1.9 8V
Purchased new for $4500.00 from Crest VW in Escondido, California.
- Manufactured for Volkswagen by Wilhelm Karmann GmbH in
- Osnabrück, Germany in February of 1975.
in April, 1975. The first model year Type 53 sold in the United States.
For the first eight years, this car was my daily driver and work vehicle. That (mercifully) ended in 1983 when I acquired my first pickup, but the car continued to log miles in freeway commutes to Los Angeles from northern San Diego County and numerous ski trips throughout California, Utah and Colorado. Aside from a Holley-Weber carburetor kit in 1977, the car was maintainted as stock until 1986, accumulating 135,000 miles. I rebuilt the head at about 60,000 miles when the "soft guides" problem arose, and it had served as a generally reliable (if underpowered) car for eleven years.. but I wanted something better.
The major changes began in 1986 when the Drake 1.9 motor, suspension, chassis braces, and sway bars were added. The car suddenly had ample power and vastly improved handling but still was driven only occasionally (and spent some time in storage) over the next ten years as other priorities (and other vehicles) prevailed. In 1996 I bought the teardrops and stumbled into a good deal for a complete 16V brake system. In 1998 I swapped the old 4-speed for an FN transaxle with a Quaife TSD.
The car was getting close to what I wanted. The .71 5th gear lowered the growl of the Drake on the freeway to a level easily offset by the audio. But another seven years passed and the car was driven even less, averaging only about 2k miles/year. Emphasis during the past two years has been on further quieting the car and comforting the occupants. The result has been a steep increase in how many miles it is driven. Could be a sign it's finally finished.. maybe.
GF
- Engine
- Volkswagen 1.9L 8-valve, built in 1986 by *Drake Engineering.
- Drake Stage 3 modified original 1975 solid lifter head.
- 82.5 bore, 90.5 stroke, 1935 cc, compression ratio: 9.2 to 1.
- 8V head with 40.5/34mm valves and .410/.240 Drake sport camshaft and adjustable cam pulley.
- Weber 32/36 DFEV progressive carburetor, original intake manifold, enhanced flow air cleaner.
High capacity oil pump, baffled 5 qt. pan, 10-row thermo controlled cooler, ss lines.- Recurved Bosch vac/mech advance distributor, Pertronics electronic points, Bosch coil.
- Drake modified 11-bolt crankshaft to F & S pressure plate.
- Euro GTI exhaust manifold, Drake dual downpipe, catalytic converter
- Techtonics Tuning exhaust system with resonator and Borla muffler
Horsepower: 143 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 138 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
*Drake was a renown engine builder and tuner in Southern California since the early days of hotrodding in the 1930s. At one time their turbocharged Drake-Offys dominated the Indianapolis 500, and Drake motors won the race a total of 26 times. But Drake never limited itself to Indy engines - BMW 320i, Mazda IMSA GTU, big block Chevys for race boats and Champ dirt track motors were produced. Their connection with the 8 valve water cooled VW motor began with success in the "Super Vee" racing series.
More Drake Information
I contacted Drake in late 1985 at their Irvine, CA shop and talked extensively with sales manager Robert Collins and chief engine builder Stewart Van Dyne. I believed then (and still do) that there is 'no substitute for cubic inches' (or centimeters), so the 1.9 option was what I chose It took a few months to actually plunk down $3500+, but by late summer 1986, I picked up the finished motor.
