It has a 1940s Ford style hood and a full wooden wagon body.
June 4, 2023 at 9:29 am ET
The classic Volkswagen Beetle has acted as the basis for a myriad of different vehicles over time, from the iconic Meyers Manx dune buggy to all manner of kit cars.
But it looks like the good ol’ Beetle could even transform into a wooden wagon that looks like a 1940s Ford, as shown in the video embedded at the top of this page, posted on Archaeology YouTube channel.
This particular red Beetle is a 1965 model that has been sitting around for quite some time, with the previous owner inheriting it from his uncle. He tried to get it back on the road but never got around to finishing the project, so he sold it.
As you can see in the video, it’s a pretty lovely thing, even if the faux wood side panels are past their prime and it’s missing its hatch. But, as the presenter says, it looks like the perfect base for a quick-swap project, with its base air-cooled engine still sitting in the back and the same basic mechanical design as the Beetle.
It’s also clear from the list stuck to the tailgate that the previous owner had plans for the car, but as sometimes happens, these old cars don’t always get the attention they need. A new vinyl roof was purchased and some electrical work done, but that’s about it.
The Woodie Beetle is quite a quirky little car, with its pre-war American face and custom side panels. As it turns out, there’s a company called Stevenson Projects that started selling plans for a DIY kit in the 1980s to transform a 1950s or 1960s Bug into something called a VW Woody. In fact, the California-based company will sell you a $40 set of plans today, but as mentioned on its website, “these plans are 30 years old and not DOT approved.”
Still, it’s nice to know that a beautiful classic like this one that’s obtainable found its way into the hands of someone who can repair it and bring it back to its luster so it can hit the streets once more (though not in the rain). .
As always, we’d love to hear what you think about it, so after watching the video embedded above, head to the comments section below to give us your thoughts.
