1953 VW Bus breaks world record for fastest VW van

1953 VW Transporter at Santa Pod race track

By Zack Newmark
June 11, 2009 4:00 PM
Filed Under: German, Records (World), Tuners, Volkswagen

12.65 seconds is not a terrible quarter-mile time, but the number is more impressive coming from a Volkswagen Transporter van. That time was posted by a 1953 Transporter as it moved on to an impressive 102.84 mph (165.50 km/h) top speed.

Although more than 10 million Transporter vans have been produced over the last 59 years, few (if any) were put together like this one. The Frankfurt based team swapped the original engine for a VW 2.8-liter unit that produces a maximum 253 horsepower and 330 Nm of torque.

Northamptonshire's Santa Pod Raceway played host to the time trial, which became a world record for a naturally-aspirated VW van according to VW UK. The quarter-mile record for all Volkswagen vans is 12.5 seconds, but maybe not for long.

The Frankfurt-based team behind this '53 Transporter believe they can smash the record during July's Bug Jam VW Festival at Santa Pod.

Source: VW

Press Release (Click to expand)

RECORD-BREAKING PROOF THAT VOLKSWAGEN VANS GO THE DISTANCE!

As a great demonstration of Volkswagen's legendary durability, a 56-year old Transporter van has just achieved a top speed of 102.84 mph and done the quarter mile sprint at the Santa Pod racetrack in a time of 12.65 seconds.

Although this in itself represents a new world record for a non-turbocharged Volkswagen van, this unique 1953 Transporter, run by a team from Frankfurt, Germany, is planning to beat the record of 12.5 seconds for any Volkswagen van when it returns to Santa Pod for the annual ‘Bug Jam' Volkswagen enthusiasts event from 17-19 July.

Not surprisingly, the original 50 bhp, 1.6-litre engine from 1953 has been replaced with a highly-tuned, 2.8-litre Volkswagen engine producing 253 bhp and 330 Nm of torque, and the vehicle has also undergone a number of other mechanical updates.

The Transporter is Volkswagen's best-selling van, and one of the most popular vans ever with over 10 million being produced since production started almost 60 years ago in March 1950.

For more information on the Bug Jam event, please see www.bugjam.co.uk.

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Tags: Volkswagen Transporter, Bug Jam, Santa Pod

VW Transporter Sportline Limited Edition X for UK (7 comments

Comments

adz612

June 11, 2009 4:18 PM

heh heh. Dunno why but that makes me smile

3Iceman

June 11, 2009 4:37 PM

One year there was one modified in Gumball 3000 race and I'm sure it was fatser than this one. I think it had a Porsche engine.

http://www.trucktrend.com/autoshows/events/163_0808_2008_big_socaleuro_meet/photo_26.html

Edited by user on June 12, 2009 at 1:35 AM

xLumino

June 11, 2009 10:23 PM

250 km/h? I remember ^^

3Iceman

June 11, 2009 4:40 PM

I don't know exactly but it was fast.

Edited by user on June 12, 2009 at 1:37 AM

N20_Purge

June 11, 2009 11:22 PM

Haha, I never knew Campervan where this..... fast. Now why can't they make a drag spec while they are at Santa pod?

zzz

June 12, 2009 9:35 PM

now all this van needs is a new lick of paint preferably flip!

TheAlchemist

June 13, 2009 7:20 PM

I love the look. Perfect traffic light sleeper.

fujiturbo

June 15, 2009 1:38 AM

VW ought to make something similar, add a biofuel system, keep the classic look and send the Mini-CLUBMAN packing!! Im sure it will be an excellent comeback.

Yawar HKB

July 14, 2009 3:00 PM

its all about volkswagon.....

VWTransporterVans

August 16, 2009 8:39 AM

Hello. They’re cool cars, though I prefer them with somewhat brighter, non-original paint jobs. Your whole camper van quest is even infiltrating. Thanks and have a nice day! :)

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