Innehållsförteckning för October 2022 från VolksWorld

FROM THE TOP volksworld.ed@kelsey.co.uk I was recently trawling through some social media posts regarding summer VW events and, as is often the case, I was dumbstruck by some of the comments I read. One post was regarding the ban on BBQs and open fires due to the ongoing hot weather, drought and dry grass, which seemed like a sensible enough request given the recent fires that have destroyed houses and property across the country. And, while I should point out that majority of people understood the logic and were more than happy to comply, there were a handful that appeared to think it was some kind of infringement of their basic human rights, and clearly weren’t happy about it at all. “So, you expect me to eat raw chicken?”…

Email: VolksWorld.ed@kelsey.co.uk Having struggled to find a shock absorber that really works on lowered Bay Windows (and Splits for that matter), Type 2 Detectives went to the source, working with the engineers at Bilstein in Germany for a solution. “What we aimed to achieve was a shock with a stiff compression stroke and a quick, smooth and cushioned rebound stroke. A stiff compression stroke helps eliminate bottoming out, whilst a controlled rebound stroke gives a much smoother ride. The overall result is better handling and reduced body roll. If the whole suspension is set up correctly, tyre scrub becomes a thing of the past, too.” The T2D Bilstein shock absorber package is specifically tailored for road use and could be one of the best modifications you can make to enjoy…

The story of how this rare, right-hand drive ’54 Bus came into Mark’s hands is a convoluted one. Whilst living in Singapore a few years back, Mark found himself a Notchback for sale in Australia. In the process of buying that, he happened upon Alan Agyik at Das Resto Haus in Southport, Queensland, who agreed to build the car for him. It went on to win a ton of awards and the two became friends. Some time later, Alan bumped into a guy with a story to tell. He’d been driving one day when he saw a truck going the other way with a Barndoor Bus on the back. He could tell it wasn’t being taken somewhere to be restored as it had been lifted onto the truck with a…

Dan Lambert’s superb Beetle van in this issue, and Mark Walker’s piece on the UVA Shogan, caused some spirited debate around the editorial office this month. Who was the mystery person that commissioned Dan’s van before he got hold of it, we wondered? Given what it cost, and the lengths the company went to building it, it was obviously more than just one of those great ideas hatched down the local after a few jars. Our guess is it was to be some sort of promotional vehicle, but who knows. We’ve seen a number of similar vehicles built in the past, and there are various kits still available (see www.bgwspectre.com as an example) if you haven’t got the skills to knock one up out of metal. But what some people…

STARTER MOTOR Email your news, thoughts, opinions and products to VolksWorld.ed@kelsey.co.uk Before Bruce Meyer, founding father of the Beach Buggy, passed away in March 2021, he and wife, Winnie, sold the eponymous brand to Phillip Sarofim and designer, Freemann Thomas, who penned the Concept One. Things have been a little quiet on the Manx front since, but then, in September this year, Manx 2.0 broke cover. And the crowd went wild. At first glance, it looks like a slightly modernised original Manx, but the lack of exhaust tells a tale. What you see here is a thoroughly updated version of a traditional Manx. It's not VW based, but instead uses a lightweight aluminium monocoque with electrically-assisted steering, electronic handbrake and its roll hoop an integral part of a crash structure.…

STARTER MOTOR If you’re looking to lower your post- ’65, balljoint-equipped Beetle or Ghia (not 1302 / ’03 models), while also improving the brakes and swapping from four to five-bolt wheels, Heritage Parts Centre have just what you need. This comprehensive kit from EMPI includes a pair of 2.5-inch dropped spindles, a bolt-on disc brake conversion with double-drilled discs that will mount either 5 x 130mm PCD Porsche-pattern wheels or 5 x 205mm wide 5 VW wheels and all the associated hardware to fit it. Note the kit will increase the front track by around half an inch each side and is not compatible with OE-style backing plates. How much? £684.95 From: www.heritagepartscentre.com…

STARTER MOTOR Email your news, thoughts, opinions and products to VolksWorld.ed@kelsey.co.uk Remember, you can buy single issues, or back issues, of VolksWorld at the regular cover price, with free UK delivery (+£1 charge for international postage) here: shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/VWW UK customers can also save money by ordering six issues for just £21.99 via the continuous credit offer available here: shop.kelsey.co.uk/suboffer/VWW2022 Alternatively, if you’re having trouble finding your local stockist of VolksWorld, simply type your postcode in here: tinyurl.com/y26a38ul, and then select VolksWorld from the pull-down menu, enter your location and choose your desired search radius (between one and 20 miles).…

SHOW REPORT - SO-CAL VW WEEK EMPI Open House No less than 10 Volkswagen events took place around Los Angeles over three consecutive weekends in June. It was mayhem! But good mayhem. Last month, we featured the gatherings that revolve around the massive VW Classic meet, and now we’re heading for the legendary Bug-In, via an Open House at EMPI. Since it began in 1968, Bug-In was the first Volkswagen event to successfully mix a car show with drag racing, and Rich Kimball continued that concept, right up until he passed the torch to his son, Andy, a few years ago. Andy made the decision to maintain the formula developed by his dad and original promoter, Vic Wilson, and people still come from far and wide to enjoy the party.…

LAURIE MANIFOLD TRIBUTE Laurie Manifold, that hugely successful exponent of VW Beetle Autocross racing for almost three decades, sadly passed away on 3 March 2022 at the grand old age of 94. Not only was Laurie a formidable opponent on Autocross tracks around the country, he was also noted for his investigative journalism at The People national newspaper. He was the man behind hundreds of exclusives for The People, covering a huge range of subjects, and was a stickler for accuracy and doing the job right. To learn a little more about Laurie’s racing career, who better to approach than the man who knew him better than anyone else in that field, his mechanic, Roy Wilson. Roy built and maintained all Laurie’s race cars from the 1960s onwards, and was…

’66 BEETLE VAN When I spoke to Dan on the ’phone to get the scoop on his van, he sounded glum and admitted he’d had a shit day, due to the fact he’d just sold the van to buy an Early Bay. With a wife and young family now, he’d reluctantly had to admit that a two-seater car isn’t exactly practical transport, so made the decision to sell his pride and joy and replace it with something with enough seats for each member of the family. It might not be something you’ve ever thought about, but a practical family VW with useable seating for four, or even just three, rules out plenty of cool stuff. Karmann Ghia? Nope. Hebmuller? No way. Single Cab. Nah. Beach Buggy? Forgetaboutit. You get the…

STARTER MOTOR CB Performance’s White Rhino aluminium Type 1 engine cases are machined by Autolinea in Brazil with a number of performance improvements over a stock case. These include shuffle pins, a raised deck (to eliminate the need for barrel spacers), a filled void behind no.3 cylinder, full-flow oiling, reinforced lifter bores and clearancing to accept up to 86mm cranks. Cases are available to suit 8mm or 10mm studs and can be ordered in various bore sizes to suit your plans. How much? $1,119.95-$1,149.95 (plus postage, import duty etc. from the US) From: www.cbperformance.com…

Email your news, thoughts, opinions and products to volksworld.ed@kelsey.co.uk Back to ’89 Dear VolksWorld, I wanted to share some photos of my ’69 Beetle, which has just undergone a three-year restoration courtesy of Grant and the team at Beetlelink. A photo of the car actually appeared in Issue 3 of VolksWorld where it was parked next to Brett Hawksbee’s car but, while it was a good looking car in the day, wfollowing a 25-year period of neglect while parked in my mother’s garage, it was in dire need of attention. In fact, it needed a full restoration. I’m due to collect the car any day now and can’t wait to put some miles on it after all these years. I’ve attached a few photographs of it both before and after…

In much the same way that Britain’s favourite food did not originate on these shores, our cousins in America can’t get enough of Mexican food. The further south west you head, the more intense the cravings become. In Arizona, though, Roland McNew has taken things to the next level with his re-birth in the VW world combining his passion for California Look with the crispy crunch of a taco. How is that possible? Anything is possible when it comes to tacos. Roland remembers his early days in the ’70s as a member of Der Kleiner Kampfwagens fondly: “I grew up in Bellflower, California and hung around with a group of long-haired guys and girls that all shared a love of customising VWs. It was the Cal Look era and DKK…

’68 CUSTOM NOTCHBACK I once tried to explain human nature to my girlfriend’s friends, on the eve of me flying to Sweden to stay at someone’s house I didn’t know, but who had helped me buy a Beetle from an old man locally and put it in his garage so we could service it together before I made the long drive home. Lou, one of the aforementioned friends, was convinced he was a serial killer. “Why would anyone help someone they don’t know like that,” she asked. My answer? VW people. Along similar lines, Paul Iozzio – the owner of this awesome Notch – met Charles Mizer when they were both employees of Boeing in Wichita, Kansas, in 1996. Due to a shared interest in VWs, they became great friends…

The European Bug-In at Chimay in Belgium has become one of the key meetings on the European VW circuit, and deliberately echoes the vibe of the original Bug-In events, held in the USA from 1968 through to 1983. To quote the organisers, “The programme of the European Bug-In is a contemporary copy of the original Bug-ins from back in the old days, so it consists of a series of activities that await participants from all over Europe.” Those include drag racing, a slalom event, show ’n’ shine, swapmeet, burnouts, Miss Bug-In, an off-road course, trade stalls and the obligatory event merchandise. What EB-I also has that the B-Is didn’t, though, is evening entertainment. And that’s when it really kicks off! For those that have not enjoyed this event in the…