1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle - G-Games

Final Score: 85.5 pts.8 Eighth Place

As the inspiration for his Plum Crazy Super Beetle vintage racer, Eric Roberts used a Bug that competed in the 2.5-liter Trans Am Racing series during the early '70s. The car, which was recently built to its current racing specs, is run regularly with VARA and HSR-West in Southern California and consistently beats up on cars twice its size. Without whining about VW Trends' other "street car" entry, this Super Beetle was most definitely streetable and a low-buck, well-turned-out example.

Roberts estimates the aircooled terror powering his bug to produce "about 60 hp." Using a donor engine from a parts car, the 1.6-liter engine is fitted with a Kadron dual Solex carb kit, a lightened flywheel, Thunderbird headers and baffled stinger exhaust. When we slalom tested the car, driver Josh Jacquot had to get a quarter-mile run toward the first gate to carry enough speed to max out the Beetle's well-sorted chassis. And it still wasn't enough; the car continued to accelerate through the last set of gates.

The Bug sashayed through the cones at 69.1 mph; more oomph would've greatly increased its chances in this event.

Though featuring less than a tenth the power of the Supras, the Bug held its own surprisingly well. On 205/50R-15 g-Force KDs, honest-to-goodness street tires, it pulled .94 g on the skidpad bouncing off the bumpstops. That's Ferrari F360 territory.

Definitely a momentum car, the Beetle did not particularly like the Streets of Willow's tight turns and uphill sections. Despite being more down on power than usual due to the high heat (the engine is aircooled, remember), Eric, finessed his way to a 1:17.30, with a car boasting one third the horsepower of any other entry.

Suspension modifications are surprisingly few; up front, Boge VW Rabbit inserts are mated to Topline springs and a Topline 7/8-inch anti-roll bar keeps roll to a minimum. In the rear, KYB GR2 OE replacement gas shocks and a 3/4-inch, anti-roll bar from EMPI keep the engine hanging out over the rear axle, providing traction and surprisingly controllable oversteer. The featherweight 1,700-lb. race weight and chassis made extra-stiff by a custom six-point cage no doubt help produce such impressive numbers.

Despite its eighth-place finish, in the face of the talented competition on hand, we're pleasantly surprised by its performance. It even beat a lightly modified WRX overall. Roberts tells us not to be surprised; a little car we know as the original Porsche 911 has the same suspension and engine configuration. -Jared Holstein