From Rust to Rod: A Volks Rod Dream Realized
So there I was—a novice in my own right but with car culture running deep in my veins. My family had some true classics back in the day: a ’55 Ford Thunderbird, an Austin Healey, and a Jaguar. Unfortunately, those beauties are out of reach for me in today’s world. But that doesn’t mean I’ve given up.
With two projects under my belt—a Jaguar XJ6 transformed into a 2-door convertible and a Beetle turned Baja Bug back in the ’80s—I figured I knew what I was doing. Oh, how wrong I was! Thinking I could tackle a new project in six months on a R20K budget? That’s rookie thinking right there.
The idea came alive after seeing inspiration in the October 2012 issue of *SA HotRods*. I found a dilapidated, non-running ’74 VW Beetle from a salvage dealer, scoured the internet for Beetle Rod styles, and dreamed up my own build. I wanted a 2-seater, but my wife had other ideas. The result? A sleek 4-seater Volks Rod painted in a period-correct powder blue and finished with an interior dressed in oxblood red leather.
With two projects under my belt—a Jaguar XJ6 transformed into a 2-door convertible and a Beetle turned Baja Bug back in the ’80s—I figured I knew what I was doing. Oh, how wrong I was! Thinking I could tackle a new project in six months on a R20K budget? That’s rookie thinking right there.
The idea came alive after seeing inspiration in the October 2012 issue of *SA HotRods*. I found a dilapidated, non-running ’74 VW Beetle from a salvage dealer, scoured the internet for Beetle Rod styles, and dreamed up my own build. I wanted a 2-seater, but my wife had other ideas. The result? A sleek 4-seater Volks Rod painted in a period-correct powder blue and finished with an interior dressed in oxblood red leather.
Breaking It Down: The Build Process
Starting with the Foundation
The Beetle was stripped to its core. Body off the chassis. Floor pans? Replaced. The body went off for sandblasting, while I got to work on the floor pan. Fresh brakes were installed—front and rear—to keep things safe, though the lightweight 600kg Volks Rod hardly needed anything fancy.
To achieve the classic stretched Hot Rod look, I added a 12-inch extender box to the front suspension. Meanwhile, the rear suspension was dropped to channel those ’50s cruiser vibes.
Power and Performance
The heart of this build—a 1300cc engine—was completely torn down and rebuilt to 1600cc specs. Coated in fire-engine red and dressed with a chrome kit from FlatFour Racing, the engine became a work of art. A twin-tip exhaust completed the transformation, giving the car the growl it deserved. The gearbox also got a matching red coat, and everything rolled on narrow and wide steel rims wrapped in whitewall tires.
Body Mods: Chopping and Strengthening
Before cutting the roof, I reinforced the body by replacing the heater channels with boxed angle irons running from the firewall to the back floor pan. The firewall itself was strengthened side-to-side, and additional supports were added under the rear seat.
The front and rear sections of the Beetle body were reworked, and a new bonnet pan was fabricated. Since the fuel tank had to go, a custom fuel cell now sits snugly under the bonnet. For a sleeker silhouette, I sourced a 1956 Beetle bonnet, which is longer than the original ’74 and gives the car an unmistakable look.
The windscreen posts were cut, the roof removed, and the body smoothed by eliminating door handles and rust spots. Once painted, the Rod basked in the sun like it had just rolled out of a time machine.
Interior: Classy and Custom
The interior was where the vision really came together. The oxblood red leather against the powder blue exterior was a match made in Hot Rod heaven. The front seats, mounted on Toyota Conquest runners, were cut down to achieve the perfect height.
To keep things clean, all the black knobs were replaced with custom white ones, contrasting beautifully with the blue dash. Even the handbrake lever was swapped for a push-button setup reminiscent of a Mercedes foot brake system.
The finishing touches? Headlights and taillights sourced from the U.S. and mirrors imported from the U.K. Every detail was carefully curated to make this Volks Rod one-of-a-kind.
The Result
The little Volks Rod is a gem and a true head-turner. It’s been a long journey, filled with challenges and late nights, but every time I take it out for a drive, it’s pure joy.
To everyone who helped me along the way—thank you. This project wasn’t just about building a car; it was about realizing a dream.
And now, when the Rod comes out to play, it’s not just another car on the road—it’s a story of passion, perseverance, and Hot Rod love.
Starting with the Foundation
The Beetle was stripped to its core. Body off the chassis. Floor pans? Replaced. The body went off for sandblasting, while I got to work on the floor pan. Fresh brakes were installed—front and rear—to keep things safe, though the lightweight 600kg Volks Rod hardly needed anything fancy.
To achieve the classic stretched Hot Rod look, I added a 12-inch extender box to the front suspension. Meanwhile, the rear suspension was dropped to channel those ’50s cruiser vibes.
Power and Performance
The heart of this build—a 1300cc engine—was completely torn down and rebuilt to 1600cc specs. Coated in fire-engine red and dressed with a chrome kit from FlatFour Racing, the engine became a work of art. A twin-tip exhaust completed the transformation, giving the car the growl it deserved. The gearbox also got a matching red coat, and everything rolled on narrow and wide steel rims wrapped in whitewall tires.
Body Mods: Chopping and Strengthening
Before cutting the roof, I reinforced the body by replacing the heater channels with boxed angle irons running from the firewall to the back floor pan. The firewall itself was strengthened side-to-side, and additional supports were added under the rear seat.
The front and rear sections of the Beetle body were reworked, and a new bonnet pan was fabricated. Since the fuel tank had to go, a custom fuel cell now sits snugly under the bonnet. For a sleeker silhouette, I sourced a 1956 Beetle bonnet, which is longer than the original ’74 and gives the car an unmistakable look.
The windscreen posts were cut, the roof removed, and the body smoothed by eliminating door handles and rust spots. Once painted, the Rod basked in the sun like it had just rolled out of a time machine.
Interior: Classy and Custom
The interior was where the vision really came together. The oxblood red leather against the powder blue exterior was a match made in Hot Rod heaven. The front seats, mounted on Toyota Conquest runners, were cut down to achieve the perfect height.
To keep things clean, all the black knobs were replaced with custom white ones, contrasting beautifully with the blue dash. Even the handbrake lever was swapped for a push-button setup reminiscent of a Mercedes foot brake system.
The finishing touches? Headlights and taillights sourced from the U.S. and mirrors imported from the U.K. Every detail was carefully curated to make this Volks Rod one-of-a-kind.
The Result
The little Volks Rod is a gem and a true head-turner. It’s been a long journey, filled with challenges and late nights, but every time I take it out for a drive, it’s pure joy.
To everyone who helped me along the way—thank you. This project wasn’t just about building a car; it was about realizing a dream.
And now, when the Rod comes out to play, it’s not just another car on the road—it’s a story of passion, perseverance, and Hot Rod love.
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