#LIFEONAIR: Max Edward's ’78 Beetle on Air Suspension

Max Edwards has built a rather special Beetle, taking inspiration from the land of motorsport, while somehow keeping it true to its classic Beetle heritage. These are two very different styles, but they complement each other very well!

The idea first came to Max in February of 2011, and it had him searching high and low for an early-model Beetle. Eventually, Max stumbled upon an original 1978 model that was in need of some TLC. After enjoying the car in its stock form for several years, Max knew it was time for his Beetle to reach its final form – a form that would include a complete body-off restoration.

The suspension and chassis were the first element to be overhauled using a Limebug setup, adding a 2” narrow beam to get that perfect Beetle tuck. To achieve the #LifeOnAir look and performance, he upgraded the suspension to Limebug through rods, long travel ball joints, track rod flip and raised and strengthened shock towers.  The rear suspension was converted to IRS, using Air Lift Performance Dominator 2500 air springs, paired with the Limebug notched trailing arms and modified lower mounts. The whole suspension set-up is controlled by 3P, the pressure-based air management system that can later be upgraded to the height-based 3H system.

With a wide range of Air Lift Performance management options, Max opted for the 3P system because it gave him the benefits of instant ride-height adjustment, iPhone app control and, of course, the ability to upgrade to 3H in the future.