Words and Photos: Gary Rosier
This is Dale Edwards’ 1974 VW Beetle. He and his wife Anne ( married 47 years!) resides in the Spruce Creek Fly-In Community, Port Orange, Fl. They have two kids and two grand-children. Dale is a former Marine with one tour in Vietnam who served 6 years. He also worked for FPL (Florida Power and Light) and retired with them after 42 years. While it may seem like an ordinary Beetle, you will soon see that it been modified to Dale’s liking and with some good ‘ol horsepower and gleem thrown in!
Dale has always loved these cars. When the opportunity to own an as yet unfinished VWthree years ago, he jumped right in and it was full speed ahead! Naturally, the Volkswagon has always been such an icon of the 60’s; Woodstock, hippies, peace, love and happiness that still is associated with it today. The color of this car even speaks volumes about this period of time. Its color is called Aquarius Blue. Of course,’Age of Aquarius’ was rocking the hot tune charts back then by 5th Dimension.
Dale purchased this car from a previous owner who was refurbishing the body in the family garage. The floorpans were already replaced and still had the original 35K mile interior in it (dash and vinyl seats). Dale immediately upgraded the engine by contacting British Auto Imports in Daytona and reworking it to a 1641cc beast! Fitted with 88 “jugs”, mild cam, 40mm Empi carbs, new clutch and pressure plate (its a 4 speed) and all the chrome he could muster up for, it was transformed into the 75hp jewel you see here. Exhaust gases are spent via a modified “Stinger” exhaust.
Rear lights/turnsignals are off a ’68 VW and headlamps are modified “Cat Eyes” with ambur running lights. She rolls on Empi 15″ aluminum spokes shod with Yokohama 145/65R15’s (front) and 165/80R15’s (rear). It stops via disc brakes from Fisher Buggies in Tampa, as were a lot of the aftermarket parts. Custom running boards, ventless windows, rear-view side mirror, wider fenders, bumpers removed, sports steering wheel and lowered suspension all were modifications added. His favorite tunes are listened to by the Alpine in-dash CD (Sirus XM package with Boss speakers).
Dale runs this car everywhere he says, attending various events and fits right in with the hot rod crowds perfectly. It draws plenty of attention as people see and hear that engine as he approaches and can’t quite figure out what he did to the car. It will cruise along at 70 mph without a whimper although a much different sound is emitted out the back than you ever heard of by any VW before. Age of Aquarius, sure, but this little “Bug” will rock you as it flies by you on any highway! You’ll think you are in another “dimension” for sure!
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