VW Beetle

During the 1970s when the drag-racing scene of the USA was dominated by muscle cars, VWs began to make an appearance on the West Coast tracks. With companies such as Empi and Scat providing aftermarket VW performance parts, and individuals like Gene Berg who was at the forefront of tuning the flat four, the VWs started to embarrass many quick muscle cars with crazy quarter-miles times of 12 seconds. This was almost unheard from engines as small as 122ci (2 liters), but it sparked a craze in tuning VWs. That craze continues today and this Beetle is a British street/strip racer. It retains the Beetle floorpan, but has lowered suspension and uprated shocks. The all-alloy engine comprises a custom-machined block, race spec heads, dual 2-inch (52mm) carbs and a custom grind cam, all driving through a modified gearbox. With slick tyres the car can run low 12-second quarter-miles.

VW Beetle Specifications