This 1971 1600cc Twin Port Super Beetle was discovered by its owner in a scrapyard at Yagoona, 20km south of Sydney, NSW, in August 2004. The car had suffered an engine fire due to a leaky fuel pump, causing extensive damage, including a burnt-out engine bay, smashed windows, torn roof headlining, ripped seats, rust from the fire, and a destroyed wiring loom. The scrapyard manager mentioned it was set to be crushed the next day. On impulse, the owner bought the Super Beetle wreck for $500.
The car was delivered to his home that evening, where it was met with disbelief from his wife and neighbours, who saw it as a hopeless case. The restoration proved challenging; the engine was seized with rusty water (water doesn’t belong in an air-cooled engine 😉), the brakes were in similar condition, and it needed new window rubbers, interior, extensive welding, and a new paint job. With an initial budget of $5000, the costs escalated to $14,000.
After two years of challenging restoration work, the car was finally registered in 2006 and became the owner’s daily driver.
In 2019, the Super Beetle underwent a complete EV conversion by Traction EV in Morayfield, QLD. As a cherished member of the family, this Super Beetle EV Conversion has a unique character unmatched by modern cars. Despite a few battle scars, its owner is proud to have saved it, and given the Super Beetle a new lease on life as an electric daily driver.
Special thanks go to VW Campsie NSW for their support and spare parts.
In 2019 my father and I embarked on a project to restore and convert a run down Beetle to electric. TractionEV supplied the Hyper9 motor and Tesla Battery conversion kit. James was there every step of the way on this 3 year journey. His exceptional knowledge and experience meant he was able to quickly diagnose and solve any issues I encountered.
The best EV conversions I have ever seen.
These guys are building some of the best EV custom classic car conversions around. Helpful people and high quality results. Their cars even made the cover of Street Machine.
These guys are on another level. There is a lot of experience here paired with passion and attention to the detail. No matter if you want to convert your ride-on mower or a high end sports car: Give them a go!
I have had the opportunity to collaborate with James on my personal project: the design and fabrication of my custom electric Baja Beetle Ute. Over the last couple of years, James’ advice has been invaluable in helping me design the electrical systems for the conversion. His expertise in EV technology guided me through the process, ensuring that I understood the complexities of wiring and integrating the electrical components. Thanks to his support, I’ve been able to create a high quality, efficient and reliable electric vehicle that I drive everyday both on and off road.
