From Beetle to Monopsto - VW 1200 against Fuchs and ZARP Formula V

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From Beetle to Monopsto - VW 1200 against Fuchs and ZARP Formula V

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Created on September 12, 2021

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Bruno von Rotz

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Balz Schreier

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ZARP Formula V from 1966 versus VW Beetle from 1965 - the differences in size are just as impressive as the different driving dynamics

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - compared to the VW Beetle 1200 from 1965

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - the VW Beetle from 1965 looks oversized in comparison

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - before Fuchs Formula V and VW Beetle of the sixties

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - together with Fuchs Formula V (center), VW Bus and Beetle a complete racing team

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AMAG advertises its Formula V support in 1965

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - on the left the ZARP Formula V

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - who is ahead, the Fuchs or the ZARP?

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - on the right the Fuchs Formula V from 1967

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - on the right the chassis of the ZARP from 1966

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - the chassis differs in details from those of competitors such as the white fox

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ZARP MK 1 Formula V (1965) - another competitor

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Fuchs Formula V (1966) - the further developed model for 1967

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - behind it the chassis of the ZARP from 1966

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - with slim casing

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - the VW front wheel suspensions are clearly visible

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - cockpit perspective

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - agile handling guaranteed

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - the negative camber of the rear wheels remains even when cornering

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - he shows his mastery when slaloming through the pylons

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - a wide roll bar for safety

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - agile steering is guaranteed

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - the front wheels are always in view

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - the wheels naturally came from the VW spare parts shelf

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - reached a top speed of around 170 km/h at the time

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - you sit low and reclining in the narrow monoposto

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Fuchs Formula V (1967) - the exhaust system barely dampens the noise

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Zarp Formula V (1966) - built by Zurich Formula 3 specialist Jürg Dubler - Geneva Motor Show 1966

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Zarp Formula V (1966) - reclining seat position in Dubler's monoposto - Racing car show - Geneva Motor Show 1966

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - thanks to the free-standing wheels, you can aim directly at the steering point

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - clearly outpaces the VW Beetle 1200 from 1965

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - it would be no problem to lap the Beetle every two or three laps

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - in the Formula V you sit much lower than in the VW Beetle from 1965

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - even on the straight, the monoposto was significantly faster than the Beetle

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - in racing, the cars were about the same speed back then

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - Pursues the fox Formula V

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - memories of thrilling duels in the late sixties

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - View from the driver's seat

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - you shouldn't let the rev counter out of your sight if you want to protect the engine

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - the instrumentation is minimal

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - little power is needed for the steering work

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - when you are only a few centimeters above the ground and at wheel level, even 100 km/h seems pretty fast

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - Cockpit perspective

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - Front suspension

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - the gearbox is behind the engine

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - you sit slightly more upright than in the Fuchs Formula V

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - the front wiring no longer corresponds to the model of that time

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - an engine casing was mandatory_d_reinhard_Formel V_21_0095

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - Jürg Dubler also chose round tubes for the frame

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - Suspensions, steering, engine and gearbox came from the Beetle

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ZARP Formula V (1966) - Frame made of round tubes

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Fuchs Formula V (1965) - International Edelweiss Mountain Prize Rossfeld 2018

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Zarp Formula V (1966) - at the GP Brugger Schachen 2015

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Zarp Formula V (1966) - at the Steckborn-Eichhölzli hill climb 2015

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Zarp Formula V (1966) - at the Steckborn-Eichhölzli hill climb 2015

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ZARP Formula V (1966) at the Oldtimer GP Brugger Schachen 2019 - starting field 8 "Formula and racing cars"

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ZARP Formula V (1966) at the Oldtimer GP Brugger Schachen 2019 - starting field 8 "Formula and racing cars"

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Zarp Formula V (1966) - at the start of the GP Suisse 2012 in the category GP and formula cars 1946 - 1971

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A Zarp Formula V is ready for action - Impressions from the GP Suisse 2012

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Zarp FV (1966) - at the Michaelskreuzrennen 2014

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Zarp Formula V (1966) - 5th commemorative drive to the Michaelskreuzrennen 2017

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Zarp Formula Vau (1966) - at the Kerenzerberg Revival 2015

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Summary

A low-cost entry into racing was the order of the day in the sixties in favor of promoting young talent. When the first single-seaters with VW technology arrived in Europe from the USA, not only did the young drivers recognize their opportunity, but resourceful racing car manufacturers also seized the opportunity to sell large numbers of simple Formula Vee vehicles, two of whom were Heinz Fuchs and Jürg Dubler. What do these 375 kg racing cars offer and how big is the difference to the VW Beetle, which provided the technology? These questions are answered in this extensively illustrated driving report.

This article contains the following chapters

Idea from the USA
Domestic makes soon
The fox from Germany
The Zarp from Switzerland
Ever faster
Behind the wheel
... and the comparison with the Beetle
More and more professional

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

There was hardly anything sporty about the Volkswagen Beetle, it was simply a good everyday car that held up well over the years and lost little of its value. The idea that you could build a racing car from its parts was something you had to come up with first. It was the Americans who had the first Formula Vee built as a monoposto using VW parts. As early as 1963, the racing series was clearly defined in the regulations and the fun could begin. The somewhat chubby FormCar was the start, soon followed by the sleeker Beach Formula Vee, and the regulations also allowed custom-built cars and other suppliers as long as the specified Volkswagen parts were used.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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