1970 Formula Vee Beetle - Dealer option
SE Beetles Contents
        
Formula Vee brochure cover
Brochure image
Brochure dash image
Tachometer Alternative shifter design
Formula Vee side stripe and wheel

Formula Vee in DealershipVW Dealer installed option package sourced from Volkswagen's Formula Vee accessory range - its name inspired by the Formula Vee single seat racing competitions.

No doubt feeling the pressure from EMPI, VW started the 'Formula Vee' range in 1966 with simple 'FV 1300', 'FV 1500' stripe kits (often applied across the engine covers and available in Gold, Black or White) and then expanded each year. It included 'Mag' or 'GT Mag Type' (magnesium alloy 'Riviera' sourced) sports wheels (US), Walnut sports gear shift with Wolfsburg emblem, side stripes, Walnut instrument panel and tachometer, walnut shift knobs, Formula Vee decal and badges, 'rallye' 'walnut' steering wheel and 'rallye' shocks, double-tone 'fanfare' air horn, front hood air scoop, taper tip exhaust pipes, bumper over-riders. Options varied.
1970 Volkswagen of America brochure
Formula Vee brochure 2
Formula Vee brochure 3
VoA 1970 Formula Vee brochure (courtesy Chris Dean).

Mike Gibbons speed equipment designer of Whitney Industries with their plant manager Formula V
Formula Vee magnesium alloy wheel manufactured by Whitney Industries, Inc. and designed by co-owner Michael Gibbons. They were originally made for the Riviera Motors of Oregon owned Volkswagen Dealerships in 1968 and later made available to all US VW Dealers as part of the Formula Vee range - listed as the 'GT Mag Type'.
Restored Formula Vee
Restored Formula Vee owned by Blaine Braziel.
Kevin Bacon's 1972 Formula Vee from the movie 'Footloose' (1984).
This movie remade for 2011 starring dancer/actor Kenny Wormald.
Footloose (2011)
FV advertising sales card
Formula Vee themed 1972 accessory list card
Formula Vee badge
Formual Vee HoodScoop Formual Vee Gear Shift Knob
Formula Vee metal badge, Hood Scoop and Gear Shift Knob
Riviera Wheel brochure 1
Riviera Wheel brochure 2/3
Riviera Wheel Brochure 4/5
Riviera Wheel Brochure 6/7
VWoA 'GT Mag Type' wheels colour brochure
 

Brumos commissioned NardiThe Formula Vee single seat race car was conceived in 1959 by Hubert Brundage (a Florida Volkswagen Porsche Dealership - the company now known as Brumos), who commissioned Nardi of Italy to build a prototype using standard VW parts for the existing Formula Junior races.There's a bit of the beast in every Bug. (1967) A new 1958 113 Beetle was sent to Torino by Brundage for Nardi to disassemble and use the engine, transmission, suspension, etc. to produce the car.

In1961 the car was sold to George Smith and William Duckworth, who were interested in creating a new series based on Volkswagen components that they wanted to call 'Formula Vee'. Using the Nardi as a model they began constructing and selling their 'Formcar'. The idea was to promote a low cost race car, and launch the new class.

Formula Vee logoIn 1962 four Formula Vee single seat cars competed in a race in Savannah, USA. The newcomers were looked at as slow modified Beetle-descendants and were to start from the back of the grid. The race however ended in a spectacular triple victory for the new Formula Vee cars.

On January 18, 1963 the Formula Vee Racing Association was founded and Formula Vee is still popular today in many countries.

 

Also see Super Vee and Aircooled Accessories 70/71/72/73