The Classic VW Beetle

Has anyone else heard that Volkswagen is now making a truck for 2010? However, unknown to many people, there was already a VW Truck years ago. I have proof. And here it is;

So what do you think? Would you buy it? I would. Sorry I don’t have a better picture of it, but you get the idea.

The thing about VW’s is that they are so customizable. You can make a truck out of a VW Beetle. Who knew? But why stop there?

You can do anything you want with any VW Beetle, Thing, Bus or Ghia. All you need is a little bit of know-how, a decent amount of money, and a big imagination. Here are some more customized and modified Beetles, Ghia’s, and Things.

Here is a VW Camper Bug;

A Ghia Barbecue;

A Volkswagen Beetle Limo;

And my favorite the Type 181 VW Thing Low Rider;

There is so much you can do to VW’s. If and when I get my VW Thing, I plan on making it worthy of the off road heritage it was supposed to have. Powerful engine, bigger off road tires, sort of like a Hummer. But a VW Hummer.

Have you done any customizing unlike anyone else? Leave a comment and show us your pictures.

I saw this catalog on The Samba today. It’s the 1974 VWOA Accessories Catalog, subtitled “84 Interesting Things You Can Do to a Volkswagen.” What a great title.

I haven’t seen these catalogs anywhere in stores or VW “graveyards”, but they look like something every Bug  (or other VW) owner should have.

Yes!! I get to go to the Mid America Motorworks Air-cooled VW funfest again. This year Mid America is honoring the Dune Buggy, and in attendance will be Bruce Meyers, creator of the Manx Dune Buggy.

I was able to go to the Funfest last year and it was great. Of course, I loved the VW Things, but there are plenty of other VW’s and air-cooled rides.

If you would like to go, here is the Mid America Motorworks registration page for Funfest 2008.

Funfest 2007 Oval Window Beetle Pictures

Funfest 2007 VW Thing Pictures

Hope to see you there!

As I was searching for a VW Thing in good condition, I came across a great site for people like me who (although I would love too) just don’t have the time to fully restore a Beetle or Thing. West Coast Classic Restoration restores and sells VW’s.

There are some beautiful cars on this site, and, of course, Things. Including one Kubelwagen built in 1942 and delivered and used in Africa during WWII. They also have a 1944 Schwimmwagen. Just perfect.

The one really great feature about West Coast is that they put pictures up during the restoration of a car. So we can follow along, and see what they did once they are finished. For example, here is a page about Jim’s (I don’t know Jim) 1949 Beetle restoration.

So if you have a Volkswagen that needs some love, and you just aren’t that mechanically inclined, check out West Coast VW Restoration, or anyplace around you that can do the work for you.

If you have no VW, then sorry. But you could, because West Coast sells Beetles, Things, and Ghia’s.

Let’s have a moment of silence.

I have seen too many of these car graveyards (shedding a tear), and many of them are almost exclusively VW’s. Why is this? There really is no shortage of Beetles for restoration projects.

I know, the ‘Bug-erceptor”? It’s bad, but that’s what they’re calling it.

This Beetle, seized in a DUI, has been transformed into a Police Cruiser. But don’t let the name, “Bug-erceptor” fool you. It’s not an interceptor. You won’t be getting pulled over by this cop car unless you’re on a bicycle. At a top speed of 70 MPH, this Bug will be seeing action only in parades and schools.

In case you are wondering, the number on this police car is 53.

My brother, The Beetle Fan, asked me to do some writing for him on the Classic Beetle. Unfortunately for him, I’m a Thing Fan. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Beetle, but the Thing is what does it for me.

The VW Thing was built in Germany (obviously) during WWII, but was stopped after the war. In the 1960’s, the German military wanted a light duty vehicle, and from that came Type 181 Kubelwagen. It started production in 1969, and moved to Mexico in 1973, the same year it was marketed as the Thing in North America. Production stopped in 1980.

It’s not powerful and fast, it’s not really that great for off-road use, but it sure looks cool. My favorite Thing that I’ve ever seen is already here on The Classic Beetle on the post about the pictures we took at the Mid America VW Funfest

I just found a company in Vancouver, Canada that is actually making new Kubelwagens, or Things if you prefer. Intermeccanica Custom Coach Builders is also making new 1959 Porsche Roadsters, ‘55 Speedsters, ‘58 Speedsters, and other custom order vehicles.

I gotta get me one of those.

courtesy diecastaudio.com:

A new die cast “VDub” has been added to the Wave4 line. This is a great looking addition to any die-cast collection, especially if you focus on VW and Classic VW cars. The purple paint and the bloodshot eyeballs for headlights really set this off . . .

Just a beautiful job of driving in this drift video.

Nice to see a Classic Beetle showing the kids how it’s done . . .