VW Powertune Stage 5.
1976 Beetle set up for Targa Tasmania
3 owners, Extremely quick & very good competetive cond.POA ph for details
DC327.

Anyone know anything about this car? Spec etc??
regards
Jak

i think i might have seen it once... it was bought new from the factory and the engine was stroked and rebuilt. it has a SPG roller crank, not sure bout the pistons and other stuff. but i think it had a feature in Hot VW's in the late 70's and is capable of a 13sec 1/4

Hi

Its the Marttini Olive one, a guy named Rod owned it. Its a 2180, IDA etc, no roller crank. It was owned by John Booth in the 80s and it was Maroon, not sure who owned it before him. He sold it to Chris Neale (owned Neales wheels), it was stolen from him and was recovered repainted Martini Olive. Chris sold it to a guy who owned a Vinces gym in west ryde, he sold it to Rod after it sat around at Powertune a while. Rod sold it to the current owner, I heard from Rod that the guy fried the brakes on it at Wakefield.

1302Steve

I remember now Steve, I saw it at the Nationals many years ago, had that beautiful airbox for the carbies, 16 inch Simmons etc.
Jak

[Edited on 7-3-2003 by jakriz]

As far as I know the guy tried to sell the car 2 years ago. He bought a Porsche which takes all his money and the garage space.

The car is on a couple of the Targa Tasmania videos. It never sounds like it's going that hard.

I've seen a video of the car testing at Wakefield park before Targa Tassy. Can't remember where I saw that video though.

I'm sure it's well sorted though.

Somebody with lots of cash should buy it and bring it to the Porsche Club supersprints.

CYA, CT

If we had money CT , we could buy it & take it to Targa. leaving our nice toys home safe in the garage.

Jak

Hi

The 2nd last owner, Rod bought a Porsche 911, he now owns an late RX7. He was in the PCNSW, he was the guy selling the 2 x 16 inch Fuchs in the club mag recently.

1302Steve

has anyone rang??????? just want to know the price?
cheers
rhys

Hi, I'm Adrian Corvisy, owner of Powertune Eng. and a new member to this forum. Here are the facts regarding the Stage 5 car that is for sale.
First of all this is NOT the one featured in Hot VW's (USA) in 1978. That Red Beetle was constructed on a new car in '74 and is still owned by me and is definitely not for sale !!

The advertised car is based on a Martini Olive '76 we constructed in '82. John Booth originally has a stage 5 engine built for his '72 Superbug in '76, which he re-fitted to a dark Red '76 a few years later and raced. (53 Sec around Oran Park). Around '81 he started work at Powertune and at that time, Chris Neal (from Neals Wheels) supplied a mint Martini '76 (low milage) to build a complete Stage 5 car.

We completed the body, brakes, suspension & trans conversion when he purchased the Red '76 from John Booth and swapped engines between the cars. The Red '76 (Steve called Maroon) was stolen but later recovered as a Yellow car.

The Martini '76 was sold to Mr Thomlinson (from Ryde council) around '83 who did little with it and then sold it to Vince Basil (Ex Mr Canada, RSR Porsche and Gym owner) around '84. Vince had earlier owned the ex Alan Doherty Stage 5 (Blue '72) with Alan buying back the car and later destroying it (I saw the engine in a Ghia Coupe years later.)

The Martini '76 was sold to Rod Leslie in '96 to do Targa Tasmania where it placed 4th in '97 in the up to 3 litre modified class, loosing its lead after a mishap on the last section. It was sold to its present owner, Darren Cohen, around '00 - who used it for racing on track hire days. (Wakefield 1 min 16s, not bad for a 900kg car on street tyres, standard exhaust valves and heater boxes - where as the other stage 5's ran higher output bigger valve heads). Incidentally, the '89 article in Aust VW Power on my red '74 incorrectly showed stage 4 specs.

Anyway, he overheated the brakes by driving with them and the power on through corners. Hmmm

Most of these cars were built to be comfortable, durable, everyday drivers and not harsh race cars. They have soundproofing, hearters, full trim, quiet exhausts and even electric windows (Martini '76), but could also drive fast on a sealed rally style undulating road or race tracks.

Of 15 built, I know of 5 existing, 4 destroyed, 6 of unknown fate - 4 of which were stolen with 1 being recovered.
I would really like to hear from any past or present owners, especially those who developed reputations for their cars, including Bruce Williams and Mr Nicholis.

Adrian.

Thanks very much for the reply Adrian.
Most appreciatted
regards
Jak

Hi Adrian

Welcome aboard. My memory is getting dim with old age. The Mr Nicholis Beetle ended up smashed, the mullers bought it with no motor, the front brakes ended up on Steve Mullers rally car and the car was put on the road buy Paul Muller for a while.

1302Steve

welcome to the forum adrian