Skip to main content

#LIFEONAIR: MAX EDWARD’S ’78 BEETLE ON AIR SUSPENSION

[See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com]

Max Edwards has built a rather special Beetle, taking inspiration from the land of motorsport, while somehow keeping it true to its classic Beetle heritage. These are two very different styles, but they compliment each other very well!

The idea first came to Max in February of 2011, and it had him searching high and low for an early-model Beetle. Eventually, Max stumbled upon an original 1978 model that was in need of some TLC. After enjoying the car in its stock form for several years, Max knew it was time for his Beetle to reach its final form – a form that would include a complete body-off restoration.

78vwbeetle-airsuspension-photo2

The suspension and chassis were the first elements to be overhauled, adding a 2” narrow beam to get that perfect Beetle tuck. To achieve the #LifeOnAir look and performance, he upgraded the suspension to Air Lift Performance through rods, long travel ball joints, track rod flip and raised and strengthened shock towers. The rear suspension was converted to IRS, using Air Lift Performance universal air springs, notched trailing arms and modified lower mounts. The whole suspension set-up is controlled by 3P, the pressure-based air management system that can later be upgraded to the height-based 3H system.

78vwbeetle-airsuspension-photo3

With a wide range of Air Lift Performance management options, Max opted for the 3P system because it gave him the benefits of instant ride-height adjustment, iPhone app control and, of course, the ability to upgrade to 3H in the future.

78vwbeetle-airsuspension-photo4

“I’ve always liked how the AutoPilot V2 system worked, having used it in the past, so I was eager to try the latest system on the Beetle,” Max explains. “It does everything I need, never giving me any issues, and the phone app is great for standing back and making adjustments to preset ride height. Since fitting the Air Lift system, the ride quality and handling is greatly improvement, like a premium set of coilovers.”

78vwbeetle-airsuspension-photo5

In fact, the Beetle is now as good as new underneath – a testament to the work and time Max has invested into this project.

78vwbeetle-airsuspension-photo6

For the exterior, the Beetle’s body was given a fresh coat of Pure 400 white paint, complete with custom 78 numbers and 4-color stripes. The bodywork also benefits from body-colored bumpers and Lucas yellow headlight covers for that motorsport vibe.

78vwbeetle-airsuspension-photo7

It’s a similar story inside, too. Porsche ‘Pasha’ material lines the seats and door cards, along with 964 seats and a 3-spoke steering wheel. Combined with an Alcantara headlining and the flush-mounted Air Lift controller, the Beetle’s interior looks seriously cool.

78vwbeetle-airsuspension-photo8

In the all-important wheel department, Max opted for a classic – genuine BBS RS, measuring 7.5” up front and 9” out back. The color-coded centers are the perfect finishing touch for such an iconic wheel design.

78vwbeetle-airsuspension-photo9

Max’s Beetle isn’t all show and no-go. The 1641cc motor runs a balanced bottom end, Eagle 110 cam, high-revving valvetrain and twin Solex 44 carbs. All killer, no filler!

78vwbeetle-airsuspension-photo10

The humble VW Bug may have been around for over half a century, but Max has managed to create something truly unique without straying too far from the original look.

The post #LIFEONAIR: MAX EDWARD’S ’78 BEETLE ON AIR SUSPENSION appeared first on VWVortex.



from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2q2Q5yQ
via IFTTT

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Project SportWagen: Going Stage 2 with APR

    When we last left you, the humble little SportWagen was fresh from the development process with our friends at AWE Tuning, sporting a new downpipe, exhaust and intake, allowing things to breathe a bit easier.  The car sounded great, but there was no getting around the fact that our wagon was still quite, well, slow.   While we realize that nothing we do to the Golf SportWagen at this point will make it a race car, we still felt compelled to do something .  To put it bluntly, we had a fever, and the only cure was more power. Flash forward a few hours, and we found ourselves at Waterfest, staring down APR’s palatial spread and the numerous tuned vehicles surrounding it.  Earlier in the year, APR had hinted to us that their 1.8 TSI files would be quite impressive, and based on what they were able to do with the 2.0 TSI found in the new GTI and our time in their Golf R, we knew it’d be worth the wait.  So with this in mind, we lined our G...

Volkswagen’s Gone to California with Grand California Camper

Volkswagen is bringing the California XXL concept to production. It will debut at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon as the Grand California. It’s set to be based on the medium wheelbase Crafter van. That’s the company’s full-size commercial van, larger than the T6 Transporter based California. The high roof means room for adults to stand up, though it won’t get the concept’s extended length. The Grand California offers a full wet bathroom. It’s not exactly spacious, though, measuring in at around 31.5 x 33-inches. A toilet, shower, and sink are all crammed into that space, but at least there are motion sensor lights to stop you from reaching for a switch. Standard, the Grand California it comes with berths for two adults. Space for two children is optional, but they’ll be stuck in a berth amove the driver’s area. The kitchen offers a sink, stove, and two fridges. The front seats swivel to add seating space when the RV is parked. It’s also got solar panels, an integrated satellite dish,...

Audi Teases A7 Details with New Video

Audi’s gearing up to unveil the latest iteration of the A7, and to get you excited they’ve released this teaser video focusing on the details. The lights, the lines, the interior are all teased here, and though on its own the video doesn’t give us a strong sense of what the whole car will look like, with all of the other details we’ve seen so far we now have a pretty good sense of what’s coming. As you might expect, the updated A7 will look broadly similar to the outgoing A7, but will differ in the details. Based on what we’ve seen, the changes look good. As was reported yesterday, we’re expecting a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine, a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo, a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, and an RS7 that could reportedly make up to 700 hp thanks to the Porsche Panamera’s hybrid drivetrain. We’ll know for sure, though, on Thursday, October 19, when the car is revealed. You can watch the livestream on our site or at audi.com at 2:00 pm. The post Audi Teases A7 Details with New Video app...