I once had the chance to drive a 1963 Beetle with a bog standard 289 Chev in the back. Its grip at launch was fantastic and because it was ostensibly a mid engine its straight line stability was fine as was its handling as it had the rear suspension from a 1968 auto beetle. It was a real sleeper because it was bog standard outside with only slightlty wider wheels to the eye but the main offset was inside. It even had standard hubcaps, no gauges beside the standard speedo and fuel gauge so it was a total sleeper. Oh and the pic is for you madmuz