I'm thinking about my next project and i'm really keen on a 50's style ute but can't shake off the vw bug. Can't afford 2 projects and even dearer are the early single cab kombi's. I've seen a few beetles that have been chopped and made into utes and the idea sounds fun. Does anyone have any pics of beetle-utes? Any ideas? For/against. Engineering expectations, etc.
I'll update on my progress if there's any interest. It'll be different, it has to be.

It's been done a fair few times, and some of them look quite good. The main problems you will have are that the tray will be quite small, and it's difficult to work out what to do with the rear end bodywork and engine access. The most successful ones tend to cut the body flat just above the hinge of the engine lid and lay a flat tray straight over the top of the lot. If you do this it definitely won't look like an old-style ute though. Really a bug is too small to look like an early pickup, as they had the tray in between the fenders usually. If you built a tray between the fenders of a bug it would be less than a metre wide and would look quite silly!

Here's some photos for ideas.









And an ancient thread from this very forum!
http://aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?fid=25&tid=74339 

If you like VW utes but can't afford two projects, and you want something different, how about a T3 pickup?

These have not reached classis car status yet so they are still affordable. They didn't sell a great deal of them in Australia so they are quite unusual, but they sold heaps of them in Europe so parts are easy to get. They are already utes so there's no radical modifying required. They are more modern and comfortable than old Beetles / Kombis.

No one has made a really nice restord / customised T3 ute yet, so you could start a new trend.

there are a few unfinished beetle Ute's on the net 4sale why don't you buy one of those before you chop up one.

where?

WHy not buy this one, all the hard works done and it means yet another one isn't cut up to make it.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=88605 

Because of the engine size taxes in Europe they also made the T3s with a 1600 pancake engine, so as you can imagine there's alot of cheap T3s with dead or dying engines over there.

I've only ever seen pics in pommy magazines of these engines but they were a 1600 type1 and are the most bastardised VW motor you will ever see.

The block was like a type3 with the filler but had a built in oil filter like a type4, the cooling shroud of a type4 and a single beetle carby.

My dad made one when i was a boy, i can try and find a photo if you like. It was pre 67, he got the vertical cut line rolled so there wasnt a nasty line for the join. Also he just ran a flat bed and it worked well. I think he used a pancake engine to aid clerence... sorry cannot remember what he did for the rear wheels

That first one posted sitting on the chrome Fuchs is MINT

Thanks guys. The beetle i'm chopping is actually a dodgy convertible that i'm resurrecting by putting half a roof on so i'm not really destroying any classics hence my other post searching for a roof section. The t3 pickup is nice but lacks that '50s rod look that i'll be going for. Tray size isn't that important to me as I won't be using it for work, I just hope I get the lines right and it's in proportion. I wonder what the RTA will be looking for. Anyone know any good auto engineers in syd?

I use to drive this one around as a weekend work car a few years ago. The one thing i remember with it is it didn't really get to much air flow and heated up fairly often.

Thats the biggest problem with them is getting cool air to the engine.

People make the mistake of using a type3 pancake engine and just leaving the fan intake open so all it does is suck in all the hot air off the heads and exhaust.

Scoops in the lower quarter panels ducted to a type1 shroud would work well.

style side with proper type 3 ducting would be the go!

theres on on ebay at the moment

This would be the best one I have found- this is how I am building the body for my Drag Car-good to have something to copy.

nbturbo, that is nicely done! Also, if your username refers to you owning a turbocharged MX-5, then you are a legend!

hot rod looks the best. anyone know of any finished photos??????

Sorry mate-have got a turbo New Beetle-but the wife still reckons I'm a legend.

Miata turbos are the bomb

ian, that is some ugly shit! nb b_e_a_ute_iful!

Maybe you can make a NB ute nbturbo

Quote:

Originally posted by VDUBXTC Maybe you can make a NB ute nbturbo

that looks pretty good i recon

This isn't a bad look. It's got the hotrod look to it.

Quote:

Originally posted by vlad01 Quote: Originally posted by VDUBXTC Maybe you can make a NB ute nbturbo Man that's disgusting, although still 32.6 times better than 99% of all post 2000 cars.