1776 '68 Beetle - performance?
Discussion
So I'm half toying with the idea of a nice looking '68 Beetle with a 1776 motor and a lumpy cam ('warm' apparently).
Thing is, I've zero to little experience of beetles. I've been in a few, donkeys years ago, and I know what they're like. It'd be an addition to the garage rather than a replacement.
I've no idea with a motor like that if it would be slightly quicker than the average house or if it's light weight means it'd give a mk2 GTI a run for it's money off the lights?
Can anyone enlighten me with a little perspective please. I appreciate the details on the specs are scant, and trying it is impractical as it's a flight away.
Thing is, I've zero to little experience of beetles. I've been in a few, donkeys years ago, and I know what they're like. It'd be an addition to the garage rather than a replacement.
I've no idea with a motor like that if it would be slightly quicker than the average house or if it's light weight means it'd give a mk2 GTI a run for it's money off the lights?
Can anyone enlighten me with a little perspective please. I appreciate the details on the specs are scant, and trying it is impractical as it's a flight away.
A 1776 should make about 100bhp, my old 1641cc made 80bhp and would almost touch 100mph. 0-60 was around 10 seconds. From that, I reckon a 1776cc should do about 105mph and 0-60 in 9 seconds? Depends on gearing of course, mine was geared so maximum power was made at theoretical maximum speed but if it’s undergeared or overgeared the maximum speed will be lower. A standard Bug is 760kg so nippy enough with relatively little power.
However you can’t really lose in the traffic light grand prix. The possible outcomes are:
1. You win. The other bloke keeps quiet, or tells his mates he got beaten by an old VW
2. You lose. The other bloke brags to his mates that he blew away an old VW. His mates say “you beat a car that’s 40 years old with a 34bhp engine? Cooooool”
However you can’t really lose in the traffic light grand prix. The possible outcomes are:
1. You win. The other bloke keeps quiet, or tells his mates he got beaten by an old VW
2. You lose. The other bloke brags to his mates that he blew away an old VW. His mates say “you beat a car that’s 40 years old with a 34bhp engine? Cooooool”
I don't think it would be that close in performance to a MK2 GTi, even an 8valve definatly not a 16v. A friend of mine recently did a part restore on this one:
IMGP5802 by jimnotjon, on Flickr
IMGP5801 by jimnotjon, on Flickr
It was only a 1300 but nippy enough to keep up with the likes of every day traffic. If one thing is to be gained from them over the extreme fun of driving them, the looks and comments you get and the general community that surrounds them, they make you a better driver. It's great having to plan your braking a mile before you have too
IMGP5802 by jimnotjon, on Flickr
IMGP5801 by jimnotjon, on Flickr
It was only a 1300 but nippy enough to keep up with the likes of every day traffic. If one thing is to be gained from them over the extreme fun of driving them, the looks and comments you get and the general community that surrounds them, they make you a better driver. It's great having to plan your braking a mile before you have too
Edited by JimNotJon on Monday 27th September 22:00
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