I just got back from LA last night, and I was going through a few pictures from the huge Galpin Car Show, and this one caught my eye. It’s a Beetle convertible, I think a 1967, and while there were many, many other old air-cooled Volkswagens, many more interesting, this one caught my attention because I realized it’s outfitted in a way that I feel like I’ve seen before, but I’m not quite sure what to call it. It’s not a Baja Bug, but it shares some traits, it’s not quite a full rally Beetle, it’s not exactly prepped to race – what is going on here, exactly?
There’s some interesting details and traits here: the fenders are a bit cut down – not to the degree a dedicated off-road Beetle would be, but a bit. The spare tire is mounted on that carrier at the rear – an odd choice considering the already significant rear weight bias – there’s wider rear wheels, no running boards, a semaphore slot (unoccupied, and this car is way too late for semaphores, so not sure what’s going on there), a towing arm setup up front, and all on a convertible.
Strangely, it reminds me a bit of a noted and quite famous grouch’s Beetle:
I mean, yes, the one I saw is vastly better cared for and likely free of worms, but there’s a bit of an aesthetic parallel.
The look is like a rugged-and-ready kind of thing, but less specific than the other popular ruggedized VW looks.
What should we call this, if this look/subculture lacks a name? Utility Beetle? Rugged Bug? Survival Beetle?
I’m open to ideas!
— J
I talked with the owner, it’s a ’59! They went *all* over the southwest in that thing in the 60s
I’d call it by a name that reflects the mix of off-roaders and on-roader that’s seen these days in the raised station wagons (the ones that admit they’re wagons, not all the PSuedo-UVs trying to deny it) like the Volvo Cross-Country, the Audi Allroad, the VW Alltrack and the Mercedes All-Terrain. Ideally it would give a nod to the first of the current batch, the Subaru Outback (no need to take flight with the AMC Eagle.) The Beetle/Outback would become the BeatBack. Or the BackBeat. A convertible BeatBack would become the BeatDown, while a BackBeat with a removable hardtop would be the Beat… well, you see where this is going.
I’m going to suggest the Beetle Charleston.
https://c-3d.niceshops.com/upload/image/product/large/default/12791_13196227.1024×1024.jpg
With all those parts from all those years?
That there’s a Billy Bug.
As in Psycho-billy.
As in the end of the Johnny Cash song One Piece At A Time.
What a mix: 50ies semaphore body sides, 60ies doors, 60ies dashboard, the old small window hood, the early wheels (rears without vent holes older than front ones), 1968+ front fenders, pre 1968 rear lights, and then all the homebuilt crap on it also…
It isn’t the nicest wording, but it rhymes, so I’d call it a Dontgivafuckbug 😎
WTFübelwagen
Hmm. Spare tire hanging out back. Rag top. Black fenders on a different colored body.
I think this is called a Wrangler.
This is some sort of hoi polloi hack job. Taillights are pre-68, US semaphores stopped in the 50s, the flat unvented deck lid is some sort of aftermarket abomination, and the headlights look like sealed beams (68-on).
That said, I’d drive it.
The VW Torchbearer
Its a Toad. Meant to be towed behind their RV, then used to run around wherever it is they’re staying.
Lets go with ‘Oscar Toad’ to denote it as different from other vehicles towed behind RVs.
Toad Warrior?
Wish we could see it from the front (does it have the smaller, completely flat pre-1965 windshield?), as those look like semaphore cut-outs on the side. Definitely later fenders in the front (1967+). Also, doesn’t look quite right in the back for a convertible… maybe this thing has been hacked quite a bit.
In traditional terms its a “Cabrio” + “Tourng” ..CT? . Its certainly not a GT, there’s nothing grand about it in terms of size or comforts.
Weevil (Whee-ville if you wish)
Scientific name Curculionoidea. Have long snouts and come in many colors. “There are 97,000 species making them one of the most common types of beetles”
“Buggin” Isn’t that what prepers prep for?
Oscar’s daily.
Saddleshoe Beetle.
Bee-tow