Paul newman biography 1963 beetle

Dropping a V8 in the back of a VW Beetle’s nothing new, but when we tell you it’s been done to a Karmann convertible owned by Hollywood legend Paul Newman, then the whole project transcends into another level of coolness…

The story begins when actor Paul Newman bought a stock red 1963 Beetle convertible, the car subsequently appearing in various VW adverts – including the one below.

We’re not sure about the long white sock, short trouser and loafer look, Paul, but who knows maybe it was the height of fashion back in the late sixties…

Newman always had a passion for motor racing and having become a professional racing driver in 1972, he famously finished second in Dick Barbour’s Porsche 935 at the 1979 Le Mans.

You might have watched the DVD. It’s no surprise, therefore, that soon after he took possession of the humble Bug, the star of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was keen to make it go a bit faster.

The Beetle was