My 1961 Baby Blue Electric Volkswagen Beetle

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steven falk

5 жыл бұрын

This is the story of my 1961 Baby Blue Electric Volkswagen Beetle.

Пікірлер: 107

@kavanghia6908 Жыл бұрын

Great video 👍 my son and I are working on our 69 Ghia that we saved from the car crusher!

@barrybegley5379 2 жыл бұрын

What a cute little Beetle. It is such a Great feeling to have the opportunity to witness a classic brought not only back to life but actually given the huge boost of shifting from fossil fuel propulsion to electric. Wonderful and entertaining story. Thank You so much for bringing us all along. Greetings from Ontario, Canada.

@bc4198 2 жыл бұрын

What a great little story!

@crosisofborg5524 2 жыл бұрын

I’m all for electric cars but half the charm of a type 1 bug is the sound of the flat four engine. Also for the price of the EV conversion you could replace the engine, trans and entire fuel and electrical system.

@brianthomas2948 2 жыл бұрын

Flat four

@stephenboice7324 Жыл бұрын

My folks had a 66/67 Variant shipped from Germany to Lima, Peru where I grew up. That VW took us up and over the Andes mountains and into the Amazon - fording shallow rivers, climbing up and over small landslides. I learned how to drive with it... and was not at all surprised to see your beetle make it across that flooded stretch of road with aplomb! Feliz viaje!

@alexforce9 Жыл бұрын

Its so God Damn CUTE!

@robdavidson993 Ай бұрын

I owned this car before my friends at the Rotary Club rebuilt it. When I was ripping out the interior floor boards, I found a 1967 Lincoln penny and the remains of a roach clip. Also an old vile that once contained potuili oil! No kidding. This bug had a fun life!

@stevenfalk Ай бұрын

Incredible! It’s a nice car - and still having fun running around on green power!

@ivankuljis1780 2 жыл бұрын

Very KOOL Steven____ Colombo had a 403 Peugeot___he would have stood a better chance getting the BAD Guys, if it too was electrified!

@barsixful 3 жыл бұрын

Good on you buddy. Hope you have a happy time with her

@thomasschwarting5108 2 жыл бұрын

That would be my dream car, not the fire danger but the car itself!! I SO miss my bugs!!

@davidhunternyc1 Жыл бұрын

That's an awesome story! I had a 76' Yellow Beetle with a sunroof in Cali. Problem was the cables for the heater were broken and the heat was always on, even in the middle of the summer. I love your Baby Blue! Beetles are perfect cars to electrify. I do wish the the electric gauges in the dash were analog though. Oh well, it's still beautiful.

@patrickthomasgilmore4904 5 жыл бұрын

What an excellent result you have achieved and a very entertaining video...thank you! Will see you in the 'hood. Cheers, Tom and Barbara

@emadkamel6916 2 жыл бұрын

Had one back in the late 70s to the late 80s Wish I was able to keep if I had an idea about the electric conversion

@EfraLpz_33 4 жыл бұрын

Great Story and great car. Congratulations!

@balajiiyengar4 4 жыл бұрын

Beautiful car and love the journey

@LuisRamirez-ex6yy 4 жыл бұрын

I wanted to hear that electric engine but you never stopped talking and music never stopped until the end of the video.

@chuckeynewkirk199 2 жыл бұрын

Hahaha!

@donelmore2540 2 жыл бұрын

You don’t hear an electric engine. It’s a motor, not an engine, and there is very little sound. There might be a slight whine, but nothing like an air cooled engine noise.

@swlancaster1964 2 жыл бұрын

It had the classic beetle sound. My friend had a 64 that easily went 75.

@donelmore2540 2 жыл бұрын

Just bought a 1964 Beetle and am sending it to a shop in Austin for the electric conversion with 140 mile range.

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

Outstanding! I drive mine almost every day. So much fun - and almost zero maintenance. Congrats.

@the_george 2 жыл бұрын

im a Rotary member!!!! happy surprise to see our Logo in a video like this!!

@lordsirnoelmanchester3592 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome!!!! Needs to convert all other vehicles for the greener Earth.

@branislavbabic4579 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent! I have same candidate for same conversion in my garage, but I think it will wait another duties to be completed...

@paulgrimm6850 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@ivankuljis1780 Жыл бұрын

BTW Steven, l have gone from a collection of VW/Porsche Cars(102) 1981-2005, now eagerly awaiting CYBRTRK QUAD Motor(1600 HP internally) l used to drag race the '57 'PROCTOR' in the 1990s____l will with CT.

@TheHuntercamper 2 жыл бұрын

I'm looking to convert my 92 4X4 step side . I don't blame you one bit for doing it. It does look great !

@edgarkatamujuna4213 4 жыл бұрын

What a lovely story

@warrenphotographyx 2 жыл бұрын

Great story

@poetlenoir2328 4 жыл бұрын

OMG....congratulations!! My first love was a 68 that saw me through school and the big move from TX to CA. Sadly it was stolen after a year here. I've bought tickets on raffles from a company creating electric VWs here. I'll have one someday!! ♡ Such a beauty!!! I'm so VERY happy for you and your family. Bug and electic!? EPIC! :D

@edgarkatamujuna4213 4 жыл бұрын

Stolen?!!! I've left my vw on the streets and high way many times but all that happens it being touched that's all... Am sorry about your loss

@poetlenoir2328 3 жыл бұрын

@@edgarkatamujuna4213 Thank you for the kind words...she was very much my "baby" and I felt we grew into ourselves together. The police in San Diego did recover her 3 months later but she had been stripped completely and caught fire. It is was a burt she'll I went to "claim" and signed off on. (I couldn't afford to store a project vehicle and the impound fees were crazy!) That is something I may as well make readers aware of ...you pay the tow and impound fees to retrieve your vehicle even though you've filed a police report on the theft. (CA, mind you.) I still dream of experiencing my first love again and would be beside myself to have it be electric! :)

@emadkamel6916 2 жыл бұрын

Where can I find raffle tickets for electric VW?

@SeansCafe 5 жыл бұрын

Nice video! I know the individual with the tan Volkswagen you mentioned. I rode in it while he took off from a stop; rapid increase in speed. I was startled! You have a nice classic there!

@stevenfalk 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Patrick! I'm having coffee with Kris tomorrow. We're conspiring to form an Electric Beetle Owners Support Group.

@dfw2030 3 жыл бұрын

@@stevenfalk I drove Three VW in my life, my first was a 1971 white Beetle

@shssmachinery 5 жыл бұрын

I am from Moraga, reading your news from Lamorinda news paper this morning, it is a very nice baby blue , it would be my idea for next project too. It is so nice .

@simoncrest5354 4 жыл бұрын

great story its the future thinking of doing it to my bug. However you have to love that original engine noise when you drive out of the road river. The background music?

@GregoMartocci 4 жыл бұрын

Dude im gonna fucking cry, beautyfull work

@nebegama1 4 жыл бұрын

This is for far one of the most exceptional and most clean jobs I’ve ever seen in an electric car conversion. I would like to know where did buy all components, I mean I know you didn’t convert it yourself but you may probably know. Thank for sharing such a beautiful job. It inspires me to make mine.

@stevenfalk 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Benji -- you can buy a do-it-yourself kit from EV4U here: www.ev4unow.com/EconomyPackage.html

@starrwoman1 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for sharing your story about “BABY BLUE”. I got a little teary eye when you two were reunited and started your adventures together. I would love to do the same for my 1970 beetle. You made me a subscriber. :-)

@raulalves3526 2 жыл бұрын

How much cost to Transformer this car by elétric engine??

@edgarkatamujuna4213 4 жыл бұрын

If only someone would come open a garage that converts cars to electric here in Uganda... Their are lots of customers otherwise I love what you did to Baby blue

@thomase13 4 жыл бұрын

There are many kits available! Hopefully they ship to you

@ChoosePhilippinesPeaceLove Жыл бұрын

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@cso027 2 жыл бұрын

@3 mins into the vid, Baby Blue became water cooled. My 1971 Beetle will be EV one day as well!

@quinnluttropp1295 5 жыл бұрын

i think my dad works with you, his name is matt, congragulations

@spyridonnotidis3392 2 жыл бұрын

IF I EVER WANT TO BUY A CAR CONVERTED TO ELECTRIC IT MOST DEFINITELY WILL BE AN OLDER VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE . IS IT A SECRET TO MENTION HOW MUCH IT COST YOU FOR THE COMPLETE CONVERSION.? APPROXIMATELY I AM SURE YOU CAN ADD EXTRA THINGS TO IT. ONE MORE THING AS THE BATTERIES GET BETTER AS FAR AS IMPROVING THE DISTANCE CAN THEY EASILY BE SWAPPED?

@eileenfrank3686 2 жыл бұрын

As an aficiendo of all things Volkswagen, including the 1963 Karman Ghia I purchased used and drove for 9 years, I have a question about the beetle in this story. For the most part, it appears to be a 1961 VW Bug....but I question the hood over the taillight. If memory serves me correctly, it should be a smaller apparatus for this year.

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I think you’re correct. But when the Beetle caught fire, it destroyed the back lid and this is what my predecessor owner replaced it with - before repainting the Bug. So that’s what it’s got! I think they call it a restomod.

@mrentremattor5772 5 жыл бұрын

great

@superliegebeest544 2 жыл бұрын

If it had ac it would be perfect. Love the color.

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

It does have AC. That’s what the little triangle windows are.

@papablueshirt 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing, it was quite an adventure. You showed the adventure getting it there for the conversion. You never showed the adventure getting back as an electric. It made it out there as a gas car under it's own power, I would be interested to know if it made it back home as an electric under it's own power. With 90 mile range, were you able to find chargers all the way home or did you have to tow it back on a trailer? 😀 You have more nerve than me with the river crossing. No way I would have attempted [scared of water LOL] I had a baby blue converted to a baja forty five years ago, those were the days.

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

We towed it back on a trailer! Thanks for watching.

@grandpascorncoffee 4 жыл бұрын

i missed my 72 beetle. bought it in 1988.

@superliegebeest544 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful car, only the panel in the dash should be hidden

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

I agree! The problem was that a former owner cut a huge hole in the dash to put in an eight-track tape deck, so this panel now covers that hole.

@sob6664 4 жыл бұрын

My brother has a 1960 vw and he is interested in turning his vw into electric...wondering if you can give me some information as contact and if they do work over seas...my brother lives in Lima Peru ..and love his vw..but was thinking on turning it electric...

@danneil8778 5 жыл бұрын

Hey Steven!

@chuxxsss 2 жыл бұрын

So what did it cost, link to company who did conversion please.

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

ev4unow.com/complete-conversion-service/

@MrCrashturner 2 жыл бұрын

Out of curiosity, what was the cost to make it electric? My apologies if this question was already asked, and I missed it. We have a 68 Beetle and it is one of my goals to eventually make it electric.

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

Looks like it’s now $28K. See: ev4unow.com/complete-conversion-service/

@antoniotufino9169 4 жыл бұрын

👍👌👍

@mrbriancandoanything709 2 жыл бұрын

Defrost and heater?

@OstapKoliada 3 жыл бұрын

👍👍👍👍

@danneil8778 5 жыл бұрын

already forwarded to AJ Baime

@stevenfalk 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Dan!

@dfw2030 3 жыл бұрын

Any chance you can share the cost of conversion?

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

$28k. ev4unow.com/complete-conversion-service/

@snailer06 4 жыл бұрын

Nice job, but does it go "fweem"? I never got anything for free that didn't end up costing me a fortune.

@emadkamel6916 2 жыл бұрын

How much did the transition cost?

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

$25K

@emadkamel6916 2 жыл бұрын

@@stevenfalk Thanks for getting back to me. Beautiful car. GOD bless.

@markanthonyarochobeauchamp9682 2 жыл бұрын

How much cost the conversion

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

$28K: ev4unow.com/complete-conversion-service/

@JDMJACOB1 5 жыл бұрын

How much was the conversion?

@stevenfalk 5 жыл бұрын

Jacob M Depends on how much work you need done to the car. For the drivetrain only, EV4U offers packages that start at about $20K: www.ev4unow.com/BugKitParts.html

@mrbriancandoanything709 2 жыл бұрын

@@stevenfalk what about the defrost and heater?

@runbikerun8189 2 жыл бұрын

Cost of the conversion???

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

$25K

@MarkBlance 4 жыл бұрын

I think it's a wonderful conversion but I think the tacked on gauges ruin the look of the interior. I think somehow incorporating that information into a modified speedometer would have been a better option.

@jorgevallecillo17 3 жыл бұрын

.... .... 👍

@willf5768 2 жыл бұрын

Ive owned and restored many old Volkswagen beetle's. They weren't that underpowered if tuned correctly and none of them ever caught fire. Although did have a slightly souped up 1969 that on occasion revving the engine standing still and letting off it would shoot a foot long flame out the header. The electric conversion is kinda neat but probably not cost effective at the end of the day. 🙂

@blackterminal 2 жыл бұрын

Converter businesses have overly large profit margins in my opinion. But if you have lots of money and absolutely dont want to do it yourself then thats upto the person involved.

@okwhatever2995 3 жыл бұрын

How much was it to make it electric?

@stevenfalk 3 жыл бұрын

$25K

@okwhatever2995 3 жыл бұрын

Wow

@etjensen44 2 жыл бұрын

Nice job. I imagine the acceleration is exciting when compared to the original VW. For the record, a 1961 VW had a 1200cc engine generating 40 horsepower not 34 and in its day it had a top speed of 72 mph and could travel approximately 320 miles on a tank of gas. I hope someday an electric vehicle can achieve that range.

@hardywoodaway9912 2 жыл бұрын

you can if you limit your top speed to 72mph…

@gripthebars1513 4 жыл бұрын

Soo you tryna send it against my Toyota camry hybrid? Great build btw

@mattalley4330 2 жыл бұрын

"Tears of lonliness"?? Pardon me, I think my eyes just rolled so hard they got stuck that way. Still, I must say, beautiful job on the conversion.

@superdau 4 жыл бұрын

The music was too loud on this video. An old Beetle is pretty much the only car in the world I'd miss the original engine sound on. My uncle has a '54 model (oval back window) and it's just standing in the garage, because it needs a lot of repairs, including the engine. In case he'd sell it at some point i'd really like to have it, and I'd like to have an electric old timer. But I don't know if I could bring myself to it on a Beetle.

@PS-bu1fl 2 жыл бұрын

Sad to see a car made simple, cheap and reliable be converted into the opposite.

@stevenfalk 2 жыл бұрын

The car is actually much simpler now than it was when new. Fewer parts and little or no maintenance required.

@PS-bu1fl 2 жыл бұрын

@@stevenfalk very simple, you could fix it one the side of the road with duct tape and cable ties i bet

@antonrozhkov2663 2 жыл бұрын

@@PS-bu1fl considering there are 100 year old electric cars out there running on original components, I don't see why this Bug would require a roadside fix with ductape and zip ties in the first place. Just because you don't understand how something works doesn't mean it's complicated.

@hectorcorrea9163 2 жыл бұрын

Quiero comprar un vw

@brianchisnell1548 3 жыл бұрын

Nah. The globe needs warming. Just buy a golf cart. Too bad they cheaped out on the window rubber.

@battlecreekknives 4 жыл бұрын

Electric is absolutely pointless, defeats the nostalgic feeling of owning a classic

@stevenfalk 4 жыл бұрын

Totally agree with you except for the fact that electric cars are faster, more reliable, cheaper to operate, don't catch on fire, and don't emit planet killing gasses, but other than that, you're spot on.

@alanmartinez488 2 жыл бұрын

@@stevenfalk i beg to differ about catching fire... having owned many Bugs, never a fire... and burning lithium batteries scare the living daylights out of me...