Vehicle Description
Cool VWs have been around as long as there have been hot rods, and
this 1966 Volkswagen Beetle has an awesome California look that's
instantly retro and contemporary. With a strong-running engine, a
wicked stance, and all the charm that makes VWs so popular, this
slick little Beetle gets a lot of things right.
The two-tone paint certainly gets attention and makes the very
affordable Bug look a lot more expensive than it is. Finished a few
years ago, it shows quite well, although up close you might find a
few blemishes that are probably inevitable after a few years of
cruising. But that also means you can get in and drive without
worries, and that's the kind of car we like best. The curved shape
of the Beetle with a crease right down the beltline makes an ideal
candidate for the two-tone treatment, and it uses an airbrushed
silver stripe to divide the two. Painted bumpers that were tucked
in close to the body and modified to clear the deck lid, a visor,
and Euro headlights give it a unique look without erasing any of
the original design, and it's worth noting that all the fenders are
still steel. Neat accessories like the rear-view mirrors mounted on
the hood sides, headlight cages, and fog lights add some interest
and out back the deck lid has been modified to help keep the
warmed-over engine nice and cool. No major changes, just a few
tweaks to create a totally unique look.
The interior takes traditional hot-rodding cues and applies them to
the tidy VW. Factory low-back buckets wear custom seat covers in
tan leather, and matching door panels were stitched up to complete
the look. Tan carpets, bright orange trim, and an original steering
wheel help blend old and new without calling attention to the work.
The original speedo and gas gauge are joined by a trio of
aftermarket dials and a big tach under the dash and a custom
shifter manages the 4-speed manual gearbox. There's also a modern
AM/FM/CD stereo in the center of the dash, custom billet handles
and hardware, plus a little fan under the dash to help keep things
cool inside. UP front, there's a very nicely finished trunk that
continues the black and orange theme and includes a new gas tank
for safety.
The engine is a rodded 1641 cc flat-four, air-cooled, of course.
There's a Scat cam inside, dual carbs up top, and an electronic
ignition system, giving this VW some genuine performance. It's
nicely dressed, but not over-done, sticking with a few well-chosen
chrome pieces and a satin silver air shroud to serve as the
background. It starts easily and runs great, as you'd expect from
an engine built to this level. A custom header feeds a robust
exhaust system that sounds aggressive without losing that
distinctive VW whistle and there's an auxiliary oil cooler to help
control temps. The close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission shifts
better than any VW in our recent memory and you can see that it's
quite clean underneath, with a nicely preserved pan and lots of new
components. 4-wheel disc brakes are quite welcome and the narrowed
and dropped front axle gives it that raked stance that works so
well. 15-inch EMPI wheels look suitably vintage and carry
relatively fat 195/60/15 front and 215/65/15 rear performance
radials.
Great-looking and surprisingly fast, this custom Beetle delivers
big fun in a small package, and that includes the price. Call
today!