The impressive "Diyablo" 1957 VW Beetle For Sale
Diyablo is back!!
18 months have passed and very few more miles since we originally listed it.
The current owner hates to sell but needs the space!
The car remains as you see it, minus the club logo in the window and the badge on the plate.
This is a truly over the top amazing custom Beetle...check it out below!
There are a lot of players in the VW game out in So Cal and the unspoken competition
between clubs and builders always puts the pressure on to really go all the way with a build.
This stunning Oval ragtop emerged recently on the scene and it has quickly made it's mark in So Cal VW History.
The builder of this car is a skilled man and he has a long line of top level show stopping builds under his belt.
His connection in the scene and with a well known restoration shop in the area puts him right in the epicenter
of where it all happens...and that goes a long way in creating a top level ride.
The builder has sent me a pretty extensive email with specs and info on the build
and I will share most of it with you here. I have seen and inspected this car up close and
it is everything that it appears to be. It is a very nice bit of work indeed!
BODY & PAINT:
For the body I used a clean never hit car with no rust issues on any panel because I wanted a true 57 from bumper to bumper
so you will not find any patch work done to the car which is documented with countless photos of the car being built/put together step by step and I mean everything.
This car carries it`s original rear fenders front fenders correct front hood and both doors since it was new in 1957.
I chopped the car just over two and a half inches along with making the one off driver and passenger doors.
I also grafted an original two fold rag top on this car and blended it to the chop, you will never tell where the heck we cut and grafted the sunroof.
I had the car sprayed in VIBRANT RED, This color comes from the new Infinity G37 sport.
It is painted top and bottom even under the transmission area. It is a two stage paint with a base and one of the best clear coating methods /paint you will find.
Nothing was left unpainted. Even under the headliner and door panels you will find detailed paint. I
over looked the whole thing while being at the paint shop. I color matched all the stainless steel body molding too.
PAN: I had the pan powder coated in gloss black by Koch`s vw.
I then installed all new brake lines, cables, rubber seals and gaskets with the help of Wolfs burg west and Koch`s vw.
I shaved the heater line and the knob next to the shifter. I then installed a brand new front beam from Franklin VWs with a four inch beam
with all new ball joints and a TRW new steering box with new coupler and rebuilt genuine HURST shifter,
I then installed front disk brakes from CB Performance with new DOT approved stainless steel braided lines.
The car has a German dual master cylinder. New steering dampener as well. I then installed a set of chrome/restored pedals from pedal works-
new bushing are awesome to drive with along with a billet roller pedal with no play at all.
Correct pedal rubber covers are present as well. The car has all new cables I.E. Throttle cable, clutch cable and I made my own custom made emergency cables to fit properly.
The car has a rebuilt transmission from Rancho using a pro street set up, A 4:12 RP was installed along with number three and four gears being welded for strength.
Steel forks and an aluminum side plate with 1967 only Axles and powder coated gloss black axle tubes with new German axle seals.
I installed a bus nose cone to adapt a late trans to an early pan, new German throw-out bearing and Bowden tube is also German. Nothing was cut to fit it`s all genuine vw parts.
I then installed CB Performance disk brakes in the rear with DOT approved stainless steel braided hoses and hard lines.
All original and new hardware were used for the whole build. I also painted all four calipers RED to match the car.
Lowered spring plates were powder coated in semi gloss black.
Show level everywhere!
Gorgeous!
MOTOR: I had George Schmidt build me a new two liter motor with rebuilt 45 MM Dellorto carburetors with polished linkage.
I then had all the sheet metal powder coated in black. I then installed new CB performance red spark plug wires,
Billet fuel pump cut off plate and a billet machined Alternator stand. I painted the new Bosch Alternator in semi gloss black.
The fan shroud is of the dog house type also. The motor has a bosch blue coil that I painted black and mounted a CB Performance coil holder.
The distributor is a new flame thrower mounted to a billet mount in anodized black.
It has a offset oil filter under the right rear fender with all correct AN #8 Fittings in black and a trick filter mount.
I also installed a stainless steel side wider exhaust that tucks under very well and does not scrape the floor.
The motor is very detailed throughout with color matched painted air filer caps and breather box mounted behind the fan shroud.
I should also add that I used stainless steel hardware to assemble the tin to the motor.
Motor has just under 200 Miles for test driving insuring a well solid car that will get you where you want to go. In short everything on the motor is NEW
Under the font hood I chromed the speedometer cable holder,
under dash brace and totally chromed the wiper assembly and detailed the motor.
Rear of speedometer was chromed too, There is a strip of LED lights under the dash to illuminate at night
if you wish with a knob on the dash to turn it on (Previously the choke knob) again no strange holes were made on the body.
The original body tag was also removed and chromed and re installed using NOS vin tag rivets that look factory in every way.
Yes I`m that nuts when I build a car. I had a new made in western Germany tag made and installed with chrome screws.
Brake reservoir was also chromed and is held down with a stainless steel screws.
I had a custom spare tire cover made and stitched in bright red. Fuel tank was treated to last for years and painted in high gloss black
and installed using original vw clamps/bolts in chrome. Fuel cap was also chromed.
I painted the glove box in gloss black also.
Under the tank you'll find plenty of details including a faucet fuel pump with a relay controlling it under the tank
and easy to replace if you ever need to from just reaching under the car while the car is still laid out.
Spare tire is also a new firestone 125/15.
WHEELS AND TIRES: Choosing wheels and tires for this car was a difficult task because it could break or make the car
so I opted for genuine Porsche Fuchs that I had a fellow club member chrome and were detailed by me (Owner)
I then chose black lugs and detailed Porsche caps that gleam in the sun b/c it is not paint.
It’s the real deal with a thick epoxy coating protecting the Porsche crests. The valve stem covers also match the center caps in every way.
I then added Porsche logo wheel decals to each wheel including the spare in black lettering.
Rim sizes for the front and the spare under the front hood are 5.5X15 with the rears being 15 x 6 deep early wheels.
Tire sizes for both front and spare are 125 x 15 Firestone, Rears are 215/65/15 FIREHAWKS.
It took a lot of engineering to make the rear tires fit with no rubbing what so ever on the frame or the body.
For the rag top I chose not to run a headliner due to that I chromed every single part of the rag assembly
and rebuilt it using stainless steel screws and nylon nuts. Re chromed rag top lock and holder.
Both rag top sliders were chromed too including the short sliders.
The inside rear view mirror is off a split window car that was disassembled and shortened
so your able to see out through the rear glass.
It was chrome with the back side of the mirror being polished to a nice luster.
The mirror was diamond cut with bevels along the edges. There is an oval window sun visor installed as well.
ASSEMBLY OF THE BODY: I mounted each fender with all new hardware and fender beading neatly placed on.
I used German made running boards. Original rear tail lights with re chromed glass trim and original bulb holders and tail lamp holders.
Front headlights are NOS with LED lights for the running lights.
Front and rear bumpers come from Wolfs burg west. Each bumper back and guard is painted in the matching vibrant red color
and carefully installed so not to scratch anything. All four bumper brackets are genuine vw and painted in gloss black.
The front hood latch on the apron is original vw and chromed. Rear deck lid latch is also chrome and has a locking rear lid with two keys.
Body door latches are also chromed and detailed along with the door locks.
All chrome with stainless hardware.
I took two original German door rubbers and cut to fit each door and re seamed it to where you cannot tell where I spliced the rubber.
For the outside door handles I used original oval handles and had them re chromed and assembled by me and installed.
They work great! I then carefully and meticulously made window templates and had the glass cut using smoked glass not paper tint.
I then moved to the window seals and use the CAL – LOOK rubber that I carefully cut and re glued by hand with little to no seams.
Again I have photos documenting the process of cutting windows to fit.
I love the color matched body trim!
Such a subtle touch but it really makes it stand out against the other cars at the shows.
Such a great stance!
Beautiful machine!
Fully streetable too!
When this builder puts a car together he is not afraid to drive it.
This car has about 200 miles on it since completion.
So cool!
Super clean details in all the dark corners.
Seating all done in leather.
INTERIOR:
I had my interior guy install a black carpet with black vinyl edges stitched in bright red from the front fire wall all the way to the rear trunk area.
I deleted any kind of rear seat. For the door panels I used vinyl with bright red stitching along al four edges
and installed early oval door winders and cranks with re chromed parts and gloss painted window winder knobs.
I had a NOS grant racing steering wheel covered in genuine black leather and incorporated red leather
in key places so you know which way the wheels are pointed while driving.
The steering wheel also has the optional grant center cover that I had covered in suede and for the final touch I added a factory crest logo.
From a Porsche dealership. Yes I`m that crazy!
The seats are from a 1991 Nissan 300 ZX that I had recovered in genuine black leather with red leather accents.
(It matches the steering wheel). The driver seat is full power and had the power seat switch changed out for an NOS piece to insure years of trouble free service.
Driver seat is adjusted manually.
The seats are bolted to the pan using chromed bolts/washes rated for automobile seats and all the correct seat knobs are present.
There is a 30 AMP fuse located under the driver seat and easy to get to if need be.
Emergency brake lever has a custom made leather wrap stitched in bright red.
There are stainless steel VW door sills on the car as well.
Matching spare with fitted cover!
Wow!
Engine bay is equally impressive in detail.
Nice!
Masterfully tucked!
The car has just under 300 Miles on it to make sure it runs well with no issues and no visible parts showing wear and tear.
The car will be sold without the rear window logo and front hood crest will also come off and replaced with a original look crest.
License plates may or may not come off depending on the selling price. Other than that what you see is what you get.
The car runs great on the streets and on the freeways.
I can answer every and any question anyone may have and I can offer people viewing of the car with appointment.
The builder really filled in all the details, all I can add here is that he is proud of this car for very very good reason.
Ive known him for many many years now and have seen the cars he has built over the years,
This boy does not know how to do anything half way...he went all out and the results are self evident.
This is a car that will rake in the awards and draw crowds at any car show around the world.
Asking
$45,000 obo
For More Info...CALL
951-767-1600
or email oldbug@earthlink.net