, even if they did do the prescribed job of cooling the cabin air. Thankfully, technology has evolved a lot over the last six decades, and today’s A/C systems are far more efficient, compact, and they take much less power away from the engine than before. Las Vegas’ Gilmore Enterprises has been pioneering aftermarket air conditioning systems for over 27 years. They produce A/C kits for almost every type of air-cooled VW there is. Today, we are going to follow along as the team installs a vintage-style system on a 1962 Beetle. Our subject car belongs to Clark Johnson from Temecula, California. He…

As I’m sitting here in front of my computer thinking about my next column, I’m struck with the thought of gratitude. Thankful for the chance to write every month for hotVWs magazine and how fortunate I am to do this! And I’m thinking about all of the great opportunities I’ve had based on and around that little car. I have been able to make a good living working on VWs, cars and engines – everything from cool street stuff to a myriad of different race types. These have included drag, off-road and land speed just to mention a few. Together with my partner Greg Aronson, we built a very successful business taking care of our families and enjoying it at the same time. In fact, when my two sons went…

Even in today’s super-connected world, there are still treasures to be found. The latest proof is this coachbuilt car, discovered and bought by Ulrich Seibel, a well-known German Bus and Barndoor aficionado. One evening in the beginning of 2022 as he was surfing the web, he received a notification that one of his subscribed sellers on eBay classifieds had put a small ad online. One click later Ulrich’s eyes popped out and his jaw dropped. “I saw several really bad and blurry photos of a strange looking car and a rather sparse description. It basically said nothing more than VW-based coachbuild from the Karosseriebau-Meisterschule Offenburg,” remembers Ulrich. A Karosseriebau-Meisterschule is a special school, where students get trained to be a master in coachbuilding. This particular one was located in Offenburg,…

GT TBD for 091 Lighter in weight while offering the same benefits as similar torque biasing differentials, the new GT diff provides maximum strength, performance and reliability for drag, road race, sprint, street or other machines. Manufactured by Guard Transaxle, the high-tech diff is fit with a 091 output shaft. Available from Rancho Performance Transaxles, the complete unit sells for just $1695.00. For more information call 714-680-6737 or visit www.ranchotransaxles.com. Magnecor KV85 Competition 8.5mm Wires (Black) The KV85 Competition wires feature Magnecor’s exclusive 2.5mm Metallic Inductance Suppressed Conductor that consists of heavy-duty stainless steel windings precisely spaced and wound at 200 turns per inch. The entire jacket is made from a non-layered aerospace grade extreme heat-resistant silicone rubber. The KV85 Competition wires provide 2.2k Ohms resistance per foot. For more…

COMPETING ONLY FOR PERSONAL PRIDE AND EXPERIENCE, THE 36HP CHALLENGE IS SPECIAL New records require two runs exceeding the previous record averaged together. Of course, not all drivers race for records. Some, like many in the 36hp and Big Block Challenge, compete for personal pride and the experience. As a “race within a race”, the 36hp Challenge is special. The driver must exceed 100mph in a VW powered by a 36hp case engine. Do that and you are in the “1” Club. A silver hat given to those drivers are prized possessions. They are provided out of the generosity of Barry Burlie, the Challenge organizer. This year we had more than a dozen previous winners in attendance with more added this year. The meaning of “team” is demonstrated by the…