Meet The Man Who Turns A Bulky Volkswagen Bus Into A 530-hp Race Machine

Presented By Wingz – Scheduled Airport Rides

Who dares to make a cumbersome Volkswagen that can beat a 450-hp Audi RS coupe, or a 430-hp Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS in a race?

At first glance, you won’t believe me. You race in this hulking machine? Give me a break!

But wait, let me tell you what is underneath this hunk of metal: some serious Porsche-derived racing tech, making it capable of taking down any competitors on the track.

The FB1 Race-Taxi is a Volkswagen Type 1 microbus, powered by an air-cooled flat-six engine transplanted from a Porsche 993 Turbo, which produces 530 horsepower and 558 lb-ft of torque. It’s also equipped with the six-speed manual transmission of a Porsche 996 GT3, while the ventilated disc brakes and power steering are straight out of a 993 Turbo. The “main ingredients” include front and rear independent suspension, three-piece BBS racing wheels and adjustable stabilizers. It can hit the top speeds of 143 MPH and took six years of Fred Bernhard — a Germans mechanic — to complete the project.

Connie loves to hear your feedback, so feel free to email her or add her on LinkedIn.