and there's the California license plate... you know that it would simply blow anyone's mind to realize they have Gurney's race car with it's original license plate, right?
Notice the license plate trim ring, Economotors: In 1966, Economotors offered complete new cars fitted with a range of EMPI parts but which were still covered by a full Volkswagen warranty. The cars were known as the EMPI GTVs and could be bought in one of four levels of specification.
in 1963 the Beetle joined the American elite.
The Nassau Speed Week in the Bahamas was a glamorous off-season gathering for the great and the good of both Europe and America.
Amid the glamour and the girls, the Jaguars and Ferraris there arrived in 1963 a bright orange Volkswagen Beetle. From America.
Joe Vittone was one of the first VW dealers in America and had developed a neat line in replacement parts and tuning kits under the EMPI banner. Putting all his firm’s expertise into preparing his son Darrell’s 1956 Beetle and employing fellow Californian driver Dan Gurney, the EMPI Beetle caused a sensation in 1963-64.
See http://www.sebeetles.50megs.com/empi_gtv.htm for the details
Above is 1963, below, Gurney was in the #3
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That photo of the Le Mans start shows Formula Vees gridded up in the background- are they going to start once the Beetles have done maybe half a lap?
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