Many are fitted with highly modified Volkswagen engines and a few have engines from such cars as the Ford Pinto , Chevrolet Corvair , Porsche , Mazda , Subaru or other four - to eight-cylinder water-cooled engines . They remain a popular choice in desert regions and many are fitted with highly modified Volkswagen engines . A few home-built hybrids have Ford Pinto engine , Chevrolet Corvair , Porsche , Mazda , Subaru or other four - to eight-cylinder water-cooled engines .