Seems long Michigan winters have a funny way of playing with some folks.

In what was surely a "you got peanut butter in my chocolate" moment, someone decided that a bright yellow VW Bug was the perfect wrapper for an Olds 455.

Here's how they put it:

"455 Olds, auto, runs & drives around parking lot. Square frame built good. Needs finishing. Good body."

I don't know what the engine itself is worth (or the VW, for that matter), but it has a $4500 "ask" right now, with a "trade" a possibility.

I am both intrigued and horrified at the prospect of this thing being sorted enough to use on the street. I would normally think this kind of thing would be WILDLY unsafe, but as the seller states, "square frame built good."

Now who can argue with that?...

[See it at www.marshallmotors.org/projects.html down amongst their other "treasures"...]



http://www.marshallmotors.org/images...s/F000284C.jpg

http://www.marshallmotors.org/images...s/F000284A.jpg

http://www.marshallmotors.org/images...s/F000284D.jpg

 

I WANT IT!!!

- Eric

 

I'd bet that was originally a Kanter kit. They're the only ones I have ever seen done like that.

And I'll wrassle ya for it! If the car I'm looking at first thing in the AM doesn't pan out, I may have to divert home to cincy via michigan. Currently in Wisconsin. 8 hour drive today to see this car I've been after all summer...

Although a 455 Olds V8 bug would certainly fit my profile to a T

-Jeff

 

Kanter????

Perhaps you are thinking "Kelmark", but that would also be incorrect. Kelmarks were kit cars designed to fit on a VW floor pan (as were most). Former Olds engineer Bill Porterfield started Mid Engineering and developed a frame that was a bolt-in replacement for the VW floor pan but accepted a Toronado drivetrain. These frames were most often seen under the Kelmark bodies. The Mid Engineering chassis used Corvette rear suspension arms and custom half shafts to narrow the rear track width. The rear track on the VW in the ad here tells me that is NOT what was done on this car.

 

Did they put the engine in the front or back.. too hard to tell with the pics provided....

 

I knew somebody who had a VW bug with a 455 front drive set up out of a tornado that he set up that kept the car a rear engine. That thing was like owning a V8 go-kart!

 

A buddy had 1 in high school with a rwd 327 in it. Scarey fast, I could only imagine what a 455 would feel like!!!!

 

Bah. Wish I could find more pictures of one.

http://bugoholics.com/kelmarkhistory.html

Regardless, from the one pic there, you're right on both counts. Kanter... What was I thinking? OOPS!

Thanks again Joe!

-Jeff

 

If anyone's serious about this I can go over there and get more info/take more pics. They're about a half-hour from me and as wife can attest, "I never need a reason to go out of my way to see some stupid car."

 

I just don't get how they could squeeze that engine in there? How is it cooled? If it is in the passenger compartment then it must get hot as blazes in there!

 

ditto!!!