Mod Kustom: 1963 Volkswagen
Just when you think you’ve seen it all – you discover you haven’t. Jeff found us this handmade fiberglass … buggy? jalopy? … motorcar built on a 1963 Volkswagen chassis, listed here on facebook Marketplace, with an asking price of $4500. The new owner will be traveling to Lisle, Illinois to retrieve the car. The engine is out, because the owner wanted to keep it warm and dry, which certainly evokes empathy on the part of those of us who have kept motors in the house. I feel better when my motors are warm and dry too. With very little to go on in the listing, we’ll investigate the possibilities of this VW-based plastic custom….
Here’s the air-cooled flat-four – but which of the many VW options is it? Anyone know? The title corresponds to a ’63, but that is likely the donor chassis and may not relate to the engine at all. Still, we know that in ’61, the D-code engine was introduced at the same old displacement of 1192 cc but a higher compression ratio, raising output from 30 hp to 34 hp through 1966, when the 1300 became available. Mum’s the word on the transmission but a typical US-delivery ’63 Bug was equipped with a four-speed manual; Euro cars could have an automatic. We can only guess at performance and how well the car will hold up when the pedal goes to the metal, but almost no matter how fast it is, that VW engine can be made to go faster – if you dare.
Entry is only for the spry – though possibly made slightly less onerous because the chassis was lowered and shortened. The “doors” open upward like a shipping box. I wouldn’t bet on those windows winding into a channel, either. The seller notes that the car comes with two fiberglass seats. The instrument panel holds only two gauges, and there’s the turn signal flasher hanging on the steering column. The car is street-legal and the seller has a clear title.
The engine lives back here, under the mod graphics. A couple of scoops per side feed air to the engine bay and the brakes. The creator clearly thought about this endeavor for some time – it’s no slap-dash job. Its blocky looks are also distinctly different from the sea of swoopy VW-based kit cars that emerged almost as soon as the Beetle hit the ground. It’s always tough to value customs – what would you pay for this project?
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Comments
I have to park on the street, i think i will pull the engine out to keep it warm and dry.
Ha, perfect! Let’s see if anyone else can come up with engine-out excuses….
The engine was too embarrassed to be seen with the car, so I brought it inside.
Belongs in the Peterson
It may be Strange,but it sure is Weird!
This is what happens when a combination of things exist. Time, many spare parts, and good old American imagination. Say what you might, I absolutely love it. It looks like a 40hp( heater ducts and bigger fan shroud) and I bet, aside from acetylene gas, not a dime was spent. That, my friends, defines our generation of hobbiests, and this turned out pretty cool, even if the builder did use those old snowmobile trailer lights. Right down to the Corvair(?) wheel covers and rims with adapters. Oh, they sat around a long time. I think the looks alone would be worth it. I think some different wheels might get you into the vintage dune buggy crowd, if any, I’m telling ya’, if I had the grapes, I’d advertise this in Cooky Colorado, be gone toot-sweet.
For the record, air cooled motors don’t need to be warm and dry.
Designer, on the hashish?
I could see this as a funky dune buggy…wish more was known about this crazy build!
When you see a Slingshot ONCE, but you’re pretty sure you can make something just like it.
All the cars I want are half way across the country one direction or the other.
Then there’s THIS in my back yard. Life is so cruel.
I swear to God I remember sketching out a car that looked just like this.
When I was home sick from school in third grade and got bored looking at a JC Whitney catalog.
LOL! So true.
Did he take the seats in the house to keep the engine company?
Maybe he should have cleaned and de-greased the engine before taking it indoors.