Hemmings Daily: VW converts a classic Beetle into an electric vehicle

Hot on the heels of ending modern Beetle production in Mexico, Volkswagen will be offering a sentimental surprise at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show: the introduction of the a near-production-ready e-Kfer, or e-Beetle, which combines the original Type 1 Super Beetle Convertible coachwork with the second-generation electric version of VW's clever little city car, the e-up!(which is also set to debut an updated version at the Frankfurt Show). What's more, a a road-ready version of this restomod Bug will soon be [View in Browser | Subscribe]( [Hemmings Daily] Friday, September 6, 2019 [Plug-In Bug: Volkswagen shows off the e-Beetle classic electric conversion]( [Plug-In Bug: Volkswagen shows off the e-Beetle classic electric conversion]( Posted by Mark J. McCourt - Hot on the heels of ending modern Beetle production in Mexico, Volkswagen will be offering a sentimental surprise at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show: the introduction of the a near-production-ready e-Kfer, or e-Beetle, which combines the original Type 1 Super Beetle Convertible coachwork with the second-generation electric version of VW's clever little city car, the e-up!(which is also set to debut an updated version at the Frankfurt Show). What's more, a a road-ready version of this restomod Bug will soon be ... [Read More]( [Sponsor]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1973 Chrysler Town and Country]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1973 Chrysler Town and Country]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Nine-passenger 1973 Chrysler Town and Country for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: This wagon is as nice as you will ever discover (especially in this remarkable shape). Both the 440 big block V8 and 727 Torque Flite automatic transmission operate very well, especially with the (new in 1973) electronic ignition system and electronic voltage regulator. Power steering, power front disc brakes with self-adjusting rear drums as well as Torsion Quiet Ride make this a very smooth running wagon despite...[Read More]( [Auction Alert: 1979 Fiat Spider 2000 bidding ends today]( [Auction Alert: 1979 Fiat Spider 2000 bidding ends today]( Posted by Thomas A. DeMauro - A budget friendly Italian sportscar is set to see final bidding today. This 1979 Fiat Spider 2000 with practical modifications was made for driving. The engine was retrofitted with a two-barrel Weber carburetor and an aftermarket performance exhaust system. The four-cylinder is fitted with a smooth and precise five-speed transmission. The seller reports that the repaint is clean with no rust visible and that there is only minimal corrosion on the underside. All exterior pieces, including Pininfarina logos, are accou...[Read More]( [Sponsor]( [When Shelby tuned hot hatches for Chrysler: The 1985-'86 Dodge Omni GLH, GLH Turbo and GLHS]( [When Shelby tuned hot hatches for Chrysler: The 1985-'86 Dodge Omni GLH, GLH Turbo and GLHS]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - At the dawn of the 1980s, the Dodge Omni hatchback wasn't on the list of must drive cars for automotive enthusiasts. Seeing the missed opportunity to lure hot hatch enthusiasts, Chrysler head Lee Iacocca called upon his old friend Carroll Shelby to infuse a bit of spirit into Dodge's bargain-basement grocery-getter and the resulting Dodge Omni GLH was released to an unsuspecting public for the 1984 model year. Though Chrysler never put this in the brochure, GLH reportedly stood for the obvious, Goes ...[Read More]( [Game changers: Four times automakers bucked tradition (for better and for worse)]( [Game changers: Four times automakers bucked tradition (for better and for worse)]( Posted by Mike Austin - You don't mess with tradition, unless you're starting a new tradition. In the car world, no institution is safe from the ravages of new technology, economic pressure, or questionable marketing decisions. Sometimes the changes work out. Other times, not so much. Topping the list of automotiveswitcheroos, of course, is the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and its reversal of seven decades of history with the location of the engine. There arehistoric reasonsbehind the Vette's mid-engine move, and at least on paper...[Read More]( [San Francisco, 1980]( [San Francisco, 1980]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: June 1980 Location: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California Source: Gary Fong, San Francisco Chronicle What do you see here?...[Read More]( [Sponsor]( [Daily Briefing: New Bugatti inspired artwork at the Mullin; Amelia Island Concours announces newest board member]( [Daily Briefing: New Bugatti inspired artwork at the Mullin; Amelia Island Concours announces newest board member]( Posted by Tom Comerro - Courtesy of the Mulling Automotive Museum The staff at the Mullin Automotive Museum have unveiled a new collage titled "Beneath the Surface: Bugatti of Lake Maggiore," by conceptual artist and car enthusiast Heidi Mraz. The artwork is inspired by the 1925 Bugatti Type 22 Brescia Roadster that spent nearly 75 years underwater in Lake Maggiore, Italy, and is now on display in the museum. Mraz began work on the collage over 1-1/2 years ago researching and compiling more than 1,500 curated elements that relate to the...[Read More]( [This Day in Automotive History] THIS DAY IN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY 9/6/2007: Volkswagen moves to Virginia. UPCOMING EVENTS [Inaugural Mid-Atlantic Buick Regionals]( September 13, 2019 - Delmar, DE [Dave & Ed's Super Auto Events Canfield Meet]( September 13, 2019 - Canfield, OH [Springfield Swap Meet & Car Show September 2019 event]( September 13, 2019 - Springfield, OH [Street Rod Nationals North]( September 13, 2019 - Kalamazoo, MI [ROMEO Cruise-In Antique, Classic, & Vintage vehicles of ALL types welcomed]( September 13, 2019 - Carlisle, PA [Foothills of the Ozarks Antique Auto Club 45th Annual Swap Meet]( September 13, 2019 - Springdale, AR [See All Events]( [Sponsor]( FEATURED AUCTIONS [1979 Fiat 2000 Spider]( [1979 Fiat 2000 Spider]( [1942 Ford Model T]( [1942 Ford Model T]( [1978 Chevrolet C20]( [1978 Chevrolet C20]( [1964 Amphicar 770]( [1964 Amphicar 770]( [1985 Ford F150]( [1985 Ford F150]( [1958 Chevrolet Apache]( [1958 Chevrolet Apache]( [1970 Ford Mustang]( [1970 Ford Mustang]( [1968 Chevrolet Corvette]( [1968 Chevrolet Corvette]( [1963 Porsche Junior]( [1963 Porsche Junior]( [1969 Oldsmobile 442]( [1969 Oldsmobile 442]( PROMOTED LISTING [1955 Pontiac Starchief]( [1955 Pontiac Starchief]( [$62,500]( PROMOTED LISTING [1972 Buick]( [1972 Buick]( [$49,900]( PROMOTED LISTING [1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III]( [1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III]( [Auction]( [Mazda Renesis Dealer demo model Wankelmotor.]( [Mazda Renesis Dealer demo model Wankelmotor.]( [$850]( [View All Classifieds]( FEATURED IN THE BLOG [Gow To: Evaluating a Model B four-banger]( [Gow To: Evaluating a Model B four-banger]( [Turbine-powered Rover - The experimental JET T.3 gas turbine car]( [Turbine-powered Rover - The experimental JET T.3 gas turbine car]( [See All Featured Blog Posts]( FOLLOW US: [Hemmings Instagram]( [Follow us on Twitter]( [Join us on Facebook]( [View our Flickr pool]( [View Newsletter Archives]( WEEK IN REVIEW Thursday, September 5, 2019 [Fact Check: Did a GM president really tell Congress "What's good for GM is good for America?"]( [Fact Check: Did a GM president really tell Congress 'What's good for GM is good for America?']( Posted by Daniel Strohl - While Henry Ford might have uttered some quirky and oft-repeatable quotes, one of the most stunning quotes in corporate America history -- "What's good for General Motors is good for the country" -- is often attributed to Charles Wilson, at the time the president of Ford's archrival. Though that doesn't mean that's exactly what he said. By January 1953, Wilson had been with GM for nearly 34 years, including the entirety of World War II, during which he had GM plants converted to produce war materiel and served on...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day: 1994 MG RV8]( [Hemmings Find of the Day: 1994 MG RV8]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - Japanese-market 1994 MG RV8, said to be one of roughly 12 in North America, for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: Only 2,000 were ever made and there are less than 12 known to exist in North America 3.9 litre, fuel injected Rover V8 - Japanese export model was brought into Canada in Dec 2009. Today it resides in Calgary, Alberta and has 68.5K kms (42.5K miles) on it. The car has been very well looked after and maintained. Toronado ECU chip upgrade, Air Conditioning (original as Japanese...[Read More]( [Auction Alert: 1982 Mercury Capri and 1955 Chevrolet 3100 selling later today]( [Auction Alert: 1982 Mercury Capri and 1955 Chevrolet 3100 selling later today]( Posted by Thomas A. DeMauro - Two more lots will sell to the highest bidder later today at Hemmings Auctions: A Fox Mustang alternative, the 1982 Mercury Capri, representing '80s V-8 muscle, plus an Advance Design workhorse from 1955 in a Chevrolet 3100. Both have met their reserve price, meaning that the final bid gets to take the car home. Be sure to visit our auction page for our updated docket of vehicles available for bidding. 1982 Mercury Capri RS 5.0 This highly original Capri features RS trim with the 5.0 H.O. engine and is believed ...[Read More]( [This 17-ton Volvo truck is actually a million-dollar piece of art]( [This 17-ton Volvo truck is actually a million-dollar piece of art]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - If there's any better indicator that we've reached peak Banksy, no less than three well-respected and long-established auction houses will go head-to-head-to-head with competing sales of the street artist's works. Most of those works come with price tags in the tens of thousands of dollars, but the muralized 1988 Volvo FL6 17-ton truck that Bonhams will offer -- reportedly Banksy's largest -- is expected to sell in the millions of dollars. According to Bonhams, the anonymous artist known as Banksy was either comm...[Read More]( [The Prize Pool - Literally!]( [The Prize Pool - Literally!]( Posted by Matt Litwin - Flip though now-vintage new car review magazines and you're bound to run into some sort of give-away contest organized by the pairing of two seemingly unrelated companies;Chrysler Corporation and Dr. Pepper, for instance. The Fifties through the Seventies was rife with one- or two-page promotions, andeveryone who manufactured self-propelled vehicles - from motorcycles to four-wheel-drive trucks - had a hand in the prize pool gig. It was all part of a blatant plan to win fresh consumer coin during the postwar yea...[Read More]( [Lansing, Michigan, 1970s]( [Lansing, Michigan, 1970s]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: circa 1970s Location: Lansing, Michigan Source: Seeking Michigan What do you see here?...[Read More]( [Daily Briefing: Hurley Haywood to speak at IMRRC; Ford Capris to be at Brooklands]( [Daily Briefing: Hurley Haywood to speak at IMRRC; Ford Capris to be at Brooklands]( Posted by Tom Comerro - Courtesy of the International Motor Racing Research Center The board at the International Motor Racing Research Center have announced that Friday's Legends Speak will feature a talk from Hurley Haywood. Haywood was a 3-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and has had many other successes in the world of Motorsports. The talk will be conducted at LaFayette Park in Watkins Glen, New York. Please note that this event will event will take place at 2:30PM on Friday instead of the originally scheduled time of 3PM. You ...[Read More]( Wednesday, September 4, 2019 [Worth the wait: Six Pack Super Bee takes Best in Show at Musclepalooza 30]( [Worth the wait: Six Pack Super Bee takes Best in Show at Musclepalooza 30]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Just two days. That's how long Ed Sawlit had owned his 1969 Six Pack Super Bee prior to winning Best in Show at our Musclepalooza 30 this past weekend at Lebanon Valley Dragway. But it's been a part of his life, in a way, for at least eight years. "I still can't believe I own it," he said. "I haven't even had it home yet." Indeed, after buying the car, he headed directly to Lebanon Valley to enter it in the show, still unregistered. He first encountered the Super Bee for sale eight years ago and had thoug...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day: 1965 Devin Special]( [Hemmings Find of the Day: 1965 Devin Special]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Documented 1965 Devin Special for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: A spectacular pairing of European design and American grunt, this Devin roadster is offered for sale by its original owner (and builder) for the first time in its nearly 60 year history. Originally purchased as a body kit in 1963, this car's first incarnation was as an Oldsmobile-powered drag racer through 1965. At the time, its young owner needed transportation to and from college, so it became a street car and served him for ma...[Read More]( [Auction Alert: Bid on a 1971 Judge and 1960 Triumph TR6C before they end today]( [Auction Alert: Bid on a 1971 Judge and 1960 Triumph TR6C before they end today]( Posted by Tom Comerro - Bidding will end later today on two lots from the Hemmings Auctions page. Today, a documented 1971 Pontiac GTO Judge will see the gavel fall, and the cream of the Triumph Scramblers, a TR6C will be taken off the block. 1971 Pontiac GTO Judge The GTO is synonymous with the muscle car era and only 357 hardtop Judges left the factory in 1971. This car spent its early years along the eastern U.S. until it wound up in Arizona at the turn of the millennium. During its previous 11 years, it received a compl...[Read More]( [Open Diff: The list]( [Open Diff: The list]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - Those of us in the car hobby may not agree on everything, but one thing typically binds us together: the list. We all have the list, one that records cars, trucks, and bikes we'd like to own while we're still healthy enough to enjoy them, in the manner that the engineers and designers intended. The list may be mental or physical, written down on paper or recorded as a series of 0s and 1s in the digital realm, but the vehicles on it change as one ages. Sometimes, it's practicality that intervenes: ...[Read More]( [From the My Hemmings pages: What to do with a rusty Vega?]( [From the My Hemmings pages: What to do with a rusty Vega?]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - When we left off, the motor was in and the car was running, barely. I had collected most of the parts to complete it, but the body was pretty rough and needed significant work. Over the past year in my "free" time, my father and I have been able to strip the car down to its bare bones, and like so many projects, we discovered more issues. In addition to the swiss cheese quarter panel, rough fenders, and questionable hatch, I discovered, after removing the carpet and seats, that the right front floor was well on ...[Read More]( [Seattle, 1982]( [Seattle, 1982]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: September 1982 Location: Yesler Way, Seattle, Washington Source: Werner Leggenhager, Seattle Public Library Special Collections Online What do you see here?...[Read More]( [Daily Briefing: Automobile oddities to be discussed at the National Automobile Museum; Beach race at Normandy]( [Daily Briefing: Automobile oddities to be discussed at the National Automobile Museum; Beach race at Normandy]( Posted by Tom Comerro - Courtesy of the National Automobile Museum The directors at the National Automobile Museum announced the topic of their Second Thursday talk to take place later this month. John Sell, a retired tech executive and docent at the museum will lead a lighthearted discussion about unusual automobiles and accessories entitled Automobile Oddities. The talk will include a Q&A session, refreshments and some unique pieces of automotive history. The half hour talk is part of an ongoing monthly series of car discussion...[Read More]( Tuesday, September 3, 2019 [Big, bad, boosted: The 1987-only Buick GNX]( [Big, bad, boosted: The 1987-only Buick GNX]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - In the early 1980s, Buick faced an image problem. Long seen as a brand for grandparents more concerned with a cushy ride than with performance or handling, Buick's demographic was aging, and new buyers simply weren't visiting Buick showrooms. The answer was to borrow a page from the brand's storied past, when Gran Sport models were used to attract a younger, performance- and image-conscious buyer into Buick dealerships. When the first Buick Grand National appeared as a 1982-only model, it was little more th...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1956 Ford Fairlane]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1956 Ford Fairlane]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Gasser-style 1956 Ford Fairlane for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: This 2DR Fairlane was first customized in the 60's. The black paint is one of the best indicators of its history. There is a very small amount of red metalflake in the black which was a common customization for the era. The yellow on the belt-lline was repainted "SunFusion" and the Patina was carefully preserved. This description of the paint is just one point in a massive list of all the great things about the history of this ...[Read More]( [Auction Alert: Ford F250 Bicentennial and a Chevy Chevelle conclude today]( [Auction Alert: Ford F250 Bicentennial and a Chevy Chevelle conclude today]( Posted by Tom Comerro - Two more vehicles will reach their conclusion today on Hemmings Auctions: a single-family-owned Ford pickup that helped the nation celebrate a huge milestone, and a top-down Chevelle that is a throwback to GM muscle. Up-to-the-second statuses of these and all of the lots are available at Hemmings.com/auctions. 1976 Ford F250 Bicentennial This patriotic limited-edition Ford truck sports the Bicentennial option with the solid Bahama Blue paint scheme. Of course, the interior features red-white-and-blue plaid ins...[Read More]( [Bathurst plans a second, dedicated racing circuit next to legendary Australian track Mount Panorama]( [Bathurst plans a second, dedicated racing circuit next to legendary Australian track Mount Panorama]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Much like the Circuit de la Sarthe at Le Mans, Bathurst's Mount Panorama circuit relies on roads open to the public most of the year. That arrangement makes it difficult to conduct any more than a handful of races at Australia's most storied track, but that stands to change in the next few years with the addition of a second dedicated race circuit adjacent to Mount Panorama. While organized racing has taken place at Bathurst as far back as 1900, motorsport events first took place on the 6.2-kilometer Mount Panora...[Read More]( [Ford's answer to the Beetle could have been a flip-front mid-engine turbine-powered death trap]( [Ford's answer to the Beetle could have been a flip-front mid-engine turbine-powered death trap]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - The Volkswagen Beetle, as we all know by now, sent shockwaves through the U.S. auto industry. Sure, imports had come and gone in the past, but they were usually considered outliers - cars for enthusiasts, immigrants, and crackpots - that hardly garnered any market share. And Ford's initial response is worth examining because it illustrates how little some in the U.S. auto industry really understood the Beetle's appeal. While GM eventually responded with the Corvair, Rambler with the American, and Chrysler with ...[Read More]( [America, 1960s]( [America, 1960s]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: circa 1960s Location: unknown Source: via Frenchcurious What do you see here?...[Read More]( [Daily Briefing: National Corvette Museum offers student scholarship; Montecito Motor Classic to be held at new venue]( [Daily Briefing: National Corvette Museum offers student scholarship; Montecito Motor Classic to be held at new venue]( Posted by Tom Comerro - Courtesy of the National Corvette Museum The directors at the National Corvette Museum announce a new annual student scholarship of $2,500, for those who wish to pursue a degree related to automotive, museum or non-profit industry, or any field which works within those industries. The scholarship is part of the museum's ongoing efforts to promote education and preserve future interest in the automotive-related industries. Applicants must be NCM members or children or grandchildren of NCM members and membersh...[Read More]( Sunday, September 1, 2019 ["But the prosperity was not all it seemed:" the downside of Henry Ford's $5 a day offer]( ['But the prosperity was not all it seemed:' the downside of Henry Ford's $5 a day offer]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Henry Ford, undoubtedly, helped to shape the automobile industry and the peoplescape of southeast Michigan with his offer of a $5 per day wage in 1914. It more than doubled the existing wages and led workers from all over the country - all over the world, even - to his Highland Park plant in Dearborn. It helped Ford continue to boost production of the Model T and streamline production. It became a major factor in the Model T's legacy of putting the world on wheels. But, as this 1993 episode of the PBS docuseries ...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Unrestored 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: This Hawk ready for you to restore and enjoy! Not only that, but this example is worthy of to receive a high quality restoration due to its pedigree. This one was originally pure black with a manual overdrive transmission and 289cu in engine with the VS 57 McCulloch Super Charger. My research about manual transmission cars finds that only 44 were built in 1957, and only 4 were black! I have included a few links that s...[Read More]( [Four-Links - stuffed-away Studebaker, Barthes on the DS, Nepal's EVs, Americanized gullwings,]( [Four-Links - stuffed-away Studebaker, Barthes on the DS, Nepal's EVs, Americanized gullwings,]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - For more than 50 years, a 1948 Studebaker has resided on the second story of the Greider family's garage near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At least, it did until this month, when it was removed for a restoration, according to LancasterOnline. The Greiders raised five children. Mary Henning, 67, of Delaware County, was in her early teens the day her father put the Studebaker in the garage's second floor. It had been sitting since 1958 at his father's farm. My dad called us out and lined us up, Henning said....[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - Single family owned, trailer package equipped 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: One family owner. Non-Smoker. Kept in one car garage when not being driven. Starts right away. Battery replaced. Tires are like new with about 500 miles on them. soft leather interior. No cuts or tears. A/C works, cruise works, Both key fobs work. No dings or dents in body. Chrome strip on sides has deteriorated. but end ones are in good shape. Must have been a mfg'r defect. Oil has ...[Read More]( LAST WEEK'S MOST READ [Racer Jessi Combs dies in land-racing record attempt crash]( [Racer Jessi Combs dies in land-racing record attempt crash]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Just over a year after the North American Eagle land-speed racing team lost one of its two co-drivers, Ed Shadle, and vowed to continue his quest to set a land-speed record, its other co-driver, television personality and racer Jessi Combs, has died in a high-speed crash at the Alvord Desert in Oregon. The crash took place Tuesday afternoon as the team conducted what was described as a test session on the desert. The test session was the team's first since last year, when Combs ran the North American Eagle to 483...[Read More]( LAST WEEK'S BEST DISCUSSION [An affordable classic: Chevrolet's second-generation Corvair]( [An affordable classic: Chevrolet's second-generation Corvair]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - Chevrolet's redesigned-for-1965 Corvair debuted to high praise from the automotive press, with Car and Driver's David E. Davis, Jr. declaring it "the most beautiful car to appear in this country since before World War II." American consumers agreed, buying 23-percent more '65 Corvairs than they did the year before. Trouble, in the form of the Ford Mustang, was brewing, and Corvair sales began a slide in 1966 from which they'd never recover. Today, the second-generation Corvairs, model years 1965-'69, represent a...[Read More]( Hemmings Motor News will not sell or share your e-mail address with other companies. 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