trickysimon 100km/h is only 9 seconds away
1,473 posts · joined Dec 2007 ·
Long driveway as well? 😂
How Fast?
amazeer Bishop of Volkswagenism
3,029 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·
they dont come much longer and straighter than the Stuart Highway.
BiX Veteran Volks Folk
2,499 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·
I have seen past 0 post before...... suprised me a little!!!!
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!
Go hard or go home!!!!
Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds
2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
A VW 1200 Ghia (with a 1.927 m rolling circumference, 0.89 top and 4.375 diff), does 27.90 km/h per 1000 rpm. To do 139 mph (224 km/h), it must be doing 8022 rpm in top gear and have enough power to overcome the wind resistance (that increases with the square of the speed). Not saying it's impossible, but...coletrickle wrote:some guy in orange county back in the day got a speeding ticket in his ghia for 139mph
From period road tests, new VW models have the following measured top speeds:
VW 1200 Beetle 36-hp - 116 km/h (Wheels, Apr 1956)
VW 1200 Beetle 40-hp - 118 km/h (Wheels, Aug 1961)
VW 1300 Beetle 50-hp - 122 km/h (Car Life, Sep 1966)
VW 1500 Beetle 53-hp - 134 km/h (Wheels, Aug 1968)
VW 1600 Superbug S - 138 km/h (Wheels, July 1972)
VW 1600 Superbug L - 127 km/h (Modern Motor, June 1973)
VW 1600 Golf GLS - 153 km/h (Road & Track, July 1979)
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
geez they musta had a real fatass roadtest the LBug
all the other tests ive seen have them at 82-85mph
their road tests were pretty conservative when it came to topspeed, ive been in a bone stock 1500 bug that made 90mph with out to much effort and they list them as all being 80mph max...
all the other tests ive seen have them at 82-85mph
their road tests were pretty conservative when it came to topspeed, ive been in a bone stock 1500 bug that made 90mph with out to much effort and they list them as all being 80mph max...
Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds
2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Agreed Joel, the L tested a bit slower than it should have. I wonder if Modern Motor got one pretty much straight off the car transporter, brand new with 0 km on it, to test? If so it would have been very tight. June '73 was quite early in the L's production run.
Yes we all know that Beetles loosened up and improved their performance once they got a few thousand km on the clock. I remember pegging my old 40-hp off the clock a few times (an indicated 90 mph, 145 km/h). While the speedo was optimistic and it wasn't really going that fast, it was certainly faster than the 118 km/h that a new one supposedly maxed out at. No doubt that is why Lanock Motors chose to run race Beetles (Standards) at Bathurst with tens of thousands of km on them. Tight new ones would have been no good.
Anyway at least those road tests give an indication of how those models compared (when brand spanking new). I would think the L should have done the same as the S, or even a few km/h more, all things being equal.
Yes we all know that Beetles loosened up and improved their performance once they got a few thousand km on the clock. I remember pegging my old 40-hp off the clock a few times (an indicated 90 mph, 145 km/h). While the speedo was optimistic and it wasn't really going that fast, it was certainly faster than the 118 km/h that a new one supposedly maxed out at. No doubt that is why Lanock Motors chose to run race Beetles (Standards) at Bathurst with tens of thousands of km on them. Tight new ones would have been no good.
Anyway at least those road tests give an indication of how those models compared (when brand spanking new). I would think the L should have done the same as the S, or even a few km/h more, all things being equal.
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
given the number of S and L bugs ive owned and driven i can safely say a healthy example of either are on a par performance wise
the taller ratio box in an Lbug really doesnt make all that much difference, just abit quicker off the mark
but like Steve has said the curved windscreen makes a real differnce to the aerodynamics of the car
the taller ratio box in an Lbug really doesnt make all that much difference, just abit quicker off the mark
but like Steve has said the curved windscreen makes a real differnce to the aerodynamics of the car
HappyDaze Superannuated
2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·
Phil74Camper wrote:Yes we all know that Beetles loosened up and improved their performance once they got a few thousand km on the clock. I remember pegging my old 40-hp off the clock a few times (an indicated 90 mph, 145 km/h). While the speedo was optimistic and it wasn't really going that fast, it was certainly faster than the 118 km/h that a new one supposedly maxed out at. No doubt that is why Lanock Motors chose to run race Beetles (Standards) at Bathurst with tens of thousands of km on them. Tight new ones would have been no good.
Spot on. As I mentioned previously my (Lanock Motors) Beetle clocked 86 MPH - timed - at Bathurst. Don't forget, though, that the staight is down-hill! A tail-wind and/or down hill makes a tremendous difference!
Cheers, Greg
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good
2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·
I didn't...! Thanks for that interesting fact. 🙂Phil74Camper wrote:Yes we all know that Beetles loosened up and improved their performance once they got a few thousand km on the clock.
I'd agree with that.... But, probably a combination of the box, and the boxer behind it (haha..funny).Joel wrote:the taller ratio box in an Lbug really doesnt make all that much difference, just abit quicker off the mark.