VW Trends Magazine Vol. 2, No. 4, Spring 2023

WE GO TO JAPAN!

$7.99 USA $9.99 CANADA

VOL. 2, NO. 4

SPRING 2023

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

CONTRIBUTORS Dave Cormack, Casey David, Eric Geisert, David Hall, Arthur Junior, Paul Morton, Bruce Simurda, Jason Smith, Yoshitaka Takahara, 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. ©2023, STA Publishing, LLC. Periodical postage paid in Newport Beach, California and at additional mailing offices.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: A minimum of six weeks’ notice is required, and you must provide STA Publishing with old and new addresses. Send 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: 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. Photos and 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 photos. I’d like to think that I contribute something to this world, other than my good looks. I often say to myself, “Dan,” (and I say, “Yes?” because that’s my name, and someone just called me), I say, “Dan, why can’t you contribute more to society?” The answer is pretty easy. I could totally contribute more, but I can’t. At least not until that Federal injunction is lifted.

DISTRIBUTION: Want to distribute VW Trends Magazine at your place of 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 • SPRING ’23

SPRING • VOL. 2 NO. 4

DEPARTMENTS 4 TOP DEAD CENTER: Win a lifetime subscription to VW Trends.

6 WHAT’S NEW: HEI distributor kit, V-gate nose cone, and Type 2 blinds.

8 WHAT YEAR IS IT? Big glass, new dash in 1958.

48 GARAGE BUILT: One thousand horses in Idaho.

50 TOYS IN THE ATTIC: TPS Oval Volkswagen Japan.

56 COLLECTOR’S CORNER: A collection of perfection.

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

64 TROSLEY: VW Friends.

FEATURES 14 CANADIAN CRUISER: A street machine Buggy in Vancouver.

26 CORAL HARMONY: A perfect blend of classic and custom.

30 HIROYUKI’S HAULER: A ’51 ragtop in the Land of the Rising Sun. 44 THERE’S PATINA, AND THEN... A ’59 ragtop in Utah.

52 PRAISE THE LOWERED: Project Showrunner gets an attitude adjustment.

30

EVENTS 20 MOONEYES HOT ROD CUSTOM SHOW: Our man in Japan.

40 BIG BEAR TAKEOVER 4: Bigger and better, with a mountain cruise.

TECHNICAL 10 BLOOD, SWEAT, AND BEERS: The making of VW Trends 48IPA. 36 GET PUMPED: Rebuild your fuel pump.

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On the cover: Main photo: Yoshitaka Takahara. Inset: Eric Geisert.

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VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

3

TOP DEAD CENTER

WIN A LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION TO VW TRENDS MAGAZINE

A

s you read this, it’s probably around the second week of April (if you’re reading this later than that, you really need to subscribe to get VW Trends in your mailbox ASAP!) If I don’t get abducted by one of those aliens from the UFO we shot down back in February, it’ll be one month and a scant few days since I retired from full-time work! Yeah, hooray for me! It’s weird writing about being retired when I still have a few weeks of work left, but whatever.

I need to say thanks and give a tip of the hat to Junior and the rest of the Lifestyle Cycles gang for allowing me to be a part of that company for these lo-so-many years.

I had a blast being your director of marketing and doing all the cool stuff I got to do there! If any of our readers happen to be looking for a pre-owned Harley-Davidson, please give Lifestyle Cycles a call at 714490-0155. They have the best selection and prices in Southern California (more than 200 bikes in stock).

So what’s going on in Volkswagen Land?

Tons, actually. We’re only a couple months out from our big 48 IPA beer launch/car show event on June 10th. You don’t want to miss this one, as it’s going to be off the chain! Cool VWs, cold 48IPA beer, swag, food, fun, and good times! Go to 48IPA.com and get on the list.

Yours truly, Dan Leadbetter, will be hitting the road from late March through early June to go to as many VW shows, cars and coffee meets, and more as I possibly can! Showrunner and I will be coming to a city, parking lot, custom shop, or VW parts house near you. And we’re giving away a LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION TO VW TRENDS to one lucky person! How can you enter? All you have to do is find me and Showrunner, snap a selfie with me, tag it #IFoundDan and #vwtrendsmagazine and #empi_inc and post it on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter. I’ll be easy to find: Check our social media accounts for updates. Don’t think you’ll be able to find

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VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

me? Then print out an official Dan Leadbetter mask (available at vwtrendsmagazine. com) and have a friend wear it for the selfie.

If you’d like to have a house guest for the night, I’m totally available. I’m housebroken (kinda), I don’t eat much (liar), I like kids (as long as they are cooked properly), and I can be damn entertaining (again, kinda). So if you’d like to have me as a house guest (and help us save on traveling expenses) drop me an email at dan@vwtrendsmagazine.com. Homes that have a decent supply of good bourbon and quality cigars get moved to the top of the list.

On a more somber note, we’ve had to say goodbye to our own Ron Petro. Ron needed to take a break from the magazine to take care of some family business. All of us at the magazine are going to miss you, Ron. Your artwork and graphic stylings gave the magazine a flavor that cannot be reproduced. Thank you again for all you’ve done to help VW Trends make the biggest comeback of the last decade. We’re all here for you buddy, and the door is always open.

In other news, check out our man Erik Giesert’s story of the Mooneyes show in Japan. Erik made the trek to the land of the rising sun to get full coverage of the show and to take a Mooneyes shop tour. They know how to build some killer Volkswagens in the Far East, and we’re for sure going back there to check out the scene in more detail. Erik has also been following a top-secret story for the last few months, and you’ll definitely want to stay tuned for that.

Since we’re on a Far East roll, check out our coverage of the really sweet ’51 Split-window with a 2110cc screamer from Japan. This thing is easy on the eyes and a real pavement pounder! I’m telling you, the Japanese really have the VW thing dialed in. If you’ve never been there, you really need to go. VW enthusiasm in Japan is bigger than ever, and the style and attention to detail is on point!

Speaking of awesome looks, our Project

ILLUSTRATION: RON PETRO

Showrunner is looking REALLY amazing with coilover shocks installed by our good friends at German Dreams in Bakersfield.

After we put on the 17-inch EMPI BRMstyle rims, the 2015 Sportwagen looked a little …. tall. Way too much wheel-well gap for sure. German Dreams contacted the folks at Solo Werks, who hooked us up with an awesome coilover system. While this baby is now in the weeds (well, not quite all the way in the weeds, as we still have to carry stuff in it), it has the same awesome ride it did from the factory. Check out how we did it in this issue.

Next, we need to see your VWs! We want to boost our Reader’s Ride section and as our Pile of the Month column. I know you people are holding out on me as far as piles you drive on a daily basis. So don’t be stingy with your less-than-perfect pile! Send them (as well as your clean Reader’s Rides) to me at dan@vwtrendsmagazine.com. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got!

This is a pretty damn good issue you’re holding, and we’ve all worked really hard to bring it to you. So please enjoy, and as always, we want and need your feedback: Please be sure to send in your comments.

We do read them all and take them to heart.

Enough with the chit-chat. I have to go start emptying out my desk at my day job and find a place to store all the accolades and awards I’ve received over the years.

Well, okay, not really awards and accolades.

But I do have a gift card to Wienerschnitzel I do need to use (please don’t tell my cardiologist). Be safe out there kids, and we’ll talk again next issue!

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

WHAT’S NEW RANCHO “ V-GATE” NOSE CONE: Rancho’s Fast Fab Verigate is a nose cone V-Gate shifting mechanism which converts the traditional “H” shift pattern to a straight-up-and-back layout.

Not really the hot ticket for street cars, as down shifting requires a couple of extra movements, but the straight-up gear transition is fast, positive and great for cutting ET times at the track. Machined from solid billet and pre-fit with HP seals, the FAST FAB nose cone comes anodized in clear or black with applications for both VW Type 1 and Mendeola 2D transaxles.

Each kit ships complete with all installation hardware and retails for $295. Note: Disassembly is required in order to drill and tap the shift rails. Requires use of a vertical gate shift linkage. Call Rancho at 714-680-6737 or go to ranchotransaxles.com.

EMPI HEI DISTRIBUTOR KIT: EMPI is pleased to offer a totally new ignition system for your Type 1 motor. Say goodbye to inconsistent points and condensers that wear out and leave you stranded. This comprehensive kit was designed and engineered in Anaheim, California, and includes an all-new HEI solid-state billet distributor, 40,000-volt OE style coil that fits your stock clamp, and high-quality plug wires. With simple hand tools you can modernize your ignition system for reliable starting and a more efficient spark. Everything you need is in the kit: a degreed billet distributor clamp, advance springs, bushings, spark plug terminal nuts, plug wire separators, and O-rings for a clean installation that looks stock. Please visit empius.com to locate an EMPI dealer near you and order your HEI Distributor Kit today.

HERITAGE PARTS CENTRE TYPE 2 REAR WINDOW BLIND: Whether you fall for their period style or the practicality of reflecting heat away in the height of summer, there is a solid case for installing a rear window blind in your Type 2. This charming ivory colored blind is produced by SSP and is easy to fit, with the feet simply slipping between the screen rubber and the glass rather than requiring any extra holes to be drilled. There are small and large window options to choose from. The smaller version (AC845502) is suitable for ’55 to ’63 models, while the larger (AC845503) is designed for ’63 to ’67 Split Bus and ’68 to ’79 Bay Window vehicles. Both are available from Heritage Parts Centre and can be found on their website at heritagepartscentre.com.

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VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

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1958 WHAT YEAR IS IT?

Big glass, new dash • by Jason Smith

olkswagen restructured its manufacturing lines in 1954, making them more like the assembly-line operations made famous by Henry Ford.

By 1958, VW’s production lines were humming, and the company was tapping into markets in Europe, America, and Africa. In West Germany, the number of new-car registrations had just surpassed motorcycle registrations as more Germans began to be able to afford a car.

In 1958 VW employed just over 44,000 workers, and sales of all VW models were a little north of 551,000. Beetle sales were continuing to climb each year, with 451,526 sold in 1958. About 2 percent of all Beetles built from 1949 to 2003 were built in 1958.

And about 2 percent of those ’58 Beetles were Cabriolets.

The ’58 Beetle supposedly introduced more modifications than VW had rolled out since 1952. The biggest outward change for 1958 — and one that became an era-defining dividing line for many Beetle enthusiasts — was the redesigned rear window. Volkswagen claimed the new rounded rectangular glass was 95 percent larger than the oval it replaced. The front windshield grew, too, increasing at both the top and sides to become 17 percent larger.

(The sizes of the Cabriolet’s rear and front windows increased by 45 and 8 percent.)

The deck lid was flattened out and lost much of its distinctive “W” look. And in North American-market cars, the bulletstyle turn indicators were redesigned and moved to the tops of the front fenders.

Inside the car, buyers saw a new symmetrical dashboard with a layout that basically stayed the same for the rest of the Beetle’s years. And the accelerator pedal, which had previously been a roller, was changed to a flat plate. ’58 Beetles aren’t exactly easy to find today, and some of them bring a pretty penny (see auction chart at right).

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VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SAMBA

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▲ Press photo of a ragtop ’58 Beetle. 1958 chassis numbers were 1 600 440 to 2 007 615.

The biggest visual change for the ‘58 model was the enlarged rear window: Bye-bye oval, hello rectangle. For North American models like this one, the turn indicators were reshaped and moved from their spots just outboard of the headlights to the top of the front fenders.

PRODUCTION FOR 1958 TOTAL NUMBER BUILT: 451,526  2.1% of total Beetle production CABRIOLETS BUILT: 9,624  0.045% of total Beetle production  2.1% of ’58 Beetle production NUMBER BUILT IN GERMANY: 432,619  95.8% of ’58 Beetle production  All Cabriolets were built in Germany  ’58 Beetles built elsewhere: 18,907

’58 BEETLES WERE BUILT IN:  Wolfsburg and Osnabrück, Germany  Brussels, Belgium  Dublin, Ireland  Melbourne, Australia  Puebla, Mexico  São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil  Uitenhage, South Africa  1958 was the last year (until 1975) that VW sold fewer than half a million Beetles. The Doyle Dane Bernbach “Think Small“ VW ad campaign began in 1959.

AUCTION REPORT

MODIFICATIONS FOR 1958*  Brake drums and shoes widened for faster, surer stops.  Rear window and windshield enlarged.  Front turn signal lights moved to top of fender.  Radio grille moved left, in front of driver.  Flat accelerator pedal replaces roller type. *PARTIAL LIST. PRIMARILY APPLIES TO U.S.-MARKET CARS.

’58 Beetles on bringatrailer.com

$40K $35K $30K $25K $20K $15K $10K $5K $0

1/2017 1/2018 1/2019 1/2020 1/2021 1/2022 • Sold • Reserve not met

L41 BLACK

L351 CORAL RED

FINAL YEAR. USED 1956–58

L240 AGAVE GREEN

FINAL YEAR. USED 1956–58

L225 JUPITER GRAY USED 1953–61

6 ’58 BEETL ,52 E 51

L335 CAPRI BLUE

1.25M

SEDANS

CABRIOLETS

(2.1% OF 1958 PRODUCTION)

DEBUT YEAR. USED 1958–59

BEETLE PRODUCTION, 1949–79

S:

4

USED ALL YEARS, 1949–79

98+2

1958 PAINT COLORS

1M

750K

1958: 451,526 BUILT

500K

500K

L243 DIAMOND GRAY

DEBUT YEAR. USED 1958–59

L334 GLACIER BLUE

250K

USED ONLY IN 1958

L245 LIGHT BRONZE

USED ONLY IN 1958

’49

’58

’79

German illustrator Bernd Reuters began freelancing for Volkswagen in 1950. His work tended to exaggerate the size and sportiness of the car, making it look longer and sleeker than it actually was, while downplaying the size of its occupants.

This 1958 brochure proclaims, “This is the Volkswagen that has won world fame within only a few years. Its owners claim that it is the most sensible thing on wheels.” The brochure in the center above touts the “air-cooled flat-four engine, economical and indestructible.” The brochure to the right states that the Convertible is “a favorite with the ladies — a sheer treat to drive.”

ALSO IN 1958 1958 gave us the movies Vertigo, Touch of Evil, and The Fly. Most of 1958’s best-selling pop music has largely been forgotten: “Tom Dooley” by the Kingston Trio, anybody? But we did get albums from John Coltrane, James Brown, Frank Sinatra, and Little Richard. The U.S. had Dwight D. Eisenhower in the White House and a population of about 174 million.

GENTLEMEN, TEAR APART YOUR ENGINES According to Hans-Rudiger Etzold’s book The Beetle: Production and History of the People’s Car, by June 1958, one out of every ten Beetles on the road was using a replacement engine. Volkswagen began their engine exchange program in November 1948, and by 1958 the company had built 250,000 exchange engines. That year, a replacement engine cost 495 Deutsche Marks, or about 118 U.S. dollars.

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

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TECH VW TRENDS

48IPA

Editor Leadbetter with Chapman Crafted Beer Head Brewer David Hall. David was kind enough to show us the ropes (and let us help) in the making of VW Trends 48 IPA.

1. To brew great beer, you need good water. The water at Chapman Crafted Beer goes through a rigorous multi-stage process to ensure that it’s as close to purified as possible so there’s nothing in it to “color” the beer.

BLOOD, SWEAT, AND

BEERS The making of VW Trends 48IPA

By VW Trends staff • Photos by Casey David and David Hall

W

hen VW Trends came up with the idea of private labeling its own beer, there were three things that needed to be checked off the list. One, and probably the most obvious, it had to be good. Not just good with a small g, we’re talking all capital letters, bold, and italicized GOOD! Two, the people that made it had to be like-minded with the VW Trends philosophy: Make a great product that brings value to the community and have a blast doing it! And three, well, it just had to have the right vibe.

And we couldn’t be happier that we were able to check off all three things with Chapman Crafted Beer in Old Towne, Orange, California.

Another cool thing about Chapman Crafted Beer is they’re car people — like,

10 VW TRENDS • SPRING SPRING’23 ’23

for reals. In fact, most of them own or have owned Volkswagens, so we knew right from the get-go they were our type of people!

We didn’t want to just slap a label on some product we knew nothing about; we wanted to get in and get our hands dirty and see what beer brewing was all about! So we sent VW Trends publisher and editor-in-chief Dan Leadbetter to Chapman Crafted Beer to “help” head brewer David Hall make some 48IPA. Making beer isn’t rocket science, but it’s no walk in the park, either! It takes the right equipment, knowledge, and forethought to really make an amazing beer (not to mention a lot of trial and error). Lucky for us, everyone at Chapman Crafted have been through the ins and outs of beer develop-

2. Head brewer David gives the thumbsup to Dan’s masterful dumping of malt into the hopper. Mixed and added to heated water, this creates the wort, the base of any good beer.

ment, and were generous enough to share a little of that knowledge with us.

Make no mistake, they put Leadbetter to work! He was throwing around bags of grain, dumping malt into the hopper, helping with water purification, shoveling spent grains into a cart, adding hops to the beer for flavor, and may have had a sample (or 12) of beer. When he wakes up from his IPA-induced nap, he’ll surely agree it was a day for the record books!

Now that you’ve seen what goes into making VW Trends 48 IPA, what are you waiting for? Go to www.48ipa.com and get on the list for our big launch party on June 10th.

3. Dan and David check the clarity of the wort to make sure it’s up to 48 IPA standards.

4. Once the wort is perfect, it’s drained from the unused malt grains and the waste is then “grained out.” A local dairy farmer will pick up the grain and feed it to cows.

•Stacks •Pulleys

5. The perfect wort is then moved to a larger heating tank where it will be brewed. Dan is now adding the first round of hops to help give 48IPA its amazing flavor!

6. After brewing, the beer is sent to these tanks, where it takes a well-deserved break for 16 to 18 days. Then it will be ready for you to drink!

48IPA.COM

•Block Offs •Dist Clamps

ROSSWULF Purveyors of Speed & Style Vintage AirCooled

•Shift Couplers ...And More

www.rosswulf.com

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 11

WIN A LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION TO VW TRENDS!

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS DAN LEADBETTER? Follow VW Trends to find him:

? ?

? ?

VWTrendsMagazine

@VWTrendsMagazine

?

? ?

? ?

T

hat’s right, you can win a lifetime subscription to VW Trends! Let’s say you’re 25 years old, and you live until you’re 85: That’s a minimum value of $1,797.60 (based on $29.96 a year for 60 years). Plus, if the magazine goes bimonthly or monthly, you still get every issue for free!

Okay, I’m in. How do I win? Super easy.

Dan Leadbetter (VW Trends Publisher and Editor-in Chief) will be driving across the country in 2023 hitting as many VW shows, parts houses, VW meets, club meetings, and VW cars and coffees as he can. We’ll be posting where and when he’s going to

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be on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

What if I can’t find Dan or make it to All you need to do is find him, take a selfie where he’ll be? Great question. We want with him and post it to all your social to make this fun and easy for everyone! media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, If you can’t get to one of the spots Dan whatever) and hashtag it #ifounddan and will be at, just download the Official Dan #vwtrendsmagazine and #empi_inc. At the Leadbetter Download & Cut Out Mask at end of the year, we’ll pick one lucky person vwtrendsmagazine.com, and get a friend to that followed the wear it for the selfie! instructions (be sure to Don’t forget to use the WANNA FIND OUT WHERE hashtag it so we can find hashtags when you DAN WILL BE? you) to win a lifetime post on social media, Follow us on social media: Instagram: @vwtrendsmagazine subscription. You can or your entry will be Facebook: VWTrendsMagazine enter more than once, disqualified. Let’s have but only one entry per some fun! person per location!

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 13

CANADIAN CHAD AND TERESA ANDRESEN’S FIRST-EVER VW PROJECT TURNED OUT TO BE THE QUINTESSENTIAL…

CRUISER Can you tell that Chad and Teresa Andresen are proud of their Buggy? The engine is a 2165cc with a 911-style fan and shroud from Bernie Bergmann.

V

Story and photography by Bruce Simurda

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ancouver, Canada might not seem like the ideal place for a custom street Buggy. The winters are cold and often strewn with snow and ice, and it rains much of the year. But when the warm summer months hit, with a huge sky, endless country roads and stunning scenery, it’s the perfect place for cruising in an open-air auto.

So when Chad and Teresa Andresen saw an old dune buggy with a for-sale sign outside Wayne Hawkins’ hobby farm, they had to inquire. Wayne had purchased it seven years earlier from his wife’s nephew, but due to failing health Wayne decided to sell it so someone else could enjoy it. The Andresens were those fortunate someones.

They had never owned a VW before, let alone restored one, but they’re no strangers to the Vancouver VW scene. Their daughter Christine is married to local VW guru Darren Dilley, and the Dilleys have owned some of the nicest VWs in the area. So it’s safe to say that Chad and Teresa know what they like, VW-wise.

After buying the Buggy from Wayne, the Andresens wasted no time making a list of their personal touches — which of course turned into a complete rebuild! The biggest modification was the replacement of the original shortened floorpan with a new custom tube chassis by Frose Brothers Garage in nearby Chilliwack. The chassis was fabbed with 1-1/4-inch main tubing, incorporating the link-pin front beam and shock towers into a single unit. Once the chassis was done, the body

 The original shortened floor pan was tossed and replaced with a custom tube chassis and roll cage fabbed at Frose Brothers Garage. Total construction time was 2 years.

was set in place and the upper roll cage fabbed so it cleanly followed the bodylines, but was removable. The top chassis and upper cage really make for a strong Buggy framework.

Before body and paintwork started, the chassis, body, and roll cage were again separated, and everything was prepped separately for a highly detailed finish. The old fiberglass body, of unknown make, had the usual dings and extra holes that needed repaired, and Frose Brothers also customized a few areas prior to paint. Once the panels were smooth, chassis, body, and cage were finished with Ferrari Yellow acrylic urethane. The exterior panels of the body were also finished in satin black to contrast the yellow chassis tubes. Once beautified, the body and chassis were again bolted together, and assembly began.

Since this was to be a street machine and not an off-roader, they added CB Performance drop spindles up front, along with QA1 adjustable shocks and Airkewld’s beautiful “Bad Series”

disc brakes with red Wilwood calipers all around. Out back they fit 28mm Sway-A-Way torsion bars and Sway-A-Way adjustable spring plates to fine-tune the handling.

Other cool details include a custom Safari windshield, flush-mounted front fuel filler above a custom tank, billet mirrors, modern J.W. Speaker full LED headlights with integrated turn signals, LED taillights, and chrome front bumper. And check out those big fat Uniroyal Tiger Paws (195/60 R15 front and 275/60 R15 rear), which were tricked out with vintage Goodyear tire stickers … nice touch!

Power for this cruiser is plentiful thanks to a 2165cc (90.5mm x 82mm) engine that Chad bought from his son-inlaw Darren Dilley. (It was Darren’s “backup engine” and had been sitting on a shelf for years. Of course, Darren’s regular engine blew two weeks later! Timing is everything.) This engine was built by AVR Import Parts in Abbotsford and equipped with a counterweighted crank, H-beam rods, ported

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 15

 The rear cage and roll bar can be separated from the main chassis, which allowed all components to be built, disassembled, painted, and then reassembled.

heads with stainless 44mm intake and 37.5mm exhaust valves, EMPI 44 HPMX carb kit with CSP twist linkage, CB Performance Magnaspark ignition, ceramic-coated EMPI dual buggy exhaust system, and a stylish Porsche 911-style fan and shroud from Bernie Bergmann. The motor is mated to a Rancho Performance Transaxles Pro-Street gearbox, so you can bet this featherweight Buggy can flat-out fly!

As immaculate as the rest of this Buggy is, you’d think the interior would be just as sharp, and it doesn’t disappoint. Frose Brothers installed a set of TMI’s universal black bucket seats, which are complemented by a custom-built matching rear seat.

Up front the dash is stuffed with a full set of Auto Meter gauges, while all switches were tucked high and away in a cage-mounted console. Pedals are Jamar with hydraulic clutch and a dual master brake cylinder; the shifter is an impressive billet aluminum black Mamba unit from Vintage Speed; and the steering wheel is a basic black Momo with two yellow racing stripes and an NRG quick-release hub. The carpet got a custom touch with the VW logo embroidered in center.

Many of us dream of building our perfect VW some day, and the Andresens had that fantasy come true with their very first attempt. With a lot of assistance from family, the local VW community (including the Fraser Valley Dune Buggy Club), and some top-notch shops, their one-of-a-kind Canadian Cruiser is ready to roll!

16 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

 Tires are actually Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTS, 195/60 R15 front and 275/60 R15 rear, with Goodyear wheel stickers for a vintage appearance. Note the dual Wilwood calipers.  The interior features TMI bucket seats, a Vintage Speed “Black Mamba” billet shifter, Auto Meter gauges and a Jamar pedal assembly.

 The classic Momo steering wheel features a quick-release hub to make it easier to get in and out of the “tub.” The chrome turn signal switch is a must.

 You can see how the front beam is now an integral part of the new chassis, which also includes the upper shock mounts.

The red tow hooks are a nice, and useful, touch.

 A custom safari windshield mounted directly to the roll bar lets in all the air, or just as much as the Andresens want on those warm British Columbia summer days.

 To keep the interior neat and clean, the switches were mounted in a console high on the roll cage. Billet mirrors are a nice touch, as is the detector.

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 17

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48IPA HOPPED-UP BEER LAUNCH PARTY

SATURDAY, JUNE 10TH, IN OLD TOWNE ORANGE, CA Come celebrate the launch of VW Trends 48 IPA, brewed by Chapman Crafted Beer.

VIP VW show (limited space availability)  Swag  Food  Plenty of 48 IPA

DON’T WAIT! REGISTER AT:

48IPA.COM

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Held in a 217,000-square-foot room inside the Yokohama Convention Center, the Mooneyes show features 300 cars, 500 motorcycles, and a couple hundred vendors.

I

MOONEYES

t would be impossible to attend the Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show and not be impressed. While indoor custom car shows have been happening in the United States for 75 years, they’re relatively new in some other countries.

Longtime readers might remember when VW Trends visited the U.K. for the first Bug Jam at Santa Pod Raceway north of London. At about the same time on the other side of the world, the Japan-based Mooneyes organization was busy putting together the Super Car Nationals, and they did something unheard of: They mixed American hot rods with local Japanese cars. It was a hit.

But the show was outdoors, and the weather was always a concern. So in 1992, when a massive convention center opened in downtown Yokohama, Mooneyes decided to have a wintertime indoor show and, 30 years later, the Mooneyes Hot Rod and Custom Show is still going strong.

Nowadays about 300 modified cars, 500 custom motorcycles, and a few hundred vendors gather for a one-day, ten-hour show. It’s well-organized madness trying to take it all in. This 2022 show was the 10th anniversary of Mooneyes first highlighting custom VWs: In 2012, many members of the California-based Der Kleiner Panzers car club attended with their vehicles. This year’s special VW parking area showcased a group of Japanese-built Volkswagens. Besides making for a great time, the Mooneyes Yokohama show illustrates how the custom and Cal-Look VW scene has taken hold halfway ’round the world.

20 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

HOT ROD CUSTOM SHOW

BY ERIC GEISERT, OUR MAN IN YOKOHAMA, JAPAN

“Air Cooled In Re-Action” refers to the 10th anniversary of the show inviting members of the California-based Der Kleiner Panzers to show their vehicles. This year’s special parking area featured many Japanese-built Cal Look vehicles.

The show opens with a parade of specially invited cars and bikes, and folks line up to see them drive into the building. This year’s invitees included the Flat4 tribute of the ‘60s-era “Inch Pincher Too!” gasser.

The German Folks Japan car club showed a pair of ’58 sedans — affectionately nicknamed Red Patina and Black Survivor.

The Oval Moonbug is outfitted with heart taillights and semaphores, and was recently resprayed its vibrant lemon yellow.

Side Project Café brought their ’59 double-door Type 2 that featured gloss paint up top and flat color everywhere else.

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 21

One of the nicest Bugs we’ve seen anywhere is this full-on show ’53 ragtop powered by a chromed-out 1200cc engine topped with a 28PICT carb. It features VDO gauges, Pertronix ignition, CB lowered spindles, and a Valley Autowerks narrowed beam.

Yes it’s a right-hand-drive ’51 Split (sitting on a ’75 pan), but with ’67 front fenders because that’s the look the owner wanted!

Built bit by bit over several years, the car is constantly being improved, but we think it’s already about as nice as it can get.

This ’56 Oval had a mix of themes going on: a chopped roof and shaved door handles with side trim left intact, a roll cage, big dash tach, and Centerline-type wheels.

Shame the owner didn’t stick around to talk to us about his ’75 right-hand-drive Bus, which had “lightening” holes throughout for a vintage warplane look and a lifted engine cradle out back that housed a Subaru WRX motor. Just incredible!

This Split with semaphores and hearts might look like most any Cal-Look Bug in the States, but we haven’t seen one featuring a deckedout 36-horse motor with 48 IDAs before.

22 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

Akira Moriizmi’s right-hand-drive ’68 sedan has a full roll cage and an AutoMeter Monster tach inside, with EMPI Sprint Star wheels on each corner and a 48 IDA-fed engine out back.

We’ve covered shows for decades but have never seen a ’69 Brazilian 1600 — now we want one! It’s basically a factory four-door Notch. The trunklid area reminded us of a Type 34 Ghia. Too cool!

Artists from around the world do live pinstriping and sell their works. Bob’s Big Boy never looked so Goth.

Looking like it rolled out of a Friday night DKP meet in SoCal, this ’67 with full American bumpers and BRMs was super clean and simple.

In Japan you get to see a whole host of custom vehicles that never made it outside that country. “Mini vans,” like this ’04 Toyota with what looks like some Dodge grille work, and similar pickups are very popular.

This well-done ’63 Crewcab from Kazuno One Off Specialty was rolling on Porsche phone dials.

From the earliest car-show days, folks like Ed “Big Daddy” Roth were airbrushing monsters on T-shirts, and a handful of Japanese artists were doing the same at this show in the pinstriper’s area.

Most years we don’t see many Ghias or Type 3s at the Yokohama show, but this ’66 Notchback was done really well.

Pino Pinoko ( @pino_pink) is a pinup model, a former Miss Mooneyes, and always a big hit wherever she shows up.

You’ll often see motorcycle helmets painted to commemorate each year’s show and in other crazy themes.

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 23

It was surprising to find so many Splits and Ovals at the show.

Companies like Flat4 often find old Bugs to fix up and sell.

The “Best Air-Cooled” award went to this super-sano ragtop rolling on E-K wheels and set up with an EMPI steering wheel, Berg shifter, and narrowed beam.

MOONEYES SHOP TOUR

Mooneyes Area 1 in Yokohama is the world headquarters for Mooneyes. There’s another Mooneyes store in Santa Fe Springs, California, and about 20 dealers in other countries including Thailand, Italy, and Sweden.

Left: Shige Suganuma, Mooneyes owner and founder/promoter of the Hot Rod Custom Show. He has owned the business for 36 years. Right: Chico Komada is president of Mooneyes USA and runs the California store.

There’s A LOT of stuff to look at in the Area 1 store, with a good amount of it not available at the United States location.

Adjacent to the Area 1 store is the Moon Café where you can stop in and have a milkshake with an American hamburger and fries, or even Hawaiian or Mexican food.

24 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

THE CARS OF MOONEYES

Mooneyes has had a long history with custom VWs: Its 72-year-old owner and car show promoter, Shige Suganuma, was just 18 when he bought his first car, the blue ’67 Type 2 above. The Variant Squareback and a Bug woodies shown at far right were both built in Japan and equipped with aluminum Moon wheel discs. The company still owns the iconic survivors of Moon’s ‘60s-era drag- and salt-flat racing history: the Potvin-blown dragster and Bonneville V12 streamliner. (The dragster pictured here is a clone; the original is in the Garlits racing museum in Florida.)

THE WAVE HUNTER MOONBUGGY

Shige Suganuma has been a VW guy all his life, but he’s also into custom motorcycles, late-‘60s muscle cars, and early-‘60s customs. This Buggy was built in 1999 at the Mooneyes Area 1 garage in the spirit of a ‘60s hot rod, with metalflake paint applied by Blue Mobile and lots of pinstriping by Sugi-Sack Sugimoto. A 1776cc engine gives it more than enough power, Mooneyes gauges fill the dash, an EMPI shifter selects the gears, and Moon salt-flat wheel discs are on each corner. Japan doesn’t have dunes, so Buggies aren’t popular or common. But it does have waves to surf, hence the vehicle’s name.

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 25

Coral Harmony

Kevin Pearce’s outstanding ’56 Oval is the perfect blend of classic and custom!

Story and photography by Bruce Simurda

26 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

Kevin found it hard to pick a color for his second VW, partly because his first was never out of primer! He eventually chose L351 Coral Red, correct for a ‘56. From the rear it all looks vintage. Well, with the exception of the 1-5/8-inch Sidewinder exhaust and Fram HP-1 filter hanging below the fender, of course. Cool vintage tricks up front include a license plate mount below the beautiful Wolfsburg West Euro bumper and a fog light on a chrome bracket from ISP West.

A

t first, you can’t help but notice the few conspicuous custom touches on this beautiful ’56 Oval, like Porsche alloys with big ’n little Firestones and a lowered front end. But the obvious deviations from original pretty much end there.

You see, owner Kevin Pearce, from Rossmoor, California, has an affinity for the ’56 Bug, as it was the first car he purchased as a teenager back in the late 1970s. His parents always had a Bug or a Bus, so it was only natural that Kevin’s first car was a VW. But it was always more of a project than transportation, and Kevin pretty much spent every paycheck in high school fixing it up. But then he crashed it, sold it, and said goodbye to VWs forever… or so he thought!

A few years later, a family friend gave Kevin another ’56 Bug. Now, before you throw your hands in the air and say, “No one ever gave me an Oval,” it should be pointed out that the car was in rough shape, with no interior, big holes in the pan, no engine, no trans, and no wheels. So it took a bit of work to get the car home, where it was put in storage, and sat, and sat… for seventeen years.

In 2016, Kevin decided he was going to finish that ’56. Loving the Oval for what

it was, he didn’t want big modifications to the looks, just a few inconspicuous performance updates. So the first step was to tear everything apart, and send the body out to be reworked while he tackled the floor pan.

It was typical old VW rusty, so he stripped it of all usable parts and sent it out for blasting, new pan halves, and powder coating.

Now it was time to build the pan. From a private party he bought a refurbished beam that was already narrowed and equipped with height adjusters and some very unusual custom shock towers. It had new bushings, tie-rod ends, and seals, and EMPI spindles and disc brakes. Then a new rear swingaxle setup from Der Trans was installed. Kevin retained rear drum brakes, and everything was cleaned and detailed as needed.

While all that was going on, the body was at Adelmann’s Auto Body in Downey, California, with Mike Adelmann, who stripped the shell down to bare metal, removed all the old body filler, repaired the front and rear skirts, and prepped everything for paint. Not sure what color he wanted at first, Kevin scoured the internet and various magazines. Remember, his first Oval never got out of primer! By the time Adelmann was ready to lay down the PPG two-stage paint, Kevin’s choice was L351 Coral Red — period correct for a ’56 Oval Bug. That base coat was followed by several coats of clear to really make it pop. Kevin says the body was at Adelmann’s for an entire year, but the final results were well worth the wait!

At this point the body and pan were joined, and then Kevin installed a new 12-volt wiring harness, and Dynamat sound deadening material throughout the interior. Many of the interior parts (steering column, e-break handle, seat frames, etc.) were refurbished in ivory by Reliable Powder Coating and installed.

With that done, the Oval was taken to Eloy De Los Reyes Upholstery for coral red leather seats and door panels with

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 27

engine sPECS

The motor is clean and ready to scream (details at right). Out back are backup and third stop lights, a vintage California plate and bracket, and a Euro bumper with short overriders. The beautiful interior was finished with coral red leather seats trimmed in ivory piping, ivory German square-weave carpeting, and an ivory mohair headliner.

ivory leather piping, ivory square-weave carpeting, and an ivory mohair headliner.

With the main upholstery completed, the process of assembly began, which Kevin handled mostly by himself in his two-car garage.

The original ivory steering wheel was restored by Koch’s and looks beautiful, and is adorned by a pair of Autotecnica gauges mounted to the steering column for a real vintage look. Kevin covertly added a stereo system with components from JBL, Boston Acoustics, and Kicker that provide 1,000 watts of, well… kick! About the only thing that stands out as being performance oriented is the Berg shifter, and that says volumes.

That’s because what’s parked out back is often the best part of a VW. Kevin’s sports a 2180cc powerhouse built by Anibal Chico at CPR in Arcadia, California. You know the drill: AS41 magnesium case, Scat 82mm stroker crank, AA Performance 92mm pis-

28 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

tons in thick-wall barrels, I-beam rods with ARP 2000 bolts, big valve heads and dual Weber 44IDF carbs from CB Performance — a bunch of really good stuff! This engine produced 121 horsepower and 131 ft.-lbs. of torque on the dyno… Anyone remember when a ’56 Oval had 25 horsepower? Good thing the swingaxle gearbox got a bunch of much-needed improvements by Jim Kaforski at Der Transaxle Shop. Check out the spec box for all the impressive engine and transaxle details.

Throughout this car you’ll notice quite a few novel touches that underscore the vintage theme, such as the Wolfsburg West Euro bumpers, chrome brackets holding the front fog light and rear backup and stop lights from ISP West, pop-out quarter windows, and more. It’s a look that draws attention from those who love a clean classic VW, as well as those who appreciate the concept that performance doesn’t have to be flashy.

BUILDER: Anibal Chico, Chico Performance Racing, Arcadia, CA CASE: Magnesium AS41 CRANK: SCAT 82mm forged stroker, counterweighted RODS: 5.400-inch I-beam, ARP 2000 bolts PISTONS: AA Performance 92mm slipper skirt with thick-wall cylinders CAM: CB Performance Eagle Racing #2242, .486-inch lift (with 1.25:1 rockers) x 248° duration (@.050-inch lift), 107° lobe centers VALVETRAIN: SCAT lifters, EMPI straightcut gears, 1.25 ratio rockers on SCAT solid shafts, Manton pushrods CYLINDER HEADS: 501 castings w/ 40mm x 35.5mm stainless steel valves, dual valve springs, Bugpack chromoly retainers, 60cc chambers, 9.1:1 compression ratio INTAKE SYSTEM: Dual Weber 44IDF carbs with 36mm venturis, dual CB Performance aluminum manifolds IGNITION: Bosch 009 mechanical advance distributor with Compufire module, NGK D8EA plugs, Bosch wires OIL SYSTEM: full-flowed 30mm oil pump, stock doghouse oil cooler, Fram HP-1 filter, Castrol 20W/50 oil EXHAUST: stainless steel 1-5/8-inch Sidewinder system CLUTCH: Kennedy Stage 1 (1700-lb), Daiken disc HORSEPOWER: Dynoed at 121 horsepower, 131 ft.-lbs. torque TRANSAXLE GEAR RATIOS: Klingelnberg K833 4.12:1 R&P, 3.78 Super Beetle 1st, 2.06 2nd, 1.26 3rd, 0.82 4th SPECIAL MODIFICATIONS: Weddle hubs, Heavy Duty side plate, Super-Diff, 4-Bolt chromoly retainer, hardened keys, Diehl synchros, trans mid torsion mount, HD axles, new sleeves on 1st through 4th

PLUS +

www.hayburner.co.uk

HIROYUKI’S HAULER Hiroyuki Tani’s awesome ’51 ragtop looker is in the weeds and built for speed! • By Dan Leadbetter • Photos by Yoshitaka Takahara

Company Profit in Hiroshima dechromed the body and massaged the German steel until it was ready for primer and L351 Cardinal Red paint.

30 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

J

apan is one of those places that holds a lot of culture and mystery.

From history and architecture to fine food, drink, and cars, Japan is a wonderland! The Japanese people really take pride in creating things that are not only technologically amazing, but aesthetically pleasing. Case in point is Hiroyuki Tani’s super sano ’51 Split-window Beetle.

A little history: In stock trim, the ’51 VW had about 25 upgrades from previous models, including ventilation flaps between the front fender and door, a Wolfsburg crest on the hood, telescopic shocks, and bright metal trim on the windshield.

But let’s forget about the past and focus on the present. Hiroyuki, from Hiroshima, Japan, picked up this Split for 5 million yen (around $36,765). A hefty sum to be sure, but Hiroyuki didn’t stop there, as he dropped another 7 million yen (we’ll let you do the math on that one) to turn his Splitty into the monster street machine you continued on page 35 •

Hiroyuki Tani’s ’51 ragtop Split-window Beetle was a 20-month (and 7 million yen) labor of love!

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 31

32 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 33

The interior is all business, with a host of gauges. Loving the refurbed steering wheel! A Vintage Speed shifter matches the pedals, aluminum floorboards, and door inserts.

The 2110cc powerplant features an AS21 case, CB Performance 76mm stroker crank, and Kyariro H cross-section rods mated to Wiseco 94mm pistons and cylinders. The CSP Porsche-style carbon-fiber fan housing looks awesome. Heads are CB 044 dual-port.

Two hungry 48IDA carbs help feed the beast. Note the air vents in the firewall, which are fed by openings in the rear quarter windows.

Inside the trunk is just as clean as the rest of the VW! Hiroyuki did the artwork and lettering on the VW, while pinstriping was taken care of by Solaart Works. Note how clean the wiring is! Everything in its place. And you gotta love a working set of semaphores!

34 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

Regular glass windows were replaced with polycarbonate to reduce weight.

Check out the cool slider on each side!

Nice touch.

The “W” decklid is off an early convertible Bug, but helps get enough air to the 2110cc monster motor. Note the third brake light below the vents.

see before you. The whole process took 20 months to finish, but wow… was it worth it!

To get the car prepped for paint, Hiroyuki took the Split to the folks at Company Profit in Hiroshima, where they dechromed the body and massaged the German steel until it was dolphin smooth.

Once the primer had dried, numerous coats of L351 Cardinal Red (a stock 1950s Karmann Ghia color) were applied to the exterior.

The stock bumpers, overriders, and hood emblem also got the L351 treatment.

All the window glass was replaced with static polycarbonate, as you can see from the sliders in the driver and passenger windows.

Note the air intakes on the rear quarter windows — completely functional, and they exit inside the rear firewall. Hey, when it comes to going fast, every little bit of weight you save counts!

At first glance you might not notice the later-model W convertible decklid, but the giveaway is the extra vents, which help the monster motor breathe.

It also features a standoff to help

even more air get inside the engine compartment. The stock taillights look awesome, but are pretty small, so Hiroyuki added a larger third brake light right below the rear vents. A reverse light below the driver’s side rear bumper lets people know Hiroyuki is backing up.

The pan was also color-matched to the VW, and is just as smooth and clean as the rest of the car. A 2-inch narrowed beam with adjusters helps bring the ’51 down to a fighting stance, while Bilstein short shocks help smooth the bumps in the road. A set of wide-five 15-inch Randar 5-spoke wheels were added, wrapped in Yokohama Advan Neova radials: 165/55/15s up front and 205/60R/15s out back.

The interior of this VW is all business. You won’t find any extra padded seats, cushy carpet, or a comfy backseat for extra passengers: This Bug is stripped down and ready to rumble! One of the first things to grab your eye is the sixpoint roll cage, painted to match the car. Since the roll cage takes up a lot of headroom, the back seat was scrapped. That meant the paint had to be perfect inside and out. Uphol-

stered front and rear door panels were ditched in favor of lightweight 4mm aluminum panels with holes drilled for weight reduction. Carpet was also ditched in favor of matching floor panels. A pair of Recaro RMS 2700 seats with Simpson harness belts keep the pilot and co-pilot firmly seated.

Several gauges in the dash, including an a ISP Monster Tachometer, keep tabs on the motor. Hiroyuki shifts with a Vintage Speed shifter, which matches the rest of the interior aluminum.

So you may be asking, “What actually powers Hiroyuki’s ’51?” Let’s break it down for you: An AS21 case machined to accommodate a CB Performance 76mm stroker crank with Kyariro H cross section rods mated to Wiseco 94mm pistons and cylinders.

For those of you doing your math, that comes out to 2110ccs of raw VW power!

The engine looks really sweet with the CSP Porsche-style carbon fiber fan housing. A Full Tiger ignition system sends the spark to ignite the air/fuel mixture. A set of CB 044 dual-port heads, CB straight-cut cam gear, Weber 48IDA carbs, and 16-pass super oil cooler with electric fan round out the performance package. Spent gasses exit through an A1 Stainless Steel Sidewinder exhaust system.

This ’51 is a far cry from when it rolled off the assembly line, and thank goodness! Who knows what Hiroyuki’s next VW will be, but if it’s anything like his ’51 Split, it’s going to be awesome!

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 35

TECH

2. Step one is to remove the cone from the top of the pump.

A crescent wrench, or the appropriate size metric combination wrench will do the trick. Remove the O-ring gasket, and don’t worry if it tears: you get a new one in the kit.

PHOTO: AIRCOOLEDARTIFACTS.COM

GET PUMPED! Rebuilding your VW’s fuel pump

3.  Remove the screen filter and set it aside for cleaning later.  You can see that it has been doing its job, as evidenced by all the debris in the bottom well of the pump.

By Dave “KaferDave” Cormack

V

W fuel pumps are amazing in their simplicity and reliability. When you think of all the combustible, flammable liquid they suck in and pump out, it’s a wonder they last as long as they do. However, they do wear, and occasionally fail. Fortunately, VW made sure these almost bulletproof units are easily rebuildable. Let’s look at the early Pierburg-style pump, commonly referred to as round-top or cone-top pumps. Flat-top pumps have four screws on top and a brass bolt on the side that houses the internal filter. We’ll concentrate on the round-top pump but the flat-top is basically the same.

1. Here’s our victim: a well-used coneTop pump. We ordered our rebuild kit from Wolfsburg West, and it comes with everything needed to do a thorough freshening of the pump. Wolfsburg West’s kit even comes with new e-clips.

Who does that?

36 VW TRENDS • SPRING SPRING’23 ’23

4. Remove six screws to separate the two halves of the pump body, exposing the diaphragm. The diaphragm is hooked to a fork below, so it won’t come out yet.

6. Remove the two little screws on the access cover, then remove the cover and gasket.

11. Unscrew and save the little flapper valve. Remove the collar to access the little fiber disc and spring: The kits come with new ones, so you don’t need to be concerned about them. You can see here that some debris has made its way to the little fiber disc.

7. Pull the little spring out with a pick or a small screwdriver.

14. Put the new tension spring in the lower cavity of the pump and fill the whole area with grease.

15. Now that the cavity is filled with grease, you can use the new gasket and put the access cover back on.

12. With the flapper reinstalled, and the new spring, fiber disc, and collar in place, the top is ready for reassembly.

8. Using a small pick, pry one of the little e-clips off the fulcrum.

9. Press the pin all the way out.

13. Now we can put the new diaphragm down in the bore and slide the lever in to hold the diaphragm. Stick the new pin (with a new e-clip on one side) in through the pump body, through the hole in the lever, and push the pin all the way through. Make sure the fork in the lever has engaged the diaphragm. Don’t put the top of the pump on the diaphragm; that comes a little later.

 10. Now the lever can be removed and the diaphragm taken off. If you want to restore the pump to like-new appearance, you would sonic clean or vapor blast it, or just use old-fashioned carb cleaner and a brush. We needed to get this car back on the road, so we only concerned ourselves with the inner workings of the pump.

16. Here’s what used to be the tricky part for the backyard rebuilder. The VW service manual says that the lever that actuates the diaphragm should be 14 millimeters up from its lowest resting position before the diaphragm can be screwed down. You used to need three hands to do this, but Mark Cross of Marysville, Ohio, has made this nifty, inexpensive little tool. When the pump is bolted on, Mark’s tool raises the lever and diaphragm the required 14 millimeters... easy-peasy! (See source box, next page.)

Continued on next page 

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• SPRING ’23 37

17. Now it’s a simple matter to place the top portion of the pump back on and retighten the six screws you took off. The diaphragm with be a little wavy because of the lever pushing up on it, but that’s okay: Just tighten the screws a little bit at a time until they are all down evenly.

Wolfsburg West carries a complete line of high-quality rebuild kits for older fuel pumps.

Just make sure you order the correct one for your pump.

18. Place the cleaned screen back into its spot, making sure you have it lined up correctly, followed by the new O-ring gasket.

19. Place the small fiber washer on top of the cone and put the small bolt back in.

Don’t over-tighten, or you’ll end up with a fuel leak.

Check your fuel pressure after rebuilding a pump. Put a t-fitting between the pump and carb and run the engine. VW specifies 2.5 to 3 pounds of pressure. Not enough pressure?

You can lightly sand the top of the Bakelite block on a flat surface until you get the pressure you want. Too much pressure? You can stack some extra gaskets between the case and the stand, or the stand and the pump, or both.

It’s always a good idea to replace the fuel pump stand when you have the fuel pump off. Go gently, as they have a tendency to break. If this happens, the broken section can usually be retrieved by threading a tap down into the broken part and wiggling it out. It’s not a big deal if a few small chunks stay in the engine, as they’re made of a Bakelite material and won’t harm anything.

38 VW TRENDS • SPRING SPRING’23 ’23

SOURCES: Mark Cross (614) 570-5180 macross860@gmail.com Wolfsburg West Orders: (888) 965-3937 Tech Support (951) 549-0523 wolfsburgwest.com

BIG BEAR TAKEOVER 4 Bigger and better, with more VWs, plus a cruise up the mountain with VW Trends! • By DG Leadbetter

A

ll year we at VW Trends look forward to the big Bair Takeover. It’s a great aircooled-only event that draws a ton of people, and it’s held in one of the most beautiful areas in the California mountains.

This year was even cooler, as we decided to host the first ever VW Trends Cruise the Mountain to the event!

The morning started off bright and early as we met up with folks going on the cruise at the Walmart parking lot at the base of the mountain. We were expecting maybe 10 VWs for the inaugural cruise, but when we got there, more than 40 VWs were already waiting! While we were passing out donuts (it’s tough to cruise on an empty stomach), more and more Bugs, Buses, and every other Type of VW came driving in. We had an awesome turnout for the first run! Everyone got a collector pin commemorating the run

40 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 40 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

to the show. The ride up the mountain was great: We rode along between 40 and 55 mph, getting thumbs-ups and waves from people as we made our way to Big Bear.

When we rounded the bend to the hotel where the Takeover was held, the parking lot was already nearing capacity. This event was going to be one for the record books! There were air-cooled VWs of every type and kind. From Dune Buggies to Pumas, Type IIIs to Things, this show had it all!

There was plenty to see and do at the show. In addition to the rows upon rows of Volkswagens, there was food at the lodge, at the German deli across the road, and of course at the food truck that was feeding the hungry masses.

But the REAL action was the VWs. One of the coolest (and oldest) VWs in attendance was Robert “VW” Kidd’s all-original

THE VW TRENDS CRUISE THE MOUNTAIN

Robert Kidd took home the trophy for the oldest VW with his original ’51 Split, which he drove to the event. This VW is a great example of an untouched, unrestored Bug. Look for a feature in an upcoming issue of VW Trends.

The first annual VW Trends Cruise the Mountain was held October 1st, 2022. We were expecting only about 10 VWs to show up for our inaugural event, but we ended up with more than 40 Volkswagens making the cruise! After a short driver’s meeting (and after chowing down on some donuts), everyone hit the road to Big Bear Mountain to get to the Takeover. Can’t wait for next year!

’51 Split-window. Completely untouched and unrestored, this baby is in amazing condition for its age. Look for a full feature in an upcoming issue. Chuck Anaya took Best Interior as well as Best of Show with his super clean ’62 Bug with a bench front seat.

Diamond Girl (a BBT regular) took home the Hotel Pick with her beautiful and very sparkly ’66 Bug named Selena.

The massive raffles kept people on their toes. The prize table was packed with great items like VW badges, BRM wheels, tune-up kits, and a wide variety of parts from an even wider variety of sponsors. No kidding, the Big Bair Takeover has raffles that rival some of the bigger shows in the Southland. How about a killer 1835cc powerplant from Black Sunday Aircooled? Chris Benitez from Wolfsburg Society took that one home.

After all of the awards went out, the party was just getting started! People went to their hotel rooms to freshen up before the VW Trends-sponsored after party. We took over one of the local restaurants to hang out with all of the event attendees. There were plenty of drinks, food, karaoke, conversation, a photo wall, and more. A good time was had by all (at least from what this editor can remember). As you can see, Big Bair Takeover 4 was even better than last year! We can’t wait for October for BBT5! See you on the mountain!

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 41 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 41

Joel Mohn brought out his red ’78 Puma. These things are so freaking cool. If you can find one, grab it!

One of the coolest things about this show is that they raffle off a high-performance VW motor with the proceeds going to charity!

The winner this year was Chris Benitez from Wolfsburg Society.

Chris took home a killer 1835cc powerplant from Black Sunday Aircooled.

Vivian, a.k.a. Diamond Girl, snagged the Hotel Pick trophy for her beautiful ’66 Bug. You must see the paint in person to get the full effect of how sparkly this VW really is!

Check out these cool VW-fender minibikes from Kafer Roller in Palmdale.

42 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 42 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

The folks from Just Cruzin’ took the top honors for Deepest Rolling Club.

The Rollin’ Barrel Beer Bus was out, providing some cool suds for the BBT4 attendees.

Chuck Anaya won a double header, taking Best Interior and Best of Show with his super-clean ’62 Bug with a bench front seat.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE EVENT SPONSORS:

“What’s up, my peeps?” Richard Mercado of Lizard Motorsports was on hand selling T-shirts. If you aren’t following @lizard_motorsports on Instagram, you’re missing out on a daily dose of sunshine.

A1 Performance Exhaust Rababak Performance Extreme Powdercoating Slow Ride Garage Bill and Steve’s Black Sunday Aircooled Vintage Kar Accessories & Kafer Kulture Mizar Martin

One thing is certain: There’s no lack of cool raffle prizes at the Big Bair Takeover.

PARTY TIME...

The VW Trends-sponsored after party was AWESOME, with plenty of dancing, drinks, food, karaoke, conversation, a photo wall, and more. To be sure, a good time was had by all!

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 43 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 43

PATINA THERE’S PATINA, AND THEN THERE’S

44 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

Kris Kussee’s ’59 ragtop hits on all cylinders!

By Dan Leadbetter • Photography by Paul Morton VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 45

The original color of Kris Kussee’s ’59 ragtop was L14 Mignonette Green, but Mother Nature had other ideas for the exterior finish.

N

ever tell someone like Kris Kussee that he can’t do something. Kris grew up in Rochester, New York, and at 14 years old, he was given a ’64 Notchback by a Boy Scout leader who said it was a European car and he’d never find parts for it. Kris hooked up a battery, messed around a little and got it running and driving. But the victory was shortlived, as his parents made Kris scrap the Notch because they didn’t want it sitting in the driveway for a couple years until he got his driver’s license.

At any rate, Kris was officially hooked on Volkswagens. Before he got married, he had several: a ’62 Bug, ’59 and ’60 Euro ragtops, a ’61 23-Window Bus, a ’56 Westfalia Camping Box, and a ’73 Porsche 914 2.0. But then life got busy. He was married with five kids and had quit his job to start his own financial services business, so replacing Volkswagens with 4-door cars and minivans seemed like the responsible thing to do.

When Kris’s oldest son Tyler turned 17 and wanted a VW project, Kris found a ’67 Baja Bug for sale. They drug it home, found a decent motor, and after a few weekends of sweat and tears Tyler was a happy VW

46 VW TRENDS • SPRING SPRING’23 ’23

owner. Kris’s three oldest kids drove this Baja through high school, then it got sold.

Kris’s business was doing well. It had been years since he had his own VW and he was getting that itch again. He spotted and bought a Euro-spec ’55 three-fold ragtop.

Over the next six years, he found and built several sweet Volkswagens.

Later, Kris was at a car show with his ’55 ragtop when a guy said he had a VW project car right around the corner. Intrigued, Kris went over to take a look at it. Under a mountain of tarps and tablecloths, there it was: a beautiful ’59 three-fold ragtop! Of course Kris asked if the ride was for sale, and of course the answer was no. Kris gave the guy his number and asked him to call if he ever decided to sell.

Two years later, one of Kris’ friends told him that it seemed that the very same ’59 ragtop was Facebook Marketplace. Kris dropped everything and headed over to see it. As luck would have it, Kris was the first one on the spot! The owner recognized Kris and apologized, saying he’d lost his number.

They worked out a deal: $1,700 cash plus Kris’s labor to help the seller get a new motor running and back in his Bus.

With the ’59 ragtop in his possession, Kris scrubbed down the bare metal and pressure washed everything to get rid of more than 30 years of spiders, mice, and anything else that could crawl in and find a home in the car. Fortunately, the body had no rust perforations. The pan was patched under the battery, but other than that, the car was more solid than you’d think.

Shiny patina never looked right to Kris, so he bucked the trend and decided not to clear coat the car, letting Mother Nature modify the paint on her own. He used boiled linseed oil on the bare metal spots, and he continues to tend to those several times a year.

The suspension and brakes were next on the list. A 4-inch narrowed beam with shocks, steering dampener, shortened stock leaves, and shortened stock steering rods were a good start. A set of 2.5-inch drop spindles, stock drum brakes, and old-school wide-5 to Porsche cast aluminum adapters make a good home for the Hans detailed Fuchs: 4.5-inch fronts with Kumho 155/60/15 tires and 5.5-inch with Kumho 205/65/15 tires out back. The transaxle is out of a ’62 Bug and features 3-inch

You’d be hard-pressed to find a cleaner frunk. The patina runs deep in this one!

The 1200cc 36hp is the matching motor to the car. Kris and his friend Jay Stuart made it run like a dream. Kris has driven the car more than 20,000 miles since finishing it.

Kris opted for a set of Hans Fuchs: 4.5” in the front, wrapped in 155/ 60/15 rubber, and 5.5” out back with 205/65/15 radials.

drop plates. A little torsion adjustment got the stance where Kris wanted it.

The 1200cc 36hp engine is the matching motor to the car. Kris and his longtime friend Jay Stuart, a VW engine and trans builder, set out to get the powerplant back up to speed. As they dug into it, they found that someone had rebuilt the motor, but that a rod bolt failed. That caused the rod cap to come off, and the crank had smashed the rod so hard inside the case that they had to press two lifters out then bore and hone the case to get the lifters to fit right again. With the internal repairs done, the 1200cc went back together easily. Kris enlisted Ed Fall to restore the carburetor and distributor. Now the motor runs like

The interior features Wolfsburg West mohair headliner, carpeting, and floor mats and a Berg locking shifter.

a top. It starts easily with a manual choke and runs down the road perfectly.

Using a Wolfsburg West mohair headliner, ragtop cover, carpeting, floor mats, window seals, and door rubber, Kris got the interior in tip-top shape. He installed a set of used Sewfine seat covers with Wolfsburg West coconut seat pads, and fitted the seats with electric heaters — a nice touch for those cold Utah mornings. The door cards are original to the car but have new Masonite backs. Rounding out the interior is a Gene Berg locking shifter and a vintage suitcase in that serves as a compartment for an amplifier, speakers, and Bluetooth receiver.

Since completing the car, Kris has seen

the fruits of his labor in the form of car show awards, including 2018 Wasatch Classic – Best Patina; 2019 April Action Moab Car Show – Best European Car; 2019 Rare Vintage Air – Longest Distance Driven; and 2021 El Prado – Best Patina. Not a bad haul for a VW with no custom paint job.

Kris really enjoys driving the car and has taken several road trips in it, including two 1,800-mile round trips from Salt Lake City to Orange County.

The patina car scene is an odd one. Some get it and others don’t, and that’s just fine.

To drive a Volkswagen is to march to the beat of a different drummer, and we can’t wait to see what Kris’s next one is going to look like!

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• SPRING ’23 47

Matt’s dream shop is a 40’ x 60’ steel building sitting on the same property as his house. He devotes most of his time to making aircooled cars go very fast.

ONE THOUSAND HORSES IN IDAHO

By David Zemla

Trace the custom VW scene back to its origins and you’ll find men and women toiling in dimly lit shops using basic tools and making air-cooled magic happen. The killer Baja that inspired yours? Likely built in a humble residential garage. Most of the ’80s Cal Look cars?

Garage built, with an unabashed passion and creativity that is alive and well today. Each issue we’ll highlight a deserving builder, their space, and their cars. If you have a VW problem and like many of us are self-medicating, drop us a line. We’d love to feature your cars and your space. Email dzemla@gmail.com, DM @airkooledgarage or tag #garagebuiltvws.

T

his issue’s Garage Built column is a special one. We reached out to Idaho to get the story on Matt Wutherich’s dream shop and were blown away by what he’s building in his back yard. Matt’s obsession began when he was young: He was behind the wheel of his Dad’s drag Bug before most of us were even driving to high school.

“My Dad, and then I, ran the quarter-mile in the same Bug from 1979 through 2008,” Matt says. “I was in the driver’s seat at sixteen, so you could say I grew up with fast VWs.”

48 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

Matt’s first street car was a ’73 Standard with an 1835 that his Dad built. That car eventually saw a turbo and other go-fast parts before getting sold. Matt began to build engines on his own, and in the process supported local racers as well as his own need for speed.

Like many of us, Matt left the scene for a while. He spent a few years fabricating mining equipment, which honed his metal-working skills. In 2010, he picked up a ’63 street car with a turbocharged 2276, and the dormant obsession with fast VWs

Still in progress, Matt’s tube car sports a Mendeola trans and a custom-built fourlink suspension held up by AFCO coils.

was reawakened. By 2015, Matt had set up a backyard shop devoted to all things VW. Matt now works out of a 40’ x 60’ building on his property and devotes most of his time to making air-cooled cars go very fast.

Over the years he’s added a brake and shear, as well as a roller and shrinker for doing sheet-metal work. He does metal gluing with a Miller Multimatic, and the results of his expertise with these and other tools can be seen in the full-tube drag car he’s been slowly building over the last few years.

“I love trying new stuff,” he says. “Last year I bought a Bridgeport Torq-cut CNC vertical machining center and within a few months dreamt up my own version of the VW case.” Using Fusion 360, Matt has also designed his own heads and plans on machining billet cylinders in the hopes of building a 2800cc drag motor. “I made 505

 Matt cut his high-performance VW teeth supporting and eventually driving his Dad’s race car. This pic is circa 1988.

Less than a year in with a used Bridgeport Torq-Cut CNC mill, Matt designed and is machining a full billet case.

Although many of Matt’s builds are focused on power, this Bus is a ground-up resto for a local bar owner and has let him flex his sheet-metal fab skills.

This patina ’61 Bug will be Matt’s wife Sage’s around-town bomber.

Flanked by a 2387cc turbo motor for a two-seater buggy, Matt’s current build is a full tube car that’s patiently awaiting his 1,000 horsepower billet motor.

horsepower with my last drag motor using a traditional case,” he says. “That car was on 18 pounds of boost and ran 9.34 on the quarter at 146 miles per hour. I’m confident I can get 1,000 horsepower out of my billet motor.”

The monster motor will eventually be fed alcohol through an EFI system living under an equally monstrous Garrett GT42 turbo. The motor will be mated to a Mendeola transmission and end up in the tube car Matt has been constructing for the last few

years. Sitting on 28” x 10” drag slicks, the race car sports a hand-built four-link on AFCO coilovers in the rear and Strange Engineering struts in the front. “It should end up around 1,500 pounds, and I’m building the car to run no-prep style events,” Matt says.

While that crazy build is happening, Matt’s backyard shop has also pushed out a ground-up resto-mod build on a ’57 Oval and is in the process of doing the same on a Splitty Bus. He recently picked up a patina

’61 Bug that probably has no idea how much power is coming its way and is slated to be his wife’s daily. Have to love Matt’s drive and creativity as he takes Garage Built to a whole new level!

To follow Matt’s VW mania, find Matt Wutherich on Facebook or check @precisionmotorworks208 on Instagram.

If you also have a garage full of VWs you’d like to share, drop your submission to dzemla@gmail.com or DM David @ airkooledgarage.

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 49

TPS OVAL VOLKSWAGEN JAPAN by Arthur Junior

I

n keeping with VW Trends’ Japanthemed issue, we thought you’d enjoy these little tin Volkswagens that come up for sale at toy shows and online auctions.

They represent a bygone era of the Volkswagen Sedan because of the oval rear window. These toys were produced in Japan during the mid to late 1950s by Tokyo Plaything Shokai (TPS). They were sold in various packaging, such as single boxes or display-rack plastic bags. They were also sold loose in a store-counter display box.

The original single box had a very nice red cover with a yellow burst design and a blue VW. The TPS manufacturer marking on the box is an oval insignia with the word “PLAYTHING.” Let’s take a look at the details of this little TPS oval VW: The body is stamped out of tin plate with cut-out windows and is about 5 inches long (130mm, or about 1/30 scale). The body stamping is slightly distorted (in a very cool way), with the top being lower and wider than the normal VW silhouette. Could be the first vintage Oval chop top? While we can’t confirm or deny that the person responsible for this run was or wasn’t a customizer, it’s still pretty darn cool! Indentations for the front hood, bumblebee-wing rear deck lid, and ten engine air louvers are clearly visible. The body was painted in a rainbow of colors with red, blue, or green being the most common. There’s a tin

50 VW TRENDS • SPRING SPRING’23 ’23

These toy VWs were produced in Japan during the mid to late 1950s by Tokyo Plaything Shokai (TPS).

molding for the windshield and front hood.

Metal button headlights finish off the body details.

The chassis is also stamped out of tin and is usually painted black (a more rare silver color is out there, if you’re lucky enough to find one).

The chassis sports an “air-cooled” high revving friction motor with real rubber tires for road-gripping traction. Rubber tires and metal axles are mounted on the front of the chassis, but alas, there is no steering. TPS VWs are found with or without hubcaps, and some chassis are stamped

“JAPAN.” The chassis is mated to the body with six bent-over metal tabs. Front and rear tin bumpers are mounted to the chassis, and the ends of the bumpers have tabs to wrap around the wheel wells. The bumpers aren’t very secure, and finding these TPS VWs with one or both bumpers missing is the norm rather than the exception.

It’s always nice to find these collectible TPS Oval VWs in pristine or mint condition, especially with the colorful box! But that doesn’t happen very often. They’re generally found in well-played-with condition with scratched, dented, or rusty patina

Since the majority of these toys are found in less-than-perfect condition, I like to buy them at a reasonable price and restore them to the next level, using a special theme. Of course, TPS VWs were never sold this way. You can really have fun bringing these cool toys back from the dead and creating something with more personality than the manufacturer originally had in mind.

that isn’t desirable for a display collection.

Most collectors pass them up because of their poor condition. These “diamond in the rough” TPS VWs can easily be restored and repainted to a brand-new condition. I personally like to buy them at a reasonable price and not only restore them, but take them to the next level, finishing them in a special or unique theme. My custom paint and decal themes are of course non-genuine, as the T.P.S VW was never sold this way.

But the cars have a charm and character in their own way.

There are many ways to make a personalized VW, such as painting the body a special color or a two-tone theme, or even painting a sun roof on the top. As far as decals go, if you are handy on the computer with a graphics program, you can design and print the decals on special decal paper on your color laser printer. This article includes photos of some personalized TPS Oval VWs so you can get an idea of what can be done. Good luck hunting and happy collecting!

If you happen to find one of these in its colorful box, consider yourself lucky. Most times is missing or is in really poor condition.

Interestingly enough, these toys were not only boxed, they were also sold in a plastic bag with a cardboard hangtag.

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• SPRING ’23 51

 BEFORE… Showrunner is lookin’ good with its tinted windows, wrap job, and 17-inch wheels and tires from EMPI and CIP1. But we’ve really got to do something about that stance.

Project Showrunner gets an attitude adjustment with help from Solo Werks and German Dreams •• By Dan Leadbetter

PRAISE THE LOWERED W

hen we last saw VW Trends’ Project Showrunner, it had just received some sweet new shoes from our friends at EMPI, CIP1, and Sunkist Graphics. You’d think we were all done and ready to hit the streets. NO WAY! A VW magazine car that’s going to be displayed at Volkswagen car shows around the country has to really special. We had our 2015 Golf Sportwagen looking really sweet, but we needed to fill up the wheel wells a little.

We called our good friends at German Dreams, who were ready and willing to help drop our stock stance to a more respectable height. They, in turn, reached out to the fine folks at Solo Werks, who set us up with a super-cool S1VW013 50mm coilover kit.

So let’s take a look at how this awesome coilover system gets installed. Unless you are a skilled mechanic with all the right tools for the job, we suggest you let the pros do this for you. Some of these procedures, like compressing springs and such, can be VERY dangerous. So don’t try this at home — unless your home happens to be a well-stocked repair and customization shop. Let’s dive in, shall we?

German Dreams, Bakersfield, California (661) 397-3961 facebook.com/germandreamsperformance Solo Werks Inc., Fresno, California (888) 679-3278 solo-werks.com

52 VW TRENDS • SPRING SPRING’23 ’23

1. Our good friends at German Dreams stepped up to do the heavy lifting of lowering Showrunner.

2. Here’s our custom-made Solo Werks coilover kit. It uses stronger springs in the back, since we’re going to be toting a lot of stuff around the country.

3. The first thing to do is to remove the wiper arms and wiper cowls.

4. Now it’s time to remove the axle nut.

A 24mm 12-point impact will do the trick.

7. Next, remove the rotor. Bag any screws, bolts, or other small items.

11. Remove the strut assembly from the knuckle arm using a 14mm triple square socket. You may need to tap the bolt out, so use a hammer GENTLY to remove the strut from the knuckle. You may also have to use a pry bar to loosen the knuckle. Don’t get too aggressive, as you don’t want to damage the parts.

8. Using an 18mm socket, remove the three bolts holding the A-arm in place.

Again, be sure to bag and label the bolts.

9. Unbolt the outer tie rod using an 18mm socket.

5. Using a 21mm wrench, remove the caliper, then unplug the ABS sensor.

6. Using some wire, hang the brake line, ABS sensor bracket, and caliper out of the way so you don’t damage the hoses.

10. Remove the three upper strut mount bolts using a 13mm socket. Now you can remove the strut and knuckle assembly.

12.  To remove the mounts (you’ll need them on the new coilovers), you have to compress the springs. This can be very dangerous, so only do this if you have the proper machinery. You can also have a local repair place do this for you.  Here’s the mounts removed and ready to be installed on the new coilovers.

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• SPRING ’23 53

13. Install the mounts on the new coilovers, tightening to factory specs.

14.  Now it’s time to install the new coilover. Install it just like you removed the old one, making sure ALL the bolts and screws are used. Re-install the caliper, ABS brackets, and such. The cool thing about coilovers is they’re totally adjustable! Do a prelim setting on both sides of the front; you can go back and raise or lower them as needed.

16. Using a 16mm impact, remove the two upper rear shock bolts and set them aside.

17. Next, remove the lower shock bolt.

18. Now remove the upper rear shock mount.

15. With the front buttoned up, it’s time to do the back. Remove the lugs, tires, and spacers and set them aside.

54 VW TRENDS • SPRING SPRING’23 ’23

19. Clip the zip tie that secures the dust boot to the old shock. You can remove the stock bump stop at this time.

20. Notice the difference between the stock shock and the Solo Werks coilover, which looks good and performs even better.

21. Now re-assemble the rear coilover.

Don’t forget a new zip tie for the dust boot.

22. Make sure it’s all torqued down to factory specs! You don’t want anything loose and jiggling around.

23. Re-install the new coilovers the same way you took them off.

24. You can see how much thicker and stronger these new coilovers are. Big shout-out to Solo Werks for custom making our rear springs to handle the weight of what we’re going to carry across country!

28. Re-install the spacers and wheels/ tires. Tighten the lugs, and recheck them after the first test ride.

26. See those adjusters at the top of the coilover? Do a preliminary setting on the rear, and then you can adjust higher or lower for the look you want.

29. Re-install the wiper cowl and wiper arms.

25. After the new coilover springs are in place, make sure they’re tightened to factory spec.

27. Re-install the lower shock bolt.

30. Before you hit the road, make sure you get a good alignment.

 …AND AFTER! 31. With everything perfectly adjusted and aligned, Showrunner has a brand new attitude!

VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 55

COLLECTOR’S CORNER

A COLLECTION OF PERFECTION

By DG Leadbetter Photos courtesy of Rick Search

R

ick Search is one of those guys that has VWs in his blood. If there was a blood type for Volkswagen enthusiasts, Rick’s would be V-positive! Our own Arthur Junior introduced us to Rick and his collection of full-size VWs and their antique toy counterparts. Rick’s collection is one that almost defines the hobby. Just take a look at the sprawling inventory that goes from the garage to inside the house! We asked Rick the who, what, when, where and why this whole thing got rolling!

VWT: Rick, can you give us a little background on how this whole thing started?

RS: My interest in Volkswagens started with the purchase of a new 1965 Beetle sedan in the fall of 1964. That ’65 took me through the rest of high school and my college years. In 1969 I married the girl of my dreams and along with the marriage came her new black “Over the years, ’69 Beetle. We sold I’ve managed to the ’65 to my sister and used the money put together a nice collection. But I’m to pay for a monthstill missing a few long, coast-to-coast of them and there honeymoon tour are always new of the USA. The ’69 ones out there to stayed with us for be discovered.” several years and brought two sons home from the hospital as our family grew.

VWT: Was there a time after that where you were VW-free, or were they always a part of your life from that point?

RS: After a period of about 10 years with no Volkswagens in my life, in 1981, my younger son purchased a ’73 Beetle as his first car. I drove it home for him the day we bought it. By the time I made the 20-mile trip back to our house, I was hooked again.

This time for good. In 1992 I purchased a ’68 Beetle Convertible (I named Marion) from the original owner, and in 1997, I added a ’62 Beetle Convertible (I named Ruby) to my 1:1 scale collection. I had been

56 VW TRENDS • SPRING SPRING’23 ’23

Here’s Rick with his ’62 Convertible named Ruby. He says Ruby is part of his 1:1 collection.

an avid toy train collector, putting together a fairly good-sized collection of post-WWII Lionel trains. So, with my renewed interest in VWs and being a mentally confirmed toy collector, it only seemed natural that I start collecting VW toys that looked like my real cars (at least that’s what I told the aforementioned girl of my dreams).

VWT: Yeah, I think in many cases, VW toys are like the gateway drug for the real thing. Did you start with the antiques, or did you start with current toys?

RS: Initially, I bought everything and anything new that came out in a Beetle Convertible version. Then, at a VW show in the mid 90’s a toy dealer sold me a nice, vintage, maroon-colored, Toy Nomura tin Beetle Convertible from the mid ’50s. It didn’t take me long to realize that everything I had already collected paled in comparison to this beautiful vintage toy.

So, I stopped buying anything new and for the past twenty-five years have been in pursuit of vintage VW Convertible toys. Over the years I’ve managed to put together a nice collection. But I’m still missing a few

 Rick also has a ’68 convertible named Marion, which he bought from the original owner. Bet you wouldn’t mind having either of these as your daily driver! This car-club rally started at Terry’s Service Center (owner Terry Huff) in Fallsington, Pennsylvania.

story continued on page 50 •

Rick has a rare 1/12th-scale Toy Nomura R-10 Space Patrol VW from the ’60s. (See our writeup in the Fall 2022 issue of VWT.)

You know you’re hooked when your VW toy collection spills over to your workspace!

VW VWTRENDS TRENDS •• SPRING ’23 57

Check out Rick’s impressive vintage Bus collection. And how ’bout that Bosch battery service attendant?

Toy Nomura mainly produced top-down VW convertible toys but also made a topup version rarely found today. This one is a highlight of Rick’s collection.

of them and there are always new ones out there to be discovered. That unknown is what keeps the thrill alive.

VWT: You’ve got two sweet convertibles. Do you go to shows or other events?

RS: Today, my interests and VW activities take me in two different directions.

I am active with the Old School Euros Car Club, a club here in the Philadelphia suburbs. I enjoy the camaraderie and friendship I get from attending car shows and outings with the club members and my VWs. To keep my convertibles healthy and on the road, I depend on Terry Huff, owner of Terry’s Service Center in Fallsington, Pennsylvania. I’m a good parts changer and OK with a wrench, but I’m not a mechanic.

So, I let Terry, a factory-trained air-cooled mechanic from back in the day, keep them running and dependable.

With vintage toy collecting, I have a fairly good handle on what I am doing. My old frame garage houses my two Beetle Convertibles and is full of VW memorabilia and other fun “whatever” stuff. However, inside the house, with the help of my wife Wanda (still that girl of my dreams after 50 years), we have set up a comfortable room for my vintage VW toy collection.

VWT: Your collection is off the charts!

What sets you apart from other collectors?

RS: Most toy collectors tend to have one particular niche that is the main direction

VWT: How do you display your toys?

RS: When setting up displays in the toy room, I like to include little figures, gas stations, houses, signs, etc. I think it gives the displays a little more interest and breaks up the monotony of rows and rows of toy cars.

These accessory pieces also serve as great background for the photo work I like to do with items from my collection. It’s always fun to add a few items in with a new VW toy when I want to share a photo of it with my VW toy friends scattered all over the world.

VWT: Well you nailed it, for sure!

That’s one of the things I love about the VW industry: It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, if there’s a VW involved, a stranger really is a long-awaited friend!

RS: This brings me to my final point, the friends this hobby gives you. Wow! I still have friendships I made at car shows almost 30 years ago, and I still keep making more hanging out with my car-club buddies. Then there is the vintage toy collector crew. They are a tight-knit group with great collections from coast to coast here in the U.S., all over Europe, the U.K., Japan, and even Australia. Whether it’s a six-mile cruise or a six-hour plane ride, it’s always fun enjoying friendships and my VWs, both big and small.

VWT: Well said! Thanks so much for showing off your collection, Rick! I’m sure our readers are going to love it!

58 VW TRENDS • SPRING SPRING’23 ’23

of their collection. The one where they throw their wallet on the table and just say take whatever you want, I must have it. For me, it is models of the Beetle Convertible from the German clockwork versions of the KdF-Wagen era through the Japanese tinplate models of the mid-60s.

VWT: Any other items that pique your interest in the VW toy world?

RS: I’m interested in any VW-related items from the KdF era and early post-WWII time frame. I have been able to put together a nice collection of the seldom-found KdF Wagen savings banks (spardose). These banks registered the coins as they were deposited, and when 5 Marks were reached, the bank’s door automatically blew open and the collected coins could buy a 5-Mark stamp to place into a KdF Wagen Savers booklet.

Everyone should have one room of their house dedicated to VW toys!

IN THE NEXT ISSUE

OF VW TRENDS APRIL 15: Red Barn VW Swap Meet, Aromas, CA | facebook. com/events/1314783289070911 15: IVVW Springfest 2023 at Wolfsburg West, Corona, CA | robgarretson@mac.com | 909-731-0880 16: Kelley Park Spring Meet, San Jose, CA | synkro@digitalspacemail8. net or raspohn@gmail.com | 650-207-1950 or 408-683-0154 | ggcvvwca.org 28–30: 28th Annual Madera VW Spring Fling Show Swap Camp, Madera, CA | 559-994-1192 | maderaspringfling.com 29: VolksFest 2023, Manheim, PA

Perfect Patina

MAY 04–07: 22nd Annual Spring Picnic, Yorba Linda, CA | springpicnicinfo@gmail.com 06: Buses at Das Bevo, St Louis, MO | aircooledantiques.com 06–07: Circle Yer Wagens 56, Sevierville, TN | circleyerwagens.com 13: All VW Show #9 by Sumerian Brewing Co., Woodinville, WA | sumerianbrewingco.com/our-events | info@sumerianbrewingco.com 425-486-5330 20–21: 8th Annual Dubs in the Shrubs, Hamilton, NJ | oldschooleuroscc@yahoo.com | Facebook: 2023 Dubs in the Shrubs Campout & Car Show 20: Aircooled Show & Shine, Rancho Cucamonga, CA | @midlife_vwcrewzers 21: Fast Times at Farmington #38, Mocksville, NC | southeasteuromotorsports.com 21: Volkswagens on the Green, Parker, CO | govwec.org/car-show 28: BugOut 85, Sumerduck Dragway, VA | 540-845-6237 | bugoutva.com JUNE 02–04: Port City Volkswagen Show, Catoosa, OK | golfinvite.net/portcityvolkswagenshow | okffbceducation@gmail.com 03: O.C.T.O. Meet 2023, Long Beach, CA | octo.org 10: VW Trends 48IPA Beer Launch Party and Car Show, Old Towne Orange, CA | 48IPA.com 07–11: Blackstar Campout & The Prado Show, Jurupa Valley, CA | facebook. com/events/1291121534953028 17: 2023 June Bug Rally, Austin, TX 17: Summer Volksfest, St. Augustine, FL | southeasteuromotorsports.com/ summervolksfest 18: BUG-IN #47, Irwindale, CA | bugin.com

Denver Bug-In

JULY 05–10: Vanagons In the Valley 13, Duncannon, PA 08: Deutsche Classic, Oley, PA | deutscheclassic.com 14: “The Burger Meat”

by Casca Kombis VW Weekend 2023, Seattle, WA | cascadekombis.org | Facebook: Cascade Kombis Vintage Volkswagen Club

TITA: 48IPA Alps Special

All this and more coming to your mailbox mid-July 2023 60 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

ADVERTISERS INDEX Airkewld. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 7 airkewld.com Airmighty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 19 airmighty.com Awesome Powdercoat . . . . . . . . . . pg. 13 awesomepowdercoat.com Bill & Steve’s Foreign Auto . . . . . . pg. 63 billandsteves.com BugOut 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 63 bugoutva.com California Import Parts . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 1 and inside back cover CIP1.com

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CB Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 5 cbperformance.com Doug’s Buggs and Bunnys. . . . . . . pg. 11 dougsbnb.com EMPI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover empius.com

SHANNON LIFE AT RAE: 100 PROOF EVENT EXTRAVAGANZA:

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SHIRTS STICKERS SUBSCRIPTIONS VWTRENDSMAGAZINE.COM 62 VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23

Hayburner Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 29 hayburner.co.uk Let’s Talk Dubs Podcast . . . . . . . . . . pg. 2 letstalkdubs.com Mid America Motorworks . . . . . . pg. 59 mamotorworks.com ProVolks Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 63 provolksranch.business.site Rancho Performance Transaxles.. pg. 13 ranchotransaxles.com Ross Wulf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 11 rosswulf.com Sawtooth Air-Cooled. . . . . . . . . . . pg. 63 facebook.com/Sawtoothaircooled Techtonics Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 63 techtonicstuning.com VW Drag Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 39 vwdragnight.com Vintage VW Club of America. . . . pg. 61 vvwca.com

dream it. build it. drive it.

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VW TRENDS • SPRING ’23 63