Don Kincl shot what he called a “Peak 80’s VW Baja Bug”. That does seem about right, given the huge popularity these had during that time, as well as that very 80’s stripe job on its side.
These were everywhere back in the day, at least in California. Old Beetles were dime-a-dozen, so they gave up some of their dignity for a second life as a Baja Bug. Now that I think of it, these were instrumental in expanding the off-road virus at the time. If VW ever decide to bring back a neo-Beetle again, I bet it’ll be with an off-road look.
That’s a super cool period piece! Bring a power washer and a set of white Jackman rims…
I used to build Baja Baggies out of light wrecks that weren’t nice enough to bother fixing and painting .
I had an endless supply of Baja kits and the obligatory remote oil coolers, big wheels / tires and so on .
I sold them finished and ready to go for $500 ~ $600 mostly to college students .
-Nate
A buddy of mine sold his bug to his younger sister, and she immediately pranged the front end. A bit disgusted, but still a loving brother, he added a Baja kit to keep it on the road.
Hearinf your story, I now wonder how many fender benders led to the creation of a Baja Bug.
Thousands at least in California ;
Making your old Beetle into a Baja Bug only delyed it’s inevitable trip to the junkyard .
Not one ever took care of them so they’d run a few years then blow the engine or tranny or get rolled whatever and I’d wind up with the same car again .
I had a large pile of stinger exhausts too, all the kiddies just _HAD_ to have a stinger….
When I worked for Jim Coroes (? SP I think) we had a young rich kid who loved VW’s and off roading in his truck, he bought a pristine power blue ’70 and made perhaps the very best Baja Bug I’d ever seen ~ he wanted a good pre runner that had heat and didn’t have the usual cold air, dust and gas fumes coming in .
-Nate
Hello nate, can I get you contact, I need you to find me a baja, ill pay well for everything
I’d see a red Baja bug at a farm every time I visited my grandpa in the rural part of Wisconsin between south Milwaukee and north Racine, funny enough it had a snowplow fitted to it, and don’t think it ever moved (it might still be there as far as I know). Baja is easily my favorite style of custom Beetle, there’s a rat roddy, some might say trashy, nature to them I find appealing. Polar opposite of the lowered to the ground, wide white tires with a giant chrome roofrack full of eclectic luggage look that seems in vogue with them today.
I bought my oldest Daughter a 70’s Beetle as her first car. At her request. I drove it once in a while, I didn’t like the exhaust note. I got a ride in a dune buggy once. It was quite a bit of fun with no doors or windows. I might prefer a buggy over the Baja bug.