Praguian chopped Beetle channels its inner Batmobile

"Franzouse" (franzouseinchina) 12/05/2013 at 11:37 • Filed to: VW, Beetle, Kustoms, Matte black

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We went to Prague last summer to attend a friend's wedding and my wife used that opportunity to show me the city (I've been to Prague several times but I don't have any sober memories of those visits...). The old city definitely has a kind of Gothic vibe and it's easy to understand why so many movies are filmed there.

As we rounded a street corner, I saw this heavily-customized matte-black beetle; If batman had to ride in a VW Bug, I think this would be it.

I'm not really a fan of Beetles' in general (something about the car's origins and all), but I have to admit this one stands out in a great way; not only did they chop the roof, and rework the C-Pillars, but they've also got rid of the bumpers and added rear-wheel well intake thingies that make it look really dynamic (scooby points to anyone who can tell me what those things are called).

I'm sure the ride sucks, and it's under-powered with poor visibility but, in a city like Prague, that thing just looks right.

ddavidn > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 01:38

5

I usually hate every little thing about this. But, as a whole, I would drive it. I can't explain it.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 11:39

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Lamborgheetle? Volkswaghini Bugenton?

phenotyp > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 11:40

6

Perfekt car for Kafka.

Bad Idea Hat > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 11:46

5

This car needs a guy with a Thompson M-1928 sitting shotgun as part of its standard trim package.

shpuker > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 11:47

5

Thing gave me the chills. Fuck yea. I want it.

Moves-Like-Senna > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 11:48

2

Looks more like a car the Penguin guy from Batman would drive but I still love it.

zadtheinhaler > Bad Idea Hat 12/05/2013 at 11:59

7

Period/country correct would suggest an Stg44, but I like the way you think.

zadtheinhaler > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/05/2013 at 11:59

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Volkswaghini Bugenton

Sounds perfect to me!

Bad Idea Hat > zadtheinhaler 12/05/2013 at 12:02

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Oh yeah, but I also see this as being located more in Chicago than in Prague. Damn, now I want the Prague version of the car as well.

tifosi3317 > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:03

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I hate to say it but I likey. Want is strong...

Blondude > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:18

2

I'm not a big fan of the Lambo treatment on the sides but everything else is the absolute sex.

Fed(oo=[][]=oo)uken > phenotyp 12/05/2013 at 12:19

9

Batroach! Quite a metamorphosis!

PRBot II > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:20

11

Dat Saab.

tonered > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:20

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Origins. Ugh!

We need to stop apologizing for the sins of our fathers. The Beetle was a great car despite it's creation.

This Beetle is flat out amazing. Or, is that matte out amazing?

Crazy Asian > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:22

0

Looks like I know what my next project car will be.

meccapanzer > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:25

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Makes me think of a chopped 40's sedan.

v8touareg > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/05/2013 at 12:25

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That last name sounds like a really stuck up man in a petty coat. Yesssss yessssss mista Bugenton is here

jmi79 > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:25

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The trunk lid (hood?) lacks the regular air vents needed for the air cooled vw engines. Could be it be something more sinister is under that hood?? which would match the look.

v8touareg > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/05/2013 at 12:25

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That last name sounds like a really stuck up man in a petty coat. Yesssss yessssss mista Bugenton is here

duurtlang > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/05/2013 at 12:26

1

Isn't this the long lost early prototype of the 356?

Steve > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:28

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I saw this car in Prague in 2011 or so, in fact I think I still have the photo on my computer at home.

When I saw it, it was painted a pretty cool chocolate brown and had an advertisement for a bar on it.

Cool ride.

fintail > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:32

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The intake thing - NACA duct or cheese grater, depending on your taste?

This Beetle is pretty cool, although maybe not so fun for taller drivers.

TheBaron2112 > phenotyp 12/05/2013 at 12:33

1

Oh wow. Bravo, sir.

Forgetnomore > zadtheinhaler 12/05/2013 at 12:38

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I think a Walther PP in a shoulder holster would be far more convenient and historically correct. Or perhaps a tasty locally made P27 (CZ vz. 27). Stg44's belonged on the front lines.

aebome > Bad Idea Hat 12/05/2013 at 12:39

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Neither Chicago or Prague, but New York. As the post states, it fits in well with the Gotham City vibe. As a plus, we all know there is at least one Baja Bug ready for this transformation. Get on it Orlove!

PNW20v > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:42

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So badass!

Wacko > Blondude 12/05/2013 at 12:44

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but they might actually be real vents to the engine!

Aldairion > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:45

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Looks more like something Penguin would be seen in.

zadtheinhaler > Forgetnomore 12/05/2013 at 12:45

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While it may be more convenient, the Walther doesn't have the presence of the '44.

No less effective though!

William Byrd > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/05/2013 at 12:50

0

Nice.

That's the only bit I don't like, a little too Testarossa for me. There had to be a better way to integrate the fat rear fenders, which I like.

ShibbyUTman > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:51

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I've wanted to do something like this to my mini for quite some time. Time to get out the spray gun and flat paint....

M54B30 > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:52

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Aaaaand that's badass. Would totally DD

Jimmy Joe Meeker > jmi79 12/05/2013 at 12:54

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It appears the side ducts now do that job... but who knows?

Straightsix9904 > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:55

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I think "Rear-Wheel Well Intake Thingies" are just called Rear Intakes.

I love you but I've chosen hooning! > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:58

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Obligatory "I'm pretty sure that's a Lambo, dude" comment!

Jimmy Joe Meeker > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 12:58

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It really has a nice 1930s thing going on except for the side vents from the 1980s with more modern updates. They don't belong. Should look like the Cord 810 vents, without the brightwork. That' would go... there are other 1930s designs that would do well too.

madmolf > meccapanzer 12/05/2013 at 13:13

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Well you are not that far, as it was produced from 1938 onwards.

noise > jmi79 12/05/2013 at 13:13

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its possible those rear intakes on the running boards/ in front of the rear fender are actual air intakes. I know the ratio of real functional air intakes to real ones is about a trillion to one these days but they would actually make sense here

Dr. Steve Brule > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/05/2013 at 13:28

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I see you managed to incorporate swag into the vehicles name. Clever girl.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Fed(oo=[][]=oo)uken 12/05/2013 at 13:34

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As Gregor's Tatra awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, it found itself transformed into a volkswagic reject.

jtfarabee > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 13:37

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I saw that car last summer as well... Very impressive in person.

zadtheinhaler > Fed(oo=[][]=oo)uken 12/05/2013 at 13:38

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NANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANA

BatBug!

Steve > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 13:39

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I wish I could figure out how to edit my last post. Here's the car when I spotted it back in July of '11. (At least, I'm pretty sure it's the same car.)

Kookanoodles > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 13:41

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I saw it this summer as well ! I had a non-matte brother, too :

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

bill > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 13:54

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thats not a chopped beetle, This

is a chopped beetle

or if that one is not low enough

or if you do not want to go low

BradmcG > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 13:55

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what does it say on the side?

Turbo_T > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 13:55

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Why would you assume it is under powered? Plenty of power can be had out of a type 1 engine, especially for these cars.

soto > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 13:56

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shit, I like it

teh_d3th_st4r > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 14:00

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I always love seeing volksrods.
I think they recapture the soul, spirit, and imagination that's been all but lost in modern hotrodding culture.

covers86 > tonered 12/05/2013 at 14:04

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"Your father wanted a Mercedes, but I won't ride in a German car!" - Estelle Costanza

Gargleheinz > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 15:04

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I'd call them side strakes.

Intrepidman > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 15:19

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Anyone else read the headline as,

"Penguin's chopped Beetle channels its inner Batmobile"

at first?

tonered > covers86 12/05/2013 at 15:40

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Funny enough, I got a hate comment when someone found out that our fam did a bit of car shopping (Subby, Mazda, and VW) on Veteran's Day this year. You would have thought I buried that shrapnel myself.

I say we honor the heroes and get over the rest of it.

Thankfully we didn't hit up a Fiat dealer. The HOA mighta kicked us out. =P

Mathnerd > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 15:55

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I believe the side intake thingies are called strakes.

Lothar > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 17:47

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I'd rather see someone make this.

Lothar > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 17:48

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I'd rather see somebody make this.

CzechMonster > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 18:06

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If you ever go back to Czech Republic let me know, there are other towns to visit other than Prague, Karlovy Vary for an example, I can point you in the right direction.

mannondale > Franzouse 12/05/2013 at 19:53

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I think this is the car Will I Am built. Good to see it getting traction.

Fuel_of_Satan > tonered 12/05/2013 at 21:42

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Ludwinka wasn't such a bad guy, nor were the allied forces whom put it into production.

I don't get the shame about its origins at all.

Fuel_of_Satan > BradmcG 12/05/2013 at 21:46

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Cal Look or some variation of it (There seems to be something after the Cal) as its the a term for a style of customized Beetle or air cooled VW.

Not this style though, nothing California about this.

Franzouse > BradmcG 12/05/2013 at 22:29

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I'm not sure. I remember taking a closer look but I never wrote it down and forgot.

A quick search on the webs for the possible shop's name has turned up nothing...

QuarkSoup > BradmcG 12/06/2013 at 00:00

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Cal Look. It's a classic bug style that originated in Southern California that involves removing all the trim and lowering the vehicle.

Here's the emblem:

ZabiakFero > Franzouse 12/06/2013 at 03:20

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creator should stand a Trial for those lambo vents, but I doubt it is underpowered, Czech Republic is a land of DIY masters (kutils) and you never know what hides under there. Remember there are plenty aircooled V8 from old Tatras :)

ZabiakFero > BradmcG 12/06/2013 at 03:29

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Cal Look?

BradmcG > QuarkSoup 12/06/2013 at 08:40

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thanks! it was driving me nuts

Dsscats > Franzouse 12/06/2013 at 09:53

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Can we give up the "bug is hitler's car!" Thing already! Sure, it has bad roots, but that's not a valid reason to hate one of the best peoples cats ever made, whether you think so or not.

ccc40821 > Franzouse 12/06/2013 at 11:54

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Should've been parked next to this one:

thatmacfast > Franzouse 12/06/2013 at 14:22

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Adolf's getaway car...too far?

poordna > Franzouse 12/06/2013 at 17:58

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They should be called MR2 Scoops.

Davy Secondclasscitizen Beam > Franzouse 12/08/2013 at 14:40

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Those things on the side are called "roof racks", according to my Czech friends, Georg and Yortok Festrunk. They carry extra birth control devices and delivery food obtained at the Statue of Liberty.