What kind of $$ does a nice Cal-look beetle run?

[berettafan]

Have seen some very nice beetles on this board, some of which mention 130+hp motors. do these things cost as much to build and maintain as 911's (once you own the car that is) or can you put a sweet motor in the back of an otherwise restored but for $3k or so that will have you surprising the camaro crowd at stoplights?

[CurtEgerer]

Calling Cornpanzer ......

[kenikh]

Beat me to it Curt! Now a nice Cal Look Type 3, I can answer that...

BTW, look here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/

[911quest]

The 61 I was building I had a 2110 and I had @ 4500-5000 in the engine I drove all the way to Texas to buy that bug I lost steam on the whole thing once I bought a 911........

[Fritter]

I'd say $20K could get you something like this...

[Fritter]

....and I'm a relative rookie to 911's, but so far, VW prices are much cheaper in general than 911...you could build a 130hp motor for $3K no problem if you put it together yourself and buy nice used parts to build it with.

[Cornpanzer]

Actually, Jake specializes in Type 4 engines and while a terrific guy and builder, a T4 is a VERY expensive way to achive 150 hp.

VWs are much less expensive than Porsches, but they do have thier limitations. The trick is to be satislied with 150-180 hp and street tires and not get a case of the red mist like I did. Once you start racing them, you spend all of your free time working on them.

When my car made 180+ hp it was an absolute blast. I could drive around on the street confident that nothing less than an true 11 second V8 could touch me through the first couple gears. There is nothing more fun than watching a Mustang GT downshift on the freeway, and then pulling steadily away from him up to 110 without ever taking both hands off the steering wheel other than to give a quick wave goodbye.

I would suggest that you buy somebody elses project as unlike early 911's, every dollar you spend on a cal-look VW is worth about .50 when it comes time to sell.

Here is a really really nice car! Perhaps a bit more than you want to spend, but I bet he has $35-40k into it easy! http://www.oldbug.com/11secvw.htm

Here is a nice car for $10k http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifie....php?id=268247

Shoot me a PM if you need more help.

[Fritter]

Here is a really really nice car! Perhaps a bit more than you want to spend, but I bet he has $35-40k into it easy! http://www.oldbug.com/11secvw.htm
Here is a nice car for $10k http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifie....php?id=268247

The guy selling the yellow '65 IRS car built a VERY nice '66 Cal Looker I almost bought a few years back. The attention to detail was very good, so I'm sure the yellow car is the same. But be warned, I bet the yellow car is a handful on the street with the roll bar, no back seat, staging brake, and higher compression motor.

The green car would be great for a cruiser, tamer than the yellow one.

Sorry for getting off the 911 topic.....but hot VW's are relatives of the 911...

Mike F.

[rst73]

Hey Dave,
You brought back some fond memories of all the fun I had 30 years ago with my 13 second Karmann Ghia. Back then 130 to 150 hp was about all you could really get from a Weber motor. Hot Rod VW technology has come a long way since back then.
I had my Ghia set up for handling and drag racing and I humbled many a V8 and 911 back in the day. I collected way more dead presidents from many unsuspecting "Water pumper" driver and 911 pilots than I paid out. It was always the same comment from the loser, "Do you have a Porsche engine in that thing". I loved saying "Nope, just a VW motor".
I wish I still had that car!
All the best!
Roger Grago
R Gruppe #27
Early 911S Registry #194 since 1999

[Chuck Miller]

'Billy Pilgrim' (see Kurt Vonnegut), my '67 type 1 I had for over 18 years......

This pic taken the year I bought my Porsche over 18 years ago...

People STILL ask me about 'Billy'........... damn.......

........ and so it goes (see Kurt Vonnegut) ......