Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i VolksWorld

volksworld.ed@kelsey.co.uk For those of you that haven’t yet heard of ‘Tur-moil’, all I can say is hold on to your hat when you get to the feature (p8) as this car is gonna blow you away! Even if you’ve seen images of this insanely detailed vehicle on social media (highly likely if you’re into air-cooled VWs), you’ll still enjoy the story behind what many believe to be the best detailed Beetle build of recent times. Perhaps ever. I won’t spoil Stephan’s story, but let me just throw in a couple of crazy numbers. In excess of 2,500 one-off / handmade parts. 15,000 hours to build… Those two figures alone should give you a good idea of the commitment and dedication to perfection that went into this project. Moving on, there’s…

PORSCHE-POWERED VOLKSROD Some people follow, others innovate. That’s just the way it’s always been. Out of all the people who innovate though, there’s very rarely a completely original idea. We all take on board influences throughout our lives, and these permeate our consciousness and guide us when it comes to making decisions and creating things. A truly original idea therefore has to come from within, and it’s a rare and wonderful thing when it happens. Meet Matt Markstaller, the builder of this Porsche 928-engined Volksrod. Now, I might be stepping out of line here, but there are plenty of Volksrods out there that aren’t very well thought out. Some look like they’ve just been thrown together with whatever parts fell to hand with little or no regard for aesthetics. So…

Order tickets online @ www.volksworldshow.com Sponsored by VolksWorld Plus 2024 Europe’s premier VW & Porsche Show The world’s best air-cooled VW magazine brand has teamed up with its fellow publications, Classic Porsche and Performance VW to bring you not just the best air-cooled VWs, but also the crème de la crème of classic Porsches and – on Sunday only – a line-up of retro water-cooled VWs outside on the Grandstand Apron. So, besides the world class collection of Beetles, Split and Bay Window Buses, Karmann Ghias and Type 3s on show in the Surrey Hall, we’ll also see air-cooled Porsche 356s, 911s, 912s, 914s, 964s and 993s showcased in the Esher Hall for 2024 in a 100% air-cooled extravaganza! Meanwhile, out on the Grandstand Apron, you’ll find air-cooled VW clubs…

The buying stage of a project is undoubtedly a dopamine high, but what comes after can turn into a nightmare full of heartache and broken promises. I gave a potted version of my own Westy project in my Border Patrol column last month, and yet more drama befell me this month, but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the field of broken dreams I often survey in popular VW classifieds places. Having had what I feel are my fair share of ups and downs, I can easily see why people get to the point where they ‘out-project’ cars. Often, it’s a lack of money, or time, to complete a project, or the realisation that’s it’s a way bigger job than initially thought. Then there’s the space issue, too.…

Way back in 1988, a fresh-faced Simon Emery handed his notice to Ritchie King and decided to go it alone, renting the corner of a workshop in Maldon High Street. And so The Paintbox was born. Simon was soon joined by Shane Whitworth and the duo went on to create many notable VW works of art, more than any of us can remember. The list is long and distinguished and, as well as the many VWs, The Paintbox has had a hand in all manner of other projects over the years, from giant Easter Eggs to repainting one of Dave Grohl’s effects pedals. 2024 sees the 36th year of The Paintbox and, while Shane moved on to pastures new quite a few years ago now, Simon has remained at the…

BORDER PATROL When was the last time you did an about turn on a decision you’d made? When it comes to car purchases, some people do it with regularity. They own a car for a few days, or weeks, then spot a replacement and punt the one they’ve just bought on again. I get it. We all have ideas of what constitutes the pinnacle of VW ownership for us – it’s the for us part that’s important. There will always be high-ticket cars that lots more people want to own than actual cars exist, or at least are affordable. There will also always be people who build cars for validation from others. A sense of popularity and peer acceptance drives many of the choices we all make in our lives.…

FULL CUSTOM ’52 SPLIT “Would you believe it boasts an astounding 2,500 one-off components?” While VWs have been an integral part of the custom car world for decades, they still rarely mingle with the hot rod and custom car fraternities. Of course, some ‘get it’, but a lot still view them with contempt and derision. It’s a shame, as when you really get to talk to people, you’d be amazed how many of these same folk drove Beetles in their younger days, before moving on to Porsche 911s, or away from air-cooled entirely and into hot rodded Fords, or American cars. Ultimately, no one can argue that some stellar custom VWs have been built through the years, and they’ve not all come from America. British cars that spring immediately to…

’54 KARMANN CABRIOLET “All the way through… Karmann has been there, waiting in the wings with an angle grinder and a smile” There can hardly be a better pairing in the automotive world than Karmann and Volkswagen. Like macaroni and cheese, it’s almost as if they were conceived together. Unlike cheese (which had to wait a few thousand years for macaroni to show up), Karmann’s perfect partner took a mere 40 years to arrive. The first collaboration was, of course, the Beetle, with production of the Cabriolet version beginning in 1949. The rest, as is always said, is history. With any long-term relationship, no matter how many Karmann Ghias you experience, it’s always the first time that means the most. The Karmann Cabriolet Beetle has to be one of the…