Innehållsförteckning för July 2024 från VolksWorld

Just when you think it’s safe to say we’ve probably seen it all in the world of Volkswagens, somebody, somewhere jumps up and screams, “Mais non, tu ne l’as pas fait!” The somebody in this instance is Loic Bossard, and the somewhere is the north west peninsula of France. That will explain why he said, “But no, you haven’t!” in French. Loic is an interesting and clearly talented man. His world revolves not around VW, but something with fewer wheels – the iconic American motorcycle brand of Harley Davidson. If you’ve never heard the French pronunciation of that, I urge you to do it now as it’s simply wonderful, but then quickly return to find out all about this wild creation. Loic may be a big fan of a Sportster,…

It’s impossible not to smile at a Tempo Matador. In the way mothers find it hard not to smile at their own newborn babies. However, while the majority of new mothers desperately need sleep, the Tempo looks like a slightly bemused alien in need of some. But for all the endearing cuteness, the Matador makes for both a fascinating and pioneering engineering study. At a time when commercial vehicles were as basic as they could be, it featured front-wheel drive, years before Volkswagen came around to the concept. It also introduced Volkswagen to Australia, well before the marque made its own official inroads into the vast, largely inhospitable country that would grow to love its automobiles just as much as Europe and the USA. Yet, despite all this, the Matador…

The Yoneya Toy Co. Ltd. was formed in Japan in 1950, and these days is more commonly referred to simply as Yone. The company used the trademark of a diamond lozenge around the letters SY throughout the 1950-’64 era when it produced a variety of tin plate toys, including various novelty items like the Hippo Bank, along with several clockwork carousel-type toys, road driving sets and military vehicles. Quite the back catalogue. In the early 1960s, Yoneya produced a very nice, tin lithographed, figure of eight track set with a VW Bus as the vehicle. The colourful track platform has the appearance of offset bricks for the roadway with a green grass verge around both sides. In the background, there are graphics of well-known points of interests on route, including…

Email: VolksWorld.ed@kelsey.co.uk Email news, thoughts and products to VolksWorld.ed@kelsey.co.uk Six shooter clutch nut This funky new style of clutch adjustment nut is made of high-grade steel and combines an OE-shaped back with a six shooter gun barrel-style grip for quick and easy adjustment. More comfortable in the hand, and less hassle than battling with the traditional wingnut, this is a neat idea. There are currently four options available: raw steel; black powder coat; stainless steel and titanium. You choose. How much? From $29.99From: www.airkewld.com Well done, Mr. Bubblehead! Visitors to this year's VolksWorld Show will no doubt remember seeing Mr. Bubblehead (Jay Townsend), who was collecting money for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. We’d like to congratulate Jay, who raised a total of £1,654, and thank everyone that donated…

Those of a certain age might fondly recall the Yellow Pages advert fronted by the fictional writer, J.R. Hartley. The premise is that, eventually, he finds a book he’s been looking for, thanks to the big yellow book of contacts. Well, today we have our very own J.R., though this time it’s J.R. Peters in Tucson, Arizona. Our J.R. wasn’t looking for a book on fly fishing though, rather something far more suited to these pages. Although, if you’re keen, I’m sure we can get our own PK out on a rowing boat sometime soon! What J.R. desired was an Oval Window Beetle, and his journey began in Clear Lake Oaks, California, where he found what he describes as a ‘fair condition’ ’57, unsold on eBay and advertised at $2,000.…

When it comes to old VW engines, we firmly believe in the never say die ethos. So, when we were given an oily old 1600, with the words “it’s beyond economical repair”, we decided to find out if that really was the case. Clearly, we couldn’t hear it running, but were told it had terminal bottom-end knock and zero oil pressure. It also had a lot of end float. Initial inspection suggested the motor had been overhauled at least once before, but the only way to find out what’s going on inside is to split the short block and start measuring things. Once apart, it was immediately obvious that a failed rod bearing had caused this particular engine to expire. In the process, it had damaged a connecting rod and…

I’ve only been a passenger in three Split Beetles in my life, but each time it was a surreal experience. Surreal in a good way, but also in an ‘I’d have to sell body parts to own this’ way. I guess it all depends on just how much you want something, and how much you are prepared to forego to own it. You see, it’s not just Split Window Beetles themselves that command big bucks these days, but the parts for them are crazy expensive, too. Seriously, you could buy a complete, running late model Beetle for the price of just one part, as I found out at Bad Camberg in 2011 when I spent the weekend with a friend there who was looking for cog logo parts. Let’s just…

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll already know that I often bang the late model drum. I own two post-’67 VWs – a Beetle and a Bay Window – and am here to tell you I’d rather be behind the wheel of either of those every day than a Split, of either persuasion. It’s not that I don’t like early cars, I do, and I’ve owned plenty of them, it’s just that I have a soft spot for the lates. Maybe it’s because they are considered underdogs in some circles, but I also genuinely like the look of them. I get it. The earlier cars are rounder, and a bit prettier, as well as being more of a pure design – before US safety regulations made everything squarer and sturdier.…

The name EMPI has been a trusted one in the world of beach buggies for as long as these adventurous machines have been tearing through sand, over rocks and along the roads. With its wide range of parts and accessories, EMPI has helped bring thousands of buggies to life, so the EMPI crew felt it was about time they built a demonstrator of their own to showcase at the prestigious SEMA show in Las Vegas. Now, while EMPI certainly holds the majority of parts required for the build, the team called upon some other respected businesses to help, not least Meyers Manx in Costa Mesa, California, who supplied the two most vital parts – a shortened Beetle floorpan and a Brilliant Golden Orange Metalflake body, complete with official Meyers Manx…

Do you dream in colours? If so, do they harmonise, or clash with one another? Back when mind-expanding drugs were in vogue, psychedelia ruled. The wilder the hues, the better the trip, as it were. Long-time VW and Porsche owner, Paul Leyton, harbours no such motives, but he does love the reactions he gets to his Orange Blossom Special, with its Purple Haze upholstery. Don’t be fooled by the external oil filler cap, Paul’s car started life as a 1976 2.7-litre 911. At one time, it was on its way to becoming a Singer Vehicle Design wannabe, but when it arrived in the UK from the USA it was resplendent in silver, endowed with a factory-fitted tea-tray spoiler and Fuchs wheels. Clearly, nothing like what it looks like here. Long…