Someone put a wild 400HP Porsche engine in a VW T1 campervan and it absolutely tears up the Nürburgring

The VW T1 campervan is better known for leisurely road trips than chasing Porsches around one of the world’s most demanding racetracks – the Nürburgring.

But one owner has spent decades transforming the classic van into a seriously powerful track machine.

It now packs a naturally aspirated Porsche flat-six producing around 400hp and weighs less than 1,000kg.

YouTuber Misha Charoudin recently got behind the wheel to discover just how ridiculous the combination really is.

This 1965 Volkswagen T1 has almost 10 times the power of the original

The unusual build arrived at the Nürburgring in a transport truck, giving Charoudin the chance to revisit a vehicle he had originally featured on his channel around eight or nine years earlier.

However, the unlikely racing car has come a long way since then.

Its owner revealed that he purchased the unlikely Volkswagen in 1991, initially driving it with its original engine before deciding it needed something considerably more exciting.

After finding a wrecked Porsche 911 in Belgium, he took the entire rear section and incorporated it into the Volkswagen, so it’s a VW outside with a Porsche heart.

The result is a 1965 T1 with a 3.8-liter naturally aspirated, oil-cooled Porsche flat-six featuring a GT3 crankshaft.

It produces approximately 400hp, compared with the original Volkswagen engine’s 44hp.

The van also uses a five-speed Porsche G50 gearbox, Porsche-derived suspension and brakes, KW dampers, and Tillett racing seats.

The Porsche-powered VW weighs less than 1,000kg

Despite its considerably more powerful mechanical setup, the T1 has undergone extensive weight-saving modifications.

It features a carbon-fiber roof, lightweight door handles and a collection of racing components designed to keep its weight down.

According to its owner, the finished vehicle weighs just 995kg with fluids.

That’s particularly impressive considering the Porsche engine alone weighs approximately 200kg more than the original Volkswagen unit.

Charoudin was surprised by how well the van handled, particularly after learning about the extensive suspension work carried out over the winter.

The owner explained that it now feels almost like a modern car, with a weight distribution close to 50:50.

However, the unconventional gearbox presented a rather different challenge.

Its unusual shift pattern made finding second gear difficult, while the pedal arrangement meant traditional heel-and-toe downshifting was practically impossible.

Describing the experience, Charoudin admitted: “My only like really struggle was to get like proper gearing and actually the pedal position.”

Misha Charoudin takes the unusual Volkswagen around the Nürburgring

Getting the T1 around the Nordschleife was clearly no ordinary driving experience.

Charoudin initially struggled to get comfortable with the gearbox, occasionally having to abandon attempts to select second gear and remain in third instead.

Despite the learning curve, the van proved surprisingly capable.

The YouTuber praised its grip and stability, even at higher speeds, explaining: “I was really surprised how grippy and controllable it is.”

The owner also revealed that the build is still evolving, despite having spent more than three decades developing it.

After completing his laps, Charoudin described the campervan as “definitely one of the most special and unique cars I’ve ever driven.”

It might look like an ordinary vintage campervan from the outside, but this T1 is considerably more at home at the Nürburgring than taking a leisurely trip to the beach.

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