Showing posts with label Vw beetle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vw beetle. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Exterior

The Beetle is popular with customizers throughout the world, not only because it is cheap and easy to work on, but because its iconic looks can be personalised and the flat four motor is so tunable. Its very ubiquity makes even subtle changes noticeable.
There are many popular Beetle styles, from a ‘Cal Looker’ to a Rat rod. They vary between themselves, but are very similar in many ways. Also, the California Look has changed during the 30+ years of its lifespan. The most typical way to customise the exterior is to change the wheels and lower the suspension of the car. The favorite wheels are period-style EMPI 5- or 8-spokes, Speedwell BRMs, or Porsche factory rims like Fuchs from the classic 911. One of the original California Look modifications is to replace or remove the bumpers and trim, either to give a cleaner look or to reduce the curb weight; if bumpers are removed, pushbars are common. The stock bumpers are usually chromed or polished, sometimes painted or powder coated. There are many clubs dedicated to ‘Cal Look’, including the DKP (‘Der Kleiner Panzers’, or in English, ‘The little Tanks’) in the USA, which was one of the first clubs dedicated to true ‘Cal Look’ cars. There are also currently many big ‘Cal Look’ VW clubs based in Europe, including the DAS (Das Autobahn Scrapers) in Belgium, the DFL (Der Fieser Luftkühlers) in Germany and the JG54 Grünherz (Greenhearts) in the UK.

For a ‘Resto Cal’ look, a roof rack and similar accessories can be added. There are many other aftermarket parts that can be added to the Beetle, including wing mirrors, chrome wipers, stone guards, mud flaps, and badges. Rear light and front indicator lenses can also be changed.

For a more custom look, smoothing and shaving the body (removing trim and other parts) is done, including door handles, badges and driprails, and replacing taillights and front indicators with smaller, simpler units. Frenching (tunnelling) headlights, frequent in non-VW customs and rods, is not common, but dramatic lowering is, and unusual hood and trunk hinging are commonplace. Another exterior modification that is seen occasionally is for the roof to be chopped and lowered just like other non bettle hot rods and customs, giving a meaner, lower and sleeker appearance.

Interior

Many Beetle owners try to keep their Beetle interior stock. Others will fit a sound system, which usually consists of a head unit and possibly some speakers and a subwoofer (usually mounted in the front of the car). Aftermarket steering wheels can be added along with auxiliary gauges. For a true race look, the interior can be stripped and a full roll cage installed, along with bucket seats and race harnesses.



KitCars

The VW Type 1 chassis, being easily separated from its original body without removal of engine, transmission, or suspension, has provided the basis for countless custom re-bodyings, usually of fiberglass and usually replicating other, less humble vehicles. Mercedes, MG and Porsche replicas are among the popular choices. These “kit cars”, although derided by many for their lack of authenticity, provide to their owners a much cheaper, often more-reliable means of enjoying a dream vehicle.

Power

Because most parts of the flat-4 engine other than the crankcase are bolted on, they are easily exchanged with larger or more high-performance items. The standard VW engine has been modified from 1600 cc (the largest factory-produced Type 1 engine) to configurations well over 2400 cc using larger piston/cylinder kits, turbochargers, and other performance-enhancing parts. A variety of other powerplants, including the VW Type 4 (also used in the 914) 2-liter flat four, Chevy Corvair and Porsche 911 flat sixes have been used. Even the turbocharged flat 4s from Subaru or Alfa Romeo have been used as well. Kits for installing Rover V8 engines have also been available. These variants tend to be mated to the stronger Type 2 (Bus, Combi) transmission. Dual carb setups are very common on Beetles (especially the 1600 cc dual port engine) as well as EFI. Also a wide range of exhaust systems are available. “Stingers” (equal-length, tuned headers with straight pipes or glasspacks) are popular in nearly any type of custom Beetle. The world record for fastest and quickest four cylinder 1/4 mile drag vehicle is held by a type 1 based engine built and maintained by vwparadise of San Marcos California. Its official run is 6.60 @ 203.94 MPH quarter-mile although unofficially the quickest & fastest has been a 6.53 at 209.98 MPH.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

 I experienced earlier a 45 Hp Ford Fiesta, 15 many years outdated and consequently also the initial repairs powering me. In wintertime, I experienced issues with the commence every so often and not really enjoyable to drive. I used to be in initially spot by a number of auto dealers to advertise on the Seat Ibiza, but then closed them again, simply because you 1st again from 1,80 m headroom no longer enjoys, and in the finish of the VW approximately the same charges cash, even though you've got to say feasible that right here much better processing driving it.


You give us the complete gear of the Instrument for Vw, which a single hopes.

On this volume, the final end result, calculated the automobile dealership, the 15% low cost and helps make able to request a invest in contract, which need to be signed after which it back again once again. In fact, not so challenging to be on all of the formalities, and so forth. but this really is totally defined and is achievable with a tad of skill anything. I also decided to decide up the car in Wolfsburg straight and built it for the og MAG Bonte in Brunswick simply to select up the winter weather wheels, since the shipping would have taken one more forty €, which you can very easily save.

And when you invest in a new Volkswagen, You've got to have pick it up in Wolfsburg. The exhibition in the other cars belonging to Vw (Bugatti, Lamborghini, Audi, and so on.) is worth seeing along with the surrender in addition to factory tour quite intriguing and fascinating.




You are able to consume extremely nicely there and remain if essential. They agreed to make an appointment and guide a tour and also the relaxation can be a quasi explained for the ground. Very first of all I was impressed aided by the style whether from front, rear or facet, what can I believe that compete within the value array and dimension without other automobile - beware: this can be my feeling!
But if you sit in it after, you wish to obtain no a lot more authentic.



As referred to over, I've in fact selected the Comfortline, which helps make the car or truck seem from the inside just fine and all fittings are created of higher high quality substantially. There can also be a parking support with sensors around the rear and also the front wheel in conjunction with the distance from the displays. Atlanta in the bundle includes sport seats front integrated at the rear of the rear window and each rear aspect windows 65% darkened.


There are 14 inch aluminum wheels to your right to depart the auto appear sporty, and so on. The added stereo speakers make for a excellent sound practical experience with uncomplicated operation of the radio and CD player for audio and mp3 formats. After which it probably the most necessary:

the 102 HP you are able to sense not just when driving, but also pay attention to truly excellent! So far I've done it as much as 200 km / h, but there is still a lot more which naturally now does not desire to spoil it. The sports suspension guarantees optimum grip inside corners and could be a bit more violent movements without the need of issue. All in all just a amazing driving for adequate funds I advise to every person!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Post-war production

 In occupied Germany, the Allies followed the Morgenthau plan to remove all German war potential by complete or partial pastoralization. As part of this, in the Industrial plans for Germany, the rules for which industry Germany was to be allowed to retain were set out. German car production was set at a maximum of 10% of the 1936 car production numbers.




The Volkswagen factory at Wolfsburg was handed over by the Americans to British control in 1945, it was to be dismantled and shipped to Britain. Thankfully for Volkswagen, no British car manufacturer was interested in the factory; “the vehicle does not meet the fundamental technical requirement of a motor-car … it is quite unattractive to the average buyer … To build the car commercially would be a completely uneconomic enterprise.” The factory survived by producing cars for the British Army instead.Allied dismantling policy changed in late 1946 to mid 1947, although heavy industry continued to be dismantled until 1951. In March 1947 Herbert Hoover helped change policy by stating

“There is the illusion that the New Germany left after the annexations can be reduced to a ‘pastoral state’. It cannot be done unless we exterminate or move 25,000,000 people out of it.”


The re-opening of the factory is largely accredited to British Army officer Major Ivan Hirst (1916–2000). Hirst was ordered to take control of the heavily bombed factory, which the Americans had captured. His first task was to remove an unexploded bomb which had fallen through the roof and lodged itself between some pieces of irreplaceable production equipment; if the bomb had exploded, the Beetle’s fate would have been sealed. Hirst persuaded the British military to order 20,000 of the cars,and by 1946 the factory was producing 1,000 cars a month. During this period the car and its town changed their Nazi-era names to Volkswagen (people’s car) and Wolfsburg, respectively. The first 1,785 Beetles were made in a factory near Wolfsburg in 1945.

Following the Army-led restart of production, Heinz Nordhoff was appointed director of the Volkswagen factory, under whom production increased dramatically over the following decade, with the one-millionth car coming off the assembly line by 1955. During this Post-war period, the Beetle had superior performance in its category with a top speed of 115 km/h (71 mph) and 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in 27.5 seconds on 7.6 l/100 km (31mpg) for the standard 25 kilowatts (34 hp) engine. This was far superior to the Citroën 2CV and Morris Minor, and even competitive with more modern small cars like the Mini of the 1960s and later.

The engine fired up immediately without a choke, and could only be heard in the car when idling. It had excellent road-handling and was economical to maintain. Although a small car, the engine has great elasticity and gave the feeling of better output than its small nominal size. However, the opinion of people in the United States was not as flattering due to the characteristic differences between the American car market and European car market at the time. Henry Ford II once described the car as ‘A little box’.[citation needed]

During the 1950s, the car was modified progressively: the obvious visual changes mostly concerned the windows. In March 1953, the small oval two piece rear window was replaced by a slightly larger single piece oval rear window. More dramatically, in August 1957 a much larger full width rear window replaced the oval one. 1962 saw the introduction of a widened cover for the light over the rear licence plate. Towards the end of 1964, the height of the side windows and windscreen was slightly increased giving the cabin a less pinched look: this coincided with a the introduction of a very slightly curved windscreen, though the curve was barely noticeable. The same body appeared during 1966, with a 1300 cc engine on place of the 1200 cc engine: it was only in the 1973 model Super Beetle that the beetle acquired an obviously curved windscreen. The flat windshield remained on the standard beetle.


During the 1960s and early 1970s, innovative advertising campaigns and a reputation for reliability and sturdiness helped production figures to surpass the levels of the previous record holder, the Ford Model T, when Beetle No. 15,007,034 was produced on 17 February 1972. By 1973, total production was over 16 million, and by 23 June 1992, there had been over 21 million produced.


The Beetle is the world’s best-selling car design; though more units of the Toyota Corolla brand have been sold, there have been many total redesigns of the Corolla, each amounting to a new car design with the same name.

VW Beetle 1967

The Volkswagen Beetle underwent significant changes for the 1967 model. While the car appeared similar to earlier models, much of the drivetrain was noticeably upgraded. Some of the changes to the Beetle included a bigger engine for the second year in a row. Horsepower had been increased to 37 kilowatts (50 hp) the previous year, and for 1967 it was increased even more, to 40 kilowatts (54 hp).

On US models, the output of the electrical generator was increased from 180 to 360 watts, and upgraded from a 6-volt to a 12-volt system. The clutch disc also increased in size, and changes were made to the flywheel, braking system, and rear axle. New standard equipment included two-speed windscreen wipers, reversing lights, a driver’s armrest on the door, locking buttons on the doors, sealed-beam headlights, and a driver’s side exterior mirror.

It weighed 840 kg (1852 lb), which was a typical weight for a European car at this time. Top speed was 130 km/h (81 mph).


Declines And Fail



Though extremely successful in the 1960s, the Beetle was faced with stiff competition from more modern designs. The Japanese had refined rear-wheel-drive, water-cooled, front-engine small cars to where they sold well in the North American market, and Americans introduced their own similarly sized rear-wheel-drive Ford Pinto, Chevrolet Vega, and AMC Gremlin in the 1970s.


The superminis in Europe adopted even more efficient transverse-engine front-wheel-drive layouts, and sales began dropping off in the mid 1970s. There had been several unsuccessful attempts to replace the Beetle throughout the 1960s; the Type 3, Type 4, and the NSU-based K70 were all failures.

The over-reliance on the Beetle meant that Volkswagen was in financial crisis by 1974. It needed German government funding to produce the Beetle’s replacement. Only when production lines at Wolfsburg switched to the new watercooled, front-engined, front-wheel drive Golf designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1974, (sold in North America as the “Rabbit”) did Volkswagen produce a car as successful as the Beetle.


The Golf would be periodically redesigned over its lifetime with only a few components carried over between models, while the Beetle used only minor refinements of its original design.

The Golf did not kill Beetle production, which continued in smaller numbers at other German factories until January 19, 1978, when mainstream production shifted to Brazil and Mexico, markets where low operating cost was more important. The last Beetle was produced in Puebla, Mexico, in mid-2003. The final batch of 3,000 Beetles were sold as 2004 models and badged as the Última Edición,

with whitewall tires, a host of previously-discontinued chrome trim, and the choice of two special paint colors taken from the New Beetle. Production in Brazil ended in 1986, then restarted in 1993 and continued until 1996. Volkswagen sold Beetle sedans in the United States until August 1977 (the Beetle convertible a.k.a. Cabriolet was sold until January 1980) and in Europe until 1985, with private companies continuing to import cars produced in Mexico even after production of the beetle had ended.


The Beetle outlasted most other automobiles which had copied the rear air-cooled engine layout such as those by Subaru, Fiat, Renault, General Motors and Tatra’s limousines, which ended production in 1999. Porsche’s sport coupes which were originally based on Volkswagen parts and platforms continue to use the classic rear engine layout (but water-cooled and moved forwards) in the Porsche 911 series, which remains competitive in the 2000s.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

The Volkswagen Type 1, more commonly known as the Beetle Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003. Although the names “Beetle” and “Bug” were quickly adopted by the public, it was not until August of 1967 that VW itself began using the name Beetle in marketing materials in the US.


 In Britain, VW never used the name Beetle officially. It had only been known only as either the “Type I” or as the 1100 (eleven-hundred), 1200 (twelve-hundred), 1300 (thirteen-hundred) or 1500 (fifteen-hundred), which had been the names under which the vehicle was marketed in Europe; the numbers denoted the vehicle’s engine size in cubic centimetres. In 1998, many years after the original model had been dropped from the lineup in most of the world (production continued in Mexico until 2003), VW introduced the “New Beetle” (built on a Volkswagen Golf Mk4 platform) which bore a cosmetic resemblance to the original.


Its peculiar styling, underpowered motor, rough ride, and high noise levels compared to modern vehicles might have made it a market failure.

In its day, though, it was more comfortable and powerful than most European small cars, and ultimately the longest-running and most-produced automobile of a single design (a record that will not take long to be beaten by its younger “cousin” the Type-2 Bus or Kombi, which is still in production in Brazil, with the same basic characteristics of the first series). It remained a top seller in the US, even as rear-wheel drive conventional subcompacts were refined, and eventually replaced by front-wheel drive models.


The Beetle car was the benchmark for both generations of American compact cars such as the Chevrolet Corvair, and subcompact cars such as the Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Vega. In the international poll for the award of the world’s most influential car of the twentieth century the Beetle came fourth after the Ford Model T, the Mini, and the Citroën DS.


Beetle derivatives

While production of the standard Beetle continued, a Type 1 variant called the Super Beetle, produced from model year 1971 to 1979 (1302s from 1971 to 1972, and 1303s from 1973 onwards), offered MacPherson strut front suspension, better turning radius (despite having a 20 mm (3/4 in) longer wheelbase), and approximately double the usable space in the front luggage compartment, due to the stretched “nose” of the vehicle and relocation of the spare tire from a vertical to a horizontal position.


1972 Super Beetles had a slightly larger rear window, larger front brakes, and four rows of vents on the engine lid. The tail lights now incorporated reversing lights. The front seats incorporated headrests, and the steering wheel was changed to four spokes for safety reasons. A socket for the VW Dealer Diagnosis was fitted inside the engine compartment.

In 1973, a padded dashboard, 2-speed heater fan, higher rear mudguards, a more aerodynamically curved windscreen and larger tail lights (nicknamed ‘elephant’s feet’) were added.


1975 and later Super Beetles had rack and pinion steering, and a larger license plate lamp housing below the engine lid. The front indicators were moved into the bumper bars on European models. Carburetors were replaced by Air Flow Control (AFC) Fuel Injection on U. S. and Canadian Beetles, a derivative of the more complex Bosch fuel injection system used in the Volkswagen Type III.

In 1976, the Super Beetle and 1300 were discontinued (though convertibles remained Super Beetles) and replaced with an ‘improved’ standard Beetle with 1600cc engine, IRS rear suspension, front disc brakes, blinkers in the front bumpers, elephant’s foot tail lights and rubber inserts in the bumper bars.

The Super Beetle (VW 1302 and 1303 series, also called Type 113) is not the only Type 1 variant; other VWs under the Type 1 nomenclature include the Karmann Ghia and the VW 181 utility vehicle, as well as the Brasilia and the Australian Country Buggy (locally produced in Australia using VW parts).


The Type 2 transporter (“bus”) is based on the Beetle T1 platform with very similar mechanicals, but with a box shaped body and driver placed over the front wheels. This variant would inspire a generation of compact vans, and later minivans in capacity and size.

Also, as mentioned below, Type 3 and Type 4 were all developments of the original Porsche design.

 Conflict with Tatra

Much of the Beetle’s design was inspired by the advanced Tatra cars of Hans Ledwinka, particularly the T97. This car also had a streamlined body and a rear-mounted 4 cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine. The Tatra V570, a prototype for a smaller car, also shows quite a resemblance to the later Volkswagens. According to the book Car Wars, Adolf Hitler called the Tatra ‘the kind of car I want for my highways’.


In the same book, it is said that Ferdinand Porsche admitted ‘to have looked over Ledwinka’s shoulders’ while designing the Volkswagen. Tatra launched a lawsuit, but this was stopped when Germany invaded Czechoslovakia. At the same time, Tatra was forced to stop producing the T97.


The matter was re-opened after WW2 and in 1961 Volkswagen paid Tatra 3,000,000 Deutsche Marks in compensation. These damages meant that Volkswagen had little money for the development of new models and the Beetle’s production life was necessarily extended. Tatra ceased producing passenger cars in 1950, then resumed again in 1954 as a manufacturer of large luxurious cars and limousines under various Communist governments in Czechoslovakia. Even its last limousines showed similarities to the Beetle, as they were rear-engined and air cooled. Tatra is now a truck manufacturer.

VW Diesel



In 1951, Volkswagen prototyped a 1.3 litre diesel engine. Volkswagen made only 2 air-cooled boxer diesel engines that were not turbocharged, and installed one engine in a Type 1 and another in a Type 2. Just for fun, the diesel Beetle was time tested on the Nürburgring and achieved a 0-60 mph in one minute.



To Be Continued,.... :-)

Thursday, August 12, 2010

VW car one passenger who is a new type of car and are among the most expensive in the world. If you go on holiday to go to Shanghai, can buy two or more cars, one for his wife and one for yourselves, and each child is given one, then the cars are shipped to Canada, then all the cost is still cheaper than if you buy a new car in Canada.

 But for shipping to the United States may still be difficult. This is not a toy car or a car experiment. This is a passenger car with the latest design in oval shape aerodynamically who really can be driven on the highway. This car is ready to be marketed as a single passenger car diShanghai year 2010 at a price of about RMB 4.000 (U.S. $ 600/Rp.5, 6juta)! Interested? Wait until you know that this car can go the way of highway with a speed of 100-120 km / hour with fantastic fuel consumption who 110 km / liter (258 miles / gallon)!




This car is the cheapest kind of VW passenger car one time required for the production concept: three years. Company headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. VW type this cheapest car priced at 4000 yuan, or equal to U.S. $ 600 (Rp 5.6 million)


VW specifications cheapest Chinese-made this:


Fuel tank capacity = 6.5 liters
Speed = 100-120 km / h
Fuel efficiency = 110 km / liter
Mileage with a full tank = 650 miles


Monday, May 31, 2010

Ambition two German automotive companies Volkswagen Porsche are trying to each other 'caplok' still going on even after they were declared the merger. But behind all that, did you know that in history, the big names they are very difficult to be separated.

A recent history of Volkswagen Beetle known as a very complicated and long to tell. It began on June 22, 1934 when the German domestic automotive industry associations encourage Porsche to build the Volkswagen (People's Car in the language
Germany).





The next day on June 23 became the most historic day for both the name. Because 75 years ago to coincide with this date, the German government at that time led by the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler gave the order to Ferdinand Porsche to build a simple car concept.

Order Hitler is people's car that can carry five people (two adults and three children), the velocity 100km/jam, 14km/liter consume fuel at a price no more expensive than riding a motorcycle side.



Then made the concept of the embryo when it was Beetle called Kraft durch Freude-Wagen (KdF-Wagen), the city where this car was made given the name KdF-Stadt. KdF-Wagen poured in 30 prototype in 1937 and marketed beginning in 1938 but stopped after a time to produce 630 units due to World War II in 1939.

To temporarily diverted its factory facilities to produce vehicles like the Kubelwagen war (jeep) and Schwimmwagen (amphibious vehicle). Year 1942 appears Kommandeurwagen from KdF-Wagen base having a four Wheel /4x4.


Germany's defeat on the allies (UK, France, Russia and the U.S.) makes the country divided. KdF-Stadt mastered British Army and for their intervention and then change the name of the city to Wolfsburg. Volkswagen Vehicles for civil society began to be produced again before the World War II ended, precisely in the summer of 1945.


Civilian vehicle was also changed its name to Volkswagen or VW Beetle Kafer (in Indonesia is popularly known as the VW Beetle). Then this vehicle has become popular thanks to its simplicity, toughness and a long list of other More  and spread to different parts of the world.

Therefore, this unique vehicle has many nicknames such as:

* Kafer in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
* Pulga in Colombia
* Coccinelle or Kever in Belgium
* Vocho or Vochito in Mexico
* Fusca in Brazil
* Escarabajo in Argentina
* Map of Bolivia
* Folcika in Bosnia - Herzegovina
* Косτенурка (Kostenurka), Бръмбар (Brambar) in Bulgaria
* Buba in Croatia
* Brouk in the Republic Cheko
* Maggiolino in Italy
* Kabuto-Mushi in Japanese
* Turtle or Frog in Malaysia
Kever in the Netherlands *
* Pendong in Philippines
* Фольксваген-жук (Folksvagen-Zhuk) in Russia

In fact there are many other title names sometimes not just one. For instance in Indonesia other than the VW Beetle and the VW Beetle, he was also dubbed by our parents as a VW Sedan (although not as popular as the VW Beetle and VW Beetle).

To commemorate the history of travel at the same time affirm and strengthen the name of his Porsche, Porsche museum held an exhibition on June 23 until July 31. This exhibition is dedicated to celebrating the 75th anniversary of the VW Beetle concept such orders. In this exhibition displayed photographs of the original prototype with people who have been behind the birth of Ferdinand Porsche's Beetle included.