Volkswagen dropped the Beetle last summer, but the model still has countless fans.
Among them are Scott Tupper and his father, who built a customized Beetle known as the “Huge Bug.”
As he explained, the idea came about as they thought it would be nice to have a Beetle and “not feel like you’re gonna get run over in traffic.” As a result, they decided to make a Beetle that was 50% larger than the standard model.
However, they discovered this would make illegal to drive on the street. This caused them to rethink their plans and scale down the increase to 40%.
Also Read: Volkswagen Bids Farewell To Iconic Beetle Nameplate As It Welcomes Electric Future
With that ratio set, they took their 1959 Beetle and digitized it by scanning the car into a computer. Once this process was complete, they enlarged the various components by 40% and used that information to build templates to create custom body panels.
Of course, they couldn’t supersize the Beetle platform so they settled for basing the model on a Dodge truck. They also outfitted it with a 5.7-liter V8 engine apparently sourced from a Dodge Magnum.
The end result looks exactly like a Volkswagen Beetle, but it’s massive when compared to the standard model. The authentic design continues in the cabin, but the car has been outfitted with modern creature comforts including power windows and locks as well as heated and ventilated seats. The Dodge-sourced gauges are also mounted on a pod that descends from underneath the dashboard at a press of a button.
The car is pretty impressive and Tupper said people chase them on the highway to get a closer look at the Huge Bug. He also revealed they have gotten “humbling” offers to buy the car, but “it’s not going anywhere right now.”
Thanks to Mark for the tip!