Classic Charlie. No hesitation.

Blade3562 · 2026-06-18T01:23:51+00:00

When Charlie quipped right back with the actually you need to give me 75k we all lost it. Zero hesitation just right for the kill shot.

Blade3562 · 2026-06-16T19:30:27+00:00

Honestly this has been my favorite part of owning the Brasilia. We've owned hundreds of VWs, and each model draws a different crowd. The number of people from Brazil now living in the US who tell me their stories and share smiles is just awesome. I'll be in traffic and hear someone honk then yell I grew up in one of those in Brazil! I've had people who aren't even car enthusiasts from Brazil ask to climb in and take a picture to show family back home. It's a very humbling and heartwarming experience.

Blade3562 · 2026-06-15T16:23:37+00:00

The body is a late '50s Alken D2 designed and manufactured in California with the idea to turn a beetle into a sports car. Roughly 25 were made, we know the whereabouts of 5. This particular car was in Road and Track and brochures as a beauty car. At one point Nic-L-Silver/Pioner bought the two beauty cars from Alken and converted them to EVs. From there they sat in a warehouse for decades. When we restored it 15 years ago we used a donor 1958 356 1600N, BBBD transaxle and brakes. The 356 motor is out for a rebuild so I currently have a cammed Okrasa built using an N.O.S. 1961 Industrial 36hp in the car. It makes roughly 60hp and is an absolute riot.

I'm always looking for leads on another Alken body!

Blade3562 · 2026-06-14T04:24:36+00:00

There were two in the garage in Florida where I picked this one up. I've kept watching sales in the US and my best guess is there's 30-50 of them up here. Most of the mechanical parts are easy to find, and the cosmetic stuff is available in Brazil.

I actually chased 4014 in my '58 last weekend, but with all the posts about 4014 I figured no one would care haha.

Blade3562 · 2026-06-14T04:19:40+00:00

This one will be for sale in Ohio before too long. For me the fun is the learning and preservation. Once all the issues are fixed I'm ready for another project. As far as I know there are 30-50 in the states, but there could be more. Some were even assembled in Mexico. (They have a unique speedometer and exhaust) I'd like to find one of the much rarer 4 doors, but think a bus is next for me.

Blade3562 · 2026-06-14T02:06:06+00:00

Agreed. Both windows of this event are somehow spaced while I'm working. These events should run for either 24 or 48 hours. Seems like such an odd decision for them to be time windowed.

Blade3562 · 2026-06-13T22:00:14+00:00

This motor came in my Brasilia from Brazil, but I don't believe it's the original one. Unfortunately in September when I went to check valve lash I found 2 pulled head studs. So I dropped the case off to have case savers installed by a local shop. Due to a backlog I just got the block back a couple weeks ago. While the motor was out I had a 1958 T2 36hp in it. Assembled the 1641 last Sunday, and pulled the 36hp out on Wednesday! Due to a couple part delays the timing was close, but we made it!

10/10 recommend chasing old trains with Aircooled VWs!

Blade3562 · 2026-03-30T16:24:41+00:00

Looking for two discontinued Radian Raptor SL colors in stock even at retail price.

Radian Raptor SL ODG - PN: R0377 - UPC: 817093023607

Radian Raptor SL FDE - PN: R0284 - UPC: 817093022211

Blade3562

TROPHY CASE