AMT Superbug "Gasser"

[T-Ray]

I got the Coke version of this kit at an Ollie's and decided to have some fun with it. Not quite sure how you'd make a "gasser" out of a Volkswagen, hence the quotes. The picture is of all the engine parts ready to sit in some bleach to take the chrome off. Being the Coke version, everything is cast in yellow plastic, so that's great

I think I know where I want to go with this thing but I'm still on the fence, debating whether or not to stretch the chassis and body back to normal. 

[dwc43]

 

 

 

[espo]

You might Google "Empi Inch Pincher" and see what you can find. Empi was, and may still be, a major company involved with just about anything that has to do with Volkswagen. They were based out of riverside California in the 1960's and beyond. The "Inch Pincher" was the name of their Type 1 VW that they drag raced. This should offer some references to building a car with a VW engine. 

[T-Ray]

18 minutes ago, espo said:

The "Inch Pincher" was the name of their Type 1 VW that they drag raced. This should offer some references to building a car with a VW engine. 

Huh, I stand corrected! I didn't think that you could build a gasser with the engine in the back. That was my point in the original post by the way, that AMT called the kit a gasser even if it didn't make much sense

[espo]

1 hour ago, T-Ray said:

Huh, I stand corrected! I didn't think that you could build a gasser with the engine in the back. That was my point in the original post by the way, that AMT called the kit a gasser even if it didn't make much sense

Empi used to run "I/Gas" class and would carry the front wheels past the starting tree. Just looked on Google and they have a lot of current clips of their race cars and others. Seems the Bug popularity is as big or maybe even bigger than in the '60's both here and Europe where Empi even sponsors events.  

[T-Ray]

As cool as Bugs on the track are, the vibe I'm heavily considering is more... "beachy" than track. Of course, that is entirely subject to change. 

[stitchdup]

There is an earler class of vw drag cars that were gassers before inch pincher which is a drag car but wouldn't be considered a gasser as the front was lowered. A vw gasser would have stock height front suspension and only the rear would be lowered. They usually ran american racing style 5 spokes and were stripped to the absolute basics and any tuning was permitted though most were still running the fan shrouds so power would have been low as a high powered vw with the fan shrouds tends to pop when used in drag racing. I have some articles on real early drag vws from before the days of inch pincher and deano dino saur. The 70s were when the cal style drag cars were at their most popular. I can provide pics from a magazine article of a genuine early drag car if interested

[Brizio]

Seems a fun project!

[T-Ray]

3 hours ago, stitchdup said:

 I have some articles on real early drag vws from before the days of inch pincher and deano dino saur. The 70s were when the cal style drag cars were at their most popular. I can provide pics from a magazine article of a genuine early drag car if interested

Thank you for the offer but you don't have to. (Although you could probably post those in the reference section for others who want to do something like that) 

The idea that I'm heavily considering is to build something "jolly-like". Perhaps the creation of someone who wanted the fun of a Dune Buggy and the practicality of the Volkswagen Body. That's why I'm debating whether or not to stretch the body and chassis

 

Edited October 3, 2023 by T-Ray

[David G.]

This should be an interesting build, I can't wait to see where you go with it.

David G.

[T-Ray]

I think I have made up my mind regarding the length. I think I'm going to keep it shortened as I have managed to find pictures of an actual Volkswagen Jolly and due to it being on a stock Volkswagen pan, it looks way too long, especially compared to the much smaller Fiats 

[Skip]

The Empi Inch Pincher run by Joe and Darrel Vittone was a true NHRA Gasser, it ran in I/Gas with a very low front end. The rules for gassers stated that the front could be lowered or raised but not more than 24 inches from the center of the crankshaft to the pavement. Lots of other Volkswagen Type 1, Bugs ran in the NHRA and IHRA Gas Classes, usually H/Gas, I/Gas depending on the horsepower to weight ratio, which is what placed any Gasser in its respective class. Other VW Gassers were "The Tar Babe", "Iguana", Gene Berg - Gene Berg Enterprises, Gary Berg - "Sonic Muffin" The Schley Brothers,,, and a bunch of others. The "Original California Look" lowered, dechromed, Hi-Horsepower engines, Light weight racing type wheels - BRM, Rocket, American Mags all in the wide five bolt pattern, all business interiors were morphed back onto the street in some cases from the NHRA Gas Classes when the gassers were dropped.  So, if you do a little homework on the mid-60's to mid-70's, you will find the combination for the VW Gasser engine sizes of the day ranged from 1500 - 2180 cc, Carburetion a pair of 40 IDA Webbers on the smaller engines to the big 48 IDA Webbers on the bigger engines, large diameter header and a long stinger 16 - 24" long depending on the tune. Externally from a visual standpoint, those are the real changes to the Volkswagen engine.

The engine in the AMT Super Bug gasser, looks like it is probably either a 36 or 40 HP engine, could even be a 1500 cc single port engine.  Nearly every Volkswagen gas class engine that I saw in the early days of the VW Gassers was based on the larger higher flowing Dual Port Head equipped engine. So, if you are using the Super Bug or the Meyers Manx VW engines they won't be quite accurate. There was someone on here that had a friend who resin cast some VW engines that came with everything needed for a VW gasser engine, it had bare cylinder barrels which most of the early gassers ran without any engine tin at all. Your reference material should show that. The AMT Super Bug gasser would not run in the VW Gas classes, the shortened wheelbase would have moved it into the Altered classes, not sure any VW's even ran in that class. I don't recall any of them, but that doesn't mean that someone somewhere didn't.

Look at Hot VW's magazine, VW Greats magazine from the 60s and 70s, Hot Rod (Peterson) Complete Volkswagen books 1,2 & 3 - There was plenty of VW drag racing engines and cars in those publications. Do a search on Joe and Darrel Vittone there are a few of the Empi Inch Pincher VW's that have been restored, last I saw they were online. There should be a ton of reference material on the innerweb you just have to look and search for the right thing.

I don't have any of my collection of Volkswagen stuff in print so I can't help you there. When I switched back to American muscle cars and Hot Rods, I got rid of all VW related stuff parts and print. I used to hang around Gene Berg's shop when he was in Kent, Washington before he moved everything to California. I had one of Gene's engines, I believe came out of Gary's Sonic Muffin, race car, roller crank, ported heads, 48 IDA Webbers... that I ran in a '57 oval window mostly at the drags up to the mid-80s, wish I had never got rid of it! Smoothest running modified VW engine I've ever owned.

Hope this helps you on your Gasser Quest!

[T-Ray]

I didn't get as much done as I wanted to but that's fine. The engine parts are back in the bleach, this time contained in one of those tea balls, set aside to soak again. In the mean time, the Beetle has gotten a haircut. You can also see where I started to reconstruct the backseat. I don't want to cut the doors open until I finish the back to retain as much structure as I can. 

[atomicholiday]

Just discovered this thread.  It’s looking really good so far!?. Can’t wait to see your progress.

I’m working on the same kit now.  It’s been on the back burner for a few months, but I’m planning to jump back on it soon.

[T-Ray]

1 hour ago, atomicholiday said:

Just discovered this thread.  It’s looking really good so far!?. Can’t wait to see your progress.

I’m working on the same kit now.  It’s been on the back burner for a few months, but I’m planning to jump back on it soon.

Thanks! 

[David G.]

This build seems to be taking on a life of its own. That's often when some of the best things start to happen.

David G.

[T-Ray]

I was able to get more stuff done. I got the body to the point where I felt that I could cut the doors off. Here it is with putty applied.  I also started with the interior color on the chassis. For the eagle eyed, you'll notice that the engine cover has been glued on. It's unfortunate but the engine in the kit I got was just too poorly molded (for me anyway) to make displayable. I decided to just make it a curbside so that I could spend the time that I would have used up fighting with the engine on the body.  The Tamiya silver came out pretty good over Badger's black primer, I think so anyway. 

[slusher]

Nice start, you’re well on your way.  Looking ? forward to your progress…

[David G.]

The floor / chassis looks great!

David G.

[T-Ray]

8 hours ago, slusher said:

Nice start, you’re well on your way.  Looking ? forward to your progress…

 

2 hours ago, David G. said:

The floor / chassis looks great!

David G.

Thanks!

[Zippi]

Looking good so far.  

[T-Ray]

Got more work done to the Beetle. The chassis is pretty much done, more filler was added to the body and it was given a quick coat of Tamiya primer to highlight any parts that were missed, and I painted the wheels. The color looks very green in the picture but it is more of a teal, the camera isn't accurate. 

[David G.]

Looks good so far!

David G.

[T-Ray]

Another weekend, another couple steps closer to finishing. The body has been painted as well as the dash, the chassis has been assembled and the wheels have been detailed. (I'm aware that there are only three wheels in the picture, the fourth one got messed up so I'll probably repaint that one) Also, the details on the dash are kinda messy, I blame having shaky hands. I'll have to clean those up to make them look less like they were done by an over-caffeinated Orangutan. 

[atomicholiday]

Great color choice.  And I really like your dash detail.  Looking good.?