Mazatlan Mexico Pulmonia Taxi

[carl63_99]

If you've ever been to the beautiful Pacific city of Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico, you've surely seen the VW converted taxis that run all over the city.  They're a fun ride and allow you to get a great view of all the fun stuff going on around you. Having been there many times, I decided to build a model of one. The real car is a VW Beetle chassis with a fiberglass body on it. I built the entire body of this model from scratch and a few spare parts lying around my model bench. As the real pulmonias are built cheap, they lack fit and finish. They also tend to be modified or repaired in many ways, sometimes not done with the most professional results. Seatbelts? We don't need no stinkin seat belts! This was a fun build. Note the seats are done in the colors of the Mexican flag.

[PappyD340]

Pretty cool!

[XYHARRY]

Cool, it's things like this that makes a holiday destination unique. Well done Carl. 

Cheers, 

David. ??

[ChrisR]

Cool.

[espo]

I'll bet that was fun running around town in. Looks like it is based on the VW Thing. Like how you did the interior. 

[Kenmojr]

VERY, VERY COOL...

[Nosferatu]

This is very nice. A nice way to get around town. It looks like a smaller modified Thing. 
Dave

[ncbuckeye67]

That's a pretty cool build! Very unique.

[carl63_99]

On 6/23/2024 at 10:35 AM, espo said:

I'll bet that was fun running around town in. Looks like it is based on the VW Thing. Like how you did the interior. 

While looking very similar to the "Thing" or kampfwagon, it really has only the base chassis in common. The Thing was metal, corrugated for strength. I've asked and nobody really knows who did the bodies for the pulomias, but they are fiberglass kits. As the old Beetle is no longer in production, they also don't make any of these new.  Over the years, repairs and customizations have made some of them look pretty rough while a few are borderline custom cruisers. One rides around town with neon Mario Brothers all over it, probably wouldn't pass inspection anywhere!

As for the ride, yes, fun. Hopping in the back and riding up and down the Malacon makes for a great evening!  The ocean on one side, hotels and businesses on the other side make for lots to take in. The drivers often like to point out the hotel El Chapo was staying at when he got captured.

[Rattlecan Dan]

Nice job! Looks like a fun ride.

[slusher]

Very nice e!

[happy grumpy]

Very creative and unique.??