Hot VWs Magazine November 2024:
On the cover: It gets driven for sure! That’s Jake Miller’s 1951 Split Beetle. (Photo: Chadly Johnson)
EMPI ENGINE BATTLE
Who Made the Most HP and Took the $15,000 Check? VW engines roared and anticipation buzzed as the third week of SoCal VW Week in 2024 turned Anaheim, California, into the epicenter of horsepower. The global VW community watched as the EMPI Engine Battle unfolded, seeking the ultimate powerhouse.
DRIVEN SPLIT!
As VW enthusiasts, we all have fantasies of owning a dream car someday, and for many of us, a Split Window Beetle would make that list of cars. If that dream was to become a reality, what would you actually do with that car?
LITTLE RED
A hardcore Volkswagen enthusiast with a penchant for Type 3s, Michael Runyon had been dreaming of owning an early Ruby Red Notchback for decades – until a close friend mentioned one that might be for sale. As the car came equipped with a range of hard-to-find parts the previous owner had collected over the years, he soon realized it could be the perfect base to complete as his own project.
ISABELLA!
This ’73 Bus, known as Isabella, certainly wasn’t pampered in its early life. Built in Brazil, it served as a delivery workhorse and, despite over two decades of abusive service, remained road-worthy with the original drivetrain. It now resides in British Colombia, where it morphed into a superb, fully customized camper.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Even two decades ago, VW campouts often flew under the radar of enthusiasts, being typically small and seen as “side gigs” to larger events. Times have changed and some of them now enjoy an impressive turnout. Take the Spring Picnic and Campout, a get-together created in the 1990s, which gathered 860 vehicles this year…
EL CARRERA KARMANN
“It’s a bit of rolling art, a project from my creative side done just to have some fun,” explains Randy Carlson about his ’57 Ghia, which was inspired by Mexico’s famous Carrera Panamericana race held during the 1950s.
TWICE THE LOVE
It has Half the number of cylinders, but arguably twice the amount of love... Grant and Dawn Rilveria decided to forgo returning to the V8 world in exchange for becoming part of the Ohana.
BUGGY WONDER YEARS 20
Go to any VW event today and you can be certain to see a few dune buggies. Yet the situation was a bit different during the late 1960s and early ’70s – they were everywhere. This article takes a look at a bunch of them that joined the first Bug-Ins at OCIR…
VOLKSJAM BY THE PARKER DAM
Making its return, VolksJam by the Parker Dam is highlighted by a new venue alongside the Colorado River, and new activities including valve cover races and a raffle for a convertible Beetle!
READERS SHOWCASE
This section is dedicated to all Volkswagen owners and enthusiasts, allowing them to be featured in HotVWs. Show your passion and share the story about your VW! Photos/description
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