GSR-My GSR         GSR-central

My GSR

On this page you find a report on the restoration of my own GSR. You can also find some of the technical specs.

By the way: when I say "restored", I mean restored. This means that the floorpan (chassis) and the body have been separated and that new floorhalves were welded in. Then it was time to sand-blast the entire chassis. After this, the chassis was primered and painted before assembling it again. Only new parts were used. When it came to the body, I decided to have a professional company carry out the welding, because I wanted the original factory-welds to be visible there where they should be visible and not where they should not be visible. The car had a very good body, but still there were some spots that needed attention. Then I had the car professionally painted in the original colours. Then the true re-building started (this is the best part).

When it came to the engine, I realised that a GSR was meant for rally-purposes, just as Volkswagen had in mind. There had even been company's in 1972 who specialised in tuning the GSR (and of course other beetles). This provided me the main reason for transplanting a VW-Porsche engine in my GSR.  So I decided on a 2-litre, Porsche-cooled type4 engine with 144 ponies. The purist would maybe say that such an engine in a beetle would cause him a sheer heart-attack because it is not original. Well I think it is allowed in a GSR (even for a purist). The engine was built in a joint-venture between Frank Slenders (Frankys) and Gerd Weiser (GWD). I know they did a very good job on this engine, so they should get some of the credit here...   In March 1999 both GSR's (André's and mine) were finished and they had to get a Dutch license plate. My GSR got license AE-51-36 and André's got AE-51-37. I got the older one because my GSR is one day older than André's.

In January 2001 I undertook the first brake-upgrade. I said goodbye to the factory spec disc brakes in front and the drums in the back. The upgrade consisted of installing a complete Porsche 944 brake-system with ventilated discs around (including bigger, aluminum mastercylinder). This was also the time that other wheels were fitted. I chose original Porsche Cup2 wheels (all four are 7Jx17x+ET55) with Toyo Proxes TS1 tyres (205/40/17). To get these wheels fitted under the original fenders I used smaller (80 mm) McPherson struts on the front (adjustable aftermarket units from KW with yellow Koni's inside). In 2009 I installed a complete 944 Turbo system after carefully reconditioning it. The system is a brake setup to beat!!! For a report on these conversions you should check the "tech-directory".

On the decklid I have a sticker that says: "Porsche inside". The idea has already been copied a few times, like "Weber inside", etc., but hey...who cares...I copied it too, so I'm not thát INTELligent!