In the 1989 movie epic Back to the Future II, Marty McFly and Doc Brown take a trip to the future in their DeLorean – arriving, yes you’ve guessed it, on October 21, 2015. Well, in case you didn’t know – that’s tomorrow, so in advance of that celebration we thought we’d take a similar venture in a VW Beetle…
Okay, fuel cell technology is probably out of the question in a classic Bug, but there’s lots you can do to future-proof your VW Beetle in other respects. Here’s just a few suggestions…
Wired for sound
Struggling to hear a crackly old radio in your old Bug is hardly cutting edge. Especially when you can have an entertainment system that looks totally old school but has all the bang up to date USB gubbings to allow you to play music via your iphone or MP3. RetroSound’s clever audio systems offer 21st century performance and connectivity without having to compromise on looks. The best bit is you can choose the facia to match your era Bug, ranging from early chrome finishes through to the more subtle black plastic post-’68 look.
See here
Who knows precisely what the future holds, but we expect as part of a global cut in power consumption there could be fewer streetlights in our cities. In which case, you’ll need better headlamps to see where you are going. Sloping light Bugs can be improved no end by a US headlight kit which included a vertical lens and semi-sealed H4 halogen units. Later Beetles can also benefit from H4 technology here.
Eye spy
Why let modern car owners have all the fun with gadgets, when you can get some of your own for your classic Dub. Why not start by fitting a DIY wireless reversing camera – you mount the camera itself under the bumper or in the rear window then the small screen can fit on top of the dash. Prices start from as little as £25 for the whole kit and caboodle on Amazon or eBay…
Wax, not wane
Okay the DeLorean’s fibreglass chassis and brushed stainless steel body won’t rust, but your Beetle’s will – which is why you need to protect it to ensure it lasts well into the future. Start by getting underneath and washing out all the known mud traps, such as in the rear suspension mounts and around the bumper hangers. Sort any surface rust with a rust inhibitor before painting with a zinc rich undercoat. When you’ve tidied everything, apply a generous quantity of anti-rust wax.
Rack and roll
As enthusiasts, we’re probably blinkered to the fact that when a family comes along, a Beetle loses some of its appeal as practical everyday transport. That underbonnet space suddenly isn’t quite big enough, and where on earth does the pram go? Well, the way to extend a Beetle’s usefulness into the future is to increase its carrying capacity with a period looking roofrack. You can find the best Beetle racks here.
Bright spark
Having a car that struggles to start in the 21st century just doesn’t cut the mustard, so there’s a few options here. For owners of post-’69 Beetles, why not start by fitting a Pertronix ignition bundle which effectively gives you everything you need to convert your Bug to electronic ignition. You can do away with the points on 6v cars here. Owners of older Bugs might want to carry out an alternator conversion, or if you’re still running 6-volt electrics go the whole hog and carry out a 12v conversion. You can get all the parts you need here.
Longer lasting
Our lives will, all being well, more leisure oriented in the future. Now, isn’t that a lovely thought? So the key will be to reduce the need to carry out mundane jobs like replacing suspension bushes and you can do this to an extent by fitting long lasting urethane replacements instead of the conventional rubber. There’s various kits available like the one here…
Sitting comfortably
We reckon future generations will lust after a bit more in the way of creature comforts and if we’re not careful our beloved Beetle will soon feel like a carthorse. That’s why it would make sense plumping up your original pews with original padding. You can still get everything here, and while you’re at it why not replace the seat covers as well for that ultimate future-proofing look.
Bear in mind the Beetle’s been around for nearly 80 years, so there’s no reason why it shouldn’t last another 80 years, well into the 22nd Century. Woody Allen discovering a Beetle in a cave in the film Sleeper somehow comes to mind, but that’s a whole different story…
Ian
The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of VW Heritage.