Information wanted about Dean Lowrys "Supersoar"

[Jøran Larssen]

I have posted an identical topic on the Cal-look.com forum, but there's not much respone from "over there", but I expect that will change with you Loungers 

I have recently bought the remains of Dean Lowrys tubechassie superbeetle that was built in the 80s and later on rebuilt and used by Mark Rielly. In an effort to restore the tubechassie as it was back in the early days, I am seeking information about the car, and preferably photos that shows the details of the car inside and out.

It seems like this car has been discussed on the Cal-look.com forum earlier on, and I found a lot of interesting information and pictures of the car. Based on what I have read in these threads, and after checking out the tubechassie this week, I have desided not to replicate the superbeetle, but make a Ghia out of it.

If someone has got some pictures of the tube, I would be very interested in copies. I am aspecially interested in the rear section, as there has allready been done som changes to it. It seems like the upper shock mounts has been relocated (don't match with the lower ones), and that the latest crash in 2002 has bent the left side trailing arm setup. The left rear wheel tuches the tube, while the right one is a couple of inches further out. I am also interested in details regarding the setup of the wheelie bars.

When was it built? When and where was it raced for the first time. I read somewhere that the car was wrecked by Don Cossey in 94. Was he the new owner, or did he just race it for Lowrey?

Did the car have a 4-speed or 5-speed Porsche 901 gearbox? There's one in the tube now, but I am not sure how to find out if it's a 4 or 5-speed box. Based on the holes drilled on the shifter base, it seems like there has been a VW shifter in the car (missing). Is it possible to combine using a VW shifter with a 901 gearbox, or did the car have a custom made shifter.

Lots of questions, but in an effort to make the car functional again, I need to ask.

Hope someone has got some answers and info for me :-)

Basically, any information about the car is highly appreciated.

Threads regarding the car:   

http://www.cal-look.com/forum/index.php?topic=16820.0

http://www.cal-look.com/forum/index.php?topic=21439.0

[speedwell]

joran i never seen pictures from the inside of the car , but i've some photos from the hot vws mags with the car at race , after to have scan them I you  them sendings
rgd
fabs

[Jøran Larssen]

I love those librarians 

[Steve D.]

Rick Morteson (spelling?) built a set of trailing arms for it early on, and Mark had been hounding him around the time of the crash to make another set for one reason or another.  The car used a 4-speed 901 box with Dean's standard procedure: dissassemble, remove third gear, put 3rd in the 4th gear position, buy one new ratio for 3rd, weld up diff, reassemble.  The car did not run any fancy type shifter, if I remember right it had a simple Hurst shifter in it up until the day before the crash- a standard 4-speed Berg was put in after the Hurst broke during a late night test pass.  Glad to hear the car wound up with an owner that appreciated the car.  Good luck, please keep us updated with the progress of the car.

[Jøran Larssen]

Very interesting Steve. Thanks a lot for your information 

Wonder if the 901 gearbox that's in the car now has been given any special treatment? The previous gearbox broke of during the crash in 2002. Maybe it ended up as a part donor? 

[Jøran Larssen]

Mike Herbert just confirmed that there's a 901 4-speed in the car, as he rebuilt it for Mark Reilly a while back. I even got the details about R/P and gear ratios.

Thanks Mike 

[Jim Ratto]

Frank and I met Dean and watched him work on the superbeetle on the trip to Phoenix Bug a Rama. What a very nice man he was to us.

[speedwell]

pm sent
here's the pictures i found in hot vws 

[speedwell]

 

[speedwell]

 

[Jøran Larssen]

Thank you Fabian     

And if I am not mistaking, Dean was 62 years old when he set that record. Impressive!

[Jøran Larssen]

The new carbon fibre body :-)

[Jøran Larssen]

The rebuild has started, and the "car" has been stripped down. 

I had it checked/measured this weekend, and we did som adjustments on the rear section. The crash in 2002 did mess it up a bit.

Next up is to start fitting the carbonfibre Karmann Ghia body and do some adjustment to make me fit inside.   

 

[ESH]

I was suprised when you put Four Play up for sale as it's a great car but this explained all, good luck with the project, Im looking forward to seeing it evolve.

 

[folkevogn]

you look a bit scared on the bottom picture, are you waiting for something to snap or break  I know I would be scared

[Jøran Larssen]

you look a bit scared on the bottom picture, are you waiting for something to snap or break  I know I would be scared

You're right, it looked a bit scary 

[Zach Gomulka]

I was standing right between the race track and the swap meet when it was wrecked. Nasty.

[Jøran Larssen]

More info and pictures anyone?

[71CALRIPPER]

Dude do you even have to ask !!!









Bored at work and need some porn !!

[Zach Gomulka]

[ugly duckling]

cool to see ya working on the car. good luck on getting it back together would like to see it go in a straite line once again its been many years. UD.

[bugnut68]

Old thread, but was curious as to the latest on this project?  Just stumbled across the thread while researching something else.

[Fritter]

I witnessed that wreck in person too, parts and the engine were flying everywhere. 

[Greg G]

Hear is a picture of early in the day at Drag Day