’73 1303 SLEEPER
What if Volkswagen had continued developing its beloved flat-four engine until today? Answers might come from looking at products offered by several other car manufacturers, starting with Porsche. Its 911 model began life with a relatively simple 130bhp flat-six motor in 1964, a powerplant that steadily evolved through the decades that followed into the incredibly complex 600+bhp unit that powers the latest 911 S Turbo.
Alright, long-time readers will know that the back of a Beetle won’t readily accept a 911 engine, modern or not, due to its size, but that hasn’t stopped a bunch of technically inclined Volkswagen enthusiasts adapting an assortment of other boxer motors to the VW transmission over the years. These have ranged from the VW / Porsche air-cooled Type 4 to the liquid-cooled Vanagon / Type 25
