Quite an unusual car made it into Jay Leno’s Garage lately: a thoroughly customized second-gen Volkswagen Transporter swapped to a powerful 3.5-liter V8. Care to learn its secrets?
There is really only one big things to realize about the retro bus, and that is the identity of its former owner. Pete Brock is a name that needs no introduction: the famous automotive designer built the iconic Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray, among other models. The Brock family bought the German bus back in 1973 and has since driven it for over 100,000 kilometers (60,000+ miles). Brock had the stock 50hp (37-kW) engine replaced with a Buick V8, drastically improving acceleration and steering. No specific figures are provided, but Buick engines like this one are normally capable of between 150 and 360 horsepower (112 – 268 kW).
The rest of the bus received no less attention. Highlights of the completed build include a four-speed automatic transmission of North American origin, off-road tires and a leather-wrapped interior with some modern amenities in it. Watch the full video and discover it yourself!