Why In The World Hasn’t Volkswagen Made An Official Beetle Pickup?

America loves its pickup trucks and on the face of things, it’s easy to see why. Unlike other vehicles, pickup trucks allow you to tow large cargo, drive through poor weather and rough terrain, and carry large items in the bed while being comfortable. But there’s one problem with pickup trucks – they’re too big.

Midsize pickups have become popular recently, as consumers are starting to realize that having a pickup that can tow 20,000 pounds is like having a bunker for the end of the world. It’s great when you need it, but how often will it come in handy? That answer to the latter question, for the majority of drivers, is rarely.

Even midsize trucks, though, like the Chevrolet Colorado may prove to be too much for drivers. When properly equipped, the Colorado has a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. Unless you’re a construction worker, farmer, or track junkie that’s towing a race car on a weekly basis, the Colorado’s big, bulky, and way too capable.

VW is actually making a pickup for America

That, though, isn’t stopping Volkswagen from coming out with a pickup. In fact, we’re expecting VW to drop a pickup concept based off of the Atlas SUV at the New York Auto Show. I think a Atlas-based pickup truck is nice and all, but what VW really needs to make is a pickup that’s based off of a Beetle.

Unfortunately, that’s not likely to happen, as VW has confirmed that the Beetle will be discontinued. That’s a shame, as I just found out that people were making Beetle pickups and I’m in love.

I stumbled upon this post on Reddit where someone had taken a relatively new Beetle and attached a pickup bed onto the back. This, if you’re like me and have never seen this before, it’s ingenious. The compact car still keeps its easy-to-maneuver size, but adds a perfectly-sized bed that’s good enough for daily use.

Whether you’re going to Costco or Home Depot, the bed is just enough to get the job done, but there’s no wasted space, which is what happens with midsize and larger full-size trucks.

Despite the horrible photo, it looks like the Beetle is parked in a handicap spot. And for those of us that have had to stuff a wheelchair into a sedan, this should make that task a lot easier.

Needless to say, seeing this mashup got me a little curious to see if anyone else had done something similar. And it turns out that there are a lot of Beetle pickups out there!

What about the original Beetle?

Streetside Classics turned a 1970 VW Baja Beetle into a pickup. While it looks fantastic, the engine takes up most of the space in the back, which essentially makes the bed unusable. Still, the dealer sold the machine for $11,995, which I think was a good price.

Another example was for sale on Bring a Trailer a few years ago that was a little out there. That vehicle traded its power in for a unnamed four-cylinder from a Ford, the front end was replaced with something a little more unique, and the new bed was fitted with a wooden cover. There’s a permanent toolbox in the back too, which should really be handy.

Apparently, Volkswagen knew a Beetle pickup would have unparalleled levels of versatility, as the brand made a few examples of its own to ferry parts and cars around. So it can be done.

Listen up VW, there’s obviously a market for a Beetle pickup and even you guys saw the light because you had a few at your own disposal. Forget about a midsize or full-size pickup, bring the Beetle back has a pickup. And for the readers out there that claim it wouldn’t be powerful enough to do anything worth while, look at that photo – the little Beetle’s towing another Beetle, a bunch of scaffolding, and a trailer! That’s more than enough for the average consumer.

I absolutely adore these things and when done properly, they’re not only versatile, but pretty darn good looking. The million-dollar question, though, is whether other enthusiasts feel the same way I do about these.