AT FIRST GLANCE, even a seasoned gearhead might not notice what’s so special about David Benardo’s lovingly restored vintage Volkswagen Beetles. The car’s iconic hump shape, elegantly sloped wings, foregrounded windshield and throwback dashboard are all there. But turn the key in the ignition: In place of the noisy snap, crackle and pop of the old air-cooled, flat-four engine, what do you hear? Silence. Or more precisely, the near-imperceptible thrum of the electric motor that Benardo has discreetly installed, making this 78-year-old automotive classic as eco-friendly and energy efficient as a Toyota Prius or Chevy Volt.
AT FIRST GLANCE, even a seasoned gearhead might not notice what’s so special about David Benardo’s lovingly restored vintage Volkswagen Beetles. The car’s iconic hump shape, elegantly sloped wings, foregrounded windshield and throwback dashboard are all there. But turn the key in the ignition: In place of the noisy snap, crackle and pop of the old air-cooled, flat-four engine, what do you hear? Silence. Or more precisely, the near-imperceptible thrum of the electric motor that Benardo has discreetly installed, making this 78-year-old automotive classic as eco-friendly and energy efficient as a Toyota Prius or Chevy Volt.
