There was once a kit that turned your Beetle into a Jeep.

"Jim Spanfeller" (awesomeaustinv) 03/26/2020 at 13:52 • Filed to: None

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And it was called the “Veepster”. The Sun Valley Veepster, to be exact.

Interestingly, although it used the drivetrain and several other parts from a Volkswagen, it was not based on a Volkswagen chassis. Instead, it had its own specific tube-frame chassis. It also featured a one-piece fiberglass body, which is not unusual for a kit car. I imagine as a daily driver, it’d be about as practical as a real Vee- er, Jeep, but with better fuel economy and worse off-road capabilities. 

ranwhenparked > Jim Spanfeller 03/26/2020 at 14:01

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There was also a kit to turn your Beetle into a HMMWV, called the Hummbug. For legal reasons, it was later slightly restyled and renamed the Wombat.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jim Spanfeller 03/26/2020 at 14:12

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I would have called it a Jeetle 

Captain of the Enterprise > Jim Spanfeller 03/26/2020 at 14:30

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Were those also  worth $5000 with a floor rusted out completely?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jim Spanfeller 03/26/2020 at 15:04

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It’s pretty convincing, but why? The loss of rear seats offsets the utility of any storage space gained under the hood.

At least they didn't call it the Jeetle. That just sounds wrong.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > ranwhenparked 03/26/2020 at 15:05

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I don’t hate it. The front end has lovely proportions.

MoCamino > Jim Spanfeller 03/26/2020 at 15:18

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The Veepster looks somewhat more refined than the Empi my dad used to have. It was cool looking, and I’d have loved to have it for myself to use  as a nice weather toy....but WOW it just imbued zero confidence when riding in it. I don’t know if it’s because the seats were a touch too high, or if I’m just not cut out for the doors off life, but it was unnerving.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Captain of the Enterprise 03/26/2020 at 15:33

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6, not 5K.

ranwhenparked > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/26/2020 at 15:57

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And it might actually be better off road than an H2, given the Beetle underpinnings.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Jim Spanfeller 03/26/2020 at 17:45

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There is/was one of these in my neighbou r hood,  in a backyard rotting away, with the McDonald’s logo on the sides and a soft top (most of one anyway). 

Jim Spanfeller > ranwhenparked 03/27/2020 at 00:15

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That is awesome. And ironic. I like it.

Jim Spanfeller > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/27/2020 at 00:18

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Not to mention the “hood” doesn’t open, since the body’s all one piece. They cited fuel economy as an advantage, plus the fact that a lot of people know a lot about fixing Volkswagens. It’s definitely more beach buggy than true off-roader, though.