CC-reader Nagosnell found this gem in Belton S.C. and, judging from the headlights, believes it to have begun life as a 68-74 VW. Some research revealed the “Super Bugger” decal not to be an owner’s personal touch but rather, the actual name of one of 200-ish conversions made, according to this source, by Bugaroo, a little shop in Irvine, California. The outside looks pretty restorable and we especially dig the period-correct turbine wheels. Unfortunately, the missing glass on the roof has probably wreaked all sorts of havoc on any cloth or wood left inside. Either way, it’s a rare find and would make for a fun camper.
Originally known as “Little Bugger,” DIY plans for Bugaroo’s VW-based camper were made public and eventually, featured in a 1977 Mechanix Illustrated as the MI Minihome. With oversized rear wheels and a reinforced rear suspension, these Beetle-conversions were said to handle very much like the donor sedan model. For those interested in seeing just how true this claim is, plans to make your own can be purchased here today.
As we can judge from the attire in this photo, the VW-based Minihome was released during a time of very different expectations. RVs are far from from popular today, and the Bugaroo was an outrageous extension of the concept even when new. If someone were able to successfully merge the DIY plans for one with more adequate power, however, it could make for a fascinating project among air-cooled VW devotees.
That’s not to say that a similar concept holds no value today. Campinn, a Japanese company, makes this fiberglass Prius extension and don’t laugh; I think it’s pretty cool. While the famous Toyota hybrid will never be as accessible to cash-strapped buyers as the VW was, there’s a lot of be said for its use as a frugal recreational vehicle. At about $50,000, on the other hand, anyone who can afford such a device is less likely to need such efficiency. At the other end of the scale, the parts needed for a modern day Bugaroo mini home only run about $1500; add in $55 for the plans to make one and another couple grand for a decent VW Beetle, and the total is still much less. If the value equation of such a project still leaves you perplexed, there are oodles of VW campers which can be found without the headache.
Related reading:
CC Capsule: 1969 Volkswagen Westfalia Camper – Perfect for that Workday Afternoon Siesta
Cars Of A Lifetime: 1979 Volkswagen ASI Riviera camper bus (one more time around)
Curbside Classic: 1988 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia – Slow, Expensive, And Loved The World Over
Jeeze ;
I remember these….
-Nate
Uh, I think I’d rather have a Westfalia camper van than one of these.
Especially if it’s called a Super Bugger, that’d be awkward to mention at dinner parties..
2 words:: Very. Slow.
A head wind would send it backwards the only reason a beetle has the mediocre performance it has is light weight and wind cheating shape this does away with all that and then some.
If I was going camping in a Beetle, I’d rather have this:
Yeah now thats cool not sure I want one but it ingenious.
I saw this a long time ago and more recently as well. I saw the other one and was never tempted. This one though, it seems, could be adapted to work on anything with a solid roof and/or luggage rack. Losing the rain gutters on car roofs just makes it a little tougher.
This is exactly what came to mind for me, also. That, and 20 mpg!
Hmmm, is it me or does that white Prius look like the world’s biggest model of a tooth?
I had never seen the “Super Bugger” ( sounds like the name for a “marital aid”) and assumed that those Toyota pickup truck based RVs were THE most underpowered mass-produced motor homes ever built…learn something new everyday.
These were not all-that uncommon at the time, especially in So Cal, where every kind of VW-based derivative/custom was embraced.
I rather wanted one too, given the fact that I spent more than one rainy/cold night in the fetal position in the back seat of my VW. Given my body length, that was no joke.
At 6’1″ , I discovered early on that there is an art to sleeping in an Oval Window VW Beetle…. =8-) .
-Nate
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/99CC_toppola_stensson.jpg
more up my alley
Don’t laugh at the Prius? I believe that might actually be more heinous than the recently featured Moskvitch Kalista!
BeetleBago? Or BugaBago?
+1 🙂
Amazing!! I never knew that could be done using a VW!
So it is possible to make a prius uglier
hahaha!
I do remember back in the day seeing them on the road once in a while. Don’t know if it’s still there, but I believe there was one on Canyon Road in Hillsboro, Ore. It was a few years ago, but it was in front of some sort of business. At one time I had a Sundial 66 VW Camper, non pop top. It was nice, but I always from some crazy reason wanted to own one of these. With maybe a mildly built 1835cc engine with large oil coolers. The best way to sleep in the back of a Beetle is to fold down the rear seat backrest, but it still sucks.
Saw a few of those “back in the day” never could figure out how they moved under their own power
Keith Thelen will fix this thing in 3 days.
Every time I see a ridiculously small motorhomw i think of Jacques Tati’s Trafic.
This VW is quite a novel idea and I’m rather intrigued.
That said, if I were going to spend $50k on an RV, I would forego the Prius with a pompadour, get a nice E-450 based rig, and call it a day.
It has everything…..
I think the Saab 900 based Toppola is a better proposition, and it’s removable so you can return your car to more or less normal. Out of sheer perversity I’d like to find one of the Ford Sierra Toppolas to stick on a Merkur XR4Ti.
“Holy Wind Resistance, Batman!”
I shudder to think how that would handle or react to crosswinds…especially if the project involved an earlier swing-axle. That might have sufficed in the days of the 55 mph speed limit, but now…
Too big for me/
This is more to my liking:
An Apé camper is An ‘Appy camper!
http://malaysia-campervan.blogspot.in/2011/04/tuk-tuk-camper.html