Volkswagen Concept: V30Rod

Volkswagen Concept: V30Rod is based on the 1937-1940 Volkswagen prototype V30. After the 1st VW prototype proposal, orV3, a series of prototypes called V30 followed. Although closer to the eventual Beetle, they still lacked a rear window.

Centered on Adolf Hitler’s specific requirements for the “people’s car”, Ferdinard Porsche proposed a design that would be durable and space-efficient; it would cruise at its maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) and average about 40 mpg of gas; it would easily climb hills; it would have an easily repairable air-cooled engine; it must be large enough for 2 adults & 3 children plus their luggage; and its platform must be adaptable to a variety of uses. The batch of thirty V30 prototypes were produced for Porsche by Daimler-Benz and underwent 2,900,000 km of testing in 1937 proving the reliability of the design. The prototype V30 already had the distinctive round Beetle shape and the legendary air-cooled, rear-mounted engine.

What if one of these prototypes survived? Albeit badly worn out? An enterprising Volkswagen fanatic could “rodderize” this ride, applying traditional “Volksrod” techniques, such as lengthening the wheelbase and deleting front and rear fenders altogether.
V30Rod is totally “gangster”. Fenderless,bumperless, with the Wheelbase extended, It gives a menacing profile.
To give V30Rod enough horsepower to back up its tough look, a 200HP Type 1 Volkswagen engine was built bulletproof. It has full-flow oiling with a Maxi30 pump. 94mm Mahle pistons with A Race Pro 84mm crankshaft with Chevy journals and forged 1.4:1 rockers bump the stocker to 2332cc. Other goodies include a lightened flywheel, wedge-port heads with 44×37 valves, Dual 48mm Weber IDA carbs and a 1 3/4″ merged ceramic coated exhaust round out the specs.
18 inch BRMs with 235/40X18 front and 255/45×18 rear Yokohama Advan AO48, single block with a race-ready compound provide fantastic grip. The front end features a CB Performance dropped spindle and the rear torsion bar was adjusted 2 notches to bring the ride height down to the pavement.
A close ratio Volkswagen Type 1 Pro Street IRS transmission, features a Super Diff, Aluminum side covers, Welded 3-4 hubs, and hardened keys.
Driving through the city, the eye-searing Green comes from the Super Beetle factory colors of the 1970s. New HiD headlight are housed in the original headlight buckets while LED tail light conversions brighten the way. Four-wheel disc brakes and Koni shocks firm up the handling.
Comfortable black leather Volkswagen interior are used as well as matching black leather door panels and ebony German wool carpeting. These prove to be perfect complements to the frog green exterior.
The dashboard is home to classic white-face VDO gauges and updated with a contemporary sound system. A Pioneer AVIC-D1 In-Dash Mobile Nav head unit, makes sure that Jake doesn’t get lost on the way to the clubs. Rockford Fosgate 3Sixty DSP pumps Punch subs, and the Audiobahn A12005DN amplifier keep the beat thumpin’.