New Issue #62

Cars

Mexican Volks 1950 Split
Tijuana Volks club member Meno Zenitram took his already slammed ’50 Split in a bold new direction. The car now wears a striking new colour — achieved through a full body wrap.

Lowrider Ghia
Japan’s car culture spans countless styles, many shaped by American influences. A perfect example is Daisuke Matsuhisa’s ’72 Karmann Ghia: bought in 2020, it has since transformed into a full lowrider.

1966 Porsche 911
Jim Holmes became iconic as the man on the cover of the February ‘75 HotVWs “California Look” issue, standing beside his white ’63 Ragtop. After selling that car in ’77, he picked up a ’66 Porsche 911 — a car he’s held onto ever since.

Hebmüller #14-00007
Hebmüller #007 stands out as one of the most original early survivors. Lloyd’s mission with 007 was clear: restore what many consider the most historically important Hebmüller to true world‑class condition.

Floyd’s Meyers Manx
What happens when one of the coolest suitcase makers teams up with one of the coolest VW‑based rides? Not two brands — but one standout collaboration.

Type 147 Fridolin
Matthew Koomen, tracked down his Fridolin in his home country, Australia. This Type 147 didn’t stay original for long. After a round of attitude‑shifting upgrades, it now drives quicker and far more comfortably than the day he found it.

Sunset ‘63 Karmann Cruiser
When it landed in the UK it seemed solid, and after a few tweaks, some lowering parts, and a set of Porsche Fuchs, it was back on the road. Darren drove it for a couple of years without thinking much about it. Then the moment came, things escalated quickly, and a full restoration took over.

Shows

Ardennen Rennen
We were lucky to join this mythical, ultra‑exclusive Old Speed VW and Porsche rally through the Belgian Ardennes. Now in its third edition — and it was easily one of the strongest to date.

Sankt Johann VW Meeting
Held each second week of May, the Käferweihe — the traditional “Blessing for the Bugs” — serves as the annual gathering of the Sankt Johann VW club.

Baja Alpina 2025
What started as an idea between a handful of enthusiasts, grew into a full event after a year and a half of planning, with more than 30 air‑cooled vehicles hitting the trail.

Klassisches VW Treffen in Japan
Organised by FLAT4, this legendary vintage Volkswagen gathering returned for one final weekend, bringing together enthusiasts, rare and early VWs and a warm wave of nostalgia under the soft sun of the Izu highlands in Japan.

F.A.T. Ice Race 2026
The event is steadily shifting from a pure motorsport contest into a wide celebration of global car culture. For manufacturers and tuners alike, it has become the prime stage to express their brand DNA and unveil their latest creations.

Le Bug Show in Spa
The 30th Le Bug Show, held 8–10 August 2025 at the Circuit de Spa‑Francorchamps, once again confirmed why this meet remains a pillar of the European air‑cooled VW scene.

Roadtrip to Volks’n’Roll, Italy
A 2,500 km adventure, crossing the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy before looping back again — all to make it to the Volks’n’Roll VW weekend.

Volks’n’Roll
The 2025 Volks’n’Roll weekend, held 13–15 June, once again showed why this meet has become a staple for VW fans from all over Europe.

…and more!

Hebmüller Build – Part 10
Part 10 of the Hebmüller build: an Okrasa‑tribute engine for the Hebmüller means diving deep into the details — careful measuring, machining, balancing and making choices you will never see again once the engine is tucked back in place.

European VW Show Calendar
Most European air-cooled VW shows listed on one page.

El Dub’s Column
Dirty Dave Vanderbeke’s ’61 I/G. Throughout its life, the car wore an impressive lineup of sponsors, a perfect snapshot of just how lively and competitive the American performance‑VW scene was in the 1970s.