FIRST FOR DUBS ON THE HILL
IN A first the Toowoomba Dubs on the Hill car show will feature a 1972 Beetle converted to an electric engine from an ageing rig.
While unique for the event, organiser Neil Batterham said electric conversions in older Volkswagens were increasingly common.
The revolution is driven by the difficulty replacing parts as engines decay.
“The VW engines were designed in the 1930s and the youngest ones now are over 40 years old,” he said.
“There is only so many times you can rebuild them before you get stress and metal fatigue.”
The conversion process is simple – compared to the constant servicing needed to keep a Beetle roadworthy.
“You rip out all of the engine but keep the gear box,” Mr
Batterham said.
“Then you basically put in batteries and a high-torque electric motor.”
A Beetle’s tendency to break down makes the cars unsuitable for a daily driving car and Mr Batterham hoped electric conversions would keep these iconic vehicles on the road for future generations to appreciate.
“This year at Dubs in the Park we are celebrating the Beetle because Volkswagen stopped producing them last year,” he said.
“After 70 years production has come to an end.”
Dubs on the Hill runs from 9am-1pm, March 8 at Picnic Point.
There will be a car show, market stalls, a swap meet, jumping castle and live band.
The show will also feature a Dolls on the Hill retro pageant where young women will be assessed on their personality by guest judges Luke Youlden and Mal Leyland.
Mr Youlden is a Volkswagen driver and won Bathurst in 2019 while Mal Leyland, of Leyland Brother fame, drove a 1975 orange Kombi around Australia while filming the show with his brother Mike.