When you take a look at the battered, bruised, and rusted patina of Duncan Smith’s Volkswagen Beetle, you’d think it needs some TLC. But once he revs the engine, you’d change your mind pretty quick.
YouTube channel Holley lets us have a little glimpse into what makes this 1973 VW Beetle a Super Bug, and why Smith decided to turn up the power on it. Here’s the scoop…
Duncan Smith’s VW Beetle Is ‘Project Gray Matter’
Smith dubbed his 1973 VW Bug mod as ‘Project Gray Matter’ and while the Bug looks battered, it’s anything but. Smith hails from Cedar City, Utah, and shows off his build at the Holley LS Fest 2022. He says the car was part of his family even before he was born and sat out on a field. Around six years ago, Smith finally pulled it out for an engine swap.
It was Smith’s lifelong dream to make a VW Bug build that could party as hard as he could. The VW Bug actually sits on a 1997 GMC Jimmy frame, shortened by 14 inches. Smith, who also runs a YouTube channel Smitty, then swapped in a Heads Cam 6.0-liter V8 LQ4 engine and added a 799 Heads to bump up the compression.
Smith also added in a rear-mount radiator from a Fox body Mustang, and it rides on a turbo 350 transmission. A Holley Terminator X Max controls the engine, and Smith says it was a breeze to install. He also says that he did not make any changes because the data log self-tuned the car, and now it’s pure fire.
The Super Beetle Is A Work In Progress
Smith detailed his three-year VW Super Build on his own YouTube channel as well for fans to see. He further wants to make a nine-second streetcar, but will need to add in a cage for the same and revamp the chassis as well.
The VW Super Bug does donuts just fine, and the reason behind keeping the patina original, in its dinged and dented state is because Smith feels this way, the car has character.
This 1973 Volkswagen Beetle build is still a work in progress, and Smith plans to keep improving it year after year. Next year, he plans to see how fast his Project Gray Matter can go because as Smith says, this Super Beetle exists “because I like to party!”
Source: YouTube channel Holley, HolleyLSFest