For Sale: 1969 Volkswagen Baja Bug in Lithia Springs, Georgia

Just when we think we've seen it all, cars like this wild 1969 Volkswagen Beetle show up. Not your garden-variety V-Dub, it's been fully customized and is just as capable as its way-out looks would suggest. If there's a vehicle that screams "fun" more than this one, I can't imagine what it might be.

You've seen dune buggies made from VWs elsewhere on the Streetside Classics website, but this one takes the same idea in a different direction. Clearly designed to play where the pavement ends, only the front clip of this VW is heavily tweaked, with most of it being neatly modified factory steel. Clipped fenders are the most prominent modification, designed to give those oversized wheels and tires plenty of room to work when bouncing around off road. You'll also note that this is not a typical VW Bug, and has been clipped and tweaked to offer more strength with a roof rack that adds to its off-roading look. And, of course, there's that bright yellow pearl paint, which seems appropriate on a car ready to party and adds an aggressive look that works really well. With that winch installed up front, this might be the toughest-looking Beetle we've ever seen.

It's a bit more civilized inside than its looks would indicate, not the bare-bones desert rat that you were expecting. The factory bucket seats feature durable and OEM-style seat covers, but the dash has been painted bright yellow to match the bodywork. The original Beetle instruments are still in the lone round pod ahead of the driver, and the steering wheel is a fat two-spoke setup that looks awesome. An AM/FM/cassette stereo does its best to keep up with the snarky engine out back and the wind roaring past the windows, but you'll be laughing too much to care anyway. A trick EMPI shifter helps sharpen up the 4-speed manual transmission's throws and we like the industrial-looking diamond plate door handle surrounds. The back seat is still in place, so you can bring friends along, and you'll note custom speakers on the rear package shelf along with some funky upholstery that seems right at home. There's even a nicely finished trunk up front, complete with a carpet set and a few tools.

The Baja Bug look emphasizes the rear-mounted engine by cutting away most of the deck lid and showing off the exotic chrome header pipe and muffler. With 1776 cc worth of displacement, this is a burly Bug that makes notably more power than your average VW, particularly with a hot-rod Weber carburetor and that far-out exhaust system. Inside there's a stroker crank, 90.5 pistons, an Eagle cam, and a set of performance heads that really wake it up. A big original-style generator supplies the juice, and with just 3000 miles on the build, the whole thing is totally ready to go out and play. The lifted suspension hangs on a set of heavy-duty off-road springs and shocks all around, and it works well, even if all you're going to do is cruise the streets. A heavy-duty tubular bumper protects the vitals, and it rolls on blacked-out wheels wearing trim rings and staggered radial tires for just the right stance.

If your only goal with a hobby car is to have fun, this party on wheels should be at the very top of your list, because it does nothing else besides have fun. Call today!