VW kit cars are kits that are based on the ever popular VW beetle. And there's no shortage of donor cars...with a production span of over 50 years, the humble VW Beetle is still being mass produced in Mexico!
VW kit cars can range from a 60's style Dune Buggy right up to stunning Porsche 356 replicas.
Spotlight on the VW Beetle
VW Beetle - a Collector's Guide
Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)
Detailed model-by-model descriptions, competition achievements, technical and restoration information, and invaluable reference data chronicle this remarkably durable cars recent history.
52 years after its launch, the humble VW Beetle is still being manufactured in Mexico at the rate of 140,000 cars per year. This second edition takes a look at the 1998 retro-look car which has taken this enduring concept into the new millenium.
Books For Fans Of VW Kit Cars
Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual
There has been a huge resurgence of interest in Dune Buggies (Beach Buggies) - kit cars based on the chassis and running gear of fatally corroded VW Beetles. Here is the complete step-by-step practical guide to the equipment and building techniques needed to build a Dune Buggy, as well as sound guidance on the choice of donor car and new components. With this manual in your workshop, you can build any VW-based Dune Buggy avoiding all the common pitfalls and money-sapping mistakes, and end up with a superb, roadworthy multi-purpose vehicle.
Amazon Price: $36.46 (as of 12/16/2009)
Vw Beetle: A Comprehensive Illustrated History of the World's Most Popular Car
This book has the best studio type photography that I have ever seen in a VW history. I also found the Technical Appendix is among the best for a quick review of the major changes in the VW Type I through the years. The historical photos are reprinted in a crisp format, and are less grainy than I have seen, so these often seen photos seem somehow new.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)
Aircooled VW Engine Interchange Manual: The User's Guide to Original and Aftermarket Parts... (Motorbooks Workshop)
Find out which parts will fit your VW engine and what theyll do for it with this valuable guide to all engine, ignition and carburetion parts for your classic VW engine. Tuning recommendations on equipping engines for economy performance, mild performance increases, fast road or full race performance. Includes stock part interchange specs and parts numbers, and describes the wide range of aftermarket parts available.
Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 12/16/2009)
Porsche 356 Speedster Replica
Porsche 356 Further Reading
356 Porsche: A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity
Get a detailed look at the year-to-year changes in body, chassis, trim, and interior components. Virtually every part is described and photographed allowing owner and restorer to determine originality.
Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 12/16/2009)
Porsche 356: Driving in Its Purest Form
This is a superb history of the 356 - from wartime tinkering with VWs to the Type 64 - through all years of 356 production. Excellent early photos, production shots, design studies, competition cars, exploded views, line drawings, specs, production figures, developmental history and much, much more. Hundreds of photos capture all the details through the years.
Amazon Price: $32.97 (as of 12/16/2009)
Original Porsche 356
With the aid of factory records and the accumulated knowledge of Porsche 356 experts, Motorbooks presents this essential Porsche 356 restoration guide. Filled with factory specifications and details for all Coup, Cabriolet, Roadster, and Speedster models from 1950 to 1965. This is a must-have car book for serious 356 enthusiasts.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)
The Nova Kit Car
The nova was a futuristic looking kit car that used the humble VW Beetle as a donor, so even a humble Bolton plumber could build and drive their own hand built sports car.Yes, I know that the Beetle wasn't the most sporty car around, but the Nova was light and aerodynamic so I suppose the underpowered air-cooled Beetle engine was adequate.
More powerful engines such as Rover V8's, Ford or Porsche powerplants could also be used if performance was important.
The Sterling & Nova Kit Car Book
The Nova/Sterling/Eureka Kit Car
Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)
If you like Sterlings or Novas then you'll love the Nova/Sterling/Eureka Kit Car book by Phill Fenton. Within its 120 pages you will find a wide selection of photographs and illustrations of the popular and very aesthetic Sterling and Nova models.
The second part of this book covers the construction of one of these stunning cars, with many photos of the build process from start to finish.
Sterling - A VW Based Kit Car
Beetle Stuff
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
