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Featured: This Is What It's Like To Rally A VW Beetle

This Is What It’s Like To Rally A VW Beetle

By Petrolicious Productions
October 27, 2015
4 comments

Story by David Vardy // Photography courtesy of David Vardy / VrDMotorsport

At VrDMotorsport, we run several classic race vehicles, but our most unique is a 1958 Volkswagen Beetle rally car. Rallying since 1961 with Bill Bengry, it could be the very first works Volkswagen rally car in history—and we have just been accepted to compete in this year’s Wales Rally GB in November.

Driver Bob Beales’ car has lived a long life in competition, and had early disc brakes, a Porsche engine, and various other hop-up parts and modifications fitted over its career. Now, with a second life as a historic machine, it has been invited to compete in numerous events, including Race Retro and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Now fitted with an Oettinger TSV 34R 1,295-cc engine, if you’re willing to stand out in the November cold in Wales, chances are you’ll see us flying by in our rally Beetle—with another adventure sure to follow soon after.

Follow @vrdmotorsport on Instagram to keep up-to-date with the car’s appearances and results at Wales Rally GB.

 

Tags Beetle/ Rally/ Volkswagen
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Michael Gross
Michael Gross
8 years ago

Hallo Dave, would you be so kind and share your contact Details with me. I am currently building up an 63 Rally Beetle with the 1963 Specs. Okrasa TSV 1300, Porsche 356 Drums and so on. Kind regards Michael

1
Dave Vardy
Dave Vardy
8 years ago

It has to be said that without the support and help from the guys at VW Heritage this Beetle would not still be competing. It is unbelievably difficult to find the right parts for a 1958 Bug thats been rallying for over 50 years but the Heritage Guys have never let us down.

To the point we had to strip and rebuild the engine last week after finding the exhaust firing out blue smoke. This could have ended our chance at competing at Rally GB but they had the bits and were delivered the next day !!!

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Christopher Gay
Christopher Gay
8 years ago

Well, VW is certainly killing it in Rally Cross with the Andretti team.
In fact, they are currently the cars and series of choice that my son wants to drive. 😉

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Michael Gross
Michael Gross
8 years ago
Reply to  Christopher Gay

Hallo Dave, would you be so kind and share your contact Details with me. I am currently building up an 63 Rally Beetle with the 1963 Specs. Okrasa TSV 1300, Porsche 356 Drums and so on. Kind regards Michae

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