Jean Fourie has spent the three years designing and building the V8 Stealth Beetle at his company 3L Engineering in Cape Town, South Africa. Jean started with a 1965 Beetle body that sits over a custom aluminum chassis cut and bent out of five and six mm sheets by Vulcan Steel resulting in a 950 kg (2094 lb) vehicle. The Beetle rides on a BMW E39 M5 suspension with BMW E36 wishbones. The engine is a 4.2 L V8 from Audi S8 that makes 450+ horsepower thanks to twin turbochargers and a Haltech Elite ECU. Behind the engine sits a TTV Racing clutch and flywheel connected to a six-speed manual transaxle. You can order your own Stealth Beetle with turn-key vehicles starting at $85,000 or as a rolling chassis or kit. Contact doug@v8stealthbeetle.com for more details.
Source: V8 Stealth Beetle FB page and YouTube channel
85k for a Beetle? You can buy a used V8 R8 for that kinda cash.
On the other hand, it’s kind of a bargain for the amount of engineering and fabrication work required for a near-custom vehicle. It _almost_ seems reasonable in a world where you have to pay mechanics $100/hr to work on your stuff and Flyin’ Miata wants $50K to pop an LS engine into a Miata (car not included!).
Not sayin’ I’d buy one if I had $85K burning a hole in my pocket, but money just doesn’t go as far once you’ve left the world of the mass-produced AND you’re not doing your own work.
Way to miss the point by a mile.
I’d have way more fun blowing the doors off R8’s in this thing.
Plus, I’d never buy a used R8 especially the V8 version, some people tend to thrash the hell out of them before selling.
Either way, you’re boring.
You can blow the doors off R8’s all you want, but at the end of the day you’d be still driving a Beetle, no matter how fast it is.
And your attempt to troll me is pathetic, rather than clever.
Most of the comment you make are pathetic, cunt. Go suck off a hemi exhaust. I’m sure you look like a complete tool no matter what kind of car you’re driving badly. By the way, you’re the troll here. 🙂
Whatever you say TOYCARfan. How typical, morons like you always go with the insults, when they ran out of arguments. Just shows how pathetic you are.
I got a 73 Beetle that idk what direction I’m goin with yet but.custom is custom.
Pretty funny.. build it yourself is a skill, a hobby for most of us.. I am considering building something on these lines with one of their chassis.. but it’s not for some of you. Some enjoy making our own cars.. built not bought! If you want a r8 go buy one, if you want you can have both.. what ever!! Fun enough for some.. what difference does the negativity make?
This dude that rags on this magnificent V8 beetle is obviously a skillless douche who has no clue what to do with a welder and a torch lol what a moron
Oh hey, it’s another moron with pathetic attempt to insult! Well quess what, you failed, just like your boyfriend REALCARfan.
And the problem with driving a Beetle is what, exactly?
Are you really not getting it? This is a super car in camouflage. This is way cool.😎
Hi .. what would a complete package cost ?.Ballito.KZN
I think he’s also building a few for customer, with LS engine.
MOPARfan and REALCARfan
You two should get room, a private room because you two are in love, L.O.V.E. love.
And I got 2 TBI 350 4 bolt mains in my garage.plus a 327 I pulled out of my 67 elCo so maybe all I need is an S10 frame 🤫
MOPARfan wrote: “You can blow the doors off R8’s all you want, but at the end of the day you’d be still driving a Beetle.”
That would certainly make registering it with a local DMV much easier, since it can legally be registered as a Beetle.
Hi guys, please you can tell me what measure is wheelbase this car. Thanks
You made a fantastic job.
I have some queries and would like to know if you sell these cars to Mauritius, the prices including taxes and freight.
Thank you for your reply.
Hi Spencer. I recommend contacting the builder to answer your questions.
https://v8stealthbeetle.com/
Hello gentleman I was just curious on when a new build or a new Volkswagen has been built I have you on YouTube but it looks like you stopped a couple of two three four months ago just wondering I love the s*** out of what you’re doing I grew up with the Volkswagens and the 70s I’m part of an original group of when we started slamming the Volkswagens and fixing them up but what you’re doing is what every man or every kid that had a Volkswagen would ever dream of having thank you for sharing all that you do and I’m hoping that one day that I would own one even if it was used thanks mates keep up the good work Rob from Florida
I wonder what the weight distribution is. Is it going to swap ends like Porsche’s once did?
A Porsche has the motor in the back behind the axle in most cases. These are more like a Pantera with the motor centered between the axles. A perfect weight distribution for handling and balance. VANTERA VW + PANTERA THRILLS.!
Pure genius brother. I would gladly buy one if only I had the money.
I RODE IN A PANTERA ON SKYLINE BLVD AS A KID..THAT THING CORNERED SO WELL THAT A JOGGER LOOKED UP AND JUMPED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RODE. A CAR THAT COULD ROUND A CORNER AT 70 MPH IS LIKE A VW WITH A V8 IN IT. MY DREAM WAS THE 67 VW WITH A YAMAHA V6 FROM A TAURUS SHO MOUNTED BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT ATTACHED TO A JAGUAR REAR END. WHEN I SAW WHAT THIS COMPANY HAS DONE I WAS GENUINELY IMPRESSED. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE GETTING YOUR SUPER CAR BLOWN AWAY BY A VW TO RUIN YOUR DAY.
ONE FINAL THOUGHT PEOPLE THAT DO NAME CALLING , TROLLING AND PRETEND TO BE CAR GUYS SHOULD LOOSE THEIR CAR FOR A WEEK. BOOO HOOO!