dune buggies and hotVWs November 2022

In last month's Semaphore column, I mentioned that my transmission project turned into a whole drivetrain project. The transmission is now done. Special thanks to Mike Herbert of Rancho Performance Transaxle. However, in parallel, my 1958 36hp crankcase-based 1398cc hot rod motor is currently torn apart to obtain additional power. Now is the time to focus on my engine, to rebuild it and increase power. We thought it would be a quick rebuild project, but it seems like a new motor experiment. Wolfsburg West's Tony Moore and I disassembled the engine and inspected the various components. I plan to run a detailed tech article about my project in an upcoming issue once we complete it. Meanwhile, I will share some updates via this Semaphore column. Let us know if you have…

As I write this month's column, I am still coming down off cloud nine from my trip to Monterey, California for the annual car week. What started out as a simple car show in Pebble Beach so many years ago has now turned into a weeklong festival of everything automotive, with vintage races, auto manufacturer releases, multiple auctions and show after show after show. I think it is physically impossible to see absolutely everything during the week and attempting to see as much as you can turns the mind and muscles of even the most motivated gearhead into mush. It's epic in all possible ways, and if you have never been, you need to go. This is one of those bucket list events that you build yourself up for, get…

For the last 60 or so years, I have been known as a “VW guy” for I have had numerous Volkswagens, mostly Beetles with a few Buses thrown in for good measure – many different models produced for years by Volkswagen and all having similar traits. Among them are reliability, low operating cost and simplicity. So, in 2006, I was looking for a vehicle possessing these same qualities. I was after a multifunction-type vehicle without unnecessary frills or accessories, and it was my hope I would find it under Volkswagen's famous blue and white logo. Imagine my shock to find no van or Bus with all the qualities for which they were famous! Now I was clearly aware that the move to water-cooled vehicles had brought many changes to the VW…

First Buy in 40 years Hello Jon, I used to own a Beetle in the 1980s and I was away from the scene for over 40 years. I am now thinking about buying a VW again, likely going for a Bug, or possibly a Ghia. When I started looking around for some good project cars, I was shocked to see the prices of these old VWs. They are expensive! When looking around for a daily-driven VW (potentially a future project), what part of the car should I inspect carefully? Some minor damages are OK, but I would like to avoid some big surprises. No “endless rust bucket” project car! Thanks. Bob Miller Phoenix, AZ Bob, besides the obvious checking for massive Bondo deposits, you should carefully inspect the chassis for major damage. Look for…

Through the 1950s, VW kept introducing new models of Buses and trucks. The Double Cab [aka Crew Cab by enthusiasts - Ed.] pickup would be the last major model to be introduced to the lineup, and by 1958 all the regular models we know and love were there for the public to buy. According to legend, a landscaping company/nursery took a Single Cab pickup to a German coachbuilding firm called Binz, and they converted it into a “Double” which had seating for five or six people or for plants to be transported inside the truck. This conversion was apparently available directly from Binz early on, with a Binz company sales brochure indicating such and showing a Barndoor-era Binz Double Cab. VW liked it so much that they contracted with Binz…

A few years ago, I was chatting with Ron Fleming about his black 911. It was at the height of the Porsche hype and prices for the rear-engined sports cars were rising almost daily. Back then, Ron told me that he would hardly drive his car anymore because it was worth so much, and he also saw the Porsche as a bit of a retirement plan. The risk of the 911 being damaged during a joyride was too great for him. Kind of understandable, but also a real pity. Fast forward, August this year. I saw on Facebook that a VW buddy participated in the Sachsen Classic Rally with his factory all-black 964 Speedster. This rally is not a real racing event, it is more of a tourist outing. The photo…