The 2003 Turbo S cars were produced in limited production, with around 1500 made. The 20th AE’s have a production number, and it is likely that the 20th AE’s had a production number. The New Beetle achieved five stars in the 2011 Euro NCAP tests compared to the f. Some beetles only had 2000 models produced, but they are not considered “rare” compared to others.
VW produced three different Beetle models and sold more than 22. 5 million of them in the US. The Beetle is the third most popular car among people who drive, behind only the NB. At the 2002 LA Auto Show, Volkswagen launched the 180bhp New Beetle Turbo S for the American market, which was sold for 5000 made each of the two model years (6 months each). Yellow and Red are rarer.
The Turbo S model (sold 2002–2004) included the 1. 8 L turbo but with 180 hp310 New Beetle Anniversary Editions were produced. After its discontinuation in 1974, Volkswagen decided to sell only 5000 Turbo S models in 2002 to attract male buyers. U. S. importation grew from a trickle in the early 1950s to a flood a decade later, and eventually, 21 million Beetles would be sold worldwide.
The new Volkswagen Beetle Turbo is the most potent version currently available, powered by VW’s tried and tested 2-liter TSI engine. It features a potent 180hp 1. 8T engine with six-speed manual and sports suspension.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| The TURBO S’ have manufacturer numbers? | My wife and I just bought a Turbo S for her a couple of days ago. I know that they were limited production, something like 1500 made? | vwvortex.com |
| Volkswagen New Beetle | The Turbo S model (sold 2002–2004) included the 1.8 L turbo but with 180 hp … 310 New Beetle Anniversary Editions were produced. Blush … | en.wikipedia.org |
| Volkswagen New Beetle Production Numbers | I’ve been trying to find the production numbers for the New Beetle but I cant find any information that shows how many of each trim was produced. | reddit.com |
📹 LABOR OF BUG: Twin-Turbo ’59 VW Euro Beetle 27 Years in the Making EP10
This episode features a 1959 Volkswagen Beetle that has been meticulously restored and modified over 27 years. The owner, Mark, shares the story of their journey, highlighting the unique features and engineering behind the car, including twin turbos, a custom interior, and a surprising history of the original European semaphore turn signals.
What Happened To The Volkswagen Beetle?
Volkswagen officially retired its iconic Beetle model in July 2019 after a notable production run that spanned 81 years, with over 23 million units sold across 91 countries. Originally introduced as the Type 1 in 1938, the car emerged from Nazi Germany and was rebranded to disassociate from its past. The Beetle's distinctive design made it one of the most recognizable vehicles in automotive history.
By 1955, Volkswagen had already produced one million units, highlighting its immense popularity. The Beetle underwent various iterations, including the New Beetle from 1998 to 2011, and continued to evolve until its final generation, culminating in the Final Edition trim.
Despite its cultural significance, symbolizing the counterculture movement of the 1960s, declining sales prompted Volkswagen to cease production. The final Beetles were produced in Puebla, Mexico, marking the end of an era for this automotive icon. Although Volkswagen has shifted focus towards an all-electric lineup, the Beetle's legacy remains pertinent, as it holds the record for the longest production span of any single car model.
The Beetle's journey reflects a mix of innovation and reinvention, and it served as a vehicle of choice for numerous generations. The last model's discontinuation in 2019 brought closure to a storied chapter in Volkswagen's history, leaving behind an enduring mark on car culture globally. While the nameplate is currently dormant, Volkswagen has acknowledged the Beetle's iconic status, which will be remembered fondly by automotive enthusiasts and casual drivers alike.
What Is The Fastest Factory VW Beetle?
The Volkswagen Beetle LSR, driven by Preston Lerner, achieved an astonishing speed of 205. 122 mph over a flying mile at Bonneville Salt Flats, marking it as the fastest Beetle ever recorded. Lerner expressed his exhilaration, stating that surpassing 200 mph in the Beetle LSR was a significant thrill. This unique vehicle is a factory-modified version, featuring a 2. 0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder TSI gasoline engine, which has been expertly tuned for enhanced performance.
The Beetle LSR's remarkable achievement on September 12 set a new benchmark for the model, reaching a speed of 328. 195 km/h. While the Beetle RSi, another iconic variant, houses a 3. 2-liter V-6 engine generating 221 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 6. 18 seconds, the rarity and performance of these cars often match or exceed that of high-end vehicles like Porsches.
In a significant evolution from the classic Beetle to this performance powerhouse, the LSR has bridged a gap in the car's history. Despite its conventional appearance, the Beetle LSR demonstrates remarkable power and speed, establishing itself notably within the automotive community.
What Is The Fastest Stock VW Beetle?
The Volkswagen Beetle LSR has made history by achieving a remarkable top speed of 205. 122 mph, making it the fastest Beetle ever recorded. This impressive feat occurred at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where the specially tuned 2. 0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine was pushed to its limits. The accomplishment was driven by Preston Lerner, contributing editor for Automobile magazine, who successfully navigated the vehicle over a flying mile.
The Beetle LSR's engine was modified by THR Manufacturing, which installed new turbochargers, camshafts, pistons, and connecting rods to enhance performance. Comparatively, the Beetle RSi features a 3. 2-liter V-6 producing 221 horsepower, able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 6. 18 seconds, though it remains a rare option costing upwards of 90k. The enhanced performance of the Beetle LSR puts it on par with supercars, outperforming even some Ferraris.
Additionally, Volkswagen's stock Beetle models, like the Beetle R-Line coupe, come with a similar EA888 2. 0-liter engine producing 210 horsepower. The Beetle LSR's achievement not only highlights its engineering but also solidifies its legacy within automotive history as the fastest Beetle on the planet.
When Did Volkswagen Make A Beetle?
Volkswagen continued to evolve the Beetle throughout the 1950s and 1960s, making notable changes such as enlarging the rear window in 1958 and introducing tubeless tires in the previous year. They also engaged in innovative advertising strategies, employing clever branding such as designations like 1200, 1300, 1500, 1600, 1302, and 1303 for various Beetle iterations. Despite launching larger luxury models like the Type 3 and K70 during the 1960s and 1970s, none surpassed the Beetle's popularity.
In 1971, the Beetle was refreshed to present a more aggressive stance, alongside the launch of the Dune version. By 1972, Beetle production reached over 15 million units. Globally recognized as a cultural icon, the Beetle's origins date back to a design drafted by Hungarian engineer Béla Barényi in 1925 and commissioned by Adolf Hitler in the 1930s.
The New Beetle, introduced in 1997, paid homage to the original design while featuring modern updates, such as front-engine placement. Production of the classic Beetle lasted in the U. S. from 1950 to 1979, followed by its revival from 1998 to 2011 and a final generation from 2012 to 2019. The original Beetle, with its unique curvy design by Ferdinand Porsche, began historical production on December 27, 1945, marking the start of Volkswagen's successful journey with what became known as the "people’s car."
When Did The Beetle Go Out Of Business?
The Volkswagen Beetle, officially known as the Type 1, was manufactured from 1938 until 2003, gaining iconic status worldwide. Although U. S. sales ceased in 1979, production continued in Mexico and Brazil until 2003. The Beetle underwent little change over the decades, with its first major redesign occurring in 1998. By 2002, over 21 million Type 1s had been produced; however, by 2003, annual production had plummeted to 30, 000 from a peak of 1. 3 million in 1971.
The decline in sales was one of the primary reasons for the discontinuation of the Beetle. In 2019, Volkswagen officially ended production of the Beetle, marking the conclusion of a vehicle that had represented various cultural elements throughout its history. After German governmental ownership was reinstated in 1949, 100, 000 Beetles had been produced by 1950, and the millionth unit rolled off the line shortly thereafter. The last version of this renowned car was manufactured at VW's Puebla plant in Mexico.
Volkswagen plans to shift focus toward electric vehicles following the retirement of the Beetle. The iconic Volkswagen Beetle's end signifies the conclusion of an era, as it had endured approximately seventy years and three design generations. The decision to halt production means that there are no current plans to revive the model in any future context. With its distinctive shape and far-reaching impact, the Beetle remains one of the most celebrated automobiles in history.
How Many Volkswagen Beetles Are There?
Volkswagen celebrated the Beetle's legacy by launching 3, 000 limited edition "Última Edición" (Final Edition) models. Throughout its long history, the Beetle underwent minimal design changes but received over 78, 000 incremental updates. Established in 1945, the Beetle is among the oldest automotive nameplates and has a rich heritage, from the original "Pretzel Beetle" to the contemporary "Mexico Beetle." There are currently 79 Volkswagen Beetle models still operational on UK roads, out of which 38, 542 have valid MOTs, representing about 0. 1239% of all vehicles in the UK.
Initially introduced in the U. S. in 1950, the Beetle gained immense popularity, leading to global sales exceeding 21 million units, making it one of the most successful automotive models in history. Designed by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche, the Beetle was recognized for its distinctive round shape. The first generation produced from 1939 to 2003 saw over 20 million units made; however, its successors did not achieve the same levels of success.
The VW New Beetle was sold from 1998 to 2010, while the production of the classic model ended in 2003, marking 50 years since the 15, 007, 034th Beetle was produced. For a time, it was the best-selling car, surpassing the Model T. Detailed statistics on Beetle models, including sales figures, can provide further insights into this iconic vehicle's legacy.
What Year Of VW Beetles To Avoid?
It is advisable to avoid certain model years of the Volkswagen Beetle due to reported significant issues that can incur high repair costs. Specifically, steer clear of 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2013 models. These years have shown to have a higher incidence of problems based on VW Beetle reviews, NHTSA complaints, and common user-reported issues. Conversely, the most reliable VW Beetle models are from 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.
Particularly noteworthy is that early generations, such as the first-gen models (like 1968) and some from the second-gen (specifically 2004), are generally better options, while the 2012-2013 models from the third gen are less desirable.
The reliability of the VW Beetle varies across its nearly seven-decade history. The earlier years of the second generation (1999-2001) exhibited more problems, with the 1966 version often cited as the least reliable due to its unique technical setups. The 2008-2010 Beetles seem more reliable overall when compared to earlier counterparts.
In summary, if looking for a VW Beetle, it's crucial to understand which years to avoid for a better experience, focusing on the more dependable years instead. Overall, while some years of the Beetle have solid reputations, others should definitely be avoided to protect your investments.
Which VW Beetles Are Most Valuable?
Herbie cars lead the ranking of the most expensive Volkswagen Beetles, particularly those from the original 1960s movies. The 2005 film, Herbie: Fully Loaded, also produced notable vehicles that still garner significant interest from pop-culture enthusiasts. The priciest sale recorded for a Beetle reached $212, 500, a notable increase attributed to models from between 1968 and 1979, especially sedans, while convertibles, despite being generally more expensive, have seen rapid price increases recently.
In the last five years, Condition 2 values for convertibles have surged 126 percent and 155 percent for other variants. The most expensive Herbie Beetles sold for $126, 500 and $86, 250, further reinforcing the franchise's impact on value. Among the top five most expensive Beetles, the 1961 VW Type 1 Coupe "Herbie" sold for $212, 500, and the 1960 VW Type 1 Coupe, famously featured in Seinfeld, reached $121, 000. For classic Beetle enthusiasts aiming to purchase, prices for '76–79 convertibles are between $34K and $46K in Condition 2.
The article also mentions valuable rarities, emphasizing significant price hikes in earlier years’ models and the growing interest among buyers for practical standard-model Beetles from the 1960s and 1970s.
📹 This $700 VW Beetle Turbo S Wants To Be A Porsche SO BAD! Cheapest Beetle?
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FULL SPECS, 1959 Euro Beetle Twin Turbo Resto-Mod, Courtesy of Owner Marc Kuttner (aka Turbo Vdub) CLICK READ MORE! Engine: •\t2387cc VW Type 1 aluminum super case with Hoover mods, 8.3:1 CR, clearanced, blueprinted and balanced by owner •\tScat forged counterweighted 86mm crank, type 1 mains, 2″ Chevy rod journals •\tDRD 5.5″ H-beam rods with 5/16″ ARP bolts •\tRevmaster long 94mm cylinders, cut to length •\tWiseco pistons(P/N#K633M94, 9400XX ring pack(1.0mm x1.2mm x2.8mm)) •\tWebCam custom grind turbo cam with Dial-A-Cam steel straight cut gears and CB lightweight lifters •\tCB Wedge Port CNC ported heads(44×37.5) with single “Bee Hive” springs and 8mm chromoly studs •\tNGK DCPR8EIX Iridium spark plugs and Magnecor wires •\tScat 1.25:1 Pro Comp rocker arms with ACN heavy duty dual tapered aluminum pushrods •\tParallel twin modified Garrett VNT25 variable vane turbos with manual vane control and water jacket cooling system by owner •\tCustom 1.5″ phase tuned “twin scroll” exhaust system, ceramic coated and wrapped, made by owner •\tTwin Turbosmart 38mm wastegates and Turbosmart Eboost Street electronic boost controller •\tElectromotive upgraded TEC3 EFI full sequential engine management with Clewett Engineering cam sync. Dyno tuned by AJ at Performance In-frame Tuning in Napa, CA making 230HP/210TQ at the wheels with 15psi •\tBosch in-line fuel pump, Aeromotive regulator and filter, teflon hoses, with Siemens Deka 60lb/hr injectors •\tPrometh two stage water/methanol injection with nozzles before and after compressors, with Snow progressive controller •\tCustom blow through finned aluminum intake with modified CB 48mm throttle bodies & match ported injector manifolds, HKS blow off valve, custom dual throttle cable system and cold air intake by owner •\tBergmann modified Porsche style fan kit with custom thermostat, front, rear and lower cylinder tins by owner •\tScat 5.
Marc is one brave person letting anyone else drive a car so long in the making and with such a personal history to him. It is testament to Marc’s engineering skills that the whole project has come together in such a quick and drivable car. God bless all the inspired, talented engineers of the world, it makes it a better place to be
Awesomemmmee!!!!! Nicole, ain’t nutten like driving a bug. I still have my ‘74. She’s longing for some love. Once you drive the bug, it’s like an addiction. U keep going back. Mark did an awesome awesome AWESOME 🤩 job. His attention to details is impeccable. I am all the way in Jamaica 🇯🇲 and I used to drive the heck outa mine. Your find with Marks car has re-energize my passion for my old girl. Thank u soooo much.
I have seen this bug in person at a car show and spent about an hour admiring all of its details. Also imaging how it drove and if it was a trailer queen. Now I have my answer. Thanks for showing us how Marc’s passion and your enthusiasm make the perfect testimony of just how much fun driving can be.
My First car ever was a 65 1300cc DakDak (Beetle) and because it had been neglected this was also the car I cut my mechanical teeth on and man was it an adventure. VW did a curious thing with those cars, every part had a number stamped or cast on it, if it was a handed or directional part it had an arrow or instruction and as a young guy with a cheap workshop manual this took away the fear and allowed me to appreciate the engineering art that went into my freedom machine. The simplicity and quality was astounding for something so inexpensive and I still have many fond memories of the Car and knowing what I know now I can see how Marc dove head first down this rabbit hole 🙂 Thank you Nicole for showing a VW engine’d Beetle that ticks ALL the boxes for me and I suspect for you too. Love it!
Hey Nicole, I LOVE your website. I’m in Scotland and I’ve just bought a 1987 F150, American cars are a rare sight over here but it’ll keep me tinkering over the winter. I love your enthusiasm for driving any and everything, no matter what you always seem to have a blast. Keep finding the fantastic assortment of cars from all disciplines and all the very best wishes for your ongoing success. It’s in the bag.
This article has such a massive feel good factor associated with it. The car. The build. The history. The owner. The passion. The look. The sound. This build is the antithesis of today’s electric vehicles which are devoid of sound and soul. This is a new website discovery for me and I’m loving the content! ❤️💜👍😎
I really like this platform. She’s got a great concept. Regular guys that love to talk about their cars. This is the right way to go. We would never see these cool cars without her. I hope that she stays focused of the regular Joe builders.i like that there is no waiting for TV time, you can watch it when you want over and over. She knows what she is talking about, she keeps it fun, she is such a pretty woman and she appreciates her viewers. We’re not just clicks. She will actually read the posts and give us a like. Keep tuning in, like her articles, and share them because…because we don’t want to lose this great concept.
Wow, what a cool car! The simplicity of old bugs or in this case the complexity! The adaptability, the aftermarket parts for bugs. I remember having a subscription to Dune Buggies and Hot VW’S magazine. Lots of creativity shown in those pages over the years. Thank you for helping us all have a vicarious thrill of driving this machine!
Wow – it’s really a ’59. It has the larger rear window (they were small ovals before) and the droopy taillights, replaced with larger straighter ones the next year. How great that Mark has kept so much about the car as original, or at least original-looking. A bit dropped up front, but on the road it looks like a true ’59. I enjoyed hearing about the original reserve fuel tank feature (and that he added a fuel gauge) and then later seeing, without any comment, that the reserve lever was still there below the dash. When I turned sixteen in 1972, my parents gave me a ’59 bug and a box of craftsman tools to keep it running. We had a few awesome years together. My next car was a ’64 bus. Love those cars. Nicole, thanks for this article. Keep being nice to runners and bikers! Mark, your good taste and obsession with detail has created a beautiful monster and also preserved a classic. Thanks to you both!
Every time that I go down the rabbit hole of the beatle I end up at another brick wall. This amazing fellow has managed to find ways over under around and through those barriers. Thank you for showing us more of the best stuff. God bless American bourne german engineering. Just an amazing fellow with a beautiful dream.
Can’t believe I’ve only just found this superb website! Absolutely awesome articlegraphy and presenting, she gets a good rapport with the people she meets, they really open up about their cars. I love the way Nicole actually spends time looking at all of the car and has a great knowledge of cars but wants to learn more. She asks the stuff you’d ask yourself if you were there.
Marc, Do not EVER sell this Beauty! this is a Dream. Truly first class work that you did on this Käfer! This is how my dream Bug would look and feel like. Great choice of the Color too!!! Auf wiedesehn Herr Kuttner 😊 and also many thanks to Nicole for showing this to all of us. really dig your passion for these legendary cars!! keep doing it.
Wow! Great interview. Like the guys out of box thinking, and innovation, bravo! Like the inspiration from his parents bug. Their license plate number on their 1966 bug was UKR 303, shown here in the article at :50-:53. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in Porter Ranch, and I remember on my block alone, that was a cul-de-sac, with only seven houses on it, that my next door neighbors had 2 cars with the plates, UKR 023, which was a gold/tan 1967 Ford Falcon, and UKR 024 which was a 1967 red Ford Mustang. My neighbor bought both cars on the same day. Another neighbor on the block had a 1967 blue Ford Mustang that had the plate number, UKR 947, and was bought at the same Ford dealer, as the red 1967 Ford mustang, which was Canoga Park Ford. I was passionate about cars, and would memorize the license plates of all of the neighbor’s cars, when I was a kid, some much so that the parents would refer to me as “license plates”. Xlnt Vlog!!!!
She’s not just a pretty face, but a 1959 Beetle. I brought one for the transaxle low gear $50. put in a 72 van engine converter kit. Beat a Ford toronado at the traffic lights for only 30 feet, but he stopped as I was letting the front back down. HHmm should had put restrictors on de-pipes took a little scraping. O ya fun days.
First of all, thanks for this article don’t know how you guys found this amazing build. 🙏 Second, the build I mean OH MY GODDDD there are so many small details the man wasn’t lying when he said it’s years of blood, sweat and tears. I’m not that into bugs but this build is so amazing and so unique. Not to mention Marc is not just a car guy he’s an artist TBH.
What an incredible machine that is…. You could see the smile on his face…. Also the terror in his eyes… :-))))) You are a lucky Lady to be able to drive such rare and Beautiful cars…. Fantastic to watch…. :-))) xxxxxx ps: Semaphore were flags that were used to communicate instructions between sailing ships many years ago… :-)) xxxxxxxxx
I have Respect for this Lady as she is Interested to know about Vintage Vw. I am from Sarawak, a Malaysian State in Borneo. And I have an Original 66 and a 71 Vw Beetle. Ours here is the RIGHT Hand Drive ( as we were once a British Colony ). Most of the Beetle here are Swing Axle rear. I am thinking of Converting the 71 to the IRS ( Independent Rear Suspension ) as I have fabricated a pair of JIGS based on Internet Photos and using an Actual IRS Half Cut Beetle imported from Japan as a Guide for Accurate Measurement.
My wife and I enjoyed perusal this article! I’ve worked with Marc over ten years and all I can say is he needs to pursue his talent and not waste his time in our simple little engineering job. Marc is a pretty serious guy and it’s nice to see him smile; you can definitely see what he enjoys. Nicole – you and your staff did an excellent job of this article! The camera angles and all. You did a wonderful show of this masterpiece and it’s creater! Thank you! Ram
Cool car! Not sure i like the size difference between rear and front tires though… 🤔 The front tires looks to small! Talking about diameter, not width. Anyway, great show as always! How do you find all the cars you chose to show? Love how you handled his very shy, generous and introvert personality. PS. the guy looks like he’s Ryan Reynolds older brother! 😆 He should go to Hollywood and do a film with Ryan, where they are brothers.
Just found this website. Bought my first Bug in 1959 when I was in college. It cost $1,495 brand new! I sold it after 4 years but i should have kept it. It always started, whether snow, rain or shine. 6-volt battery was under rear seat. Had several more in the next 20+ years including the first Bug with auto transmission, two VW Buses, 2 Convertibles. My last was a 79 Conv. My former colleague who I sold it to for his wife, still had it as of 10 years ago. He is as old as I am – 81years old, so I dont know how much longer he will drive it. Terrific memories brought on by this fabulous work of art. A great article!! My Bugs and my Renault 10s were my fav cars thru the 1960s and 1970s. The Bugs were the most reliable, the Renaults were the most comfortable!
I so love perusal your vids, u bring such a unique perspective to this arena !!!! Plus ur hot!!!! (I’ve heard u mention ur husband now a couple times, so that last comment was meant to boost his ego lol, lucky dude!!!! ) I’ve always wanted to meet a women who is into cars as much as I love them!!! Keep up the good work, u rock and I can’t believe that “Motor Trend Television” hasn’t snapped u up yet !!! If they are paying attention – GET ON IT !!!!
Beetles were cool out of the box. I’ve driven 2, and was surprised at how solid they felt and how well they handled. And here you come up with another fantastic specimen. In one sense, I’m like, Wow, a ’59 Beetle, but it’s not original. in another sense, it’s just WOW! BTW, a friend had a ’59. It had to be fitted with turn signals, but still had the original semaphores, and the US model was a “flag” with black and white stripes. Thanks for another fantastic article, and for making me jealous you get to drive all of these amazing cars. It’s also nice he kept the interior as close to stock as possible.
I was stressing over the lack of specification talk..then noticed you posted the spec’s. Thank you for that. This guy has a list of the must haves from the 80’s and into the nineties in that engine. Then he went the extra mile(s) with some of the best engineering I have seen! I hope he continues the project, as it will only get better. I look forward to seeing it again!! Hope I see that baby in a show here in CO. Beautiful machine, excellent engineering.
Wow!! So much different than my first car, a 1964 VW Beetle, 1200 cc, six volt which produced, with great difficulty, 55 mph on flat surfaced roads, 35 mph on an incline in 3rd and a whopping 65 – 70 mph downhill. That was in 1975 when I was a 18 year old prospecting speed freak. 😎 I would have given my wisdom teeth to own such a beetle. Thanks for sharing this vehicle and the builders passion with us. Greetings from Krugersdorp, South Africa.
Semaphore turn signals. This article shows them more clearly than I have ever seen them, before. When I was a baby my Dad was stationed in Germany and my parents had a 1955 Beetle. Then a 1956 Beetle in the US. They called them Woopdiggies. In Germany, they also had a prewar Wanderer. Wanderer became part of Auto Union (Audi). Your show is excellent!
Years ago I worked for Daimler Chrysler and would spend my days coming up with solutions for things that the engineers missed. This guy didn’t miss a trick. I wish I could have worked with more engineers like this guy, but then again, I wouldn’t have much work to do. OCD engineers are what this world needs.
What a beautiful beetle, wow, I had a super beetle with dual exhaust and scoop on back I loved that car and never got stuck in the snow! I wish they’d bring the original back it’d be amazing to have one again just a blast!!! What a great article his attention to detail is off the hook, thats one gorgeous car thanks for sharing.
What an awesome bug! What an awesome build! everything is perfect to last little tiny detail. And the car is as perfect in looks as it is technically. And you Nicole you are so cute and humble in your appreciation for this Bug and Marc’s achievement. its a pleasure perusal you acting like this is all new to you. It was fun to watch in every way, I love your natural down to earth style!
Bit of a difference to the blue 517hp bug test drive experience who appeared to be hyperventilating during the test drive…..this guy just sat back and enjoyed being taken for a ride in his creation and was quietly processing what was happening to him..so funny to watch. This guy is so cool despite obviously being a bit OCD with the levels of perfection he applied to the build…..you know ….we are not all the same and the ones who produce these builds simply never give up and are something special. You both worked so well together it made great viewing.
Dear Nicole Johnson. 👍👌👏 Oh WOW, simply fantastic!Extremely well done (video, work, car, design, test drive, simply everything)! Even the host and the ingenious builder are two really cool, amazing and knowledgeable persons (good looking too of course). There is sooo incredibly much love, brain and work invested in this bug, it’s nearly unbelievable. But of course the amazing result speaks for itself. Utube recommended this to me and I’m very thankful! Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health to all involved people. Post Scriptum: Additionally and amongst everything else, you are definitely and obviously an excellent driver!
I have a ’67 beetle that my wife bought new, and I have been restoring it for about 35 years. It was so rusty before restoration began that I literally went through the floor boards on the interstate! Fortunately, I didn’t hit the pavement, but it was time to restore or scrap. It will never be like Marc’s, but getting it back on the road will be a major triumph. Totally enjoyed perusal this article!
25:23 “I hope you enjoyed it cause…th, th, that’s all yer gettin’.” Marc had that timid, kind of ‘put upon’ look on his face the whole time. Then he smiled and you realize he’s pretty cool with it after all. Nicole remains herself. The kind of lady that understands a little more about “car lingo” than the guys were expecting from a hot-little-brown-eyed girl. I love her website.
I can appreciate Marc’s beautiful car without putting him through all that stress of driving it. Nicole only you could have got away with asking for a drive, The lets go for 14… moment was gold. Why did Marc think for a second that you would not ask for the extra boost. You just got a new subscriber
Marc this is a precision build that projects amazing visual impact brother! 👀🥊💥 Nicole I just found you and this series a little while ago with the light blue Sleeper Bug but just recently came back and watched all the episodes. This episode completes the series for me but I have to say what a fresh angle to advance the gearhead fan experience! High five to Detour production company all hands seen and unseen. They gave us the PERFECT host. 🙌🏾
Such great cars. I’ve owned three…a 73 semi-auto, a 74 Super Beetle (covered in VW Trends) and a 73 straight Beetle. That last one, I drove from NY to California in three days. The last two were highly modified. love this article. Exceptional workmanship by Marc and that appreciation from Nicole shows each and every time she pushes that accelerator pedal.
Mark It’s probably to late by now if you decided to sell the Beetle. BTW, it’s not OCD, its obsessive compulsive personality style. I was a (RSO NRC) Radiation Safety Officer Nuclear Regulatory Commission/ Life Safety Officer for many years. Most people don’t know the difference, that an “it’s eye for detail” is exactly what their looking for (no pund intended). My wife had a ‘65 Beetle when we met. She paid $1095, monthly payments $35/mo. Anyway, I digress, let me know if it’s for sale? Thanks Mike PS-I am in 97321
Oh man! I had an original 60 Ragtop. I remember driving in the winter, had to scrape the ice on inside of my windshield while driving. And running out of gas in the middle of the road, because mine had no gas guage, and had to use my spare portable tank, and suck the gas at the carburator with my mouth. Good times.
Wow. That is one awesome display of a love for an automobile. You can certainly tell he loves what he does and the car is amazing in its detail. Kudos Mark for your attention to detail. I grew up with friends who owned Bugs and we did lots of mods and performance work. Semaphore is an old signaling method that usually uses flags. It used to be taught in Boy Scouts which is where I first saw it.
If I was the jogger at 18:48 I would have high jumped when you blew past! That exhaust sounds amazing. I love seeing how he dealt with heat with the fins around key pipes and the heat insulation wrap. The car grey color on my monitor has a little bit of green to it which actually looks pretty cool. The seats and door interior with the white pinstripes look great.
Fun article! I enjoyed the fact you could drive the car, and show off some of the performance. The drive-by shots with the exhaust sound were great. I especially liked the one with the jogger in the background. The car sounded pretty mean under load. Looks like a lot of fun to drive, and you did a nice job telegraphing that. I’m working my way through your other articles and enjoy the variety. I also subscribed, and look forward to seeing whatever coolness you come across!
A good friend of mine in high school back in the mid 70’s had a 1962 VW Bug that he thought needed to be a Baja Bug. So he bob’s the rear fenders and shortens the deck lid then he moves to the front end and can’t decide how the hood needs to be. Well about that same time his parents get a new fridge. The old one was from the late 40’s so it’s got the art deco look on the top door. He takes the freezer door off the top holds it up to the front of the bug and boom there’s the new hood with just enough room for the headlights.
I just found this website and I love it. Only 10 articles though. I’m looking forward to more. I am a mold maker in the race car industry and I get to see some really cool and interesting cars. Everything from a jet turbine powered 2020 Camaro to real Shelby GT350 and GT500 Mustangs to Jim Hunt’s Caccia, which is a custom car he designed and I built the body for. This is a cool website. I’ll be showing it to the people I work with. Really cool!
Imagine a split bus built like that cool I have a 61 bug those turbos are way under rated for what they are I also own my parents 1989 Plymouth voyager it has the 2.5 with the turbo when you have the cruise control on and you go up hill and the transmission kicks down you need to have both hand on the steering wheel it takes off its fast for a van great article thanks for sharing that bug is truly a piece of art
I had a 1968 Bug (with a manual Sunroof) that I did up with a two Barrel carburetor, dual point distributor, a small custom steering wheel, the kind they used on bumper cars, and I believe at the time one of the first set of radial tires on a bug (a whole other story on the tires). That little bugger would fly on the Cross Island Parkway in Queens, NY. Had many a sports car in chase mode! Boy, I miss that car! Marc, you did a fabulous job!
I love what he did with the airflow! I’ve been considering doing something similar to my Super Beetle. I’m planning to re-do all my cooling system next year and I’m thinking about ducting higher pressure, cool air into the engine bay. I would have liked to see how he plumbed his dry sump and where the reservoir is though.
I’ve always had a fascination with the Beetle. Always liked Herbie as a kid. Just didn’t like how underpowered they were. Now you have these mechanical masters who make these little bugs move out and look stock. I’ve never actually driven one but I bet the modified ones are a treat. It sounds really mean. I’d says Ms. Nicole has an awesome job seeing and driving so many awesome vehicles. Pretty cool how much he let her drive it. I know its tough letting other people drive your babies.
The guy is a genius ! Attention to detail is of the scale ! I love how he let you drive away and said nothing to you on what to do or not do but it is obvious you know your stuff and you are an excellent driver I would have no problem letting you drive my cars either.It’s a pity more women aren’t into cars as much as you ! It would be great to be able to talk about castor angles and inter coolers with girls too, awesome article thanks I enjoyed that !
Hey Nicole, I’m a car guy for long time, I’ve seen so many websites go from nothing go to something and it’s frankly getting old and boring. Most websites nowadays sell that thumbnail that flaunts some female’s curves and exposed skin, or they’ve climbed the media ladder that they don’t seem genuine anymore, or they’re trying so hard to “act cool” and be relevant if that makes sense. You’re smart, classy, goofy, silly and hot in a genuine way. You’re content is refreshing and entertaining.
This is an absolute piece of art . Love the sound . VW ‘s are fun . And I can’t imagine driving this one compared to a 1973 Super Beatle I had brand new . I had a sunroof too . No comparison I know . I think my wife and I had more fun with that car then any we’ve had over the past 50 years . Thanks for making this article . And good luck with you’re work of art 👍👍👍
Superbe auto, avec le souci du détail absolument partout et d’un raffinement certain dans le choix des couleurs avec un gout très sur, et de plus une merveille à conduire dans une grand confort ! Que demander de plus alors ? Quand on est, en plus, avec la plus charmante des conductrices ! ! ! 😇🤩😍
Wish I had the 6 speed manual! I, instead, got another rare one: a 2001 isotope green 1.8t 5 speed for $600. After some repairs (new timing belt, water pump, timing chain hydraulic tensioner (it has a separate variable timing chain for the cams), serpentine belt, oil pressure sensor, coolant sensors, wheel bearings, shocks and brakes, flywheel and clutch plate) it is actually very fun to drive! It literally gets a lot of attention now even for being an “old new beetle”. These are really fun cars and with proper maintenance, they can last forever
“I’m not gonna keep throwing parts at a car with 270k miles…” That’s called foreshadowing, kids. Wizard is a good actor. That grin at the 2-3 shift on the backroad, you can’t act that, that’s real joy right there. That was the exact moment Tyler knew his plan had worked and the wizard was on the hook.
The turbo s was my first car. Ive kept up with a bunch of sports cars in it. The steering and handling is super solid and there’s very minimal body roll. And the 6 speed felt so good compared to my forester, almost gated like it guided you into gear and clicked. I took it on a rally that started at a stock car track. We just did timed laps with a figure 8 in the middle. I ended up smoking most of the newer cameros etc. When I told my dad that I was swapping it out for something more practical with awd for Colorado stuff (my current forester), he bought the car off me because he loves it so much. Sadly, its been sitting in his garage and now its super dusty and dirty inside.
That is indeed a great find! I would have loved to have bought that car for myself. We have a black 2003 Turbo S Beetle in the family that my dad bought in early 2005. Still have the car with under 40k and is still like brand new inside and out. All the interior plastic still held up nicely and absolutely nothing is broken. This is the nicest and fastest beetle ever produced next to the color concept Beetle’s from 2002-2003. Also have a 2000 Beetle TDI with almost 235k and is another fun little car. These are great little cars that also don’t get much credit and are easily overlooked. I’m glad this car ended up in the right hands.
I have a 2003 turbo S! Little grey beetle and it’s a fun ride for sure! Got it for 2,400$ everything is running beautiful. I’ve been able to repair most of the issues on it myself (and I am only 16) and have spent about 17 hours on paint from a clear bra that had cracked pretty bad from being in the sun. I’ve fixed the AC in it after realizing how hot it gets at 100° F in the summer and it’s really nice now! Planning on keeping it and getting a newer paint job on it. It’s my cute little race beetle!
Car and Driver: “Another element common to these three models is a deployable spoiler, which resides just above the rear window. When the New Beetle made its debut, this device was programmed to pop up at 93 mph. This seemed a bit extreme to VW’s U.S. marketing people, who finally got their colleagues in Germany to reduce deployment speed to make the spoiler visible in everyday traffic. But the compromise–40-mph deployment, 10-mph retraction–creates a problem. Deployments and retractions are audible, sounding like pieces falling off the car, and in urban traffic they’re also frequent.”
I actually owned a 2003 Turbo S. I bought it in 2004. I originally bought it because my commute to work increased to 130 miles/day . The car had a great stereo to make the time during the commute fly by. My car had a Monsoon Stereo. That car was fast, I actually had the speedometer pegged. At launch that car had massive torque steer. The car got me a few speeding tickets, so in 2006 I traded it in for a Honda Element. I kept that car until I had to adjust the solid lifters every 30k miles. Four years ago my commute to work got short and sweet.. Only 36 miles round trip, so I bought a Jeep Wrangler. That’s got to my favorite vehicle so far. It reminds me of a toy I had as a kid.. It’s the only vehicle that you can take the doors and roof off and still be legal.
I like how the Wizard gushed over the beetle. I also like how my small fleet has so much in common. I have a 2003 Jetta 1.8t AWP manual wagon. I feel like it’s my red headed step child. It’s been totaled, rebuilt, flooded, and I backed into it twice with my Land Cruiser. It still is nimble, quick and fun with a fair share of complements despite the dents.
I had a 02 Turbo S that did the same thing. I replaced the coils, plugs, adjusted the timing, ran all the vacuum lines: every time I thought it was fixed it would start doing it again. Finally traced it down to something in the EVAP system but was tired of fixing it so I sold it. Great car but parts are hard to find and twice as expensive.
For a VW of it’s age, you get to do every bushing in the suspension (it’s easier to do them all) and you may want to go to a company like Eibach and get a small lowering kit (they have a nice one at about 1 inch, if I remember correctly). Wheels and tires, and you have yourself an amazing runner that will make you smile every day.
Wow, I have a 1997 Suzuki sedan, bought from new and are abused. Parked outside under tropical sun and rain, for most of its years, windshield crashed and flooded during a rainstorm, got terrible paint job, but the rear view mirrors are still the original, and while mostly dirty, its still reflective and hasn’t fade at all.
Harley riding coworker 16:22 wanted a Beatle to drive in the dark or rain. He gave up on the Turbo S because 9:40 he thought the sound of that auto spoiler closing was a problem 7:36. He bought a regular new Beatle, he regretted it immediately when I told him about the auto spoiler on my X’s Turbo S.
Much better condition than my wife’s NBC with the 2.5 and the infamous 09G transmission. It simply astonished me how bad the interior bits of the car were. Door handles that fall off, automatic shifter that broke, even the turn signal stalk needed attention. My wife was unknowingly driving the car in lower gears for weeks because the gear shifter was indicating the wrong gear. At least the turbo comes with the much more reliable 6 speed.
Haha, this brings back PTSD flashbacks. My wife had just plain Turbo Beetle. The number of recalls this thing went through was ridiculous. The pop up spoiler broke all the time. It was zippy though and had good cargo capacity especially with back seats folded. And great headroom for tall people. I think we went through like 3 sets of ignition coils, some replaced as part of recall. Also faulty brake pedal sensor. Which causes the engine to go into limp mode and switch off the turbo. Finally we got rid of it when pieces of plastic trim just started to fell of. Also the rubbery covering of some trim pieces just started to peel off.
My thoughts in the article: “Oh he bought another beetle if he takes it to the wizard he is probably gonna keep it” “A hoovie is smart he is taking it to the ninja, wizard will remember this” “Wait he is gonna try and change the coils himself? He really doesn’t want the wizard to keep it” “Oh he is actually taking it to the wizard, that car isn’t leaving the shop” “Look at the wizard smile, hoovie just give the car to him” “Look at the wizard casually dropping that he is ready to let his beetle die to get another” “He is actually test driving it in the article? Hoovie you know he is gonna keep it” “Oh look he made an offer, stop the bad acting Tyler we know you knew this was gonna happen xD”
I had a really clean, used 2001 Passat with well over 100k when I got it. I should have kept it. Not because it was anything special, but it had that 1.8T and a 5 speed manual and it just drove really well and had a bit of get-up-and-go. It was fun to drive compared to the other crap I’ve had; decent milage too for its size.
i test drove one just like this when we were looking for my daughter’s first car. That thing was no joke! Too much car for her, and if we had bought that for her I’d have driven it even MORE than I drove the green (non-turbo) one we got for her. It was slow, but it was fun. I’d take a turbo bug at that price and be quite happy to have it.
An old girlfriend of mine had a beetle turbo. The shape of this car was as close to the shape of a wing as you’re going to get in a car. Once you hit about 65 to 70 mph the car felt like it was going to take off like an airplane. There was a spoiler above the rear glass that could be manually activated or would automatically raise up when you hit 98 mph; they must have lowered the required speed in later years.
3:28 BEST comment! People, especially in Europe, don’t realize, how BAD VW and most of their companies (Porsche, Audi etc) is. The BIG problem, which makes every subcompany from VW bad is their engines. Yeah yeah… the 1.9 TDI IS bullet proof! BUT every TSI, TSFI, 2.0 TDI AND 3.0 TDI has a lot of flaws! Especially the TSIs. The stronger TDI suffer from the diesel scandal which is on AGAIN (the new 2.0 TDI). BE AWARE! Don’t get sucked in this scandal and stay away from EVERY car of the last 20 years.
I had this same car in high school, bought it from my neighbor in 2003! Mine was like new and very pretty. The state of this one make me sad. The Turbo S was actually cool but nobody appreciated it because it was still a Beetle, and teenagers are stupid. I lived in Orlando at the time and loved driving it to the beach. Ended up selling it for a Mazda3 because I needed more space. Still miss it and I remember how loud that spoiler was going up and down! I also remember how fast it was, faster than my friends 1.8T GTI and nearly as quick as my dads TT quattro.
I have a 2004 GLS 2.0 turbo beetle and it still kicks ass, however there are several simple issues with it I can’t fix because girls are dumb when it comes to cars but a beetles are not any normal car to fix.. And by the way that side mirror isn’t dull, the reflective mirror fell off due to temperature changes same thing happened to mine but it costs 200+ to replace the entire part. Good luck!
i havent had a problem with the coil packs on my jetta 1.8t manual but the valve seals need to be changed but other than that its been good and the car that ive had the longest other than the van i got left with. i also took all of the plastic crap off of mine so the coils could be a job even he could do, literally just a flat screwdriver to pop out the connectors
Needs coil packs. The 2000 and early 2001 coil packs were the best. The LCA bushings are probably trashed. The timing belt and water pump needs to be done. Switch from dual mass flywheel to single. Other than that, the MKIV platform was not bad and the new beetle was really good in crash tests due to its shape. The window regulator clips should have been fixed by 2004.
I have a love hate with WV’s from this era. Had a Passat wagon, it was one of my favorite vehicles when I wasn’t working on it… Unfortunately that wasn’t very often. With 140k it rode better than most new cars. Dear lord the electrical demons though. In later years I ended up having a conversation with a older VW service manager. He informed me that the first thing you should do with a VW plagued by electrical demons is go through you electrical circuits and run new grounds. Near every piece of electrical equipment. ECM, Trans module, etc. I might pick up another Passat wagon and give it a shot when I have nothing better to do.