Welcome to this week’s FC Throwback, where we take a look back at some of our favourite previous feature cars. This week it’s Dan Noble’s VW Beetle from 2013…
Stripped out, caged up and rolling on fifteen52 rims. Dan Noble’s lean, green Beetle machine is ready for action!
These days there’s a shedload of different styles and scenes for us to take inspiration from. From the flat paint and sticker bombed wings of the Rat Look world, to the dropped and smoothed bodies of the Euro scene, we’re hardly short on options! Serial dubber, Dan Noble wanted to stretch the extra mile when it came to inspiration for his build. His roots originate from the air-cooled scene and after owning a Cali-look ’66 Beetle and a ’68 Lowlight Bay Window bus, he made the move into the world of water cooled rides.
While Dan may have made the jump from old to new school Beetle, he never forgot his roots and applied everything he knew to his latest project. No matter what scene you’re into, we can all agree that a good dose of lows should always be the first port of call, and that’s exactly where our veteran dubber started! The standard suspension was swapped out for a set of Weitech coilovers but the chassis mods didn’t stop at a simple drop. Dan also sorted out the Beetle with H&R anti- roll bars and an Audi S3 lower brace to keep the bug stiff round the corners. While Dan had the tools out he took the opportunity to change the standard brakes for a set of EBC drilled and grooved discs with Mintex pads.
If Dan was to completely change the look of the car, then a wheel swap was inevitable. His latest choice of rims are a classic. A set of 8.5x18in Fifteen52s completely transform the look of the car and fill the arches nicely.
When it came to the exterior no expense was spared. The bonnet and bootlid have been relieved of all their badges and the ugly third brake light has been removed. A fully smoothed Turbo ‘S’ front bumper now sits up front and just as much attention has been taken around the back. A smoothed V5 sports rear bumper has been seamlessly combined with an Audi TT V6 valence. To finish off the bodywork the car has been dressed in a 1950s VW Beetle pastel green – another nod to Dan’s old school roots.
Being a trimmer by trade meant that the car was in the best possible hands when it came to sorting out the inside. Opting for the racer look, the interior was stripped out and painted satin black.
The rear now plays host to a Weichers roll cage that was imported from Germany. The front seats have been exchanged for Recaro and Option 2 JDM units, and combined with Willans Supersport harnesses that keep Dan and his passengers pinned in.
The standard dull door cards have been replaced with a set of Beetle Cup race door cards that Dan trimmed in Mk5 Golf Interlagos tartan cloth. To finish off, the centre tunnel and console has been customised and smoothed with Audi TT vents now replacing the standard Beetle vents.
By combining his love for classic air-cooled vee-dubs with his new modern Beetle, Dan has successfully created the perfect blend of new school cool. Job done!
VW Beetle tech spec
Styling
Debadged bonnet and bootlid, third brake light removed, smoothed Turbo ‘S’ front bumper, relocated indicators, smoothed V5 sport rear bumper, Audi TT V6 valance, hidden fog light, shaved roof aerial, drilled lightweight door handles, Votex side sills, Projektzwo mirrors, respray in 1950s VW Beetle pastel green
Chassis
8.5x18in Fifteen52 Tarmac wheels, 215/40×18 Falken tyres, lightweight wheel bolts, Weitec coilovers, H&R anti roll bars, ECS dog bone mount, Proflex poly bushed ARBs, wishbones, steering rack, rear beam, droplinks, Audi S3 lower brace, EBC drilled and grooved discs, Mintex brake pads, Porsche race front tow eye, Tegiwa rear tow eye
Interior
Stripped out interior painted satin black, Recaro SPG race seats, Option 2 JDM carbon fibre race seat on custom Cobra mounts, Willans Supersport 4×3 harnesses, Weichers half cage, custom body brace, harness mount, Boucle carpet set with rear seat delete and boarded rear, Beetle Cup racecar door panels trimmed in Mk5 Golf Interlagos tartan cloth, restyled centre tunnel and smoothed console with Audi TT vents, Porsche Zermatt headlining with nefarious pinstriping, single sun visor trimmed in Interlagos tartan, OMP steering wheel
Tuning
Neuspeed P-Flo kit , Torque technique single silencer exhaust system
Thanks
Kev Howard, Shaun brown at Andover Hyperformance Bodyshop, Simon at Nefarious Pinstriping, Stuey at Accutek, Central Park Bodyshop and J.P Motors in Winchester, Southbound Motor Trimmers, Adam, Gary and Simon the d.i.c.k.s for keeping me inspired, Everyone on www.clubconcept.co.uk and www.evvo.co.uk, Martin at Phoenix Autos, Stuey and Chris at Accutek and last but by no means least my wife Natasha and son Gabriel for putting up with my VW OCD!
Words Nick Turner Photos Si Gray
