bitPimps.lixlink.com

I've been wanting to build this car since before RS ever released the "Herbie" body. Bought 3 of them, but had too many other projects to start earlier. Looking it over, I noticed this is a rather confused car. It's a Super Beetle nose but a standard Beetle body; square window, but it's got a W-decklid with a Popenose brake light and teardrop taillights. Possible to build, but it looks wrong. I must laugh at both RS and Disney for that car, thanks for making the real Beetle, nice try but it's all kinds of wrong.

This project is a fast street beetle, which definately plays at the track. First thing, massive body drop. Shaved the headlight eyebrows off, those are a cruiser thing, this isn't. Shave the sliding sunroof, it weighs more than a hardtop, plus theirs was too tall and looked funny. Rip off bumpers, front may return as "T-bars". Build hood turbocharger box with integrated spoiler. Still needs wheeliebars build, stinger exhaust, project name, paint scheme, diecast Big&Little tires, and a few other minor decisions made.

This is in *mockup* stage. I still have some more shaping to do on my turbobox, front tab hasn't been reinstalled, and things like that. Unlike my secret projects, I didn't want to wait to show this off. Plus it's been rather slow here lately.

Park next to stock beetle.


Side shot.


Launch


Ok, all feedback welcome.

A drag Beetle!?
That's a great idea, I should have thought of it.

Good idea shaving the roof. As far as how it sits, I'd want the front end nearly scrapping the ground, and maybe raise the back a tad. Need room to clear some fat tires ya know.

My parents were REALLY into VW (only aircooled) when I was growing up. I've wanted a Beetle with a turbo box since I saw my first one in the magazines. I figured start small.

I had to man, hardtops are lighter weight, lower maintance, and more rigid, plus I think they look much cooler. I was going to drop the nose but it's supposed to be a street driven car (street, drag, autocross) ; and if I were going to drop it more I'd feel the need to make it look like a fiberglass front clip. I'm probably going to widen the fenders a bit, but not jack the rear too much because most of the really mean Beetles still tuck slicks like you wouldn't believe.

Anyway, since you asked I did another mockup: Nose slammed, ass stock

frizzen wrote:
Anyway, since you asked I did another mockup: Nose slammed, ass stock

I like it... alright, so the rear end could come down, but I like the rake.

Never heard of a "Turbo Box" ! What's it's function (on the real car)?
Anyways I think it looks a tad bit too large (like a trunk), can't imagine the
real one being that large
I've been to a couple "Bug Out's" at the track and all the Bugs ran open
engine compartments. They sounded exactly like gasoline RC cars and man.
I saw one on the line with a 429 Mustang Boss Pro Stock (tubbed) with a
large ass blower. This bug came off the line and got a 10 yard hole shot
on the Mustang. The Mustang ate 'em up (once it got going) but the bug
edged him out (1/8 mi). These bugs were strip'd of everything but a fiberglass
drivers seat and roll cage.

Good work so far, can't wait to see the finished project (by Dec 31st "hint hint")

DarkTari wrote:Never heard of a "Turbo Box" ! What's it's function (on the real car)?
Anyways I think it looks a tad bit too large (like a trunk), can't imagine the
real one being that large

I'm not sure how a "Turbo Box" compares to a standard turbo, but I think you're confusing it with the big ol' spoiler hangin' off the back. Not really my style, but I'm seen them, so I guess that's what they're doing to drag bugs now days, makes sense, you see similar on NHRA and Nopi cars...

I'm picturing the spoiler painted all silver so looks like an aluminum piece just riveted on.

It's an aluminum cover acting as a hood on these. Due to the very limited size of the engine compartments, to run a *really* healthy turbo you've either got to try and cram it's plumbing right up against the engine and have it run hotter risk constantly burning yourself when you're under the hood, install decklid standoffs, remove hood completely (some classes don't allow), or build a new box to house it so it can still be covered and you won't run as hot or risk nearly as many burns when fiddling with engine.

Yeah, I know it's still too big, and I need to play with the rear angle a bit more. Not sure if it'll be a Year End ride, but I did loose motivation on the secret one I was going to do... The box and spoiler are going to be body color and will continue theme of whatever graphics I use on body.


Here are a few examples of these installed on real cars, this was a great magazine untill they killed it
http://vwtrendsweb.com/features/0405vwt_penrose/
http://vwtrendsweb.com/features/0402vwt_saccette/
http://vwtrendsweb.com/features/0203vwt_osborne/
http://vwtrendsweb.com/features/0108vwt_power/

Well figured you were not finished with the box when I still saw the blue crap on it! LOL I like the idea of getting it so low being a VW drag but still street I like the rake to it too but I see it more strait like your first pic (more real world look)

I would try for some dubs for wheels and fill up the wheel wells with some bigger tires.

Are you going to keep the Herbie look or re-paint it?

Keep the pics coming man like it so far!

I like it so far.

Yeah, I think all of us use Blue Crap (tm) or Yellow Crap (tm) for doing mockups.

It will be pancake lowered like my first pics, though the "Hamster in Heat" look CrazyDave wanted to see is more traditional for drag cars. It's gonna have some Wrinkle-wall slicks and up front either some nice high traction tires on wide rims or Pizza cutters. DEFINATELY repaint. There were about 50 Herbies produced, this isn't one it's a clone. I'm trying to come up with a nice graphics idea and color scheme.

This looks a bit more scale, but now my spoiler seems kinda long.

Lookin so much better
Now I can see how it SHOULD be! Great work, now
I'm "really" lookin forward to seeing the finished product.

Jeez, the things I missed. That thing is looking pretty damn cool. I feel a slight rake might work, but the straight look is good too. As for the turbo box, it looks kinda funky IMHO. Perhaps the decklid-standoff would look better, then the wing on top of that. I think some deep-dish wheels would set it off, like alloys rims or the chrome wheels of of the DUB-City Schnitzer M3, giving it that auto-x look.

Sweet!!

Decklid standoffs have been done. And that car really rocks Crazy Dave!!!
http://bitpimps.lixlink.com/pages/phpFo ... php?t=6017

My turbo box is staying since this is a drag beetle, if it were a cruiser I'd just do some standoffs. The *only* way I'm going to build a Type 1 with a wing is with it being integrated into the engine cover. I've been considering a little more body rake, but it's kinda early for that since I haven't found it's donor wheels.

Thanks for all the compliments so far guys!

that's coming along nicely man, tidy work

regarding the wing, i'd say it needs to go up on a steeper angle. if you could curve it upwards, then that's what i mean.
but that's just me