bobloblaw2010 left this at the Cohort with the comment: “A special present for Paul N!” Aw shucks; thanks! Initially, I wasn’t going to run it on the CC front page, because the picture is so tiny. But then I realized that’s the whole point: this is one of the smallest RVs ever made.
I remember these VW Beetle conversions well, and I remember seeing one not all that long ago. It really was an inspired if also equally crazy idea: Beetles were dime-a-dozen then, so why not. I think several companies made them, and there were kits too. And some folks just cobbled them up. I do wonder about their structural integrity, as the VW platform was intended to to be integrated with the body, and by that I don’t mean a bunch of 2x4s. Whatever. Someday, I’ll have to do a full feature on them. But I would have loved one in 1973; instead of selling my Beetle and buying that Dodge A100 van, I could have had the best of both worlds in one package. Or is it the worst of both worlds?
I love the yellow and I wouldn’t change a thing…. however, if you paint this little guy red it could pass for a English telephone box — Glad you liked your present. 🙂
And if you paint it blue, it’s a TARDIS. However, I sincerely doubt it is larger on the inside.
What I want to know, is where the heck did they place the Beetle engine?
Probably a ‘pancake’ engine from a Type-3 – they’re a lot flatter than a Beetle engine due to the fan/doghouse being a different design to the upright style in the Beetle.
Under the sink.
I’m trying to figure out where in there you could fit a bed.
Steve,
I ‘d go w/ the hammock.
I am surprised that one of these never made it into Michael Freeman’s driveway.
Looking at this, the first thing I think of is that I thought that the regular Beetles were bad in crosswinds. I cannot imagine this one.
All 36 of those horses would be working themselves to death trying to get that thing going 25 MPH, yikes!
On the other hand, that would provide ample opportunities to enjoy the scenery 🙂
Seems like an obvious candidate to swap in a bus axle with the reduction gear hubs. It might only go 45 mph, but it’ll climb a tree at 45mph…
This one clearly has some sort of modification going on in back. Look at how deep those rear wheels are. Maybe just modified offset wheels, but maybe something more elaborate.
Ha, that Beetle is like the polar opposite to mine in terms of practicality! I can’t even imagine how slow this would be – even my 62 (with a 1500 mind you) is in no fear of setting any land speed records, so this would just be dangerous! The fatties on the back are cool though.
The aerodynamics of the beetle helped its low powered cause no end while this thing might be a great idea Id hate to try driving it on the open road every time a truck overtakes or passes the buffeting will blow this over
I saw the plans for sale. Think it was popular mechanics. Thought about it, laughed about it, and forgot about it. Thanks for bringing it up again.
Someone suggested a bus transaxle. I’ll go it one more. Kennedy Engineered Products will sell you an adapter plate and redrill a vw flywheel to allow use of the stock starter and put in some more reliable and longer lasting engine. The best one I read about that used his products was a white van with black spots like a holstein cow. Had the little toyota 17__ that looks like a hemi. Sounded like a real practical van. Used to be you could read his experience on line under the name Road Cow.
Cool RV. It reminds of the “Coffe bug”, which was (and still is I hope) an old Volkswagen bug with a fiberglass body set up to sell coffee from. As I recall it was big enough for the guy to stand up in, and it had a vending window on the side like an old ice cream truck. It was a fixture for years on Gabriola Island which is one of the gulf islands on the BC coast. Someone had a good little business selling coffee to people in the often long ferry line up. It’s amazing what people can do with a volkswagen bug…
An RV repair place on TV Highway in Hillsboro had one out front for years, although probably more of a non-runner. I have seen scans of the original Popular Mechanics article on the net and the 3D Tetris level of space utilization in these is beyond even a Westfalia bus. These would sleep at least two and had a stove and fridge.
Hillsboro RV Supply?
More rugged, bigger tires in the back. That one is a bit nicer than the CL listing.
That’s the one.
here you go Paul
“Custom cars, trucks, motorhomes and recreational vehicles were all the rage during the 1960s and 1970s but certain “carhouses” crossed the line into outrageousness as they criss-crossed the country. Among the most eyebrow-raising of the bunch was a VW Beetle RV conversion known variously as the Bugaroo or the MiniHome.”
http://weburbanist.com/2010/06/13/vw-rv-ftw-the-amusing-amazing-beetle-minihome/
Interesting to see the Edsel & Cadillac RV’s, I saw one years ago on a 59 Ford Fairlane built back in the 1960s complete with a/c for the rear cabin and a 100 gal (imperial – 450L) gas tank so it could run at 80mph from Melbourne to Queensland, that’s 850 miles.
Don’t anyone move…this thing is flat-out cute. It had better stay yellow, or my avatar will have something nasty to say!
MiniHome plans and a full description:
http://www.rqriley.com/minihome.html
“MiniHome is much more stable than it looks.”
Sweet leisure suit! Is that you and the Mrs., Mike???
😉
OK, silly question: It’s cute and all, but why would anyone buy one of these when they could simply have a VW bus? And how many appliances do you think they can run off of a 6-volt electrical system?
The car market of the 50s-70s was different to how it is today. VW campers were very expensive (some things haven’t changed) and beetles were cheap- almost disposable.
People also used to fancy themselves as much more handy than now, and were willing to take on any project, no matter how complex and how poorly their workmanship. Thus, the idea of getting a $50 beetle, and some bits of wood from Home Depot to build the RV in the garage.
Obviously by the mid-80s, there were ten times more of these things languishing half built in garages than completed. The build quality on these varied hugely- some were built with a level of craftsmanship that would put Airsteram to shame, others were built as well as the DIY rumpus room in the 1960s house I grew up in- cheap paneling, no insulation, and dodgy electrics.
The scary thing is that not only in Popular Mechanics do advertisers sell kits for camper conversions, but you can still buy DIY aircraft kits and plans. Having your beetle conversion fall apart around you on the highway is bad enough, but at least it isn’t 8000 feet in the air.
Brian makes some interesting points. I would definitely agree that this kind of do-it-yourself project isn’t nearly as common as it used to be. Of course, my view may be a bit skewed, since I grew up in a farming community, and then moved to the city as an adult. Farmers are the ultimate do-it-yourselfers, and city folk? Not so much. The only home-made camper that I can remember from back then would be the ’56 or so Cadillac that the owner of the local junkyard converted into a camper. IIRC, the workmanship was pretty good. I think I’d prefer that over a Beettlebago.
When I was a Child 1963… I Played in an Old Milk Cart Which meant it was 60 years Old ? I Guess I dont Know when They Converted to motorized. This Reminds Me Of That. Which I Played School in Like My Bro Went to I Thot I Was missin Out … Little Did I Know.,
Next year I Was Gone Till 330 at least…
that guy,
Not all bugs ran off of 6V power, by 1967, all VW’s had 12V, negative ground systems and used an alternator instead of a generator.
Converting anything to negative earth is simple takes 30secs
Hopefully, that yellow camper is a ’67 then. Couldn’t be any newer since the new type of bumpers came out in ’68. My ’66 fastback had a 6 volt system, and I had to keep the revs up just to listen to the radio. Whenever I just let it idle at a stoplight, the volume would go down to nearly inaudible. A total piece of junk, but I miss that car.
Awwww…a Minnie Winnie fell in love with a GMC Motorhome and now they’re a family!
i think paul it might be the worst of both worlds,lol though it looks real cute over in the uk you could buy the …mini mongoose..based on the austin mini seven with stretched weelbase 4 birth the works..very gloovey
Does anyone have the guts to build a Bufalino?