are volkswagen beetles (1960-1970s) rear wheel drive?

Question

im trying to turn a beetle late 60s to early 70s into a drifter will it work

Answer 1

yes they are.
It would be hard to get enough power out of a beetle engine to make it a drifter. You can purchase new turbo engines for the old beetle, but that's still only like 150hp and maybe 120lbs of torque.
You are going to have to get a lot of power out of it and shave alot of the weight off.

Answer 2

The original Beetle design is a "pancake 4" air coolded engine - rear wheel drive, with the engine over the rear wheels!

These cars could - and DID - go anywhere. The adverts used to say:

"How do you think the man who drives the snow plow get to the snow plow???? - Volkswagen"

They were not kidding.

I am not sure what a "drifter" is, so I cannoot comment. However, the Beetle was really popular for making dune buggies, and outrageous 4 x 4's, etc. There is a LOT of parts out there for customization - especially in the US.

Answer 3

somewhat contrary to what bfriedemanns said - the beetles were rear-wheel drive from their start way back in the 1930's (not just from 1955 onwards)

Putting the engine in the rear gave the power and weight where it was needed for best traction. It was also simpler (and resulted in less car weight) than having into a front wheel drive.

This theory basically goes against what you want I assume, so as the others said - it won't be a drifter.

Answer 4

Oh sweet Jesus...

I beg of you, for the love of god, DO NOT try to turn a Volkswagen beetle into a drifter.

Two major reasons:

A) If you can’t figure out that a 40-year-old rear-engine car is RWD, you shouldn’t be allowed to own one.

B) The beetle is air-cooled; therefore, the revs need to be kept very high into order for the engine to not…melt. Odds are, you are looking for the genitalia-enhancing noise that most “street racers” are looking for; the Beetle will not give you that.

However, if you ignore my advice, make sure you videotape trying to drift, I want to watch your car spin around several times, then burst into flames when you rupture the fuel tank.

Best of luck to you

(and dibs on the clutch)

Answer 5

Yes, they are rear wheel drive. They also have above average traction in the rear because the entire drivetrain is over the rear axles. Drift cars usually have a front engine/rear drive set-up and/or high horse power to break the rear tires free in a turn. If you made the volkwagon turbocharged or higher than stock power, it may work.

Answer 6

yeah they are rear wheel drive dont think such a short high body is a good idea for a drifter though especially with all the weight on the rear

Answer 7

Yes rear wheel drive. The engine is rear of the rear axcel, not on top of the rear axcel. I used to have a very fast 1966 bug. I built a very clean, well balanced 1835cc motor for it. The only way I could get it to drift through turns and such, was in the rain.

Answer 8

Is a 2000 v w beetle a front wheel drive vehicle.

Answer 9

all beetles from 1955 to the when they stopped making them(with the air cooled engine) are rear wheel drive. It only drifts on ice. It may roll before it will drift depending on road surface.

Answer 10

yes they are. the engine is bolted directly to the trans-axle.making the engine accessible from the rear.but because this cars weight is mostly on the rear wheels and has only 50 to 70 hp rating.good traction in snow but not drifting( the sliding burn out type)for that sport try a Toyota celica you can get one cheap and ease to hop up>