RE: Spotted: 1963 VW Beetle Cabriolet

RE: Spotted: 1963 VW Beetle Cabriolet

Thursday 2nd June 2011

Spotted: 1963 VW Beetle Cabriolet

Ex-Paul Newman Beetle hides a special secret in its rump



A soft-top Bug? Have we gone mad? In a word 'no', because the Beetle in question has had its asthmatic flat-four replaced long ago by a small-block Ford V8 and ZF 5-speed transaxle. At the request of none other than film star, racer and salad dressing magnate, Paul Newman.

That Newman was a serious and accomplished racing driver is probably not news to anyone, but what may come as a surprise is that on the street he liked to roll in a 'sleeper' at least as much as in his exotica. The story goes that he liked the looks of the Karmann Convertible Beetle (after featuring in an advert for one), but was more than a little unimpressed by the measly amount of snort it had in standard form.


Enter Indycar builder Jerry Eisert, who fitted the V8 and made a load of other modifications to the steering, suspension and brakes in order to help keep Mr Newman's head attached to his neck (...it still ran drum brakes though!).

Later in life the Beetle was actually given away to a local college's automotive department and then found its way into private hands where it was eventually restored to the condition you see here.

But Newman wasn't done with his sleepers, oh no. Apparently one of his favourites was a 'Volvette' - a Volvo 740 with - get this - a twin-turbo Chevy LS1 V8 which was reputed to deliver in excess of 500bhp. He even talked his good friend David Letterman into buying something similar, although we think his was a Volvo 960 with a supercharged Ford V8.

Despite the provenance, we reckon the asking price of $250,000 is over the top by a long, long way. But then again, surely no PHer want one of these anyway (we say, tongue frimly lodged in cheek), V8 or not...or would you?





Author
Discussion

Geea8

Original Poster:

2 posts

207 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Looks good - bet it goes nicely too!!! I like sleepers but makes my 66 Splitscreen with a WRX Turbo look tame!!

SR20

114 posts

154 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Pics of the above please, maybe a thread in readers rides ?
smile

BMWill

447 posts

178 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
maybe after i've been through the 30 or so cars on the want list.

a red cabrio with a V8? no thanks. one of these?? maybe...

VCat

42 posts

167 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
At least they made it mid-engined, unlike that other Beetle variant, the 911.

thirsty

726 posts

263 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Reminds me of the guy in the USA that put the V8 on a skateboard.

Stu R

21,410 posts

214 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
That bonnet is a travesty. The rest of it is brilliant.

cookie1600

2,095 posts

160 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
thirsty said:
Reminds me of the guy in the USA that put the V8 on a skateboard.
Baaahhh, that's nothing, what you want is one of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60Tamp2fHhg

As for the beetle - nicely done, but way too expensive for me, I'll take a bottle of salad dressing instead

griffter

3,981 posts

254 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
I wouldnt mind the car, but i wouldnt want that coolant hose to burst right next to me...

gforceg

3,524 posts

178 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
"Apparently one of his favourites was a 'Volvette'"

Sounds more like something you'll find in the feminine hygiene aisle.

lordlee

3,137 posts

244 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Clearly priced to sell.

AyBee

10,522 posts

201 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Would love it, but not at that price yikes

BILL PAYER

526 posts

178 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Cant really call this a sleeper i think the sound would more than give the game away id imagine the steering would become somewhat light when it was floored.

TheOrangePeril

778 posts

179 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
AyBee said:
Would love it, but not at that price yikes
Cheaper than an Aventador...

griffo20022

20 posts

154 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
I'd quite happily rock that! Looks lovely! I reckon it'd make for a brilliant cruise down to Cornwall with smile

Todzilla

237 posts

174 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Here's the car's listing at OldBug.com, loads of detail shots...

http://www.oldbug.com/newmanvw.htm

iain1970

239 posts

161 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
There's some tripe comments on here. Bursting coolant hoses and light steering under acceleration? Come on now.


ellisd82

685 posts

207 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
If I had the money...Oh if I had the money, I would get something else lol. No really, that is a nice car and owned by a somone who is almost near the coolness of Steve McQueen. If I had the money, I probably would by it. Would consider converting it to RHD, but if I had the money I would not be living in the UK anyway and would not want the car to be ruined by the roads and weather we have here. And its only £152,665.

BILL PAYER

526 posts

178 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
iain1970 said:
There's some tripe comments on here. Bursting coolant hoses and light steering under acceleration? Come on now.
Heavy V8 in rear replaces small flat four, its not rocket science do you not think it will effect the handling.maybe its you who should "come on now"

Fast Bug

11,598 posts

160 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
I need to find a prior celebrity owner for mine to bump the price up...

soxboy

6,063 posts

218 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Ricola's Beetle cabrio with WRX power sows how it should be done, great thread on the reader's cars section.