Specially Prepared VW Beetles Take On The 2019 Mille Miglia

The Mille Miglia is one of the most prestigious historic automotive events in the world, taking competitors through the stunning Italian countryside as they attempt to complete the road rally in period-correct Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, Fiats and more.

Naturally, then, VW showed up to this year’s edition of the event with a couple of Beetles.

While VW’s Beetles for sure won’t be the most impressive or valuable cars participating in this year’s Mille Miglia, they certainly aren’t your average, run-of-the-mill bugs. They’re run-of-the-mille bugs.

One of the Beetles, a Reseda Green example, is a replica of the car that Paul-Ernst Strähle won the 1300cc class in at the 1954 Mille Miglia. For this effort, Strähle took the body from a 1948 Beetle and installed the engine, gearbox and other parts from a Porsche 356. The lookalike car is a Reseda Green example that was modified “using various Porsche parts,” and makes roughly 58 hp from its flat-four. VW says the car was built using the original documents and registration for Strähle’s car.

The second Beetle VW has entered into the Mille Miglia is an authentic replica that was built by Volkswagen Classic in 2011 and makes 74 horsepower from its Porsche-sourced flat-four motor.

Only cars that can accurately demonstrate they were involved in the Mille Miglia between the years of 1927 and 1957 can take part in the event today, which is more of a vintage car cruise than a true road rally. The cars must also have parts that are all in accordance with the originals’. VW’s modified Beetles are eligible as they are historically accurate representations of the Beetles that would have been entered in the event in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

The Beetle’s entry into the Italian road rally is part of VW’s farewell for the model before it exits production (likely for good) this summer.

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