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Smile Machine
Tim Case found the perfect candidate for his wild and cartoonish project car: a decaying '67 Sedan purchased for $300

By Stephan Szantai
Photography: Isaac Mion

Another criticism we hear on a regular basis is that we encourage "bastardizing an increasingly scarce commodity such as an early VW"--a direct quote from one of our readers. Rod and custom builders have heard this type of statement for decades. In truth, we should thank these guys. If it wasn't for them, most 1932 Fords for example would have been sent to the crusher; plus there wouldn't be any aftermarket industry to help restore these cars, and almost nobody would remember what a '32 Ford looks like. The same proves true in the Volkswagen world. Out of the thousands of Bugs modified into trick Cal Lookers or crazy customs, how many would still be on the road today if their ingenious creators had not saved them?

Case in point: The chopped Beetle belonging to Tim Case of Denver, Colo.. He based his project car on a derelict '67 Sedan that had seen better days. Was it a great candidate for a stock restoration? Definitely not. Since most vintage VW fanatics were unlikely to touch it, Tim brought it home after disbursing $300, and set on resurrecting the mangled tin, which first required a complete front clip. It took him 18 months to carry out the bodywork, interior and paint in his small one car garage--quite a feat, considering the list of alterations performed to the shell! A few people helped along the way, including his wife and good buddies Larry Harris and Rich Langenwalter.

The vehicle certainly has a cartoonish appearance to it, thanks to the 4-1/2-inch chopped top and 4-1/2 inch wider-than-stock fenders (with pre-1962 headlights and taillights), deemed necessary to cover the 15x7 and 15x10 widened Volkswagen rims. Tim also added a 1956 rear oval window in addition to a 1961 sliding sunroof. As a true custom car aficionado, he went a step further by building suicide doors and making the vintage "W" decklid swivel to the right! Attention to detail includes 1956 exterior door handles, chopped vent wings, as well as built-to-fit window moldings. The shell was finally covered in Hot Pink pearl, using Sherwin Williams products.

The 1967 pan, now entirely powder coated, received its fair share of modifications starting with an IRS conversion. It allows the Bug to handle like a champ and limits the negative camber, a welcome feature since the torsion bars were lowered three splines! The front end also sits closer to the asphalt as a result of an adjustable beam and a pair of 2-1/2-inch drop spindles. As far as the cockpit is concerned, Tim chose a variety of SCAT products: upholstery kit, Procar seats, in addition to a Drag-Fast shifter that he angled an additional 20 degrees due to the lower seating position. An Autometer Monster tachometer keeps track of the two-liter's rpm.

Speaking of the engine, let's check what hides behind the removable rear apron... This strong Type I powerplant assembled by Mr. Case himself displaces 2054cc, thanks to a DMS 74mm crankshaft combined with 94mm Mahle pistons and cylinders. The air/fuel mixture journeys through a pair of Weber 48IDF carbs, before passing their respective C.B. Performance 40mm intake valve, set in motion by a SCAT C45 camshaft. The burnt gases--compressed at a healthy 10:1--exit via 37mm valves, followed by a 1-3/4 merged header and a Turbo muffler. The result of this trickery is a flat four that pulls like a train and allows for easy burnouts.

Tim doesn't hesitate to drive his striking Beetle two or three times a week on the streets of Colorado. As you would guess, he receives a bunch of thumbs up and kids obviously love this car, which looks as if it came out of their favorite TV cartoon. Thanks for putting some smiles and color in today's traffic, Tim!

At a Glance
Engine builder: Tim Case
Case: VW Type I (AS41)
Displacement: 2054cc (counterweighted 74mm DMS crank x 94mm Mahle pistons/cylinders)
Rods: Modified VW Type I
Cam: SCAT C45 with 1.25 rockers
Heads: Ported & polished CB Performance 044 Supermag
Valve sizes: 40x37
Compression ratio: 10.05:1
Ignition: Bosch 009 distributor
Carburetion: Dual Weber 48IDFs with six-inch-tall velocity stacks
Exhaust: 1-3/4-inch merged header, custom 2-1/2-inch Turbo muffler
Oil system: HD 30mm oil pump, full flow, 1-1/2-quart oil sump
Other engine modifications: Fully balanced, Carter fuel pump, Holley fuel regulator