A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for.

A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for.

      Crown Classics

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      The original split-window Volkswagen Bus is a popular choice for engine swaps, typically fitted with engines from either Porsche 911s or Subaru WRXs. However, the California-based dealership Crown Classics is offering something a bit different: a 1966 21-window Bus outfitted with an 8.3-liter V8 engine taken from a vintage Cadillac, along with a host of modifications. Its appearance resembles that of a Hot Wheels toy, and I'm oddly captivated by it.

      Fitting an eight-cylinder engine into a space intended for a four-cylinder necessitated extensive fabrication. The engine is still mounted at the rear but occupies significantly more space, leading to a body widening of about six inches for easier accommodation. Each flared quarter panel contains a radiator, as the cooling system now uses water rather than air to regulate temperature.

      Crown Classics

      The engine powers the rear wheels through a Turbo-Hydramatic 425 three-speed automatic transmission sourced from General Motors, along with a rear axle taken from an unsuspecting Cadillac Eldorado. The modifications don't stop there; this split-window Bus also boasts disc brakes (thankfully) instead of the original drum brakes, a custom torsion bar front end, and a specially designed frame constructed from 2x4 steel rails.

      From the front, this Bus appears almost stock. However, the rear tells a different story, with air vents, a pair of exhaust outlets positioned just below the roof line, aftermarket lights, and, naturally, the previously mentioned flares indicating that there’s no longer an air-cooled flat-four engine between the rear wheels. As for the wheels, they seem to have come straight from SEMA in 2003, making them my least favorite aspect of this build. I’m curious about how challenging it would be to widen a set of stock, five-lug steel wheels for that sought-after sleeper aesthetic.

      Inside, front passengers sit in a pair of seats sourced from a Porsche 914, accompanied by a three-person bench in the second row, and that's all there is. The large V8 engine occupies the space typically reserved for third-row seats in a stock 21-window Bus. Fair trade-off, right? The interior features many custom elements, including a wood-look steering wheel, additional analog gauges on the dashboard, and a headliner-mounted Sony CD player.

      Crown Classics is asking $80,000 for this unique Bus, which seems reasonable given its distinctive nature and the immense amount of work put into its creation. For context, Bring a Trailer sold a restored, mostly stock 1966 21-window Bus for $51,000 in 2024.

      So, who will be the first to attempt a V8 swap on an ID. Buzz?

      Crown Classics

      Have any tips? Send them to [email protected]

A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for. A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for. A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for. A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for. A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for. A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for. A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for. A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for.

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A VW Bus with a Cadillac V8 engine conversion is the real-life Hot Wheels we've been waiting for.

Since fitting a WRX engine into a classic Volkswagen Bus would be far too expected.