Dan Gurney in Empi Special #3 races at the 1963 Nassau Speed Week. This car was fitted with EMPI's famous anti-roll bar and camber compensator and the 30bhp engine was fitted with a sports exhaust system.

Because he owned a Volkswagen agency and his own EMPI accessory company, Joe Vittone was in a unique position. In 1966, Economotors offered complete new cars fitted with a range of EMPI parts but which were still covered by a full Volkswagen warranty. The cars were known as the EMPI GTVs and could be bought in one of four levels of specification.

The Mk I was a 1300 Beetle with the addition of a complete set of dress-up parts, E-Z-R gear shift, front anti-roll bar, camber compensator, sports exhaust system and a set of chrome wheels. GTV badges on the quarter panels completed the package. The MkI kit cost $437.20 on top of the price of a stock 1300 Bug.

The Mk II added a number of other parts to the MkI's specification, including a rear parcel shelf complete with extra speakers, a lock on the engine lid and two reversing lights. The cost of this conversion kit was $568.85.

The Mk III added some extra instruments, more dress-up parts and, best of all, a set of BRM magnesium wheels. The cost of this conversion was just $755.05.

Finally, the Mk IV package included all of the above parts, plus a new ram-induction carburettor kit, brake servo, reclining seats and a set of Boge sports shock absorbers. The complete GTV Mk IV kit retailed for $1238.75.

The EMPI company grew to be very big across America, with 28 official distributors and 489 agents spread across the country. Many of the agents also owned Volkswagen dealerships and Volkswagen of America was not very happy with the idea at all. It tried to stop many of these agencies selling EMPI parts, and even threatened to cut its deliveries of new cars when there was already a shortage of new Volkswagens.

Top picture courtesy The Air-Cooled Jargon File