I'm not surprised - they were designed to run reliably for hours at a time, flat out.
Vehicle Sighting - Ancient Minty VW Beetle
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Definitely a bygone era, but so many iconic moments of music, entertainment, and screen-free lifestyles that I wish I could have experienced. I’d rather have lived in that era of cars with all their ugly sides than today’s optimization of spiritually dead vehicles. They’re all blobs mandated by the government to be soulless, detached, and disposable.
I don't see the twin tailpipes. It is certainly plausible that some liberties were taken during it's restoration to "personalize" the car. It is also well known that the manufacturers would use leftover parts from one year in a new year model during that era, and vise-versa. Like I said, the 55 fenders are/were popular and used by some people on later model Beetles.
Agreed, I think cars were more distinctive back then. But then again, back when I was a teen in the 1970s I remember "old people" (in their 40s and 50s) saying that all the new cars looked the same.
Apparently GM tested some of the new SBC engines (265/283) on the Autobahn c. 1955/56/57 and found they did not last under those conditions (sustained high speed). They had to beef up the main bearings IIRC.
Your mention of the Autobahn reminds me of the rather repetitious song by Kraftwerk, c. 1975 - "Fahren, fahren, fahren on on die Autobahn ..." as I recall.
No doubt that many liberties or fixes have happened over the years.
Left side tailpipe is clearly visible; right side less so. Had to zoom in with phone to see it (or what I presume is the right tailpipe). Hard to see.
Hmm, I don't know that reference, but it did occur to me that I intended it as slang for "in mint condition" but that the colour might, in poor light, be described as mint green.
IIRC, that type of green, though perhaps a bit darker, was common on some of early Japanese cars here - I remember late-'60s Datsun 510s, and Mazda 1200 wagons and sedans in that colour or similar.
I think it's Zipties and Bias plies. Quite NSFW so I won't go further.Hmm, I don't know that reference, but it did occur to me that I intended it as slang for "in mint condition" but that the colour might, in poor light, be described as mint green.
Probably 36 hp. I had a 1960 same color. Had semaphore turn signals. Great car, left me frostbitten during the Chicago winters. Get to work, twenty minutes to thaw out. I was a VW mechanic way back then, should have known better. Everybody in the shop said 'I had the 36hp. shake' Eventually put an Okrasa engine in it and sold it to one of the German mechs.
VW Vortex
VW Okrasa engine
VW Vortex
VW Okrasa engine
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I used to own a 57 and read all the tri-5 rags back in the day. They never tested the 283, and I’m assuming the 265, prior to tooling for production. It was a race against ford and Chevy threw a Hail Mary, straight from paper to plant. Testing came “later.” This wasn’t public ally known until the original designer of the 57 was on his deathbed and said a few things. I’m pretty sure I actually read about this in a published tri-5 hardcover a few decades ago.
We complain about being testers for the oems … it’s not new.
Not sure twin pea shooters are present. Maybe not used on that vintage.
Is it true that the first SBCs had no oil filter? I read that somewhere.
Back in my tune-up/oil-change tech days, an old '59 Chevy came into the shop for our $14.88 oil, lube, filter and "15-point inspection". The 283 had the first cartridge oil filter I'd ever seen.
The family of a girl I went to high school with had a variety of offbeat vehicles, including an old 1960 Beetle. Mr C. told me the engine was 36-horse, held 3 (Imperial) quarts of oil, had no oil filter, and was supposed to be changed every 1000 miles.
I'm still lost, but that's normal for me.
Stunning Bug! I'm one of the few people my age that never had a VW Beetle. A good friend got a nice 1960 model in high school, later '60's. Non synchro first gear and flower vase, as I recall.
Not sure but I think there was a mid-year change in 1960 from 36 hp to 40 hp.
Not sure but I think there was a mid-year change in 1960 from 36 hp to 40 hp.
Seems like there was a single tailpipe till 08/55 and dual after. thy should line up approximately with the overrider loop end.
