Skip to main content

Closed9 replies

Air cooled engines made where? for what?

FM Former Member
Ok... this is probably a ridiculous "newbie" question which will undoubtedly spotlight my ignorance... but...

I'm wondering where these new VW engines are made and for what reason?

I've read (on this site) plenty advice about NOT purchasing "Mexican crate engines."

So who's making these things? Are these "real" (read: built by a facility owned by Volkswagon) Volkswagon engines? Does VW still have a plant somewhere producing air-cooled engines with "outdated" technology??

And, regardless of where or who is producing these things... why??

Granted, the "kit car" (or "replicar" if you prefer) market buys quite a few... and i'm sure there are some old beetles/busses/things out there that are still solid but need new power, but is there really enough demand to keep an "old school" engine factory in business?

As a side question, i've been told by some people that the "old school" VW Beetle was still being produced in Mexico until the release of the New Beetle. Is this true?

This all seems odd to me... like Ford still producing 1957 Mustangs and engines in one country while the rest of the world has moved on.

Thanks, in advance, for clearing up this silly curiosity of mine.

-a

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

FM Former Member
Ok... this is probably a ridiculous "newbie" question which will undoubtedly spotlight my ignorance... but...

I'm wondering where these new VW engines are made and for what reason?

I've read (on this site) plenty advice about NOT purchasing "Mexican crate engines."

So who's making these things? Are these "real" (read: built by a facility owned by Volkswagon) Volkswagon engines? Does VW still have a plant somewhere producing air-cooled engines with "outdated" technology??

And, regardless of where or who is producing these things... why??

Granted, the "kit car" (or "replicar" if you prefer) market buys quite a few... and i'm sure there are some old beetles/busses/things out there that are still solid but need new power, but is there really enough demand to keep an "old school" engine factory in business?

As a side question, i've been told by some people that the "old school" VW Beetle was still being produced in Mexico until the release of the New Beetle. Is this true?

This all seems odd to me... like Ford still producing 1957 Mustangs and engines in one country while the rest of the world has moved on.

Thanks, in advance, for clearing up this silly curiosity of mine.

-a

Colton P.Colton P.
The last old-style Beetle rolled of the production line in Mexico a few weeks ago... there were several articles about it:

www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-07-30-last-vw-beetle_x.htm

As for new engines, many of us have turned to specialty builders who acquire a case and then custom build the engine with after-market parts.

In my case, I turned to Kurt Mezger in Westchester, PA and have not regretted it for a second. If you want to get it from the horse's mouth, I encourage you to contact him. He has a website at:

www.vintageperformance.net

Hope that helps!

FM Former Member
Thanks guys.

That article is interesting.

I still find it very odd that VW continued to make the beetle for so long without ever solving emissions problems and importing some into the states where (i think) they could have fetched some good "collectable" prices.

Just very strange to me. Again, i have to say it would be like finding out that Ford was still pumping out a 1957 model in a factory next door to where they are manufacturing 2004 editions.

FM Former Member
Do you guys know if they continued to "upgrade" each year they were in production or are these Beetles the same as the 1974 (total GUESS) edition when they stopped being imported into the states?

Obviously I've not been to Mexico. It would be entertaining to see all those Enchilada Time Capsules zooming around.

It's still funny to me that they would be producing a car from "yesteryear."

I wouldn't be surprised to find out that there are companies producing 1957 Speedsters, Spiders and Cobras!!
FM Former Member
I guess, since I've already admitted my ignorance and since George has already chimed in with a blurb about "Type 1" engines, this would be a good time to admit that i don't know the difference between the "Types."

Just a quick summary would be wonderful!

Were these "Types" upgrades from one another or for totally different products? (Type 1 was for Beetles, Type 2 was for MiniBusses...etc)

Thanks again.


Of course i could look elsewhere on the internet but i really enjoy the company you all give me!
FM Former Member
FYI,

At the peak of production of the Beetle, it was built and assembled in 20 different countries, the most prominent being Mexico. That means there probably are places somewhere in the world were there might still be NOS type 1 engines sitting in a warehouse!

The Beetle is probably still the most visible "used car" in the world and parts are still available anywhere in the world where they were made because they are still running!

My two cents worth! (in Canadian currency, so I guess my opinion is worthless?)

Peter

Post Content
Remove This Ad

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires a premium membership.

Supporting Member

Please help keep us running!

Supporting members have donated about $4.00 a month ($49.00 US per year) paid annually.

  • Priority support
  • Removal of inter-page (between thread) advertisements.
  • Access to Build Manuals
  • Access to Knowledge Base
  • Access to Supporting Members events.
  • Access to Leveraged Group Buying from site Merchants.

AUTO RENEW: You membership will auto-renew after 12 months. If you prefer not to auto-renew, you can cancel your premium membership at any time and it will remain in effect until the end of the 12 months. To cancel, sign in at SpeedsterOwners.com and navigate to: (Your User Name)  > Premium Membership.

PLEASE NOTE: Your credit card will receive a charge from CROWDSTACK PAY, the payment processor, not SpeedsterOwners.com.

$49.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×