Vehicle Description
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!
