How Do You Make a Classic VW Handle Like a Sports Car? | Cool Rides Customs

How do you make a classic Volkswagen handle like a modern sports car? On this episode of Bug Hugs, we’re back in California and heading south toward the Mexican border to visit Kevin at Cool Rides Customs (CRC) for a deep dive into some seriously cool VW engineering. Kevin takes us back to where it all started: a lightweight Meyers-based build powered by a Subaru six-cylinder making around 330 horsepower. It was insanely fast in a straight line... but there was one problem. It didn’t want to TURN! That experience helped kick off the development of CRC’s performance suspension system. We get into the engineering behind the CRC front and rear suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, adjustable rear geometry, custom shifters and pedals, and some seriously impressive brake setups. Kevin even walks us through how reducing scrub in the front suspension can make one of these old Volkswagens steer so lightly that it can almost feel like power steering. And of course, there are plenty of incredible VWs hiding around the shop, including a 1951 split-window Deluxe with a turbocharged 2165 engine making over 300 horsepower and a Porsche 911 five-speed transaxle. 😍 If you love classic Volkswagens, performance engineering, custom fabrication, or simply seeing how people keep finding new ways to make these old cars better, this is a fun one. Thanks for watching Bug Hugs! ❤️🚗 If you enjoyed the episode, please LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE and join us for more incredible Volkswagens, their owners, builders and stories! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:46 - Netherlands Update 01:09 - Finding Cool Rides Customs 01:57 - Meet Kevin at CRC 04:47 - Designing a Better VW Suspension 05:58 - What's Included in the CRC Kit? 07:17 - 1951 VW Split Window Deluxe 08:20 - CRC Shifters & Pedals 12:40 - Into the Workshop 13:38 - CRC Brakes 15:12 - Drum vs. Disc Brakes 19:26 - How Long Does a Chassis Build Take? 19:57 - Rack-and-Pinion Steering 24:17 - Wrapping Up #Volkswagen #VWBeetle #ClassicVW #AirCooledVW #VW #BugHugs #CoolRidesCustoms #VWSuspension #VWPerformance #VolkswagenBeetle #ClassicCars #CarBuild