VW Bug with a Lump
 

That is a situation begging for a mid engine placement. I suspect I could pick up the front end with one hand!

A local fellow built a mod car for autocross last winter, using a vw beetle and a subaru turbo engine mounted behind the rear axle. He has trouble keeping the front wheels on the ground coming out of corners and off the line and has trouble getting it to turn. I would have told him to mount the motor amidships but he did not ask my opinion. Its too bad because his workmanship is very very nice. The weight distribution is just too far off to work as a race car.

Interesting coincidence. I saw one right here locally the other day. I had no camera but would've loved to have a shot of it. Super paint, high end wheels and interior. The motor on the one I saw appeared to stick quite a bit further back and the front end looked like it was just dying to lift off the ground. First thought was "if that's not the dumbest thing I ever saw I don't know what is..."

Google "trailing throttle oversteer"

I recall seeing ads back in the Seventies for kits which allowed mid-engine installation of V8's into VW Beetles. The back seats were yanked out, and the engine was encapsulated in a fiberglass box with a removable lid. I keep thinking that an Eldorado or Toronado transaxle was part of the setup, but I'm not certain.

yes, and corvair mid engine kits were fairly common too. I remember seeing a toronado drive train in the back of a porsche 911 or 912. Thats just crazy!

Man, looks dangerous as hell but I'd love to beat on that thing for a day or two! :eek: :D

Paul Newman had a sweet mid-engine V8 (351 I believe) bug convertible. I suspect when you build with money-no-object, it probably handled quite well.

HOLY cow!

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1390261026

That's crazy. It looks like he has some sort of weight on the front end... is that a fuel tank or what?

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1390261026

Those headlights are weird, too...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1390261026

...as do the bunny floor mats.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1390261026

Yes it is, and having the gas tank double as the front bumper speaks volumes about efficiency in design...

Very cool ,just imagine the hp to weight ratio.Bug events were big at the baytown track here in the Houston area, fast vintage beetles would burn up the track setting really low qrt runs, if youve never seen one setup as a pure track car your in for a big surprise.