Tuesday 5th April 2011

Beetle Meets Boxster To Become Bugster

Don't you wish all Beetles were like this?

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While there are some automotive marriages of old and new that just should not be contemplated, occasionally a genetic mutation crops up that most definitely improves the species and this, a genetic splice of a 1973 VW Beetle and an MY 2000 Porsche Boxster is definitely one of those.

Ordinarily, we would think it a shame to have a car of near-classic status sullied with modern running gear (this E-Type Jag with modern XKR bits is a prime example), but it's not as though there aren't millions of Beetles scuttling around the world's streets, and the original car's dynamic character could hardly be described as scintillating.

Thus, the installation of the bottom half of a Boxster into the top half of a Beetle to create the 'Bugster' is adding to the variety of interesting metal on the world's roads rather than reducing it. And a mid-engined, 270bhp Beetle is most definitely interesting.

It's the work of an Austrian chap called Siegfried Rudolf, who owns a campany called Carmaxx, which specialises in the restoration and customisation of VWs and Porsches. It seems that the idea for the Bugster was sparked when he parked his own Beetle next to his wife's Boxster and noticed a striking similarity of wheelbase.

As an example of the evolution of the automotive species, we reckon it's a pretty fine job, too, with a wider track, big wheels and a Porsche dash the only serious clues to this Beetle's enhanced abilities.

It's only a shame VW itself isn't evolving the Beetle this way. After all, Porsche is part of the VW empire these days...

 

 

[Fuelbrother DC]

Brilliant! Where do I sign?

[neilbauer]

That is a cool Bug!

[Roberty]

Waste of a perfectly good Boxster.

Unless it was fked in which case should have let it die with some dignity.

Don't see the fasination with Beetles at all!

[Bill]

That's ace, I'd love one.

[911motorsport]

Likey likey, very much

[Chrisw666]

Roberty said:

Waste of a perfectly good Boxster.

Unless it was fked in which case should have let it die with some dignity.

Don't see the fasination with Beetles at all!

Why so much hate?

[Roberty]

Clearly I'm out numbered!

[Roberty]

Chrisw666 said:

Roberty said:

Waste of a perfectly good Boxster.

Unless it was fked in which case should have let it die with some dignity.

Don't see the fasination with Beetles at all!

Why so much hate?

Why so much love for these awful old cars?

Don't get VW Campers either!

[kambites]

Sooo much better looking than the original Boxster.

[Stuey145]

Never understood the Beetle thing and have about as much love for the Boxster as I do for sour milk.........

BUT..........

I really like that!

[Bill]

Roberty said:

Why so much love for these awful old cars?

Don't get VW Campers either!

They have character and look quite cute but are let down by the dynamics, this fixes that.

I'd love to know how the Bugster's weight compares to a Boxster.

[k-ink]

Incredibly cool

[KrazyIvan]

Take one crappy looking old car and mate it to another crappy looking car,....not seeing it myself.

[g3org3y]

That = win.

[STiG911]

As much as I don't 'get' the fuss over Beetles (and to a lesser extent, the Camper) I do have a certain level of respect given that they are the granddaddy of the 911. With that in mind I give kudos to the 'Bugster' in the same way I appreciate mad-as engine conversions in Classic Minis )
PS. I'd rather see this than a 'modded' 911 *shudders*

[j_s14a]

That E-type has XJ-R bits, not XK. I quite like it.

The Beetle looks like a riot too

[STiG911]

Not sure where the red face came from ?! Was supposed to be a smiley...

[Chrisw666]

Even with an early 2.5 boxster underneath that would be a cracking car

<£5k Box + <£2k Beetle + Lots of welding and spanner time =

[renrut]

j_s14a said:

That E-type has XJ-R bits, not XK. I quite like it.

The Beetle looks like a riot too

+1

I'd have the E-type over the bug anyday.

[Globs]

KrazyIvan said:

Take one crappy looking old car and mate it to another crappy looking car,....not seeing it myself.

I think it looks great!
What car do you own?