Old-School Beetle Runs on Batteries and Biodiesel

www.wired.com/autopia | 10-15-2009 | By Keith Barry

[Red Badger]

Link only due to copyright.............

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/10/biodiesel-hybrid-bu/

[Red Badger]

Many pics and stuff.............

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....

If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST just FReepmail me.....

This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....

[Red Badger]

Diesel / Battery knock!..............

[Abathar]

Cool, but I like this high school’s idea of building a car better -

http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910090316

[Dem Guard]

Heck, Old Beetles used to run on “hope and a prayer” most of the time.

[GonzoGOP]

Heck, Old Beetles used to run on “hope and a prayer” most of the time

My mother named my Orange '73 beetle Gracie, because only by the grace of God did that bondo bucket get me home each night.

[Othniel]

I named my '65 Lazarus, because I got it from a junkyard and spent a summer putting it back together. Great car, but it ate flywheels due to a 6 volt selenoid and a 12-volt battery. The windshield wipers went pretty fast, too. Laz met his end when an UNINSURED woman driving with a SUSPENDED LICENSE rear-ended me. Tore up the whole back end. I walked away from it, but poor Laz was toast...

[calex59]

biodiesel

[Red Badger]

Thanks!.............

[calex59]

I have a 74 Beetle and it runs just fine. 44,000 on a rebuilt engine and I painted over the terrible orange color with a nice blue:). I have owned many beetles in my life and this is just the latest. It was a sad day when they stopped making them here. The last Beetle made ran off the assembly line in Mexico in Dec, 2003. It is still one of the most popular cars in Mexico. Many of them were bought up and brought to the USA(illegally I might add)when the factory quit producing and were sold here for about 15 to 20,000 bucks per copy.

I understand, but don't know for sure, that papers and ID numbers were faked so they could be registered here, they are not up to US smog standards.

[calex59]

You are quite welcome. A very interesting article, BTW. I am a died in the wool Beetle enthusiast and this is quite the setup they have there. A little more power to the point it would match original Beetle speeds would be great, except for the fact they took up the trunk and the back seat, leaving very little room for passengers or luggage. Personally, my 74 gets 30 MPG and to say that isn't clean burning is a just BS but this is not a bad idea at all.

I especially like the diesel electric idea, something I once entertained doing to a car but lacked the money to proceed at the time. If it works on trains, why not cars?

[AZLiberty]

Cuba, here we come.

[Old Professer]

The Mexican Beetles meet emissions just fine; they can’t comply with side-impact standards; There’s a Podiatrist here in Nashville that has two of the last production run made there.

He bought them as an investment and doesn’t ordinarily drive or operate them.

He also has a 1979 Triple-Black convertible that’s pristine — my ex-neighbor maintains them.

[Squantos]

Been looking at ground effects. Big engine with massive torque. Then experimenting with gearing. My current project car is a wrecked 2006 300Z. I have two engines that I can put in it. One is a 2000 VW TDI an other is a 350 from an old chevy truck I parted out. Lots of planning still in the works as well as lookin for parts.

I figured the 300Z cars were best off the shelf to cut through the air due its shape.

[shorty_harris]

I have a '71 Super Beetle (actually my Wife's). It's original terrible orange color is a bit thin in places, but otherwise still shiny! My wife bought this car while in High School in 1976...her first car. She bought it from her sister, who bought it new in '71.

After I met her, I bought her a car with air conditioning, and I got to drive the VW from then on. I drove it daily, even after we moved to Arizona. It did great in the snow (all the weight over the drive wheels, and I always kept weight in the trunk to keep the steering wheels from getting too squirrelly). I drove it until about 10 years ago, when the clutch started acting up (I think the cable was getting ready to break). I parked it next to the driveway, and covered it up, and it's been sitting there ever since.

[dangerdoc]

bump

[Old Professer]

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/10/biodiesel-hybrid-bu/

[tubebender]

VW’s made great Dune Buggies and Baja Bugs...

[ecomcon]

Maybe those kids will save us from these eco weenies at KU.

“We had it up to approximately 30 mph” That should be more than enough for the proletariat.

Welcome to the no fun future.