Dropping a V8 in the back of a VW Beetle’s nothing new, but when we tell you it’s been done to a Karmann convertible owned by Hollywood legend Paul Newman, then the whole project transcends into another level of coolness…
The story begins when actor Paul Newman bought a stock red 1963 Beetle convertible, the car subsequently appearing in various VW adverts – including the one below. We’re not sure about the long white sock, short trouser and loafer look, Paul, but who knows maybe it was the height of fashion back in the late sixties…
Newman always had a passion for motor racing and having become a professional racing driver in 1972, he famously finished second in Dick Barbour’s Porsche 935 at the 1979 Le Mans. You might have watched the DVD. It’s no surprise, therefore, that soon after he took possession of the humble Bug, the star of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was keen to make it go a bit faster.
The Beetle was duly delivered to legendary race car builder Jerry Eisert for some ‘tuning work’ and the result was one of the maddest Volkswagen creations of all time… The Newman ‘Indy VW’.
A mahoosive Ford V8, producing over 300bhp, was wedged in behind the front seats and coupled to a five-speed ZF gearbox, probably taken from a GT40, to create what must surely still be one of the ultimate Beetle ‘sleepers’ of all time. A custom made quilted cover sits on top of the monster ‘351’, but we imagine the noise (and heat) when the engine’s at full chat must be ear shattering…
A front mounted radiator located where the spare wheel would usually sit, aided by electric fans and an additional radiator where the engine once sat at the rear, keeps everything cool. A section of the bonnet has been cut away to let in air. A padded rollbar provides additional safety protection, while huge side sill extensions that you have to step over to get in add structural integrity and prevent the whole thing twisting in half while unleashing the emense power on tap.
The rack and pinion suspension is a totally bespoke affair and beautifully finned drums at the front are taken from a Ford Corvair. The car originally sat on Rostyle-looking Keystone wheels, but they’ve since been swapped for a flatter rim, possibly EMPI in origin.
Inside, it’s a scene of modified retro joy – with period cross-stitched buckets, fitted factory looking carpets, additional gauges and even a period Blaupunkt radio in the dashboard. You can just imagine Paul Newman driving down the Los Angeles highway whistling to ‘Raindrops keep fallin on my head’ while appreciating that awesome V8 din just behind his lugholes. There’s no doubt this has to be one of the coolest looking and most iconic Beetle cabins ever…
Once finished Newman raced the car on the Indy circuits of California for a couple of years, then donated it to a local college. A lecturer bought it, it stayed in the family for many decades, then underwent a meticulously nut and bolt restoration, finishing it sadly just after Newman’s death in 2008. The car was then put up for sale on Oldbug.com for $250,000 – and sold in 2013 to a collector in the Middle East…
Ian
The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of VW Heritage.
This car was never in the Middle East. The Newman Bug is in Australia, the owners Mick Motors Brisbane Queensland.
The bug was donated to Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. Paul also donated a Plymouth Valiant land speed car to the college. One of the teachers finagled the car from the college. The bug was never to be sold. Several cars were donated over the years to benefit the automotive classes and the college’s racing association, Chaffey College Racing Association (CCRA)
So where is the red vw now.does anyone know
The car was purchased on a Saturday at the Small Car Company in Westport, CT and prepped for immediate delivery. Paul and wife
Joanne Woodward were appearing in NYC and commuted in the bug. After a few weeks, he brought it in and told Bruno Engl our shop foreman that it needed more power. I was dispatched to pick up a Porsche ‘Normal’ motor which bolted right in. Weeks later,
he was back asking for more power. Another trip to Jersey and a Porsche ‘Super’ motor was installed with its dual throat Solex carbs and that made him happy then. Many years later, I spotted the car in a magazine after the Ford motor had been installed. The mag it was in did not identify the owner, but I recognized the car immediately. I was the parts manager at that dealership back then and it was a pleasure to know Paul as he was of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.