What can be done with the VW Beetle, Part 3

"QUANTUM SHOT" #333 link Also Read Part 1 & Part 2 "Beetle" Mania Shows No Sign of Abating When people see a Volkswagen Beetle they usually feel warm and comfortable about its all-too-familiar compact shape; but more often than not, they also want to customize the HECK OUT OF IT!! And so it goes... endless variations, iterations, abominations - all bound to grace (or curse) your neighborhood roadways. First, a little history: Precursor of VW Beetle: a Mercedes!! Among many prototypes that led to creation of the original "people's car" in Nazi Germany were a few that can leave you scratching your head. For example, this is a Mercedes compact car, which looks pretty darn good - then why did it not go into production? Imagine a Mercedes "Beetle" instead.... (image credit: "Mercedes-Benz Silver Star Century" by Dennis Adler) And now, for the main course: (including a few iconic VW van modifications, as well) Cool-looking roadster, built on 1965 Beetle base: (image credit: MR38) Greenery grows well on Beetle "carapaces": (image copyright: Andrea Caranti) (image credit: Daniel Mauermann) - via Joe Gomez of San Antonio, Texas (and two other people who had the same idea) made the Wrought Iron VW: (image credit: WroughtIronVW) (image credit: yeeliberto) (image credit: James Tworow) "Glass Quilt" VW - made from marbles & stained-glass by Ron Dolce of Oakland, California (laying the glass and 10,000 glass marbles took him 18 years! Wow.) (image credit: GlassQuilt) Here is less functional, but also filled with marbles, GLASS version: (image credit: Andrea C.) Mini-Beetle by Lance Greathouse: (images credit: Lance Greathouse) This skating "mod" is based on VW Beetle chassis: (sent in by VolkSkate) VW Yin-Yang sculpture: (image credit: Claudio Lara) Speaking of art, the Fremont Troll has a VW Beetle for breakfast in Seattle: (image credit: Wade Griffith) All the parts are clearly visible in this installation: (image credit: Olivia) Some modifications are definitely not mobile any more: 1968 VW bus with 1964 bug top: (sent in by VolkSkate) (image credit: Chris Iwanowski) This camping set-up is even cuter: (image credit: Kath & Theo) Macho bus: (seen in Anchorage, Alaska) (image credit: Steve N.) Good idea for an ad: (image credit: Uli Rahms) Vans getting smaller... and smaller... (image credit: only-connect) (image credit: Tom Skinner) (image credit: Mary-Austin & Scott) (image credit: Jan Tonnesen) And then there is a heart... that seems to be broken: (image credit: Nick Harris) Only natural to cover VW bus with live flowers and call it "Flower Power": (image credit: Leandro Pena) A few terrifying "ghost" cars: (image credit: Steven Miller) (image credit: Larry Miller) This one has a better "ghost" existence, as it actually has upgraded wheels and engine inside: (image credit: zeitraster) Even when dead, in their "afterlife", the VWs can look alluring: (image credit: Helmut Gondim) mysterious: (image credit: Leila) or downright scary: (image credit: Mark /ZmanPhoto) UnintellegiBill took a picture of what he describes as a "redneck Christmas" decoration: (image credit: unintellegiBill) Even in their "original" form, beetles and ladybugs can have traffic jams: (image credit: Chris) Other Sources: Volksrod READ THE PREVIOUS PART HERE Also Read Part 1 & Part 2 +StumbleUpon Permanent Link... Category: Automobile,Weird Related Posts: VW Bus Ball Art Dark Roasted Blend's Photography Gear Picks: