Volkswagen Concept: VolkSeven

Volkswagen Concept: VolkSeven

Based on the immensely popular Colin Chapman original, Volkswagen Concept VolkSeven is a combination volksrod and Colin’s Lotus Seven.

The Lotus Seven was designed by Chapman in 1957 as a small, simple, lightweight two-seat sports car. The Seven has been highly successful with over 2500 cars sold and is considered as the embodiment of the Lotus philosophy. It has been so successful that there have been many companies that have blatantly copied the Seven formula and have produced their own Seven replica even today.

The VolkSeven uses the same principle as Colin Chapman’s original. Use a compact powertrain in an ultralight body and chassis and attack the track. But instead of using a vintage English inline four or a modern twin-cam Japanese four-banger, We Volkswagen enthusiasts ask, Why not use a hopped-up Volkswagen engine that pumps out over 180Hp?

An immediate advantage is that Volkswagen flat four engines are air-cooled and that the lack of a radiator further reduces weight. The original Volkswagen body panels were massaged a bit. The VW hood was used as a template albeit lengthened considerably. The roof was unceremoniously cut and the doors heavily modified. While severe alterations have been done, the remaining parts still retain some VW flavor. In fact, the cockpit is a tad longer and wider than standard Seven fare. It makes the VolkSeven just that more comfortable. Bride race buckets, Simpson’s race harnesses, a rollbar and a single tachometer are all that’s needed in the interior.

VolkSeven’s got horsepower to burn! A 200HP Type 1 Volkswagen engine features full-flow oiling with a Maxi30 pump. The 2332cc four-banger has 94mm Mahle pistons with A Race Pro 84mm crankshaft with Chevy journals and forged 1.4:1 rockers. A lightened flywheel, wedge-port heads with 44×37 valves, and dual 48mm Weber IDA carbs complete the muscular powerplant. All these flow through custom-designed, all aluminum dual free-flow side exhausts.

A custom designed driveshaft connects the flywheel to the flipped VW transmission to achieve the perfect balance. A close ratio Volkswagen Type 1 Pro Street IRS transmission brings the power to the pavement. The beefed-up tranny features a Super Diff, aluminum side covers, welded 3-4 hubs, and hardened keys.

18 inch BRMs with 235/40X18 front and 265/45×18 rear Yokohama Advan AO48, single block with a race-ready compound provide incredible grip. A CB performance dropped spindle brings the front end closer to the ground and the rear torsion bar was adjusted 3 notches to match the front end.

Volkswagen Concepts HardHeb and the Widowmaker

The fastest autocross cars are purpose-built "specials" ("A Modified" in SCCA Solo) with small lightweight bodies, sticky tires, powerful engines, and short gears.

Here are 2 sides to the same coin. Both concepts are extreme lightweights, featuring intense lightening, chopped roof, windshield, and doors, no fenders, and hebmeuller style rear ends. Same idea, different execution. While their top speeds are typically limited by the VW gearing, their transient cornering capabilities far exceed those of other vehicles not expressly designed for this.

Autocross, also known as "Solo," or by simply "Slalom", are races around a closed track that features numerous turns. These VW Concepts were designed to compete in extreme Autocross races, specifically, in the gymkhanas. Gymkhanas are an even tighter slalom track than autocross, with numerous turns around cones. It loops back upon itself and looks like a mix between autocross and drifting. Fast times require a lot of sliding and the lightweight racers intend to dominate.
For the slaloms, the Widowmaker uses the age old Beetle platform although trained by years of track racing experience. It comes complete with beam adjusters and lowered spindles for the front end and re-tweaked rear torsion bars, koni shocks all around. Widowmaker has Large-diameter (205/40X18 front and 235/40x18 rear) BRM rims with Pirelli P-Zero "Trofeo" rubber.

HardHeb uses modified 5th-generation Volkswagen Golf Mcpherson strut suspension, front and rear. A custom-engineered space-frame tube chassis and rollbar ties them together. HardHeb wears Large-diameter (235/40X18 front and 255/35×20 rear) Porsche "Gas Burner" style rims with Yokohama Advan AO48 tires.


Both racers feature identical full-flow 2332cc Type 1 engines with dual CB Performance 48mm Fuel injectors. HardHeb displays a custom aluminum twin free-flow headers and exhaust systems while the Widowmaker uses a bright red tuned freeflow exaust and a stinger.

In each racer, a close ratio Volkswagen Type 1 Pro Street IRS transmission is rebuilt. The HardHeb mid-mounted design neccessitated that the ring and pinion be flipped.

Volkswagen Hebmeuller Superbe, a reprise for 2010

Throw away the book. Guaranteed to turn heads is this Heb-style Super Beetle. A look at what could have been if Hebmeuller Coachcraft survived the war and continued to produce it’s 2-seat Convertible into the Super Beetle era.

Most assuredly, Hebmeuller would be at the forefront of VW advancements. As the VW Convertible evolved into the 1303 model, Hebmeuller also followed suit.

The Hebmeuller Superbé is a Volkswagen Concept based on a late model 1303S Convertible. The Superbé features the distinctive curved 03 windshield, the re-engineered VW top, and at the rear, the smoothened hood that echoes the sexy Heb shape.

Giving Superbé the visual jolt is the bright Aquamarine body. A nice retro touch is a complete shaving of all chrome, giving the impression of the 80s style euro-look. Bilstein adjustable coilovers replace tired VW McPherson struts and the Brembo brake upgrades are decades more advanced. Polished Porsche 18-inch Fuch Wheels with Fulda rubber fill-in the reworked and widened fiberglass fenders quite nicely. Porsche 944 Turbo trailing Arms with Bilstein adjustable shocks and same Brembo brake upgrades round out the rear. A blueprinted 3.0 liter Type4 engine, mated to a rare Gene Berg 5-speed gearbox pushes Superbé flat out at the ‘Bahn.

Black leather interior is luscious, it hides the audio/video gear from prying eyes. Smooth dash features VDO white faced gauges. Twin Recaros in matching black leather regularly gather crowds at the local Mickey D’s.

Volkswagen Concept: New Woodie

An interesting variation to the New beetle platform

Volkswagen Concept: Thomas' Terracotta Truck

Fresh from the 24th VWCP Show, December 6, 2009

Volkswagen Concept: LOWNSLO

Got Camber?

LoWNSLO is a rusty, lowered 1962 Volkswagen Beetle. Rat-look, slammed vintage Volkswagen.



A Rat-look Vdub is an old vintage Volkswagen that's been lowered and has original faded or worn paint. In the best case, the car will also have rust and patina. Mismatched panels, dents and missing parts enhance the look because they add more character and originality. Driving a Rat-looker is about making use of a car everyone else would avoid because it's "ugly" or "beyond repair" and being able to love it for what it is. It's enjoying your car because you built it the way you want, and not how everyone else thinks it should look.

LoWNSLO is a little 1962 VW thats crusty and slammed to the asphalt. Sitting outside some old boys house, uncovered for 27years, you can imagine the tin worm has got in and well and truly had a field day. But luckily the floor and heater channel bottoms completely rotted out so all the rain water just ran out and kept it pretty dry.

The build began by taking the fenders off, dropping the body off the chassis to the ground, new floorpans and heater channels welded in, Cut, turned and narrowed beam, dropped spindles for the front and three clicks at the rear drop the chassis low enough to scrape the pavement with even just a hint of a dip.

We may as well have a tasty little stock 1200 motor up for it and a set of well-worn 5.60x15 Denman Elegantes on rotten 5 bolt rims sans 'caps. Completely worked over braking and steering systems and a new set of Bugpac shocks finish off the rolling stock.

A bargain roofrack with a vintage cooler, a hat box and period suitcases, flanked with a thermador vintage "swamp-cooler" adds the distinctive style popular with many ratty rides. LOWNSLO is smothered with crusty surface rust that just adds icing to the cake.

Well it boils my kettle i tell ya!

More Schwimmer Illustrations

Can't get enough of this.

A side view with Emmy and Deano driving with the top up




Side View with the top down



Finally, driving the Ondoy flooded streets of Manila

Volkswagen Concept: Kupferner Kopf (Copper Head)

Do you remember the classic Volkswagen 411?

Even though the VW 411 did not break any sales records, this model has an important role to play in Volkswagen’s automobile history as the last large series model with air cooling and a rear-mounted engine.

The Volkswagen 411 began its life as Heinrich Nordhoff's attempt to penetrate the luxury-car market and expand VW's image to include upscale and highly developed products on a far grander scale than previously done. It was to follow the typical VW layout with a rear aircooled engine and rear-wheel drive and to establish the new vehicle in the upper midsize segment which was beyond the reach of the Beetle and the Type 3.

A drivers dream?

Yes and no. It was fairly quiet and comfortable and the front seats were particularly comfortable. The interior was roomy and made for an ideal family car. Since much of the car's weight was over the drive wheels, the car performed well on snowy roads. For this reason, the publicity concentrated on technical innovations and the high level of comfort as well as highlighting typical Volkswagen characteristics such as quality, economic efficiency and service.


The Type 4 was larger than the Volkswagen Type 3 and had a more powerful engine. The ads claimed there had never been a VW like this before. And they were quite right. This was the very first model with a unibody, a four-door option, more space than any other Volkswagen and a longer wheelbase than the Beetle. The innovative sporty chassis with MacPherson strut front suspension and rear suspension with double joint axles, also used in the Porsche 911, made sure the car hold the road well. The midsize saloon featured “the luxury of a luxury car”. “Wolfsburg’s biggie” offered customers space and ride comfort, enhanced safety, a total 570 litres of luggage space in the front and rear and an optional automatic transmission.

Volkswagen Concept: Kupferner Kopf pays tribute to all the technical improvements Volkswagen had made to the 411 but also introduces modern tuning techniques. Radically lowering the front and rear uses fairly common Porsche 911 struts. The engine itself is a much modified Type4. the engine block is native to this car but with performance modifications that were born on the racing circuit. Massive 103mm pistons, counterweighted crankshafts, and a fuel injection system make the stout engine a performer as well.

The wheel of choice are restored 4 bolt Sprintstars shod with Michelin radials on all four corners. The reupholstered VW 411 seats speak volumes on the comfort of these seats.

Forty years have passed since Volkswagen presented the VW 411 in Wolfsburg, at that time the company’s largest and most powerful model yet. All these points make the car so fun and interesting. Someone must take care of these cars, they are Volkswagens, and there aren't many left...

Volswagen Concept: Schwimmer on Dry Land

Volkswagen Concept: Schwimmer on Dry Land

Fishing at Lake Caliraya

Volkswagen Concept: Schwimmer

During WWII, the Type 166 Schwimmwagen boasted a four-wheel drive system that not only improved cross-country ability but offered better weather protection than the motorcycle/sidecar combination that was used for reconnaissance at the time. Harsh conditions, especially at the eastern front, proved the Schwimmwagen's simple mechanicals and light weight to traverse difficult terrain with ease and reliability. Initially planned as a reconnaissance vehicle, better weather protection, and outstanding amphibious capabilities were much appreciated by the soldiers who used them.

This Volkswagen Concept Schwimmer pays homage to both the sturdy Schwimmwagen and the iconic Meyers Manx dune buggy, made popular during the sixties. Made out of durable fibreglass, the Schwimmer uses dune buggy manufacturing techniques while remaining faithful to the the design of the original war-time original. Both the top and the windshield were chopped 8 inches to give a more purposeful profile.

Using a standard Type1 Beetle chassis, the Schwimmer forgoes four-wheel drive capabilities, allowing for a much lowered stance complete with Porsche "Gas Burner" rims and performance radials for the street. It's aquatic acrobatics are not compromised with a near duplicate of the Schwimmwagens propeller and shaft connected to the VW motor.

The engine itself is a much modified Type1 displacing 1800cc with dual Weber 44 carbs sealed water tight for soujourns into flooded areas. The exhaust is routed up above the body to make it as amphibious as possible.

A perfect vehicle for typhoon season.

Volkswagen Concept: RostKubel

Field Marshall Erwin Rommel has gained near mythical status because of his successes in the field from his command leadership during the campaign of France and in North Africa. The AFRIKAKORPS was the original and more famous name for the German Sperrverband or “Blocking Force” sent to Libya in 1941 during the North African Campaign of World War II. The AFRIKAKORPS, became a major German contribution to Panzer Army Africa - Panzerarmee Afrika and the Army Group Africa - Heeresgruppe Afrika.

Based heavily on the Volkswagen Beetle, the Kubelwagen (Bucket Car) became known internally as the Type 82. With its rolling chassis and mechanics built at Stadt des KdF-Wagens (Stadt des Kraft durch Freude Wagens, now Wolfsburg) and its body built by US-owned firm Ambi Budd in Berlin, the Kübelwagen was for the Germans what the jeep was for the Allies. A survivor of WWII, a rusted shell was all that remains of this once mighty war machine. This Volkswagen Type82 KubelWagen was rodded up using techniques popularized by the SOCal group.

It is this model that is the basis for a California VRod inspired rendering. Giving the RostKubel (RustBucket) a radical Volksrod Look. The rusty body was left untouched while new underpinnings and new pan halves give it a new lease on life.

A new top, sidings, and upholstery make trips enjoyable. Military camouflage materials especially suit this ex-personnel transport. A lot of cutting, twisting and extending of the torsion front suspension was required. Early Porsche Fuchs and Potenza Advan tires give it more grip on the road. A thumpin 2180CC with dual QP headers, 009, and alternator sing with daily driver dependability. Dual Weber 48s motivates this vintage Volksrod to sub 12 second quarter miles slips.