Dave's Karmann Cabrio
(note - these pages created when the car was still on the road. Recent info and pics on the page about me)
Bernadette shortly after I bought her. Please click for a larger image. More recent pics below. |
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| You may have seen my bug 'Bernadette' thrashing around the Kidderminster area as she is a genuine daily driver, until recently covering in excess of 10K miles a year. I have owned her for about 18 months, but a quick description of her previous history (to my knowledge) is as follows: |  |
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She is a US spec late 1979 1303 Karmann Cabriolet originally with fuel injection, McPherson struts, IRS (semi trailing arm) rear suspension and rack and pinion steering. At some stage the fuel injection system had been removed and replaced so that when I bought her she breathed through a stock Solex 34 PICT-3 carb. She was imported into Jersey in 1991 and converted to right hand drive (fairly well, though wipers still go the wrong way, the bonnet pull is on the drivers side still and there are a few signs of her heritage like indicators on the wings and drum brakes all round). |
| The interior was re-upholstered and a hood bag fabricated in cream leatherette with blue piping, and a new hood lining has been fitted. The hood outer has either been replaced or has stretched over the years as the rear window is somewhat lopsided. |  |
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Wheels are now wide chrome OEM style with 185 and 205 section tyres. The engine (originally 1584cc) was rebuilt with 1641 barrels and pistons a couple of years ago but has otherwise stock internals (as far as I know). |
| Since taking ownership I have had fitted a Wipac Thatcham approved encoded key immobiliser and Sparkrite alarm system (just in case your were beginning to take a shine to her...;-) and various bits of trim such as chrome door pulls and window winders, wood rim steering wheel etc. Although not in show class condition she looks generally quite tidy to the extent that I have had several on-the-spot offers to buy her! I have replaced the heat exchangers after a chilly and fogged up winter last year (now heater works great!) but otherwise she has been (touch wood) remarkably reliable. I still haven't gotten round to replacing the perished hood seals, but it still doesn't leak. They must be right when they say they have 'the best cabiolet hoods ever made..."! |  |
Running against another cabrio at the now defunct N.A.S. (National Auto Showground, Peterborough) sprint track |
I also have a great interest in the Volkswagen Drag Racing club (and drag racing in general) and attend as many of their events as possible at Santa Pod and Avon Park Raceway (Bug Jam, SummerNats, Dub Daze) as well as other V-dub events (BVF, Bug Blast et all). |
| To this end I have fitted a Bugpack header and single quiet pack exhaust system and she now runs twin Weber 36IDF carburators with K&N filters and Bugpack throttle linkage. She also has a tacho (conservative 4.5K rpm max as stock bottom end) and oil temp and pressure guages. Best RWYB E.T. at Santa Pod with the original single carb setup was 20.46 seconds, although a recon gearbox would probably have helped as I still can't make racing shifts from 1st to 2nd! :-( I have yet to run her on the strip with the dual Webers, but she certainly runs stronger and I'm hoping for the mid 18 second mark. | 
Current engine configuration which came from... |
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This and...
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This...
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In the queue at Santa Pod for the BugJam 1998 Run-What-U-Brung next to Ben's bug from Half-A-Brain V-dub club. |
Eventually? 2200cc, Dual 48 IDAs, Superflows, 13 secs... I wish. Need to sort out the dodgy drum brakes all round though first! Perhaps a bit of a German look conversion might be on the cards for next year as this seems to be en vogue at the moment. (A set of Porsche cup alloys would make a great Chrissy prezzie, Santa!) |
| I am a member of the Half-A-Brain V-Dub club based in Kingswinford, West Midlands and try to get along to their meetings when possible as well as the Fun Lovin' Flat Fours' Telford meets at Fast Eddie's bar. So if you see us around then give us a flash or Hang Loose wave (if you know what I mean ;-)... | Another
launch at the N.A.S. sprint track
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