Baja Bugs

[Mark]

It's a mystery why Revell made their kit with that canvas area where the "trunk lid" was.  The first version they did was that fictional Baja Chopper kit pictured above.  There was a Champion Spark Plugs sponsored version later, and the Valvoline version came after that.  They tooled a new body for those versions, they could have done the one with the front end cap that has a more finished look to it.

Edited January 29, 2022 by Mark
Clarification

[Fat Brian]

I made this with the Revell 68 Beetle kit. I sanded the fenders way back, took out the running board, and it has a slight lift. It's about 1/8" in the front and closer to 1/4" in the rear.

[Daddyfink]

20 hours ago, Mark said:

It's a mystery why Revell made their kit with that canvas area where the "trunk lid" was.  The first version they did was that fictional Baja Chopper kit pictured above.  There was a Champion Spark Plugs sponsored version later, and the Valvoline version came after that.  They tooled a new body for those versions, they could have done the one with the front end cap that has a more finished look to it.

Because the real one was built that way by Dave Deal 

http://treswright.vervehosting.com/Deals-wheels/Deal-bug.jpg

 

http://www.treswright.vervehosting.com/Scans/15.jpg

http://www.italian.sakura.ne.jp/sons_of_biscuits/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/revell_spark_bug_poster.jpg

Edited January 30, 2022 by Daddyfink

[Casey]

1 hour ago, Daddyfink said:

Because the real one was built that way by Dave Deal 

 

Mike, another option is to buy a 1/16 Revell VW Beetle/Kafer, then modify as you would a real one. Fiberglass bucket seats are available, as are BFG All Terrain T/A tires, but you'd probably need to create some Jackman(?) wheels on your own. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Whatever scale you're working in, due to the nature and design of the vehicle, this had got to be one of the easiest "radical" modifications a modeler can perform on a model car.

Excellent opportunity to step into the brave new world of scratch-building and bodywork.   

A good looking chop-job like Brian's very-well-turned-out Bug above is a piece of cake.

Building a custom nose, hood, and fenders, though at the next level, is well within the realm of not-too-hard as custom bodywork goes.

Edited January 30, 2022 by Ace-Garageguy

[Mike C.]

Untill someone comes out with the wide eye front end type of kit with all the bells and whistles ready to go in the kit , I have already given up on this dream.

[ChrisBcritter]

I had one of these in progress in 1/20 scale long, long ago - combining the IMC Dune Buggy with the Pyro VW kit, of all things. Might be fun to try again if I felt like hacking up rare kits...