VW Trends Magazine Vol. 2, No. 2, Fall 2022

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VOL. 2, NO. 2

FALL 2022

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staff Editor-In-Chief: Dan “DG” Leadbetter Creative Director and Odd Jobs: Ron Petro Layout, Editing, and Kitchen Sink: Jason Smith Advertising Sales: Bruce Simurda Social Media Guru and Street Team Leader: Larry Bohannon

CONTRIBUTORS Larry Bohannon, Burly Burlile, Clark Callis, Rich Crafton, Bob Daniels, Sandra Dantas, Josh Fullenwider, Eric Geisert, Arthur Junior, Paul Morton, Beckyjo Ohlendorf, Ben Radatz, Bruce Simurda, Jason Smith, George Trosley, David Zemla

STA PUBLISHING Publishers: Dan Leadbetter and Rich Crafton Chief Financial Officer: Beckyjo Ohlendorf Subscription info: vwtrendsmagazine.com VW Trends Magazine ISSN APPL100001111, USPS MID 903010850 is published whenever we get around to it (but for now, quarterly) by STA Publishing, LLC, 4533 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 5208, Newport Beach, CA, 92660.

Reprinting in whole or in part is expressly forbidden except with written permission from the publisher. ©2022, STA Publishing, LLC. Periodical postage paid in Newport Beach, California and at additional mailing offices. I, Dan Leadbetter, was runner-up in Showtime’s Funniest Person in America stand-up comedy contest in 1981, Northern California division. True story. Friends watching cable TV at 2 a.m. years later actually saw my act. People always ask me, “Why didn’t you stick to stand-up comedy?” I always say, “Well, I was afraid people would laugh at me.”

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: A minimum of six weeks’ notice is required, and you must provide STA Publishing with old and new addresses. Send all change of address info to: STA Publishing, Attn: VWT CHANGE OF ADDRESS, 4533 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 5208, Newport Beach, CA, 92660. Or change your address via email to info@ vwtrendsmagazine.com.

POSTMASTER SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO: STA Publishing, Attn: VWT CHANGE OF ADDRESS, 4533 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 5208, Newport Beach, CA, 92660.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S. and U.S. Possessions $29.99 for one year (4 issues).

ADVERTISING: Please direct all ad inquiries to bruce@ vwtrendsmagazine.com or STA Publishing, 4533 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 5208, Newport Beach, CA, 92660. You know you want to advertise with VW Trends Magazine. We’re not too proud to beg, people.

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS are welcome but not guaranteed unless by express written approval of VW Trends magazine staff. Photographs and/or articles must include signed photo and property releases from the writer, photographer, vehicle owner, property owner, and any recognizable people. STA Publishing is not responsible for the return of any manuscripts or photographs.

DISTRIBUTION: Want to distribute VW Trends Magazine at your place of business? Let VW Trends stick their nose into your business! Send your inquiries to info@ vwtrendsmagazine.com to see how you can sell VW Trends, and actually make some money!

VW is a registered Trademark of Volkswagenwerk AG. VW Trends Magazine is in no way affiliated with Volkswagen.

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VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

FALL 2022 • VOL. 2 NO. 2

16

DEPARTMENTS 4 TOP DEAD CENTER: In praise of Volkswomen.

6 WHAT’S NEW: Plate frames, headlamps, alternators, and gear housings.

10 READER’S SPOTLIGHT Sandra’s Mabel.

12 READER’S SPOTLIGHT Jody’s jewel.

14 WHAT YEAR IS IT? New boats, fresh air, and damp sponges.

54 TOYS IN THE ATTIC: Toy Nomura Space Patrol VW Cabriolet.

62 COMING EVENTS: A coast-to-coast list.

64 TROSLEY: VW Friends.

32

FEATURES 16 EVERYTHING, AND THEN SOME: Yep, Shanna Dewsnup can do that.

21 BUGGY QUEEN: Catching up with Winnie Meyers.

32 FINALLY FINISHED: Amy Bausman’s high school car, 35 years later.

36 EVERY CAR HAS A STORY: Fine arts and fine Volkswagens.

38 THE FUTURE IS FEMALE: Ashlyn Sacchetti, in her own words.

40 ORANGE JULIUS: Original and refreshing, just like its namesake.

44 LAST HURRAH: One man’s Mexican-built ’03 Beetle.

38

50 IN STITCHES: Carol Werner, owner of Sewfine Interior Products.

52 @KONAGIRLLEE: Leanne Reynolds is an island-born VW enthusiast, businesswoman, and Instagram influencer.

56 IT’S A WRAP! Showrunner gets some new skin.

EVENTS 8 VW CLASSIC 2022: A blast from the past is back.

22 A TALE OF TWO BUGORAMAS: Southwest and Sacramento.

TECHNICAL 28 PANCAKE PERFECTION: Hopping up the Type 3.

40 52

46 GET SHORTY: Cutting your pan for a Buggy or 356, part two.

60 THERMO TESTING: Is your VW’s thermostat actually working?

On the cover: Shanna Dewsnup is a jill of all trades.

Photograph by Paul Morton.

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

3

TOP DEAD CENTER IN PRAISE OF VOLKSWOMEN

I

n this issue, we want to acknowledge the achievements, the accomplishments, and the indelible mark made on the VW industry by women.

Let’s be honest; that old saying is true: Behind every great man, there’s an even greater woman.

So many women have lent their talents and expertise to help hone and craft Volkswagen culture. I’m not talking about the bikini models that VW Trends featured in the past (although women like Shannon Rae, Brandi Downs, Tina Jeanette, Jodeane Atkinson, Heather Kennedy, Shannon Beasock, and countless others have been a great addition to the magazine over the years), I’m talking about the women that really get in and get their hands dirty working on cars, owning and running businesses, racing VWs, and fabricating parts. Had these women not forged their own paths, our hobby would look a whole lot different.

In this issue, we’ve got a great cross-section of women who are kicking ass and taking names! We’ve got Ashlyn Sacchetti, a formidable opponent in VW drag racing.

We’ve got profiles on women like Carol Werner of Sewfine. We’ve got a piece on Winnie Meyers, director of the Meyers Manx club and wife of VW legend Bruce Meyers. And we can’t forget Shanna Dewsnup, who builds, paints, and does practically everything else to VWs. All of us at VW Trends hope you enjoy this salute to some of the people that really help create our industry and add so much flavor to our sport.

Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll find some really great tech pieces on topics like shortening pans, building a Type III motor, and checking thermostats. You’ve been asking for more tech, and we’ve delivered! We’d

4

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

love to hear your suggestions for tech articles: Drop me an email at dan@vwtrendsmagazine.com and we’ll jump right on it.

Also in this issue you’ll find Southwestmeets-West coverage of the two Bug-ORamas. It was a blazing hot summer, but the action at the shows and on the tracks was even hotter! There have been SO many great events in 2022, and we’re super excited to see what’s going down in 2023.

Speaking of events, inside these pages you’ll see our second piece about the VW Trends staff project vehicle we call Showrunner. Why? Because that’s exactly what it’s going to be used for! Our good friends at Sunkist Graphics in Las Vegas turned this ho-hum daily driver into a rolling billboard of epic proportions. Look for it at an event near you.

Spoiler alert: Next year, we’re looking to do a cross-country trek to hit as many shows as we can. Stay tuned; we’ll be announcing dates and places you can find the VW Trends road show. Want us to hit up your area? Drop us a line with the details and we’ll see if we can make it happen.

I’d like to take a moment to brag on our staff. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more dedicated group of people than Jason, Ron, Rich, and Becky. And I need to brag on our AMAZING stable of freelancers, like Paul Morton, Arthur Junior, Dave Cormack, Eric Geisert, Bruce Simurda (doing double duty as our advertising guru), and others who have lent their skills and expertise to making our magazine as amazing as it is.

There’s no way VW Trends would EVER get out the door if it weren’t for these people. All of us on the VW Trends team are working overtime to bring you the best magazine we know how to create, and there’s well over 150 years of VW experience between us!

ILLUSTRATION: RON PETRO

Allow me to draw back the curtain to give you some insight into how we do what we do.

All of us on the primary staff have 9-to-5 day jobs that provide us the luxury of getting to do VW Trends in our off-hours. (Side note: No one on staff is getting paid yet, but the magazine is paying for itself at the time of this writing. It really is a labor of love.) We work on the magazine on the drive to work, on our lunch hours, on the drive home, after hours, and weekends (not to mention our vacation time and holidays) to make each issue happen. This is why you might not get an email response for a day or two, and why we have our shipping for merch and other items at 4 to 6 weeks. So please extend a little grace if you don’t get your order the next day: We’re not Amazon … yet.

I’d also like to address our covers. You may have noticed that the covers of the last three issues have looked … well … different.

This not an accident! VW Trends is owned and operated by us (there are no evil corporate overlords telling us what we can and can’t do). We want to spread our collective, creative wings and try new things. VW Trends has ALWAYS been about being different and standing out in a crowd, and we’re excited to think outside of the box (or rectangle, as the case may be) and do some stuff we think is cool. Based on the feedback from the last two issues, most of you seem to agree! As always, we want to hear from you, so please, please, please, drop me an email and let me know your thoughts.

Again, from the bottom of my air-cooled heart (thanks to the stint they put in back in February), THANK YOU for reading our magazine and for making a difference.

— Dan Leadbetter Publisher and Editor-in-Chief dan@vwtrendsmagazine.com

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VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

HERITAGE PARTS CENTRE VW TYPE 25 / T3 RECTANGULAR HEADLAMPS: When it comes to lighting the way for your wedgeshaped Transporter, there’s nothing quite as stylish as a set of square headlamps. Until recently these much sought-after light sources were obsolete and second-hand units were in short supply.

Fortunately, SSP stepped up to the plate and manufactured new units in both LHD and RHD applications and even offer a smoked lens option for a more custom look. Kit includes left and right outer headlights and left and right inner spotlights. Fits 1980 to 1992 Vanagon. Prices start at £313.95 for the clear version and £353.95 for the smoked. You can even buy them with the matching grille. Run by an expert team of enthusiasts for more than 35 years, the U.K.-based Heritage Parts Centre is dedicated to supplying the parts you need for the cars and campers that you are passionate about. Scoot on over to HeritagePartsCentre.com and search for 251-941-998 and 252-941-998 for LHD and RHD respectively.

SSP TYPE 4 70 AMP ALTERNATOR: While there have been numerous alternator upgrades for 1600cc aircooled motors in the past, a beefier version is now available for Type 4 motors, too.

Developed by SSP, this direct-replacement unit offers an output of 70 amps rather than the regular 55, making it perfect for those with a penchant for mod cons, big sound systems, or camping gadgets. Sold outright with no exchange needed. Find them by searching for part 021-903-027 at HeritagePartsCentre.com.

VW CLASSIC 2022 A blast from the past is back at the OC Fairgrounds Story and photos by Rich Crafton, Bruce Simurda, and DG Leadbetter

VW

shows are a great thing: You get to see amazing vehicles, hang out with the coolest people, and spend a day doing what you love. Back in the 1980s and 90s, California hosted three iconic shows: The Sacramento Bugorama, Big Al Martinez’s VW Jamboree at the OC Fairgrounds, and the VW Classic, hosted at what was formerly Irvine Meadows (now a housing tract) in Irvine.

This triumvirate of VW shows attracted the best of the best, and people came from across the nation (and sometimes from around the world) to attend.

Sadly, the VW Classic ended several years ago, but the story does not end there. Thanks to the Hole family — longtime promoters of both the Sacramento and Phoenix Bugorama as well as owners of Pierside Parts in Huntington Beach and Bugformance in Sacramento — the beat goes on. You couldn’t find a better day to start the Classic back up!

We had heard rumblings of the Clas-

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VW TRENDS • FALL ’21 ’22

sic being brought back to life, and just as promised, the reborn Classic had the same vibe as the old one. It all went down on Sunday, June 5. Even though it wasn’t officially summertime in Southern California, the VW event season was pushing into high gear. The Classic was the start of two (actually, closer to three) weeks of non-stop VW action.

The show featured everything you would expect from The Classic — from vintage Bugs, Buses and Ghias to a one-of-a-kind custom Hebmuller and a “Wartung” Bus with a working crane and bucket. There were rows of vendors, swap-meet sellers, and an excellent showing of local clubs (DKP, Der Blitzkrieg Kafers and Surf City VW Club, just to name a few).

A big shout-out to the Holes for bringing a classic back to life (pun intended). If you missed the 2022 coming-out party, you’d better make plans to attend Classic 2023! See you in Costa Mesa!

This racing-stripe Fastback is a real headturner.

Jack DiGiacomo’s ’66 is a thing of beauty.

Look for more in an upcoming VWT issue.

top 50 results

Ric Burke’s ’60 Single Cab Extended with a little Spyder on top…

We like. You like? Yeah, we thought so.

’46 Beetle with rollback sunroof. PostWWII Army green commando style all the way!

We’re not sure: Was this slice-n-dice camper Bus in the last “Cars” movie?

Bah: “Humbug” brings the funk with this ‘61/’68 creation belonging to Bus-n-Stuff.

Oh, the things you’ll find at the swap meet…we’re rather fond of the Revell “Rubber Duck” and Lightning Rods models. You know, you can always use another fishing pole, too.

A ’49 Hebmuller is rare. It’s even more rare with custom additions by “Tone.”

Steve Ebbert: ’63 Meyers Manx Joel: ’66 High-roof Bus Sal Nava: ’63 Beetle Donnie Howard: ’50 Beetle David Bait Media: ’61 Ragtop Tone: ’66 Fridolin (Type 147) Mike Frechette: ’91 GTI Danny Forester: ’65 Karmann Ghia Mike Mocaby: ’67 Baja Bug Robin Lewis: ’66 Double Cab Tone: ’46 Rollback Beetle Troy Tillery: ’66 Bus Joshua Lewis: ’68 Porsche 912 Frank Espinoza: ’67 Convertible Beetle Rick Johnson: ’52 Beetle Car #335: ’59 Bus Daniel Watson: ’66 Beetle Martin Rodriguez: ’65 Bus Ben Gardea: ’65 Notchback Lee Bushaw: ’58 Beetle Parker Sheehey: ’73 Thing Victor Gonzalez: ’51 Beetle Robert Biddle: ’66 Squareback Cal Dub Jack: ’66 Beetle Ric Birks: ’60 Single Cab and Porsche Michael Cruz: ’63 Notchback Torrey Braun: ’59 Beetle Ron Lloyd: ’66 13-Window Bus Eric Stogsdill: ’69 Fastback David Ruiz: ’57 Beetle Shawn Herrea: ’55 Deluxe Alex Lee: Car #360 Greg Sloma: Jetta Bus Alex Kaluzny: Tow’d Dune Buggy Ben: ’67 Karmann Ghia Tom McGrane: Thing Car #52: ’72 Bus Dave James: ’71 Westfalia Anthony Robison: ’63 Beetle Convertible Robert Wilson: Notchback Ryan McConathy: ’58 Single Cab McNew: ’63 Beetle Convertible Nelson Umana: ’54 Beetle Ed Santos: ’62 Double Cab Kevin Pore: Single Cab Rat Boler: Black Notchback Ken Green: ’62 Beetle Convertible Shaw/Slow Ride Garage: ’63 Type 34

Is that Ron Fleming and Mark Schley buying a subscription at the VW Trends booth?

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 ’21

9

READER’S SPOTLIGHT

MABEL THE BEETLE

by Sandra Dantas, Ontario, Canada

T

his is Mabel, a glorious ’61 Beetle. One might question how I came up with her name. Mothers Always Bring Extra Love. That acronym was used in the sitcom Mad About You. It resonated with me and was totally an appropriate name for her.

My first car was a ’76 Beetle. My brave father taught me to drive stick and took me on the highway after only about an hour of practice. That wasn’t the most practical car for Canadian winters, so I sold it and bought an ’81 Rabbit. A year and half later, I picked up a gold ’79 convertible Beetle, black drop top, all original. I entered her in The Great Canadian Bug Show in Scarborough, ON and she won 2nd place in her category. I drove that bug everywhere! No fear of breaking down. Just pure joy rides. Well, being young and none the wiser, I really didn’t know what I had, so I sold it. They say hindsight is 20/20.

I went without a Beetle for about 25 years. That’s when Mabel entered my life. I found her through a VW Whatsapp group. I had my finger on the throttle to be the first one to smile and dial. I bought her sight unseen in five minutes over the phone. The next day I drove two hours to pick her up and bring her to her forever home. She was sitting under a tree for two months in Prince Edward County. I fired her up and she was good to go!

She has continuously made my heart skip and put the joy back into driving! Ms. Mabel blessed my life.

She is pretty much stock except for the upgraded 1300cc motor, proudly operating at 40 hp and with her original 6 volt system.

I have owned Ms. Mabel for exactly a year now. She’s had a few cosmetic upgrades, such as a new headliner, new rear-view mirror, side mirror, beauty rings, and refreshed headlight buckets. Naturally she underwent a tune-up and some brake work.

Being back in the VW scene has not only rekindled my love for these precious pieces of metal, but it has opened my world to so many great people! This VW community is second to none!

I’ve experienced the VW passion that resides within each person I’ve met, expressed through helpful hands, knowledge sharing, laughter, cruise nights, coffee nights, group chats, social media love, and it goes on and on. They don’t call the VW Beetle The People’s Car without reason. Nostalgic, functional, cute and curvy and guaranteed to always put a smile on someone’s face!

10 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 11

READER’S SPOTLIGHT

JODY’S JEWEL

by Dan Leadbetter

J

ody Samuelson is a California girl, born and raised. Having lived in Southern California her whole life, she’s always wanted a fun and cute little VW to zip around town, go for a drive with her daughter, and hit the beach. Little did she know she would find the VW of her dreams in her own back yard … literally.

This dune buggy was built in 1964 and acquired by Jody’s family, who were the original owners. Flash forward to 2001: Jody decided she just had to have the Buggy to make it her fun weekend ride. So she did what any enthusiast would do: She traded a pool table for it! We think she got the better end of the deal, for sure.

The Dune Buggy was a little worse for wear: The avocado green paint was seriously oxidized and the interior was pretty shredded. This Buggy was in no shape to hit the beach! So it was stripped down and all the parts were sent off to be powder-coated black. The body was in dire need of a little splash of color (a BIG splash of color), so Jody had it resprayed in bright fuschia. Along with the blacked-out sides and undercarriage, this Buggy makes a statement. The interior was also done in black, and Jody added an antique crystal doorknob to replace the boring stock shift knob.

Because sometimes you want a little shade (and for the rare days it drizzles in Southern California), Jody added a Bimini top.

You can’t have an eye-catching Buggy and not have some power to back it up, so Jody called on Brian Roth of Roth Vintage in Orange, California, to tackle the lackluster powerplant. Brian was able to pump up the stock motor to 1835cc. Now it’s perfect for zipping in and out of traffic on Pacific Coast Highway.

Next, the brakes were gone through and brought up to snuff. To make sure that the fuel getting to the high-horsepower powerplant is clean and fresh, Brian also added a brand-new fuel tank.

In 2004, the Buggy took a trip out to the family ranch in the Peacock Mountains of Arizona, where Jody planned to keep it. But she soon realized that the harsh desert heat would take its toll on her freshly made-over dune Buggy, so she brought it back to the cooler climate of SoCal. Jody and her daughter love their reborn Buggy, and whenever possible can be found cruising down by the beach. But be forewarned: This Buggy’s not just a looker, that 1835cc motor can hold its own with the best of them!

12 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

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1963 WHAT YEAR IS IT?

New boat, damp sponges • by Jason Smith

y 1963, despite having sold cars outside Germany for only 16 years, Volkswagen was the world’s largest automotive exporter. People all over the world had fallen in love with the company’s funny little vehicles.

JFK was the United States President, until he was killed in November. Alcatraz closed. Lawrence of Arabia won Best Picture. The Beatles recorded their debut album, Please Please Me, in one day. Martin Luther King Jr. released “Letters from a Birmingham Jail” to a nation that was somehow still roiling over segregation and integration, and later in the year he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in D.C. The Coca-Cola Company introduced Tab and the USPS introduced ZIP codes. Lots of nations signed a treaty agreeing only to perform test detonations of nuclear weapons underground. (Um… thanks?) Michael Jordan was born and Gorgeous George died. Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald.

Harvey Ball invented the smiley face .

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SAMBA

B

▲ Press photo of a U.S.-market ’63 ragtop. “Volkswagen’s easy-opening sunroof closes tightly in wet or cool weather, yet assures all the fun of a convertible on good days,” wrote VW of America’s Arthur R. Railton in a press release. “A single external change — made on all cars produced after October 1 — helps distinguish some 1963 VWs from 1962 models.

This is a lengthened trim strip which runs down the center of the hood. Stylists eliminated a shield-shaped crest of VW’s hometown, Wolfsburg, previously mounted just above the hood handle.” Despite Arthur’s fanfare, 1963 was the final year for the iconic sliding fabric: In 1964, VW took the “rag” out by introducing a crank-operated steel sunroof. 1963 chassis numbers were 4 846 836 to 5 677 118.

1963 was the first year since 1947 that VW didn’t build more cars than the year before. (It was a temporary slowdown, in part due to a labor shortage.) Still, the company was by that point the largest German industrial concern, and it accounted for more than 42 percent of all

PRODUCTION FOR 1963 TOTAL NUMBER BUILT: 838,488  3.9% of total Beetle production, 1931–2004 CABRIOLETS BUILT: 10,599  0.05% of total Beetle production, 1931–2004  1.3% of ’63 Beetle production

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

NUMBER BUILT IN GERMANY: 747,143  89.1% of ’63 Beetle production  All Cabriolets were built in Germany  ’63 Beetles built elsewhere: 91,345

▲ First floated in 1963, the Johann Schulte carried Volkswagens from Germany to the United States. It reportedly held seven trainloads of VWs. Your Volkswagen might have taken a ride on this boat.

14 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

’63 BEETLES WERE BUILT IN:  Wolfsburg and Osnabrück, Germany  Auckland, New Zealand  Brussels, Belgium  Dublin, Ireland  Manila, Philippines  Melbourne, Australia  Montevideo, Uruguay  Puebla, Mexico  São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil  Uitenhage, South Africa  Valencia, Venezuela

BEETLE PRODUCTION, 1949–79

8

99+1 ’63 BEE TL E

1963: 838,488 BUILT

L41 BLACK USED ALL YEARS, 1949–79

S:

8 ,48 38

1963 PAINT COLORS

SEDANS

L469 ANTHRACITE USED 1962–64

L390 GULF BLUE FINAL YEAR. USED 1961–63

CABRIOLETS

(1.3% OF 1963 PRODUCTION)

’79

L398 PACIFIC BLUE FINAL YEAR. USED 1962–63

’49

L478 BERYL GREEN FINAL YEAR. USED 1961–63

L87 PEARL WHITE USED 1950–52, 1961–66

L456 RUBY RED USED 1961–67

L380 TURQUOISE GREEN FINAL YEAR. USED 1961–63

▲ VW claimed the ’63 Cabriolet’s back window had one third more glass than the ’62.

▲ No new exterior colors were introduced for 1963, but it was the final year for some of the Beetle’s most-loved paint shades: classic Gulf Blue, mesmerizing Beryl Green, and the always fetching Turquoise Green (Turkis). Anthracite hung on until 1964.

German car production. A fully automated, 180-meter-long assembly line for Beetles was introduced at the Wolfsburg factory.

The company claimed that “the front and rear sections of the vehicle can be welded to the roof with 300 spot welds and millimeter accuracy,” and boasted of setting up 57 new presses to supply the assembly line with body parts. Daily production clocked in at just over 5,200 vehicles. Volkswagen also rolled out a new cargo ship, the Johann Schulte, which could transport 1,750 vehicles to eagerly awaiting customers around the world at a speed of 17.25 knots. (Is that fast? We have no idea.)

The company by this point had just north of 80,000 employees.

If you have a ’63, you have a classic — it’s 60 years old! But you already knew that.

Now get out there and drive it.

▲ Arthur R. Railton in a VWOA press release: “This year’s VW sedan incorporates a new heating system which not only warms up faster but also increases the amount of warm air entering the passenger compartment. Other improvements include additional insulation and a washable plastic headliner which makes the car’s interior fully washable. Usually only a damp sponge is needed to clean up the inside.”

 Wolfsburg hood crest dropped  Nylon window guides  Leatherette headliner introduced  Folding handle for sunroof  Foam-insulated sandwich floor mats  Fresh-air heating  Wider license plate light housing and redesigned decklid  Clean-air engine with redesigned fan housing, muffler, and heat exchangers  Larger rear window on Cabriolets *PARTIAL LIST. PRIMARILY APPLIES TO U.S.-MARKET CARS.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SAMBA

MODIFICATIONS FOR 1963*

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 15

T H Y I R N E G V E

!

E M O S …AND THEN 16 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

Shanna Dewsnup is a master of all trades

By DG Leadbetter • Photos by Paul Morton and courtesy of Shanna Dewsnup

W

hen it comes to Volkswagens, we all know at least one person who excels in a particular area.

We know an engine guy, a guy that does body and paint work, or an upholstery dude. But it’s not often you find someone who can do just about everything — a onestop shop, if you will. Shanna Dewsnup is not only a die-hard VW enthusiast, but she also jumps in and gets her hands dirty in every aspect of putting a VW together!

Shanna was born in California, raised in Arizona, and has been a fan of all things air-cooled for as long as she can remember.

Her father is Rick Mortensen, who started the Phoenix Bug-Run and Phoenix Bugo-Rama. A longtime friend of VW Trends, Rick has always been a mainstay in the VW world. Rick was hoping his son would take up the VW torch, but life has a way of throwing curveballs, and Rick ended up

with a fanatic automotive enthusiast in his daughter instead.

Shanna’s first VW was a ’75 Super Beetle convertible that became her project car for auto-body and paint classes in high school.

One VW is never enough, so she quickly found a ’73 Bug for a paltry $200. She took it completely apart in her parents’ driveway and sold the parts at local swap meets to finance her next car, a ’63 Karmann Ghia.

Shanna had several close calls driving that KG around town — one time, the master cylinder went out while she was driving — so she sold it and found her dream VW: a ’59 Beetle.

After high school, Shanna moved to Utah. She drove the ’59 back and forth between Utah and Arizona multiple times before its life was ended by a newbie driver turning in front of her at a light. Luckily, Shanna was unscathed.

Over the years, Shanna has kept the VW fires burning, but life threw another curveball: When her two sons were young, Shanna found herself being a single mom.

Her oldest son had special needs, so she decided to return to school to become a doctor specializing in audiology to help with his hearing difficulties. She had to put the VW world on hold while she was going to school full-time and pinching pennies to take care of her boys.

But we all know it doen’t stay in hibernation for long. During her doctoral program in Cincinnati, Ohio, she found a ’74 Westfalia and a ’65 Beetle for a smokin’ deal that was way too good to pass on. As most of us know, wrenching on a project VW is always good stress relief. Shanna had one day off per week during grad school, so she worked on her Beetle “Ruby” on that day while the boys were at school.

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 17

But she only had six months to get the During this time, Shanna met Kevin, VW finished before moving out of state who’s now her husband. Another rabid car for her residency. Two days before the enthusiast, Kevin didn’t quite understand deadline, her dad, Rick Mortensen, flew out Shanna’s VW obsession, but soon enough to Ohio. They pulled a 48-hour marathon he was bitten by the Bug. Kevin is a woodto assemble the Beetle and move Shanna to worker and car stereo installer, so he knows Colorado. his way around a car or two.

At the end of Shanna’s Colorado Kevin lovingly pushed Shanna to start residency, her son was diagnosed with a what would become a successful audiology devastating synpractice in Phoenix drome that would called Happy Ears eventually cause Hearing Center. him to become deaf Their business plan and blind. Shanna incorporated Volkdecided to move swagens as promoback to Arizona to tional vehicles and be closer to family.

VWs graced all the She sold the beloved office brochures.

Bug that she had They say just completed to opposites attract.

Here’s Shanna and her dad, Rick help pay for trips Kevin’s had a Mortensen. Rick has been a driving force she took with her passion for custom in the VW world for many years, and was son while his vision cars and Shanna the promoter of Bug-o-Rama. was still adequate. has always been in

18 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

VWs Shanna formerly owned: ’75 Super Beetle Convertible ■ ’73 Beetle ■ ’73 Thing ■ ’63 Karmann Ghia ■ ’59 Beetle ■ ’63 Beetle ■ ’65 Beetle ■ ’74 Westfalia Camper ■ ’04 GTI ■ ’09 Tiguan ■ ’12 CC

VWs Shanna and Kevin currently own: ’57 Oval Window Beetle ■ ’61 Beetle (original paint and very original inside; to be restored) ■ ’65 Beetle ■ ’65 21-window Bus (to be restored) ■ ’68 Type 34 ■ ’68 Double Cab ■ ’70 Karmann Ghia Convertible ■ ’74 nine-passenger Bus ■ ’78 Westfalia Camper Subaru Conversion (Kevin redid all the cabinetry and added solar lighting inside) ■ ’79 Limited Edition “triple white” Super Beetle Convertible with only 1,609 miles. Still has all the original stickers, original paint, the VW-stamped factory fan belt, and original tires from the factory.)

Shanna and Kevin on Instagram: @azvwgirl and @dubsanddewses

Shanna knows her way around both a welder and a paint gun.

Shanna met her match when she met Kevin Dewsnup! He’s a die-hard car guy, but early in their relationship Shanna helped him catch the bug.

HEY BUDDY, YOU CAN STICK IT Show the world who’s boss with these retro-authentic VWT bumper stickers. $3.95 for two large stickers (shipping included).

WE DRIVE .... AND RACE, WHAT WE SELL! Specializing in “Super Street” Long Blocks, Complete Engines, Transaxle & Accessories for Air-Cooled VW Cars PHONE (541) 862-7015 6760 N. Applegate Rd., Grants Pass, OR 97527 www.strictlyforeign.com

VWTRENDSMAGAZINE.COM VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 19

 Who wouldn’t want a super garage/hobby shop filled to the brim with cool VWs? The Dewsnups have quite the collection.  The upstairs lounge area has ample seating for friends and family, vintage Bug-O-Rama posters, awards, toys, and some of the best reading material around.

20 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

love with the stock, classic look. With their combined skills, they’ve built an amazing collection of unique Volkswagens! They’ve also designed and hand-built an amazing sanctuary at their home where they can work on VW projects to get their minds off running their business.

Shanna still loves to paint VWs, and is currently working on a ragtop headliner for a Bug they gifted her father Rick for his retirement.

As we all know, you never really finish a collection, and to that end Shanna and Kevin just added a rare ’79 triple-white Super Beetle convertible with 1,608 original miles! That one has been garaged its entire existence. They also have a rare and very original ’61 Bug which they acquired from family friends in Phoenix.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone with the VW pedigree that Shanna has, and she’s not resting on her laurels. I’m sure this collection is just getting started, and VW Trends will be there as it grows!

“I

BUGGY QUEEN: WINNIE MEYERS CO-FOUNDER OF THE MANX CLUB

always have a guitar at ready upstairs in my bachelor pad and would love to hear a few of your tunes,” said Bruce. “Would you like to come up and see it?”

Winnie looked him up and down and with a big smile and said, “No.” Several months later they met again, and the rest is one big ride full of smiles.

Winnie married Bruce in 1986. They would be together for 35 years, until Bruce’s passing in 2021. At 77 years young, Winnie is still stepping on the gas pedal as director and a member of the board of directors of the Manx Club.

In 1994 at the Super VW Nationals, where Bruce was a guest of honor, Jacky Morel of Super VW Magazine challenged Bruce to do three things: create a new buggy, start a club, and write a book. That sparked the Manx Club, founded in 1994, and the new Meyers Manx, Inc., in 1999, which debuted the Classic Manx Signature Series.

Bruce would go on to write three books.

The club was a labor of love. If Winnie and Bruce spotted a dune buggy when they were out and about, they would place a little note under the wipers and invite the owner to join the Manx Club. What began as two members in 1994 grew faster than Old Red could jump a hill at Pismo. Today there are more than 6,000 members worldwide.

Winnie has always been the wind under the club’s sails: Her organizational skills and hard work behind the scenes continue to bolster club outings on the West and East Coasts. Check out the website and find the next event near you: manxclub.com Winnie and Bruce made it a point to attend every club event, and Winnie continues to travel and greet folks today. The club is registered as a 501c7 non-profit.

“It’s a family sport,” Winnie says. “People have sent us letters telling us that their Dad kept them out of trouble by building cars together. Everyone is welcome to join, whether they have an original Meyers Manx or a spin-off. We are still going strong, especially the club. It doesn’t matter where you are; the buggy is all over the world. Join the club and join the fun!”

—Rich Crafton

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 21

A TALE OF TWO

BUGORAMAS (IT’S A BUGORAMA-RAMA)

PART ONE:

BUGORAMA SOUTHWEST

By Paul Morton

E

ver woken up early for an anticipated event, but you just weren’t feeling it? We’ve all been there. Well, if you felt anything like that on April 3, 2022, those feelings would have melted away once you passed through the gates at Wild Horse Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona, for the Bugorama Southwest show, race, and swap extravaganza! The energy from that positive VW vibe was palpable. The infamous Doug’s Buggs and Bunnys was the title sponsor, and once you reached their

22 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

Francisco Gil Jr. trekked up from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, to take the win in Sportsman Eliminator. The GIL Racing Team also went home with Best Race Team honors.

sprawling booth you had a choice to make: To the left was what has to be the largest VW car show and swap meet in the greater Phoenix area each year. To the right was some of the most intense VW drag racing the Southwest has to offer. Which do you choose? Is it too much to ask for both?

While various show vehicles rolled in during the morning hours (there were several hundred in attendance), we started our journey at the far end of the swap-meet area. There’s a lot of ground to cover, tons of

parts to go through, and it’s always best to get to the swap early. Our careful planning paid off as we found some parts for our staff project vehicle. The swap meet alone is worth the trip out to Wild Horse Pass.

We worked our way back toward the entrance of the swap section, landing at the car show just in time to peruse VWs of all types and styles that filled the expansive show area. From daily drivers to trailer  continued on page 24

Vintage VWs rolled into Bugorama Southwest’s expansive show area for hours on the morning of April 3. There’s a lot to see at this event each year and lots of great VW enthusiasts to share stories with.

Split Personality is a tube-chassis, 550hp, V8-powered ’56 owned by Reggie Tibbetts. He and his wife Margret also brought out their full-show ’76 sandrail, which won the Coolest Off Road award.

It was no surprise that one of the Top 10 Vintage Winners was Gary & Juanel Stramandinoli ‘s ’55 Oval. This Euro 3-fold ragtop features a 36hp Judsonsupercharged engine.

Brian Smith’s ultra-cool ’64 buggy boasts a 1760 stroker and air ride. He almost didn’t make it due to minor engine troubles, but got everything sorted out and his car found a spot in the top 25.

Ron Howe’s twin-engine, gasser-style Squareback understandably took home one of the top 25 honors.

Mark Sandoval’s Agave Green ’57 Oval has hidden air ride up front and a 1776 out back.

This rusty gold rat rod is owned by Ryan Donnelly. It’s a ’72 powered by an R1 sport bike engine.

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 23

race results Low ET: Ron Fleming: 10.493 Top Speed: Ron Fleming: 126.05 Best Wheelie: Ernie Crowley Best Burnout: Chuck Studler Best Appearing Racecar: Ron Fleming Best Crew: John Schuerger Best Race Team: GIL Racing Team Hard Luck: Doug Gonzalez Class Winners

Wheels up for Marcus Palmquist and John Schuerger. John and his team from Ontario, CA took home both the Best Crew award and runner up in Super Combo.

■ Super Street: Winner, Ron Fleming; Runner Up, Doug Gonzalez ■ Super Combo: Winner, Ron Vander Schaaf; Runner Up, John Schuerger ■ Pro Eliminator: Winner, Dean Russell; Runner Up, Tanner Nolen ■ Sportsman Eliminator: Winner, Francisco Gil Jr.; Runner Up, Jimmy Hopper ■ Trophy: Winner, Chris Button; Runner Up, Tom Tanier TOP 25

If Bugorama doesn’t host the largest VW swap meet in the Southwest, we’re not sure who does. Get there early, bring cash, and (if you’re smart, unlike us) a cart of some type.

Trevor Reis’ incredibly clean ’59 23-Window is impressive as it sits now, but a close look at the “before” pics makes it almost unbelievable! Wow, what an incredible restoration.

■ Trevor Reis: ’59 23-Window ■ Kyle & Shena Orian: ’57 Bug ■ Randy Slack: ’51 11G Deluxe ■ Gary Juanell & Kevin Stramandinoli: ’55 Bug ■ Ron Howe: ’71 Squareback ■ Robert Vincent: ’67 Bug ■ Juan in Volkstyle: ’61 11-Window ■ Ben Goddard: ’60 Double Cab ■ Chad Davis: ’74 Thing ■ Dave English: ’73 Thing Baja ■ Sam Mebane: ’71 Super Beetle ■ Jason: ’55 23-Window ■ Mark Sandoval: ’57 Bug ■ Jason Gaul: ’57 Bug ■ Tom & Lynnes McGrane: ’74 Thing ■ Jason & Denise Liborio: ’66 Bug Convertible ■ Rick Morris: ’64 Ghia ■ Seth: ’59 Bug ■ Brian Smith: ’64 Buggy ■ Johnny Acosta: ’73 Thing ■ Roger Monte Mesano: ’66 Bug ■ Alan Castro: ’90 Bug ■ Kim Sylia: ’95 Golf GTI ■ Luis: ’87 Golf ■ Matty & Elena: ’98 GTI VR6 TOP 10 VINTAGE

Eric Arnold, the world’s hardest working VW photographer, captured photographic evidence that this rail had all four tires off the ground at least once.

Doug’s Buggs and Bunnys was the title sponsor. If you’re ever in Phoenix, we highly recommend checking them out.

Left to right: Bryson, Mike, Fish, Rebecca, TJ, Jason, and Art.

queens, it was all there.

Most of the vendors, including the easyto-find VW Trends booth, were around the perimeter of the main show area.

Once we found ourselves back at the entrance it was through the pits and off to the drag strip. If you like to see high performance VWs pull their front wheels off the ground, this was the place for you. It

seemed like every other run featured one or two wheel-standing Volkswagens. Racers of all levels and from all places showed up.

The vehicles and people were incredible, the day was warm, and the beer was cold (um, so we were told). And, as per usual, it was yet another incredible Bugorama. We look forward to the next one, and the next one…

24 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

■ Scott Downey: ’66 1300 ■ Kyle & Shena Orian: ’57 Oval ■ Trevor Reis: ’57 23-Window ■ Jason Eckhardt: ’55 23-Window ■ Daric Hartle: ’69 Single Cab ■ Kevin Curtis: ’61 Bug ■ Becky Lehman: ’71 Super Beetle ■ Ron & Diane Naller: ’67 Bug ■ Randy Slack: ’51 Split-Window ■ Gary & Juanel Stramandinoli: ’55 Oval SPECIAL AWARDS ■ Coolest Off Road: Reggie & Margret Tibbets: ’76 Sandrail ■ Coolest Volksrod: Nathan Howe: ’68 Bug ■ Best Patina: Matt Kaiser: ’62 Bug ■ Most Original Car: Billy Warren: ’58 Bug ■ Best Special Construction: Ron Hall: ’61 ■ Best Interior: Mark Sandoval: ’57 Oval ■ Host Club Choice: Brian Hardy: ’54 Bug ■ Most Outstanding Engine: Ron Howe: ’71 Squareback ■ Promoters Choice: Tom & Lynnes McGrane: ’74 Thing

A TALE OF TWO BUGORAMAS

PART TWO:

BUGORAMA SACRAMENTO

By Dan Leadbetter

A

h, the Sacramento Bugorama. Just saying the name brings back tons of memories from shows past: the VWs, the drag racing, the bikini contests. Yeah, the Sacramento Bugorama had it all. Wait, did we use the word had? The Bugorama still has the same magic, even though the bikini contests have gone by the wayside. The CB Performance-sponsored Sacramento Bugorama 88 held September 3 and 4 was definitely one for the record books.

With temperatures in the triple digits, it was a hot time in the old town over the Labor Day Weekend. But that didn’t stop hordes of VW fanatics from heading to Sacramento Raceway Park. The venue opened at an early 7 a.m. to help beat the heat.

There was a huge line waiting at 6 a.m., proving that even scorching heat can’t keep VW folks from having a good time.

Sacramento Bugorama has one of the largest swap meets, and this year was no exception. There were plenty of folks sell-

CB Performance, the title sponsor of the Sacramento Bugorama, did brisk business during the show.

ing just about every part and accessory you could imagine. Looking for a W decklid? It was there. How about a brand new, turnkey 2-liter engine? Yep, it was there. Looking for a complete VW to take home? There were plenty of vehicles in the swap meet (as well as in the show area) with “For Sale” signs on them. No matter what you were looking for in the way of parts, accessories, or toys, you could find it a few steps away from the car-show area.

Speaking of the car-show section, there were some amazing VWs on display!

While the temperatures continued to climb, the really hot action was over at the drag strip, where the competition was hot and heavy. If you’ve never taken the time to check it out, you really owe it to yourself!

Overall, the Sacramento Bugorama was a huge success. Make sure to make plans now for next year. We’ll see you again in Northern California!

Over in the swap meet area, you could find just about anything … including a Wolfsburg pinstriped surfboard!

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 25

Omar Rodriguez took one of the coveted Top 25 with his super-clean ’92 GTI.

The Houston Brothers had a respectable showing on the track. In the Sportsman Eliminator class, Bryan Houston of Houston Bros. Racing (and Late Night Aircooled) took Runner Up in this beautiful metal-flake red ’60 Sedan, while his brother Todd nabbed first in Pro Eliminator. Congrats to Houston Bros. Racing for taking home prizes and payouts in two hotly contested classes.

Chad Davis got the Pro Eliminator class win with a reaction time of .338 for a run of 6.726 at 203mph! The crowd was on their feet for that race.

Bret Matney was in the top spot of the Pro Eliminator class, but ended up red lighting, which gave Chad Davis the win.

Although not a Top 25 winner, Brian Walima’s ’64 turquoise convertible is a winner in our book!

John Scott’s ’73 Thing was another Top 25 winner.

26 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

McLovin’s ’65 Type I earned a Top 25 spot. We’re McLovin’ it!

This nifty little Gulf-inspired short Bus was pretty cool with its safari windows.

The trophies for Top 25, Top 10 Water Cooled, and Special Awards.

race WINNERs ■ Top Eliminator: Chad Davis ■ Pro Mod: Jason Fuller ■ Super Combo: Chuck Greenwood ■ Pro Gas: Pupe Santos ■ Pro Eliminator: Todd Houston ■ Sportsman Eliminator: David Rudd TOP 25 CAR SHOW ■ Julius Estrada: ’66 Bug Convertible ■ Robert Robello: ’68 Bug ■ Tom & Donna Bauer: ’68 Meyers Manx ■ Fernando Ramos: ’58 Bug ■ Al Rensen: ’62 Bug ■ Luis Sanchez: ’71 Fastback ■ Megan Wens: ’69 Karmann Ghia ■ Robert St Jo: ’61 23-Window ■ Kirk Chudinski: ’64 Double Cab ■ Randy Brennan: ’69 Karmann Ghia Convertible ■ John Scott: ’73 Thing ■ Ben Sprints: ’71 Super Beetle ■ Rowe: ’66 21-Window ■ Ron Mainer: ’58 Bus ■ Groovy Granny: ’68 Bus ■ Mario Margherita: ’68 Double Cab ■ McLovin: ’65 Bug ■ Yamalia Hernandez: ’58 Bug ■ Jared & Heather Weisler: ’60 Bug ■ Doug Campion: ’64 Notchback ■ Jeff Garmeson: ’66 Fastback ■ Mario Tapia: ’69 Bug ■ Edu: ’68 Bus ■ Randal Isaac: ’65 Double Cab ■ April Baird: ’62 Bug

Need some slicks for your drag VW? How about a set of Fuchs? Yep, you could find it in the swap meet.

TOP 10 water-cooled

■ Gerardo Bazan: ’00 Kombi ■ Omar Rodriguez: ’92 GTI ■ Jose: ’00 Mexican Bus ■ Axel Perez: ’98 GTI ■ Jaime Ramirez: ’05 GLI ■ Juan Vina: ’20 Arteon ■ Mel B & D: ’12 GTI ■ Cesar Ornelas: ’81 Jetta ■ Jahani Pearson: ’85 Quantum ■ Cesar: ’91 GLI SPECIAL AWARDS

The Coolest Off-Road award went to Darren Baker and his ’63 Baja.

Resto Bus also had a booth at Bugorama, and was pretty busy throughout the day.

Juan Vina brought his ’19 Arteon out to show. While he didn’t take a spot in the Top 25, his sedan is a really cool machine.

Bracket racing: You can run what you brung! Drive to the event, race all day, drive back home … all in the same car!

■ Coolest Off Road: Darren Baker: ’63 Baja ■ Coolest Volksrod: Steve Mann: ’65 Bug ■ Best Patina: J Michael: ’67 Bus ■ Most Original: Megan Owens: ’69 Karmann Ghia ■ Most Outstanding Engine: Kirk Chudinski: ’64 Double Cab ■ Best Interior: Robert Robello: ’68 Bug ■ Host Club Choice: Jeff Garmeson: ’66 Fastback ■ Best Engineered: Joe Sellars: ’70 Meyers Manx ■ Promoter’s Choice: Randall Isaac: ’65 Double Cab

Although he didn’t make the Top 25, Victor Porter’s ’58 Volksrod was a winner in our book!

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 27

TECH

Big air-cooled motors like this one need more cooling air than stock motors, especially during the warmer months. Decklid standoffs are a great way to keep these highhorsepower motors from melting down.

PANCAKE PERFECTION Upgrading the Type 3 engine with performance and polish

by Josh Fullenwider, Sawtooth Aircooled

U

pright Type 1 engines get all the glory, and it’s easy to see why. Just open the decklid and … wham! It’s right there in your face for the world to see. Sun gleaming off the paint, chrome glistening … it just draws a crowd of onlookers.

An upright engine can take on many personalities. Since day one, the aftermarket industry has supplied custom parts for owners to create masterpieces on an iconic canvas of sheet metal. The options are endless. They can have a “kill or be killed” look with huge exhaust, 48IDAs reaching for the sky, or a turbo looking for its next prey. Or a tiny little 30PICT-1 hiding under the factory oil-bath air cleaner, Tweety Bird tips chirping away, and the subtle factory black paint giving an almost “cute” appearance.

28 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

The Type 3 on the other hand … not so much!

Hidden away, buried in a dark and dirty hole collecting dirt and road grime, the Type 3 motor is a tough one to personalize. Because Type 3 powerplants lack that open, in-your-face exposure, most owners keep the lids closed with their box of cleaning supplies and camp chairs tucked away above it. The aftermarket has been slow to provide custom accessories to dress up the stepchild of the VW world, but die-hard Type 3 lovers still find ways to personalize their beloved rides and bring the “wow factor” into the engine compartment.

We at Sawtooth Aircooled were more than stoked when Brad Taylor, a member of the German Speed car club out of Boise,

Idaho, contacted us for a Type 3 build for his slammed ’70 Squareback. He wanted to be able to pull up to the monthly Dubs ’n Donuts, open that decklid, and show off his pride and joy.

The engine had to meet strict criteria as well. It had to be reliable and powerful enough for his family (and all their luggage) to make long-distance road trips while using a freeway flier transaxle. It had to have heater boxes (Brad legit drives his Squareback daily year-round), and it had to run cool during the Boise summer heat and traffic.

After discussing at great length a combo that would work for him, we got to work.

Due to the Type 3’s limited ability to breathe (short air cleaners and stock heater boxes), we decided that a mild 2017cc build would suffice. Our ultimate goal was to provide high torque at low rpms to get his pride and joy up to speed quickly. (Covid-19 was in full effect at the time, and the availability of desired parts and extended wait times also factored into some decisions.)

We decided that a new aluminum engine case and 78.4mm Super Race crank from CB Performance would fit the bill. Because of the planned amount of freeway driving in such a heavy vehicle, we wanted the inherent torque that longer-stroke engines produce while also maintaining horsepower at freeway speeds.

Next were Scat 5.400-inch H-Beam connecting rods and 90.5mm “B” pistons from AA Performance. The 90.5’s thicker cylinder walls make them less prone to warping over time, and the 5.400 rods help with less frictional loss between the cylinder wall and piston.

Compression was set at 8.5:1, and CB’s straight-cut cam gears were used to eliminate the thrust-load on the cam bearings and reduce parasitic loss of power. The gears were attached to an Engle W-100 camshaft. Camshaft selection was a tough one. Due to the limited breathing capability we knew we were on the edge of efficiency, which is why we decided to go with the W-100 with its 276° duration and .420-inch lift (with stock 1.1 rockers). After getting some miles on the engine we knew we’d made the right choice: With gobs of bottom-end torque, Brad’s Squareback flat out gets it!

Heavy-duty .035-inch chromoly pushrods keep the Engle lifters and CB

solid-shaft 1.1:1 rockers in tune with each other, and slightly massaged Panchito from CB round out the top end. The breather box, coil mount, and Type 3 alternator conversion are also from CB. Oil is supplied by a plugged, blueprinted, and radiused-inlet 26mm Schadek oil pump, which sends oil through black -08 AN fittings and matching Phenix Fitting’s braided hoses to a remote oil filter, then back into the case. The braided hose gives us peace of mind, since they won’t swell and possibly burst under pressure. Carburation comes from dual EMPI 40HPMXs mounted on CB Performance port-matched shorty manifolds and linkage. The exhaust exits through stock heater boxes and a Vintage Speed muffler. A Kennedy Stage 1 pressure plate keeps the clutch plate planted to the stock weight flywheel, which was dynamic balanced with the pressure plate and crank by CB. We build all of our engines with heavyweight flywheels to give a stock-like smooth transition of power when leaving from a dead stop, as well as maintaining enough inertia to keep pulling up hills.

One major lesson we learned, and hope to pass on to others building a Type 3, relates to the full-flow modification. As you may know, the mustache bar used on a Type 3 is directly behind the oil pump.

The grinding, clearancing, (and cursing) involved with routing the oil lines was a hair-pulling experience. Had we known

2. Sawtooth’s porting box has built-in LED’s for a better view, and a vacuum port to keep dust to a minimum.

1. Aluminum cases take a significant amount of prep work. After recording and insuring all measurements are within spec (depths and diameters for the main bore, cam bore, and oil pump bore, and bore diameters for lifters and oil pressure relief), the case is put into the porting box and the tedious process of modification by smoothing, deburring, and opening up the windage windows process begins.

3. Casting flash and build-up inside aluminum cases is pretty extreme. This area is above the lifter bores.

4. Here, the lifter bores have been smoothed. You don’t have to have a mirror-like finish, just smooth away all the sharp edges and buildup.

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• FALL ’22 29

5. The windage windows have less than spectacular quality, so they’re opened up to allow a smoother transition of airflow.

6. Here’s the windage window after modification.

7. Here are the stroker crank clearance cuts. Notice the very sharp edges that need to be smoothed out.

8. You can see the difference in the clearance cuts after they have been smoothed.

9. Even the oil filler/breather is choked by casting flash.

10. The oil filler/breather has been opened up with a little grinder work.

30 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

in advance that Brothers VW Machine Shop in Ontario, California, offers a Type 3 full-flow modification to the case, we would have done that in a heartbeat.

Moving on to the aesthetics side of the build, powder coating extraordinaire Brandon Ochsner, along with his crew at Extreme Fusion Powder Coating in Wendell, Idaho, sandblasted all of our factory tin. Shockingly, the metal was perfect, with only a few minor dings, the normal annoying casting flash, and zero rust. Due to the color shifting properties and high gloss of the candy purple we used, it was imperative that the tin be 100% dent-free and as smooth as possible. So with a little hammer and dolly work, and by filling some factory holes with the MIG, we finessed the tin to where we felt comfortable enough to start laying the powder. During this time, Brad removed all the rear suspension pieces and had them sandblasted and powdercoated to match the engine.

Once the Candy Purple and Cadillac Gray powder from prismaticpowders.com was applied, we finished final assembly, and it was time for installation. After using up a roll of painter’s tape to cover every square inch of tin (to prevent scratches), we hooked the engine up to the new Benco Freeway Flier transaxle, installed the fullflow remote oil, and routed the oil lines to their proper place.

After a few hundred break-in miles, it was off to Unparalled Performance in Kimberly, Idaho, for dyno testing. Owner Drew Quinton got us strapped down, hit the throttle, and from 1,800 to 4,000 rpm she produced well over 100ft-lbs of torque, peaking at 123ft-lbs at 2,850 rpm (not corrected for elevation). Uncorrected horsepower was 90 at 3,300 rpm. Perfect torque range for a daily driver!

How happy is Brad with his new engine?

“Having the ability to pull a steep grade at 75 miles per hour and punching the throttle... it throws you back in the seat. It’s insane,” he says.

Brad now has the power and reliability he was looking for, along with working heat for those cold Boise winters. And when he parks in the grass at the annual Bus Pilots Association Family Reunion, he’ll be one of the first to jump out, open up that decklid, and prove that Type 3s can look just as good as their upright counterparts!

12. There were many mockups with the original tin to double- and triple-check that the thermostat opens the flaps correctly and ensure proper fitment.

11. The short block is about to be sealed up. Internals include a CB crankshaft, H-Beam rods, straight-cut timing gears, and an Engle W100 camshaft and lifters.

What we learned: The Brother’s VW Machine Type 3 full-flow mod makes routing the oil lines much easier and cleaner.

13. Identifying areas that need to be addressed on the tin to provide a smooth look before powder coat application.

Before and after. Brad now has the power and reliability he was looking for, and his motor doesn’t look bad, to boot.

On the dyno at Unparalled Performance in Kimberly, Idaho: 123ft-lbs at 2,850 rpm and 90 horsepower was at 3,300 rpm.

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• FALL ’22 31

32 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

Amy Bausman’s ’69 Ghia comes full circle

By Bob Daniels VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 33

T

here’s a phrase that goes, “Life gets in the way.” Much was the case with Amy Bausman’s Ghia. After an accident left it parked, life indeed got in the way, and two decades passed before it was restored. There’s also a phrase that goes, “Good things come to those who wait.” I think we can all agree good things came from waiting.

Joe and Amy Bausman, from Smithsburg, Maryland, were high school sweethearts. Joe was a VW lover. Amy took an

interest in Joe’s hobby and perused his magazines. She was particularly drawn to the Karmann Ghias in these magazines. In 1987, on one of their first dates, they went to Bug Out in Manassas, Virginia. There, Amy first saw in person the Ghias she had fallen in love with in Joe’s magazines. Soon after, Amy bought the ’69 Ghia you see here.

Unfortunately, the car was significantly damaged when it was rear-ended shortly after Amy bought it. Luckily, Joe and Amy weren’t injured. With insurance check in

hand, they went about building a Cal-Look Ghia. Accident damage was repaired, and the body was dechromed and received a fresh white paint job. The car was ready for the famous Bug Outs where they had their first date.

Amy drove the Ghia daily until 1991, when transmission issues put it into storage. Joe and Amy were getting married and moving into their first house. “We’ll fix it when the dust settles,” they said. It took 20-plus years for that dust to settle,

We think it’s awesome when a VW stays in the family, and Amy and her husband Joe really have a beautiful Ghia! Here’s a shot of the couple and the Ghia on their way to their high school prom. Next, a shot of Amy in 1986 diving head-first into creating the first incarnation of beautiful ’69 Ghia you see on these pages. Finally, a shot of her taking first place at Manassas Bug Out 20 in 1987.

34 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

Fuchs are always a good choice for a Ghia! These polished and painted Porsche rims are mounted on Continental 165/65R15 up front and 185/65R15 in the back.

Amy built the 1641 engine herself. The daily driver features Weber ICTs, 87mm pistons and cylinders, and a Vintage Speed Sebring exhaust.

but eventually they decided it was time to rebuild the car.

The first order of business was to disassemble every nut and bolt, then to chemically strip the body to bare metal. Joe and Amy put the bare body on a rotisserie to tackle the previous accident damage and dreaded East Coast rust. After all was said and done, they had replaced the lower six inches of the body with new metal. They replaced the damaged quarter panel and engine bay with parts from a donor car.

After Joe and Amy had the body back in shape, they entrusted it to Bob Cook of Cooker’s Restoration and Fabrication in Clear Spring, Maryland. Bob and his team performed their magic, taking care of the finish bodywork and painting it in its original Sunset Orange.

Back in the Bausman’s home shop, the floorpan was stripped bare. The pan halves were repaired and a few coats of POR-15 were applied. All removable components were powder coated gloss black. Up front, a CB Performance two-inch narrowed beam and dropped spindles set the stance. Out

back all is stock, including a Rancho transmission. The Ghia rides on real Porsche Fuchs wrapped in Continental 165/65R15 rubber up front and 185/65R15 in the back.

The engine was next on the list, and Amy built it herself. (Girls, don’t be afraid to to grab the wrenches.) Amy and Joe wanted a cool-running driver, so she built a 1641 with Weber ICTs and a Vintage Speed Sebring exhaust. Joe dug into their parts stash and pulled out a nice uncut AE dual-relief case, NOS crankshaft, NOS camshaft and a handful of other bits. A set of 87mm pistons and cylinders with stock dual-port heads round out the long block.

All-stock original cooling tins and a fan housing from a VW Thing were powder coated gloss black.

Once the freshly painted body and finished floor pan were reunited, attention turned to the interior. Joe and Amy installed a Sewfine kit. Stock seats with shaved headrests are covered in black vinyl and flannel tweed. Black German squareweave carpet covers the floors. Headliner, door panels, and trunk are upholstered in

matching tweed. The dash was filled and painted body color, then Stewart Warner gauges and custom-made trim were installed. Switches for lights and wipers were hidden. An old swap-meet gauge pod under the dash holds the matching fuel, oil, and volt gauge package. An EMPI steering wheel and CSP shifter keep Amy in control.

Since Amy and Joe have re-debuted The Sewfine black vinyl and flannel tweed interior looks perfect with the Cookers Restoration and Fabrication two-tone paint job. The filled dash was painted body color, and custom-made trim was installed. Switches for lights and wipers were hidden. An EMPI steering wheel and CSP shifter keep Amy in control.

the car, several trophies and awards have followed it home. Amy couldn’t be happier that her car is back on the road and still turning heads. If you happen to be at one of the mid-Atlantic VW shows, be sure to look for this Finally Finished Ghia.

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• FALL ’22 35

R

ebecca Bange of Brocton, Illinois, was a Beetle kid: She collected model Beetles, religiously watched all the Herbie movies, took selfies next to Beetles at shows, daydreamed about Beetles, and sketched them on her homework.

When it was time to complete a graduate project for her master’s of arts degree at Eastern Illinois University, it wasn’t hard for Rebecca to pick a topic.

The centerpiece was her book Every Car Has A Story, which is filled with testimonials from people all over the world about their Beetles. In addition to the book, her project also included designs for posters, outdoor advertisements, a hand-painted hood, and more.

Rebecca’s personal fleet includes an ’05 New Beetle and a ’19 Final Edition Beetle. Her biggest inspiration was her dad and the two years they spent restoring two Beetles: his ’69 convertible and her Saturn Yellow ’72 Super Beetle, which she named Adele. “I absolutely cannot wait to see what the future will hold for my Beetle,” she says, “and I look forward to learning everything I can about her.”

36 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

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VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 37

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE Ashlyn Sacchette, in her own words Interview and photos by Rich Crafton

S

he is a race car driver, two-time triple-crown SS champion, record holder for the NHRA SS/VX, and a fierce competitor. She is also one of the most approachable, kind-hearted and fun VW enthusiasts you’ll ever meet, on or off the track.

You might say that Ashlyn Sacchette was engineered for this sport: Her dad, Jack Sacchette (formerly of JayCee) has been a racer, innovator and gamechanger since his first carbs were cooling on the rack during the Reagan administration.

We talked to Ashlyn to get to know her a bit more.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation.

38 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

our time until it all came together. Once I was ready, I’d ask for a bigger, faster engine.

VWT: What is your favorite moment in the seat?

Ashlyn: “I like the beginning of a pass — what it takes to stage the car, doing a little dance with the other driver and the launch, when it all hits you. And my car really likes to take off.

VWT: Favorite part of the sport?

Ashlyn: “I really like the comradery; everyone shares the same passion. You go to a race and you’re one big family — everyone is caring and wants the best for everyone.

Everyone has each other’s back.”

VWT: How do you see the future for racing?

Ashlyn: “I think it is growing. Kids come up to me and say, ‘I love watching you race. I love that you are a female driver.’

And the young girls are great to connect with. I love making them feel special, giving them a tee shirt — you remember the people that give their time. I want to be that person: someone who inspires others to grow this sport.”

VWT: Parting thoughts?

Ashlyn: “If you’re thinking about racing, or if you don’t think you are capable, get rid of the doubt! Step out of your comfort zone, come by and say hi to me or other racers and get involved. Support your local drag races.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ASHLYN SACCHETTI

VWT: What is your earliest memory connected to the sport and drag racing?

Ashlyn: “I grew up with them; my dad was racing before he met my mom. I don’t have an earliest, but I have a favorite: We would pick up my dad at the end of the finish line and tow him back to the pit, and I would sit in his lap and hear the sound of the cars. I loved it. He’d have me helping put on the wheelie bars, learning how to crew.

As a matter of fact, my birth was planned around the off-season of racing.”

VWT: How did your Dad influence you?

Ashlyn: “Growing up, my sister and I would spend time at work with him. Every time he dyno’ed an engine, he would show me what he was doing. Always willing to keep me involved, teach me.”

VWT: Tell us about your first race.

Ashlyn: “Irwindale Drag Day, powder puff, street automatic water-cooled TDI, something simple to get my feet wet. I was 19 years old. I was always the crew person up until then, and actually won my first race and I never looked back! I remember learning the lights, the rules, the flow of the race day: all was great to learn on a simple automatic. A lot of seat time was required to get good at this sport — experience is key.

How quickly my brain can process everything, car sounds, moving left or right, keeping straight. I started with a slow engine first until I was comfortable. We took

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 39

40 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

This super-sweet two-tone ’63 ragtop is original and refreshing just like its namesake!

By DG Leadbetter Photography by Ben Radatz

I

f you’ve been around this big blue marble for any length of time, you’re most likely familiar with Orange Julius. This unique orange drink has been a mainstay of the SoCal surf crowd forever.

The Orange Julius website encourages fans of the drink to “Be an original. Keep it fresh. Keep it real.” Kyla and Matt Goble’s ’63 ragtop Bug could have been built using the same motto, and we’re not just talking about the color!

Kyla and Matt are no strangers to the VW world: They’ve owned a ’57 Oval Window, a ’56 Panel Bus, a ’60 Walk-through Kombi, a ’65 1500S Squareback, a ’60 Karman Ghia, and too many others to list! When Matt and Kyla first got together in 2006, they built a ’63 that they painted apple green and cream. Sadly, they were only able to take it to one show before someone pushed it into their house, totaling the freshly-finished Beetle. But that didn’t stop them from building another two-tone show stopper.

The pair found a ’63 Ragtop they

thought would be a great foundation for Kyla’s daily driver. When they got it home, they discovered a ton of rust under the carpet. As they removed the carpet, the entire heater channel came out with it! They realized that the bottom 6 inches of the car needed to be replaced.

They decided it would be easier to find a ’63 body in better shape and just graft in the OEM ragtop from the first Beetle. A couple of weeks later, they found a donor Bug, and Matt went to work skinning the tops of both Beetles and installing the ragtop supports.

Kyla wanted her new ride to be orange and cream. She worked with the paint supply store for about a year to get the colors exactly how she envisioned them. While Shane Smith was spraying the body with the BASF Limco orange/cream combo, Matt got to work on the pan.

The frame head was replaced after they discovered that the wheelbase was a half inch shorter on one side, and a new panel was welded underneath the battery. An Atomic Werks 4-inch narrowed adjustable front end was installed, along with 2-inch narrowed tie rods. The tie rod ends were flipped on the spindles to correct bump steer. Helping out in the handling department are KYB shocks, stiffer Sway-A-Way 24mm torsion bars, and adjustable spring plates. To quiet things down, sound damping material was added to the pan.

Reassembly went pretty quickly once the body was back on the pan. Fortunately, the couple were able to use the original wiring harness, gauges, and glass.

CIP Torker wheels were used at all four corners.

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 41

42 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

the build sPECS

EXTERIOR: Bodywork by Matt Goble.

Paint by Shane Smith. Paint color: BASF Limco custom orange and cream CHASSIS: Front Suspension: Atomic Werks 4-inch narrowed adjustable front end. Rear Suspension: Sway-A-Way 24mm torsion bars, adjustable spring plates. Shocks: KYB. Wheels: CIP Torker.

Tires: Toyo Proxes 175/55R15 front, Continental 205/60R15 rear.

ENGINE: Builder: Matt Goble. Case: AS41 magnesium. Displacement: 1905cc.

Crankshaft: 74mm stroker. Cylinders/ pistons: 90.5 Mahle thick-wall. Camshaft: Engle W-120. Heads: 040 dual-port, ported and polished. Carbs: 40mm dual Dellorto DRLA. Compression ratio: 9:1. Exhaust: Vintage Speed 1 7/8inch merged stainless steel. Flywheel: 12-pound. Other mods: 1.5-quart oil sump, CB Performance match-ported space-saver manifolds, MagnaSpark distributor and coil, Holley fuel pump.

▲ The 1905cc motor features a 74mm stroker crank mated to 5.4-inch rods and Mahle 90.5mm thick-wall cylinders and pistons. Other performance items include an Engel W-120 camshaft and 40mm dual DRLA Dellorto carbs on CB Performance space-saver manifolds.

INTERIOR: Installed by Matt Goble.

Upholstery: TMI. Seats: stock, creamcolored vinyl. Carpet: oatmeal. Headliner: perforated cream vinyl. Door panels: TMI. Gauges: stock

The interior was next. Matt installed TMI carpet, seats, door panels, and perforated cream vinyl headliner. A Flat 4 banjo-style steering wheel keeps Kyla in full control, and a RetroSound head unit and Kenwood 6x9 speakers provide the tunes.

To make sure everyone stays seated, a set of TMI standard belts (in cream, of course) were installed. Gear selection is handled by a Vintage Speed short-throw shifter.

This VW morphed quickly from a simple daily driver to a full-blown rebuild!

Kyla and Matt agreed that a stock motor absolutely wouldn’t do. Matt built a 1905cc powerplant with all the right stuff, including an AS41 magnesium case (welded behind #3, of course), 74mm stroker crank mated to 5.4-inch rods, and Mahle 90.5mm thick-wall cylinders and pistons. An Engel W-120 camshaft with .0435-inch lift and 294-degree duration helps the engine breathe. A pair of 40mm Dellorto DRLA carbs feeds the beast, and CB Performance space-saver manifolds were match-ported

▲ Matt freshened up the interior with TMI carpet, seat upholstery, door panels, and perforated cream vinyl headliner. A Flat 4 banjo-style steering wheel, RetroSound head unit, Kenwood 6x9 speakers, and a Vintage Speed short-throw shifter round out the insides.

to the heads. A 1.5-quart oil sump and a 36hp doghouse fan shroud help keep things cool. Spent gases exit through a Vintage Speed merged stainless steel exhaust.

Be an original. Keep it fresh. Keep it real. Yep, you can say that this super-clean ’63 Ragtop hits the mark! This is evident by the awards the VW has taken: 2018 Northwest Bug Run 3rd place for Type 1 early, 2018 Oktobug Fest Best Ragtop and Best Aircooled, 2018 Cool Desert Nights Top 10 Cool Ride Award, 2021 Cool Desert Nights 2nd place Imports, and 2022 Grand National Roadster Show 1st place Compact Customs Class!

▲ You’d never know the ragtop was from the couple’s first basket-case ’63.

Matt expertly skinned the roof so it looks original.

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 43

LAST HURRAH

One man’s Mexican-built ’03 Beetle • by Burly Burlile

T

he tradition began in Wolfsburg, Germany, in 1938 and ended 65 years later in Puebla, Mexico. 2003 was the end of an era, the final curtain on a post-WWII miracle, and the swan song of air-cooled automobile production. Long live “the Beetle.”

Mexico’s Puebla-factory Beetles carried on the tradition of well-crafted, inexpensive cars for 53 years, beginning with CKD production in 1961. In the final year of production the Puebla plant built fewer than 11,000 Type 1 sedans. Meanwhile, green and white “vocho” taxis were buzzing all over Mexico City, weathering the country’s harsh and primitive road system while providing reliable transportation.

44 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

A few engineering improvements stand out over older German-built Beetles. Hydraulic lifters eliminated routine valve adjustments. Points were replaced by electronic ignition. A spin-on cartridge oil filter system, patterned on the simple aftermarket pumps developed in the ’70s

by VW racers, extended the oil-change intervals. Digifant fuel injection, a catalytic converter, and an oxygen sensor helped lower emissions. The rest of the engine was the good old air-cooled VW boxer we all know and love.

Mexico also offered safety and security upgrades never seen in the States. Front disc brakes from the Karmann Ghia parts bin were standard. A factory alarm system

and a modern RF-controlled ignition key minimized the potential for theft. VINs were etched on each piece of window glass.

The inside rear-view mirror was glued directly to the windshield. A locking deck lid latch and passenger-side mirror were standard.

The last Mexican-built Beetles improved longevity with a galvanized gas tank and hood and with deck lid seals fitted directly to each component. Puebla used the swing axle (with 1966 gear ratios, not I.R.S.) last seen in the U.S. in 1968. This setup was more suited to the country’s many unpaved roads. A single heat/defrost control lever is present; the rear-seat heater ducts and controls have been eliminated. An electric windshield-washer system was fitted with a tank/pump combo similar to aftermarket pumps long offered in the United States.

Mexican-built Beetles have all the features Volkswagen fans love: the shape, the quality, the ease of maintenance, and parts availability.

Most parts and components interchange with other standard Beetles built prior to 1977, the final year of regular sedan production for the United States. On my ’03 Mexican Bug, everything from floor pans (’73–77 standard Bug) to doors to windshields (’65–77 standard Bug) to body trim can be interchanged. Even standard Beetle fenders bolt into place with only minor mods required for bumper brackets.

The speedometer in my Beetle is a kilometer-per-hour version which could easily be retrofitted with a U.S.-spec speedo.

Most parts and components are available from the VW aftermarket or from swap meets. Brakes, ball joints, basic engine parts, gaskets and seals, glass, axle beams, carpet and seat cover sets, door panel kits — you name it: Almost all interchange with existing or older stock U.S. Beetle parts and slip into place. Those components that are Mexico-exclusive are easily attainable from Volkswagen de Mexico through an excellent online direct-shipment service overseen by Antonio Trejo at the Puebla factory (partsvw@outlook.com).

I have received nothing but timely knowledgeable service from this gentleman.

Externally, this cheapest model version of the ’03 Bug 1600 came with a glorious factory paint color, Azul Rivi, or Blue River, with pearl overtones. It changes in bright sunlight from a deep-sea blue to a bright

Burlile added Marathon ten-spoke steel wheels (used on ’71 and ’72 special Baja model U.S. Beetles) with stainless hexagonal center caps and stainless trim rings. Tires up front are 145-15; out back they’re 165-15.

This Beetle already has a clean Cal-Look style body with all chrome trim removed, Cal-Look window rubbers, and ’68-73 square body-color bumpers. The headlights are H4 halogens.

The original owner in Mexico had the windows tinted. Burlile fitted a simple AutoZone chrome exhaust tip over the muffler’s single outlet. He also added rare ’68-69 Beetle genuine VW accessory rubber bumper pads and a fuel injection rear deck lid emblem as used on ’75-79 Beetles.

metallic blue when conditions are right.

Mexican Beetles are excellent cars that sadly were never imported into the United States. All Mexican Beetles in the U.S. are considered “grey market” cars that must be converted to U.S. safety and emission specs. Unfortunately, most recent Beetles from Puebla do not include the electronic emissions testing receptacle, so they cannot be tested to meet California’s emissions. I purchased my low-milage Beetle through an ad on The Samba. It had an Arizona title that eliminated any California emissions concerns. Getting it licensed in a non-emission county in Utah required only a VIN inspection at the DMV followed by my insurance company’s request for a photo of the same together with photos of the car. (If you’re eyeing a Mexican-built Beetle, be sure to check the laws and regulations in your state and locality before plunking down your money.)

Today I enjoy driving a beautiful, likenew Beetle that exudes all the same feelings, emotions, handling, and ride quality I remember, and which just happens to be the most maintenance-free air-cooled VW ever built. See you on the highway!

Mexican-Model Update History

The motor features fuel injection, hydraulic lifters, electronic ignition, and a spin-on cartridge oil filter system. There’s also a catalytic converter and an oxygen sensor to help lower emissions. The rest of the engine is the good old air-cooled VW boxer we all know and love.

1991: Catalytic converter added.

1993: Fuel injection, electronic ignition, oil filter pump, and right outside mirror added.

1994: Cloth interior material standard.

1995: Front disc brakes added.

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• FALL ’22 45

TECH

GET SHORTY: BUGGY/356 PAN CONVERSION Washburn’s Metal builds the perfect pan (part two) Story and photography by Eric Geisert

 In part two of this how-to, we show you how Brian Washburn completes a pan shortening project. (For part one, see our Summer 2022 issue.)

I

n the last issue of VW Trends we started to shorten a ’60s-era Type 1 VW pan for a Manx-style buggy or ’glass 356 Speedster.

That story covered removal of the pan halves, and what you have to look for in prepping the center spine to be cut in half.

We showed this as an overview, without exact measurements, because of the variety of fiberglass bodies and their respective wheelbase needs. But the stock wheelbase on a ’67 Bug is 94.5 inches (2400 mm), a Manx-type wheelbase is usually 80 inches (2032 mm), and a stock 356 has a wheelbase of of 82.67 inches (2100 mm). Whether your buggy or 356 manufacturer followed those measurements was up to them.

Brian Washburn from Washburn’s Metal in Orange, California, has a unique approach to how this pan work should be done. It’s by far the cleanest method we’ve

46 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

ever seen for a shortened pan that looks like a factory stamping — something severely lacking with hacked-together pans people have made do with in the last few decades.

Washburn’s perfect pan shows no discernable modification or weld marks.

He uses newly-stamped shortened pan halves that are manufactured by Flat Out Customs in England and are the right size for most Manx-type applications. With some minor modifications, they’ll fit most fiberglass 356-style bodies, too. Washburn expertly spot welds these pieces exactly as Volkswagen did in the 1960s and, since these photos were taken, has built an automated jig that keeps the cut pieces perfectly aligned for a flawless seam and a finished product that you won’t have to hide from your friends.

We opted to have a Washburn Tunnel

1. That circled area is one of the indentations made by the VW factory when they spot-welded one of the internal brackets inside the tunnel. Those welds (found under the e-brake mount and in the rear about where the tunnel starts to widen) will have to be drilled out so things on the inside can come apart.

NOTE: The spot welds holding the bracket about a foot back from the Napolean hat should NOT be removed.

2. Be very careful drilling out the factory spot welds (such as these for the seatbelt bracket): You’ll need to keep some of the cable tubes (or their attachment clips) and they’re right next to the holes you’re drilling. (See step 5.)

Plate Kit installed in the pan to easily gain access to the tunnel’s pedal section for easier clutch or accelerator cable repairs in the future.

One additional note to remember: You’re have to shorten the shift rod (between the shifter and transmission). VW put a mild bend in the middle of some later rods to clear some of the items inside the tunnel. You won’t know how much to shorten the rod until the pan has been cut and welded back together, and you shouldn’t try to straighten it or make the needed cut on the bend (Washburn sells shortened German-made shift rods if you don’t want to mess with it).

We left off in the last issue midway through the spine modifications, which is where we start here to wrap up the work on this ’67 Type 1 pan.

3. Washburn’s method allows you to cut the spine in half basically anywhere. But because we’ll be moving the e-brake handle elsewhere, this is where he decided to remove the 326mm section.

4. Washburn uses a laser light to define where his cut lines will go, and they’re marked on both sides of the tunnel as well as on the bottom side.

5. Once the top section is removed, you can see where the factory seatbelt bolt brackets are and how close the freshlydrilled holes are to the cable tubes.

7. The removed factory VW seatbelt brackets will be relocated in the new pan layout. (Washburn also manufactures new seatbelt brackets if you want to upgrade your old chassis’ safety features).

8. These factory spot welds securing the internal throttle cable tube (about half-way down the tunnel and under the e-brake mechanism) also need to be drilled out in order to free the bracket.

11. Prepping to tack weld the two tunnel pieces together, Washburn again checks for the overall length the pan halves need to be.

12. By 1967 VW’s production process caused minor bulges in the tunnel.

Those will have to be addressed on this particular example. (Earlier tunnels don’t have the bulges.)

9. Taking care not to cut deeper than he has to in order to avoid the internal cable tubing, Washburn can now cut the bottom section, then the sides.

13. Before tack-welding the two sections together, Washburn does another laser alignment to keep things straight.

6. Washburn knocks the brackets free by using a spot-weld breaker bar from Mac Tools to remove the remnants of the factory spot welds.

10. This is basically what the owner needed from the complete ’67 Bug he bought for this project: just the two spine sections. (The full-length tubing is still intact; it will be cut later in the process.)

14. Checked before and after being tacked together, the pan template made from measuring the bottom mounting surface of the new ‘glass body indicates where the body will drop onto this pan.

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• FALL ’22 47

15. Looking through a hole in the side of the tunnel, you can see how close the holes Washburn drilled for the seatbelt bracket’s new location came to the cable tubing.

18. Using many heavy clamps and some heat from a torch, Washburn closed the gaps around the tunnel hump and the former e-brake area and made it look factory smooth.

21. Washburn transfers the desired shape to 18-gauge steel and cuts it using a Beverly Shear. He adds some extra width so it can be perfectly trimmed to fit later.

22. You can never have too many clamps when preparing to weld a long section of metal.

16. Washburn uses a rosette weld on the four seatbelt bracket holes.

17. If you plan to add a high-horsepower engine to your shortened pan, Washburn suggests welding all the factory seams (the area forward of the Napolean hat, all around the transmission fork mounts, and other areas) for added rigidity.

19. With the new pan laid in place and pushed as far forward as it will go you can see the difference in overall length at the back of the pan half between the new standard buggy pan and the slightly longer 356 application.

20. With the pan half cleco’d in place to prevent movement, Washburn lays out some template paper over the gap at the rear of the pan.

48 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

23. The rear/side edge of the pan will also need some fabricating to form the correct shape.

24. Washburn adds some MIG tack welds, then quickly follows with a flat dolly and hammer to smash them down on both sides of the pan (less grinding later).

29. Washburn Metal’s Ahmad Darwish breaks out the long-reach spot welder to replicate the pan’s factory spot welds.

33. Inside the tunnel you can see the clip on the bottom of a factory bracket that holds the fuel line. With a flashlight and long screwdriver you can help maneuver the clip around the tubing to secure it.

25. Long sections of continuous TIG welding follow.

30. Ahmad installs a larger-style 5/16-inch stainless steel fuel line (used because large dual carbs or fuel-injection systems need higher fuel-flow capabilities) by feeding the line forward through the tunnel from the rear. This method also puts a slight arch or bend into the otherwise straight tube.

34. The new accelerator and clutch tubes come out next to each other at the yoke and are tack-welded in place while the new fuel line exits atop the frame horns.

The original heater-cable guide tubes were removed from this pan.

26. After again using a hammer and dolly to smash the new welds flat, Washburn turns to his pneumatic planishing hammer to quickly flatten out the welds.

27. With some light grinding, the seam at the end of the pan has disappeared and can be hand-trimmed to fit the space.

28. The modified pan half can now be fitted to the space on the pan.

31. After pulling the line out of the front access hole, Ahmad makes a 90-degree bend in it before feeding it back into the tunnel.

32. The slight bend put into the line in step 30 makes the front end of the line naturally pop up out of the hole.

35. A Washburn Tunnel Plate Kit solves access problems when you need to replace a broken throttle or clutch cable.

36. After another sandblast and a trip to the powdercoater (60-percent satin gloss) the pan looks better than it did when it left the VW factory in 1967!

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 49

IN STITCHES: CAROL WERNER

OWNER AND PRESIDENT OF SEWFINE INTERIOR PRODUCTS

50 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

Awesome Powdercoat . . . . . . . . . . pg. 11 awesomepowdercoat.com Bernie Bergmann VW . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 13 bergmannvw.net Bill & Steve’s Foreign Auto . . . . . . pg. 13 billandsteves.com

C

arol Werner has been the owner of Sewfine Interior Products in Denver, Colorado, for over 26 years, and has learned a lot over that time.

“I started not knowing much, except to turn a key to start the motor, and now have accumulated a vast amount of knowledge for all VWs,” she says. “The one thing I have realized, though, is that there is something new to learn almost every day. The details that pertain to each model and year are just a crazy amount of information! Over the course of these 26 years, our Bus/Vanagon catalog has grown from about two pages to now over sixty pages packed with information and products.

“It seems like I have spent about ten years in junkyards looking at old vehicles and documenting carpet colors, headlight details, seating, camper equipment, everything I could look at! Years ago, my son called me from Afghanistan where he was serving in the Army. The first thing he asked was, ‘What are you doing?’ I said that I was walking through a junkyard looking at Volkswagens. His immediate reply was, ‘Why am I not surprised?’ My other son always called me ‘Not your typical suburban mom.’ I love to be hands-on while learning rather than watching someone else and then hearing the answer.”

During these same 26 years, Sewfine’s Bug, Ghia, Type 34, Type III, and Thing product line has expanded. Carol has worked with many wonderful customers that have helped the thinking and learning process of innovating items that customers need to finish out their interiors. She often refers to these customers as her “Telephone Friends,” because by the time Sewfine has completed a customer’s interior, they have had many, many conversations and begin to know more about the customer’s life. This connection is what she treasures

ADVERTISERS INDEX

California Import Parts . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 1 and inside back cover CIP1.com CB Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 7 cbperformance.com Doug’s Buggs and Bunny. . . . . . . . pg. 37 dougsbnb.com EMPI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover empius.com Hayburner Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 5 hayburner.co.uk Let’s Talk Dubs Podcast . . . . . . . . . . pg. 2 letstalkdubs.com Mid America Motorworks . . . . . . pg. 51 mamotorworks.com

most. They come from all over the world, and all walks of life!

For Carol, the upholstery business is a never-ending labor of love as Sewfine has continued to perfect their existing patterns and add to their pattern library. “I think I can safely say that we are the only company in the world that has every single pattern for every Bug, Ghia, Type 3, Type 34, Thing, Split Window Bus, Bay window Bus, and Vanagon for all years from 1950 through 1991,” she says. “It has been an exciting learning adventure that I have embraced and really enjoy.”

Outside of work, Carol’s favorite hobby is gardening, but she also enjoys sewing and puzzle making. If you’re ever in the Sewfine shop, check out the hundreds of completed puzzles mounted on the walls, acting as a sort of wallpaper. Carol enjoys the reactions of customers who get their first glimpse of the walls and then realize that there are puzzles everywhere.

ProVolks Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 13 provolksranch.business.site Rancho Perf. Transaxles . . . . . . . . . pg. 11 ranchotransaxles.com Sawtooth Air-Cooled. . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 37 facebook.com/Sawtoothaircooled Strictly Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 19 strictlyforeign.com Vintage VW Club of America. . . . pg. 63 vvwca.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS! T-SHIRTS! STICKERS! PATCHES! BACK ISSUES! (OKAY, THAT’S ENOUGH EXCLAMATION POINTS.)

IT’S ALL WAITING FOR YOU AT: V W T R E N D S M A G A Z I N E •. C O M

ILLUSTRATION: RON PETRO

@KONAGIRLLEE

Leanne Reynolds is an island-born VW enthusiast, businesswoman, and Instagram influencer!

by Dan Leadbetter • photos by Larry Bohannon and Leeanne Reynolds

I

f you want to keep up with Leanne Reynolds, well, good luck! When this island girl isn’t jet setting back to her hometown in Hawaii, you can find her cruising the Northern and Southern California coastlines in one of her aircooled classics.

When Leanne was born in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, her mother owned a silver convertible Beetle. She then bought a red ’71 bay-window Bus, a retired Keauhou Beach Hotel shuttle van with the hotel’s name painted across the side. When her ohana relocated to the mainland, the Bus moved with them, bringing the Bay Window to the Bay Area. Leanne bought her first Beetle, a white ’69, at the age of 15, and later shipped it to Hawaii. Her little sister also drove a ’67 Beetle around this same time, and her grandmother also was a VW owner and driver. Leanne says VWs just runs in her blood!

52 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

“I always owned a Beetle my entire life,” she says, “but I started to get more interested in Buses and VW trucks after attending many VW car shows. My dream was to one day own a clean Bus I could be proud of parking in my garage, and soon I made that a reality. But it wasn’t long before I got an itch for another car. My mission was to find a Single Cab that could be more of a daily driver and not something I was afraid to take out.”

Then along came Joy, the Single Cab Type II you see here. “She’s my favorite of all three cars. The Bug and the Single now reside with me at my Salty Beach Bungalow in SoCal as my daily drivers, and the Bus is garaged in my NorCal home. I’ve been thinking a Thing would be just perfect for my Hawaii house,” she says.

Leanne relocated to Orange County, partly to be close to a larger VW community. She loves the VW scene, and enjoys the

eclectic, fun group of diverse people. “It’s one of my greatest joys,” she says, “to see all the unique vehicles and meet their owners.

When you see a VW, it simply makes you smile. I feel like it truly is a family I have become a part of, spanning from California to Brazil. I can call any friend for advice or help, and likewise. I am always here to support my VW friends. My best days are spent beachside with fellow VW friends and my family.” We couldn’t agree more!

None of Leanne’s VWs are trailer queens — she knows that Volkswagens were meant to drive! And drive she does!

Let’s take a peek inside Leanne’s VW collection, starting with Joy: She’s a ’59 Single Cab with, custom chrome bumpers and rims and a stock 1200cc motor (Leanne plans to upgrade to a 1600cc motor in the near future). All recent work on this Bus was performed in Santa Rosa by Lowell’s Auto Werkes. Body repairs and paint were

Leanne has owned her ’69 Beetle for 25 years. It’s mostly stock with a 1600cc motor.

Leanne just loves Joy, her ’59 Single Cab. The interior looks as good as the exterior!

Leanne’s ’64 13-window Deluxe Bus powered by a Cool Rydes Custom 2276cc.

handled by Western Autobody in Sebastopol. Raptor liner makes the truck’s bed a usable, durable space, and the dual treasure chest is ready to fill with goodies for her next adventure. Leanne found Joy parked in a large barn where it had been parked after being used as a fuel truck. Talk about your barn find!

Leanne has owned her ’69 Beetle for 25 years. She’s in this game for the long haul! The ’69 is pretty stock with a 1600cc powerplant. The engine was built and is maintained by J&W Auto in Sebastopol, while paint and restoration were done by her friends Tony and Mike at Western Autobody in Sebastopol.

Finally, there’s her ’64 13-window Deluxe Bus, painted in Sealing Wax Red. It was originally shipped to San Francisco, and Leanne has its birth certificate. It’s all original, except for being lowered and powered by a Cool Rydes Custom 2276cc motor.

She loves to hit the open road in her Bus with the safari windows open, cruising through the rolling hills of Sonoma County.

Equipped with a custom sound system, the Bus has a unique luggage piece outfitted with several speakers. Let’s just say this Bus is rockin!

But Leanne isn’t finished. “I’ve been on the hunt for a ragtop, in my favorite color, Turkis, turquoise, or something in the teal

family,” she says.

These VWs are not only used as everyday drivers, but they are also obviously show-worthy, as well. Her Beetle took awards at Kelley Park VW Show in San Jose for her year and class twice, and the Bus also won Bug Bash in Antioch. If you ask Leanne, she’ll tell you she’s a mother of five, three of which have four wheels and constantly ask for money. She wants to thank her good VW friends Aaron Borrelli and Loren Soltes, who she can call upon whenever she needs a hand with one of her VWs. She says, “These friends are always willing to lend a hand!”

Find her on Instagram @konagirllee.

VW TRENDS • FALL ’22 53

V

This early ’60s-era R-10 Space Patrol convertible VW is a very large 1/12 scale, at 330mm or about 12 inches long. Not sure what R-10 stands for, but this thing is way cooler than an Audi R8, for sure.

TOY NOMURA SPACE PATROL VW CABRIOLET

by Arthur Junior

Toy Nomura Co., of Tokyo, Japan, released this Space Patrol VW Convertible, which was sold at Woolworth’s for $4.33. Good luck finding one, as they’re rarer than a moon rock!

54 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

W Trends has always been known for bringing readers VWs that are out of this world, so it was only fitting to bring you the Toy Nomura Space Patrol Convertible.

A little background: Toy Nomura Co., of Tokyo, Japan, was founded in 1923 and used the trademark T.N. inside a diamond. In the ’50s and ’60s they were one of the largest toy manufacturers in Japan, if not the largest. Like many other Japanese toy manufacturers, Toy Nomura produced toys for the U.S. market and used several importers, such as Cragstan, based in New York.

This particular Toy Nomura VW convertible is perhaps the premiere of all Japanese Volkswagen convertible collectible tin cars, as it was a limited production for the U.S. market. It is very rare and seldom found in any condition. In pristine condition these toys sell for several thousand U.S. dollars; even parts cars are pricey.

It’s a very nice tinplate VW cabrio topdown toy, being packaged as a “Space Patrol” Volkswagen able to drive on the moon surface. The lithographed body graphics are a combination of metallic blue, red, and silver. Tin metal parts are used for the front hood VW emblem, trim, and door handles.

Graphics include turn signals, door seams and “R-10 SPACE PATROL” lettering. This early-’60s-era convertible VW is 1/12 scale, at 330mm or about 12 inches long. Not a small toy, to be sure.

The lithographed interior graphics have a retro-futuristic vibe (remember, it was the ’60s, and we hadn’t landed on the moon yet) with all kinds of controls, radio, levers, knobs, switches, lights, gauges, and a dashboard with, believe it or not, a very “down to earth” steering wheel. Certainly, there’s enough high-tech gadgetry here to get any Volkswagen cabrio safely through the galaxy and back.

The driver in this machine is an

This toy also came in a version equipped with Bump N’ Go auto-drive action, easily identified by its white plastic windshield frame.

As in the Tesla that’s still flying through space, the driver in this machine is an astronaut.

It’s a little disturbing that the helmet appears to be open-faced, but I guess it doesn’t matter, as in space, no one can hear you scream.

No air-cooled flat-four in this ride, since there’s a distinct lack of air on the moon.

Instead there’s a small nuclear-reactor propulsion system with rocket thrusters for backup.

astronaut in a space suit with a openfaced helmet (Wait … what? I guess that’s suspension of disbelief) as well as proper moon-driving attire. A metal windshield with a clear plastic window insert is mounted to the body to deflect oncoming meteors or any stray aliens that happen to get in the way.

Honestly? I’m not sure about the attraction of driving a VW, let alone a convertible with the top down, on the moon — I guess maybe getting an Earth Tan? But in a bulky space suit, that’s a moot point. There’s a special communications whip antenna that attaches to the body in case the astronaut driver needs to call Ground Control. “Uh, Houston, we have a problem.”

You may be wondering what kind of powerplant this ’vert has. The rear section

of the Space Patrol VW lacks the standard and the front wheels are manually adjustair cooled four-cylinder engine (there’s able for steering. The front and rear bumno air on the moon). Also, I doubt there’s a pers are stamped, nickel-plated tin with a moon-based gas station to fill the 40-liter metal spring in the middle (used, I would tank. But the car does have what appears to guess, for bouncing off moon rocks). The be a clear plastic nuclear reactor and a rock- original colorful box art shows the Space et-booster power plant with afterburners.

Patrol VW in driving action on a crater While the toy is operating, there’s a red surrounded moon landscape. glow from the rocket engine and a white The Space Patrol VW had a catalog listlight that moves back and forth inside the ing as Item No. 350 and originally sold at clear box reactor above the engine, with Woolworth’s department store for $4.33 … a clacking, ata far cry from what om-splitting sound. it would cost you Those lithographed to own one today! taillights, turn sigIt also came in a nals, and headlights version equipped come in very handy, with Bump N’ Go especially with all auto-drive action, that lunar space probably more traffic. suited for hitting Getting back high moon-crater down to earth, so to edges and bouncing speak, the stamped back. This version Note the high-tech whip antenna to tin metal chassis is is easily identified communicate with Ground Control.

“Major Tom, take your protein pills and painted black, and a by its white plastic please close the front of your helmet!” compartment holds windshield frame. two D cell batteries.

Good luck There are real rubber tires and shiny metal exploring the moon in this VW convertible, hubcaps, and the electric motor provides Star Rangers! We’ll see you back on Earth for a forward-only drive action. An on/off in the next issue of VW Trends. switch is located under the rear bumper

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• FALL ’22 55

IT'S A WRAP! Project Showrunner gets some new skin • By Dan Leadbetter

W

hen someone says, “That’s a wrap,” paint it? Naw, too expensive. Do we add it usually means it’s the end of big stickers to the sides? Naw, too cheesy. something. In the case of our Project Besides, it’s not an ice-cream truck. Then Showrunner, we’re just getting started! we remembered going to the One Crazy As mentioned in the last issue, we bought Weekend Show in Las Vegas last October. a bone-stock 2015 Golf Sportwagen TDI We rode in the Poker Run with Erik and S (yes, a diesel) to drive to shows. It can Julie Black in their super-sweet Split-wincarry our tent, tables, backwall, magazines, dow Bus. I was telling Erik about our future shirts, stickers, a cooler for food and drinks, project and how I was looking to maybe get not to mention the people that are working a car wrapped in vinyl. He asked if I had a the show. It’s roomy, place in mind to have reliable, and gets great it done. I said, “Well, SOURCE: gas mileage. Best of all, I don’t really have a Sunkist Graphics now we can modify the wrap guy.” He said, Las Vegas, Nevada crap out of it, and turn it “Well, you do now,” (702) 566-9008 www.sunkistgrfx.com into a rolling billboard and told me about his for the magazine. company, Sunkist With so many Graphics in Las Vegas. things one can do to a water-cooled VW, Sunkist’s primary work is with casinos, we had to prioritize what needed to happen wrapping and rebranding slot machines first. It was obvious: The exterior needed and cabinets, doing LED lighting, and to reflect what VW Trends is all about. more. But they also wrap cars, trucks, vans, It had to be bright, colorful, cool, and windows, and just about everything in beattention-getting. But the real question tween. For any type of graphic work, these was, how do we accomplish this? Do we are the people you need!

56 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

Erik asked me to send him some shots of the Golf Sportwagen so he and his crew could do some design work. I sent some photos, some high-resolution images of our logos, and some magazines to Sunkist so they could get a feel for what we were looking for.

Bottom line? Sunkist knocked this one out of the park! The Golf Sportwagen looks like a completely different VW. We were lucky enough to spend a few days with Erik and his his two sons Zack and Dillan (henceforth known as the DaVinci Twins) and watch the whole process. Follow along as we show you what goes in to transforming a stock VW Sportwagen into a rolling work of art!

Editor’s note: This is not a “how-to” feature. We wanted to show you what goes into doing a professional car wrap. The DaVinci Twins were kind enough to reveal some tips, tricks, and insider secrets to making a vinyl wrap job look like it was painted, and not just slapped on. Wrap speed ahead!

1. You can’t wrap a VW until you get the design right! Here Eric (left) and Sunkist’s designer Cory Roe go over the best way to apply graphic designer Lucas Perkovich’s artwork.

The Sportwagen arrived at the the 401 Garage — which doubles as Sunkist’s satellite workspace and Erik’s VW man cave — ready to get a new suit.

2. First, the car needed to be stripped down. Not every wrap place does this, but if you want it to look right, all the door handles, mirrors, rear brake lights, chrome trim, mud flaps, and other components have to be removed, labeled and set aside.

3. Nothing is left to chance. There’s plenty of measuring and remeasuring before the sheets of 3M 2080 Yellow vinyl are cut to size and labeled.

4. Since we’re doing a two-tone wrap — in this case, 3M 2080 yellow and carbon fiber — we’ll need a precise cut line between the colors. To make the cut as cleanly as possible, Dillan applied this pull tape, which has a built-in ultra-thin wire.

After the vinyl is on, the tape is pulled and the wire makes a precision cut.

5. Now the fun part … installing the wrap! After the backing is peeled off, the colored vinyl piece is carefully put into place.

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• FALL ’22 57

6. Dillan trims the wrap along the body seams using a razor.

7. The wrap is then heated and stretched to perfectly fit the contours of the body.

10. The round VW Trends logo was printed out, trimmed, then perfectly centered on the hood.

11. The big VW Trends logos for the sides were printed out, trimmed, and then “weeded” before being installed.

14. As a cool custom touch Zack and Dillan wrapped the lower valance in carbon fiber to look like a spoiler.

7. Zack applies the VW Trends URL to the rear bumper.

12. Once the logo is adhered to the side of the car, the top paper is pulled off.

Note how the logo lines wrap inside the fender edge. That’s a detail some people wouldn’t do, but it really gives the wrap job a tight, finished look.

9. The roof, rear hatch, hood, and side pillars got the black 3M carbon-fiber wrap treatment.

13. The back window gets a custom perforated wrap with a “subscribe now” call to action and a QR code. Once the QR code is tested, the graphic is printed and applied.

58 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

15. Before and after: Once it’s all put back together, it looks like a million bucks! As you can see, it really looks like a brand new VW. Big shout-out to the guys and girls at Sunkist Graphics for going above and beyond the call of duty to make Showrunner a real show killer!

SHOWTIME: KATHY JACOBS PROMOTER EXTRAORDINAIRE

K

athy Jacobs of Hahira, Georgia, has been an automobile enthusiast since she was a little girl. Instead of playing with dolls, Kathy had Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars. Every time her family went to the store she could be found in the toy section looking for the car she wanted that day. She still does that, but today it’s to gather toys to give out to the kids at the various shows

she produces.

In 1994 Kathy’s husband, Lonnie, bought a Karmann Ghia at the local dealership. His father was once a certified VW mechanic, so the Ghia fit right in, and the VW life began for the Jacobs family. Kathy loved driving it — until someone decided to rear-end Lonnie in it. The engine wasn’t damaged, so off they went to find a donor

car, a Beetle, which served the family for quite a while.

That same year Kathy decided to start a VW club. She took an ad out in one of the free classified papers (remember those?), and the South Eastern VW Club began.

Kathy got members from south Georgia and north Florida, and started a show at a local amusement park. That led to another show in Jacksonville, Florida, which was right off the beach in the parking lot. They held it there for about five years before Kathy had the local club take it over.

She also put out a monthly newsletter by mail to all the club members. It covered events, had classified ads, and more. It was a lot of work, but she enjoyed it and kept it going for a while. She even did freelance work for VW Trends between 1999 and 2004.

Around 2001, Kathy started her next endeavor, the South East VW Association.

She was invited to help host a show/race at a dragstrip in North Carolina. Things went well, and after talks with some racers, the SEVWA was born, and with a lot of people’s help, she got it up and running.

The SEVWA is a points series: Racers earn points at each race they attend and for each racing round they win.

Kathy then helped restart the VW event at Farmington Dragway in North Carolina.

That event had been around since the mid ’80s but had taken a two-year hiatus. Many people on the east coast were happy to see it back again. It was a learning experience, but 20 years later the events are still a hit there. Fast Times at Farmington is one of the largest VW events on the east coast with a huge swap meet, car show and, of course, VW drag racing.

In 2018, Kathy stepped into another scene with a younger generation of enthusiasts: the Euro Scene, which includes everything from vintage to newer models of VWs, Audis, BMWs, and more. While different from the vintage air-cooled scene, in many ways it’s still the same, as they’re all enthusiasts! Most end up attending air-cooled VW drag racing events, and love every minute of it. Many keep coming back … some with air-cooled VWs. Kathy says, “I love what I do and want to make sure to provide a place for us, the VW enthusiasts, to have fun and meet other people like us. This usually turns into a lifetime friendship, and is why we are all a big VW family.”

TECH

ome folks call me “that thermostat guy.” Why? Because I make brand new German-style thermostats for vintage Volkswagen and Porsche engines at Awesome Powdercoat. I am a big believer in running thermostats with their accompanying flaps on street-driven VWs. If you have a dune buggy, okay, leave the flaps off. But if you plan on driving your Bug on the street you want proper, working flaps. The thermostat and flaps regulate the temperature of the engine, which is important for best mileage and minimal engine wear. Would you take the thermostat off your Toyota or your Ford?

No. Then why take it off your Volkswagen?

So you dug through cardboard boxes at a swap meet and scored a used thermostat.

But is it any good? The first test is visual: Is it fully compressed at room temperature? If it is expanded, put it down and move along to the next box.

Now look on the bottom. You’ll find a stamping showing the temperature range it is meant for. Different applications have different temp settings. There are five thermostats for VW and Porsche engines: • 36hp Bug, Ghia and Bus (’53-57), range 75-80°C, Part #111 119 159

• Bug and Ghia (’58-74), Bus (’58-71), range 65-70°C, Part #111 119 159A • Bug FI (’74-79), range 80-85°C, Part #111 119 159B • Type 4 (’68-74), Bus (’72-83), 914 (’70-76), 912 (’68-69, ’76), range 85-90°C, Part # 21 119 159A • 356 (’46-65), 912 (’65-67), range 23-34°C, Part #546.06.590 These temperatures are in degrees Celsius, not Fahrenheit. There’s a common misconception that these temps are the full open temperature, which is not true. These are the temperatures at which the stat first begins to open.

How does the thermostat work? The stat is under vacuum, so it is fully compressed at low temperatures. There’s a different charge for each temperature range. When the stat is heated, the charge vaporizes and creates pressure, expanding the stat. When the stat cools off, the charge condenses and the stat falls back under vacuum, recompressing it.

So, if it says “65-70,” why should you question that? Because these are 50-plusyear-old parts, and VW never intended them to last that long. Thermal cycling affects the metal of the thermostat over

time. Every time you start your engine, the stat gets heated and starts to expand. Do that over and over, year after year, and it affects the metal itself. The more it has been cycled, the more difference from design you would expect to see.

I am using a NOS 65-70°C thermostat as a baseline. This is a new part that was never installed, so it has not seen any thermal cycling, and should be as correct as possible.

Anyone can test a stat at home. You can test most of them in water; however, the 85-90°C stat needs to be tested in corn oil (or similar) as it goes over 100°C. First, buy yourself a candy thermometer. You can get one at the grocery store for a few bucks.

Then, put the stat in a matching bracket (always use a bracket to prevent over-extension). I added a little strip of metal to help keep mine upright. Put the stat in a pot of water on the stove, and the thermometer tip in the hole of the bracket so the tip does not touch the bottom of the pot. I also put a 6-inch stainless tape measure on the stat, so I can see the first movement. Turn on the stove and let it heat up.

Watch closely to see when the stat first moves. If you miss it, you can always add some cold water and start over. Once you see the stat crack open, record the temperature, then allow the stat to fully open. Once it touches the top of the stat bracket, record that temperature. Your test is done.

My original plan was to test only 6570°C stats, and I had five to test. But my buddy Mike “Michigan” McComb sent me five, and Paul Ripa from JB Bugs sent me eight. I got a mix (65-70°C, 75-80°C, 80-85°C, and 85-90°C), so I decided to test them all. I only had one NOS stat (65-70°C) to compare the others to, and was honestly surprised at the results. Looking at the stats by type, we can see some interesting things.

Numbers on the bottom of a thermostat indicate the degree range in Celsius.

A never-used NOS 65-70°C thermostat provides a baseline for our tests.

You can test a stat at home with a pot of water and a candy thermometer.

THERMO TESTING Is your VW’s thermostat actually working? Here’s how to find out.

By Clark Callis

S

60 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

KEY TO CHARTS: ■ Stat worked as intended.

■ Stat worked, but not as well as it should. ■ I would not use these thermostats.

CRACK AND EXPANDED TEMPS FOR 65-70°C STATS (the most commonly used stat)

CRACK AND EXPANDED TEMPS FOR 80-85°C STATS (used in ’75-79 fuel-injected Beetles)

120°

120°

100°

100°

80°

80°

60°

60°

40°

NOS

AP NEW

USED #1

USED #2

USED #3

USED #4

USED #5

USED #6

USED #7

The NOS stat and my Awesome Powdercoat 65-70°C stat worked fine. Three of the used stats work, but not as well as they should.

Note that of the four red stats, three open early, and one goes much too high. I was not expecting to see temperatures so high.

40°

AP NEW

USED #1

USED #2

USED #3

My new stat is green. Stat #1 is yellow: You could run it, but keep in mind it is less than ideal. I would not run stats 2 and 3 because they open and peak too early.

CRACK AND EXPANDED TEMPS FOR 85-90°C STATS (used in Type 4s, late Buses, all 914s, and late 912s) 140° 120° 100° 80° 60°

AP NEW

USED #1

USED #2

USED #3

We have only three used stats to compare, but you can see some surprising results. Used stat #1 never gets fully opened, but I stopped the test at 150°C. That corn oil was getting dangerously hot. No one wants to go to the ER with a burn! Stat #2 peaked way too early. Stat #3 cracks at 70°C, but is fully open at only 73°.

There were no good used Type 4 stats in this bunch.

CRACK AND EXPANDED TEMPS FOR 75-80°C STATS (used with adjustable venturi ring setup) 160°

They both crack about right, but the used stat never fully opened.

Again, I stopped the test at 150°C for safety reasons.

Obviously, you would not want to run this stat.

140° 120° 100° 80° 60° AP NEW

USED

I also had four stats that were so rusty that I couldn’t read the stamping for the temp range. I tested and rated them assuming someone wants a 65-70°C stat. One of them was usable but less than ideal. The other three I would not run.

IN CONCLUSION…

Is it safe to run a used stat you found at a swap meet? Maybe.

This just shows how important testing a used stat is, because there is no way to tell by just looking at it. Overall, our red, yellow, and green rankings reveal some interesting things. Of all the used stats, note how many crack in green (44%), in yellow (11%), and in red (44%). This tells us that over half crack open at a reasonable temperature. Now look at how many peak in green (6%), in yellow (44%), in red (50%), and both crack and peak in yellow or green (33%).

While half of all the stats tested peak at reasonable temps, only one-third crack and peak together at reasonable temperatures.

This is the most important thing to learn from these tests. I think the fact that so few crack and peak in green or yellow is very telling — don’t expect great results with 50-year-old thermostats!

However, about one-third are usable. If you test a stat and get results similar to those in our yellow category, you just have to keep in mind that your stat is not working as well as it could.

A thermostat is an important part of a Volkswagen engine, and testing it gives you the peace of mind you deserve. Running a thermostat that is “in the yellow” is not the end of the world, but it does mean that you need to pay more attention to what is going on in and around your engine.

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• FALL ’22 61

IN THE NEXT ISSUE

OF VW TRENDS OCTOBER 15: 13th Annual Bugorama ICT, Wichita, KS | bugorama.org | info@ bugorama.org 15: O.C.T.O. Fest 2022, Long Beach, CA | octo.org 15: VW Beach Bash in Pass-a-Grille, St Pete Beach, FL | vwbeachbash@ gmail.com

One Crazy Weekend Car Show/Cruise/Poker Run in Las Vegas

15–16: 2022 VW Harvest Show and Swap, Leander, TX | www. vwharvest.com 16: Volkswagen Show N’ Shine, Fernandina FL | (904) 415-3079 16: Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show, Pomona, CA | (714) 5387091 | pomonaswapmeet.com 22: Volkstoberfest Show and Swap, Clovis, CA | (559) 994 1192 or (559) 286-7588 22: VW Pumpkin Run to Half Moon Bay 2022, Santa Clara, CA | ggcvvwca.org 23: German Dreams El Monte Airport Trunk or Treat, El Monte, CA | (323) 839-4434 NOVEMBER 5: Fort Worth Volks Folks Annual Roundup, Fort Worth, TX | (817) 9256699 or (817) 822-5222 | thetalepipe@yahoo.com | fortworthvolksfolks.com 10–13: VW Airhead Round Up, Florence, AZ | (559) 287-8713 or (623) 696-6719

Mike Ortega’s ’72 Cal-Thing

12–13: Florida Bug Jam, Dade City, FL | floridabugjam.com DECEMBER 4: CVA’s Last Hurrah, Westbrook, CT | (860) 395-9964 | ctvwa.org 4: Pomona Swap Meet and Classic Car Show, Pomona, CA | (714) 5387091 | pomonaswapmeet.com JANUARY 14: Eurofest St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL | southeasteuromotorsports.com/southeasteurofeststaugustine 15: 16th Annual Quaker Steak and Lube Bugfest, Clearwater, FL | (813) 516-7061 | qslbugfest2023@gmail.com

Showrunner Gets Some New Shoes

All this and more coming to your mailbox mid-January 2023 62 VW TRENDS • FALL FALL’22 ’22

64 VW TRENDS • FALL ’22

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