dune buggies and hotVWs May 2022

A couple of months ago, we used this column to discuss the game plan of the biggest VW event week held in Southern California: the So Cal VW Week in June. We listed all the major events and mentioned the location change of the Blackstar Campout and El Prado Show. However, we need to make a few adjustments this month, since there are some schedule changes due to an additional event joining the program. The exciting news came to us a few weeks ago: Bugorama Promotions decided to bring The Classic back this year. So, we will now have eight Volkswagen events lined up between the 3rd and 19th of June. You can bet it will be huge again – the biggest VW week in the World is getting even bigger…

One of the common threads that seem to tie car people together are the stories of the ones that got away. Whether it be a car that someone sold and regrets or the ones we had a chance to buy but somehow lost out. They leave a hole in our hearts and minds that seem to stick with us forever. For me, there are many cars that I have owned in the past that I would love to have back. My first VW to make it in a magazine, my 1962 Double Cab, is one I would love to have back, even though its condition and restoration is something that I would be embarrassed by today. It was nice enough to win many awards and even get a full magazine…

VW drag racing has thrived and been part of the Volkswagen scene for almost 60 years. Since the early ’60s, someone has been racing a Beetle! Everything from bracket racing and VW event classes to competing in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) championship. I have raced over this same time period for about 50 years and have noticed a number of changes affecting the VW drag racers. First, I would like to talk about the National Hot Rod Association and the changes they have made. Originally. if you wanted to race a Volkswagen with the NHRA, you had a choice of two different gasser classes: H/Gas or I/ Gas. These were weight-to-cubic-inch-based classes. They were in a division called Modified Eliminator composed of street-type or “door slammers” of many…

Wanna Go Vanagon We have had many VW Bugs over the years and decided to try something else. We bought an ’81 air-cooled Vanagon Westfalia (93K miles), a true barn find as it had not been on the road for the last 20 years. The main issue is the engine at this point in the restoration. The previous owner said that it ran when they parked it. What we have done so far: flushed the fuel tank, new fuel pump, all new fuel lines, new fuel regulator, new injectors and seals, plugs, points, wires, cap, coil, as well as all filters. The engine starts and will run good for about 30 seconds before stalling. The four spark plugs are wet, after drying them; it will start right up for about another 30 seconds.…

The story of the VW Transporter started with the simple sketch by Dutch VW importer Ben Pon. The inspiration for Ben’s sketch was a vehicle that he saw at the factory, the “Plattenwagen”. This was a simple flatbed transport used in the factory that had been made from a modified Beetle floor pan. Now, a couple years into the production, VW had four models of Transporters, and they decided to add a radically different model, which was actually somewhat like that first inspiration for the transporter. Introduced in August 1952 was the VW Pritschenwagen, or as most of us know it, the “Single Cab” pickup truck. It didn’t get the name “Single Cab” until later though, because the “Double Cab” was still years away, and for us, months away in…

Over here in Germany, air-cooled VW people love to put all-red taillight lenses and American license plates on their cars. Why? Because it is different, it is exotic, it has a hint of vacation. Plus… the grass is always greener on the other side. This is exactly the reason why you guys like to put on Euro-style amber and red taillight lenses and German number plates. But do you really know if they are correct for your car? Do you know what the letters and numbers stand for? Let me explain… There are several different kinds of plates in Germany and I know (from my own experience) that you guys are willing to spend quite a bit of money for a matching pair. The only version (well almost) that would look…