Category Archives: 1966 VW Beetle

Classic Blaupunkt Radio Bluetooth Conversion.

1966 VW Beetle, 3D Printing, Cars

I made this conversion for my Blaupunkt Manheim Radio (but it may work for others) using 3D printed parts I designed and a Bluetooth Amplifier PCB.

Do not attempt this if you are not good with electronics or don’t want to damage your radio. I take no responsibility for any damage you cause, Ensure you use the correct gauge wires and add an external fuse.

I used this Bluetooth Amplifier PCB https://amzn.to/444DJby but any similar one should work, be sure to check reviews as the first version I bought wasn’t as good quality as this one.

The STLs are available here for free https://www.printables.com/model/1319195-classic-blaupunkt-radio-conversion these are NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

To convert the radio is pretty simple:

  1. Strip the radio, removing the old PCB and controls. leave the buttons and display in place.
  2. Move the Volume pot into the Tuning pot position.
  3. Mount the PCB Bracket using the original Tuner collar and nut.
  4. Heat the end of the shaft adapter for a few seconds and push onto the shaft of the new volume pot, when cool thread the shaft through the hole.
  5. Screw PCB into the adapter.
  6. Finally wire up the new PCB, I didn’t use the supplied cable, I soldered 12v and Gnd feeds to the PCB.
  7. Ensure you fuse it externally, I cannot stress this enough.

You can wire the original bulb up to the 12v feed or replace it with some LED strip as I did, be sure to only give the radio a switched 12v supply and don’t leave unattended when in use.

I am really pleased with mine and have used it for thousands of miles now, I would thoroughly recommend good quality speakers (I used these JBLs in kick panels https://amzn.to/4ksJANA ) as this makes a world of difference, I also fitted an sub under the rear seat (this one https://amzn.to/3T97d1B ) wired into the speaker outputs, I recommend taking a feed from the coil to the remote power input as the auto detect power isn’t great.

1966 Sea Blue VW Beetle

1966 VW Beetle, Cars

Last year I bought a new fun car, after some back and forth I settled on a 66 Beetle.

This is the third beetle I’ve owned (EER 439D), previously having a 1972 early looker (EJN 484K) with 1600cc Single port engine and a 1977 1200cc (SRT 969R) both of which were my daily drivers and I covered many thousands of miles in them.

My Old Bugs:

This one left the factory in 1965 and is a 1966 1300cc model, it featured in Volksworld in 1994 and had a load of work done to it in 1998, It was “restored” around 2009/2010 and fitted with a large race engine however since then it’s barely covered any miles.

1994 Volksworld and the original restoration:

1998 – 59,998 miles – Receipts from LR super beetles show that it had a lot of work this year.
2010 – 70,337 miles – Fully restored, body off and resprayed as race car with large engine fitted.
2012 – 70,469 miles – MOT Mileage.
2024 – 70,658 miles – When I purchased it!

I bought it with a few issues that needed sorting before it hit the road, the massive engine and rear suspension had been removed prior to my purchase, the supplied axles were wrong and the brakes looked like they came from the bottom of the sea.

I also had some of the scratches touched up and the heating reinstated which had been welded up, I had a 1600 TP engine (originally from a late Mexican Beetle) fitted with twin 34 ICT webbers.

Thanks to DK Autos in biggleswade for getting it back on the road and Julian at parts emporium for supplying many missing items It’s now a lovely car which is fun to drive, has good heating and has a great interior. I’ve already driven more miles in the last few weeks than it has covered in the previous 14 years.

As it is now: