Yes, You Absolutely Need To Buy a Cheap VW Baja Bug!

[@1guyin10]

Brings back memories! Mine had a bus transmission with the portal axles. That gives you a lift and gear reduction to run larger tires. If he doesn't have the dual park brake levers in it he needs to add them. Turn the wheel, grab the inside brake and it will turn around in it's tracks. Wish I still had mine. It was amazing how well it went off-road.

[@reverendjimjones9061]

its an interesting drive with that particular set up as the rear of the car rises like mcain rising crust pizza upon acceleration, problem is on steep rough roads the wheel hop is absolutely horrific especially with large tires, i put a john johnson wheel hop kit in mine, lost a bit of clearance but no more bang bang or yoyo effect , and bushings are no longer available for that kit so i will be forced to make some from urethane stock, rebushing, lathing etc, lots of unsprung weight at the wheels is also no good but its still a fun drive regardless of the drawbacks.

[@jameshuffman835]

Have a 67 titled rail! 5 rib trans dual Weber's, cutty breaks! Fun!!

[@adrianlaverick8040]

What were the portals out of originally?

[@reverendjimjones9061]

@@adrianlaverick8040 60-67 vw bus had the reduction gear set up.

[@perrymahnke886]

Mine was a 68 with long travel suspension & fiberglass flip front end, that I got in trade for a Honda XL500 dual sport motorcycle. That Bug was the slowest & most fun vehicle I have ever owned.

[@Jangocat]

They were off road worthy bone stock. 4 wheel trailing arm suspension, flat pan bottom, engine over the real wheels and factory posi. My friend had a beat up bone stock one in the 80's. I drove it through dry bottomless beach sand, I couldn't get the car stuck, even after stopping in the sand and trying to get it stuck. I let the clutch out and it didn't even spin a tire. Amazing vehicles for cheap off-roading.

[@X85283]

Beetles certainly did not have factory limited-slip diffs (posi). May have been a rare option for military or postal models or maybe 181s had them more often, but I've never seen one.

[@Biglug8888]

I have a 73 Baja, it's been sitting for a long time. Seeing this video is motivating me to get it going.

[@mikeks8181]

The Old school VW was so easy to drive! I learned to drive in a 1974 bus! After a couple years driving; I learned that I could start in third gear After leaving a fast food place and, Enjoy My meal before having to change gears! I Love The Air-cooled VW the Best! MY Dream vehicle is a VW True Camper with the Pop up Tent! Not the weekender! The True Camper? I'm 58 now and my current truck is 14 years old. Two years of having a need for a pickup to go until I get to Explore and Camp Wherever! Thank You both for reminding me why I work six days a week!

[@123ABC-Machine-Basics]

My VW mentor back in 1980 had a 69 Baja that he drove to his VW shop every day that would do 110 mph without a problem, he had a small spoiler bolted on the engine vent above the engine lid to keep the rear end from lifting off the ground . If you educate yourself on how to properly maintain your bug it will be totally dependable ! Ihave two baja bugs and still build VW engines - absolutely Love the VW !

[@TubsNSkins]

I bought a 66 baja bug last October, and it is far and away my favorite vehicle I have ever owned. It's not 100% sorted, and it probably never will be. But, I went to an offloading event last weekend and it kept up with all of the Rzrs and Can Ams and trophy trucks. All for less than $4k.

[@racebiketuner]

The basic difference is swing axle vs. IRS. In either case, the transaxle needs upgrades for off road use. A modern charging system is also a must. If you're driving in very dusty conditions, a proper off-road (high mounted) air filter is a worthwhile investment.

[@markbradl8651]

I had a 69 bug when I was 16. 1500cc motor that I rebuilt to 1641cc because I couldn’t afford the 1835cc option. Loved that car !

[@dale5282]

That brings back memories. My best friend had one and we had so much fun with it. Got it stuck a few times off road it a lot and rolled it over once while it was full of teens . After untangling from each other crawled out rolled it back on its wheels waited for the oil get back in the pan. Cranked it up put the battery back in its box and let the fun start over again. Great memories !

[@dalejones4322]

Really cool bug. I'd like to see more videos of it. How it does on road and off road. Give it a true test of power with a 0-60. Do an mpg test and take it to moab. Just suggestions

[@Kikinahm]

So much fun!

[@barrybarber4924]

Speed check a 65 horsepower bug?? Really??

[@dalejones4322]

@@barrybarber4924 Sure, why not? I'm curious how long it takes it to get up to speed. I'm aware they're slow just not sure how slow.

[@barrybarber4924]

@@dalejones4322 You can hop em up ...but a stock 1600cc will do 0 to 60 In about a minute and a half...lol

[@norsefalconer]

8:48 If that exhaust note DOESN'T bring a smile to your face and heart, I don't want to know you, lol.

[@DuaneCaldwell]

When I was 10 years old and living near San Diego back in the '70s, the Baja Bugs were just about the coolest cars around that weren't GTOs or lifted Blazers. ...and of course, the Baja Bugs were so much more affordable and accessible for most folks. Tons of fun, and this video makes me dream of finding one of my own. Great find Brendan!

[@mikelee990]

I owned a 67' and a 73' Baja VW Beetle back in the mid 90's and used both as daily drivers and weekend fun in the sun and sand runners. They were reliable, cheap and easy to build, maintain and fun to run in the Florida sun.

[@jameskennedy673]

I enjoyed this video. You have a Baja Bug, having fun, didn’t break the bank, smart choice. Years ago I got to drive a’74 VW non Baja Bug, it was a blast, took a minute to get the hang of the shift pattern. Y’all keep’m coming

[@fastdude2002]

I currently have a Chenoweth frame rail, desert buggy. It runs a bus trans, 2200cc engine with a 12:1 compression ratio (have to run 110 octane race fuel) dual webers, disk brakes, steering brakes, hydraulic clutch, rack and pinion steering along with power steering. It’s totally old school Volkswagen and it’s a blast to run off road. I also had a Manx fiberglass buggy back in the day.

[@crosisofborg5524]

Back in the 80s I could buy a rebuilt type 1 short block for $200 and a rebuilt tranny for $300. Fenders were $20 from Bow Wow auto parts. A clutch disc was $12. Good old days.

[@igotursixx2665]

Change those hood latches because those are will pop loose and fly up and smash your windshield. Those windshields are hard to find without cracks

[@ibilki]

Hum thre's forty years I had a french Baja Bug clled here Bugster. We went to Marocco with it and all the time in the trails of the Bask country. Very nice car !!

[@wompa70]

We always had rail buggies growing up. Great to take to the Florida beaches. One guy had one with a souped up 911 engine.

[@vwpirate]

Never had a Baja but did have a friend drive me through a swap type area with his. Had a blast. I always wanted one. I have had many bugs over the years. The one I currently have I got back in the mid 90's. I haven't driven it since probably 05. It has just been sitting in my garage collecting dust. Would love to rebuild it one day but don't have the heart to cut it up into a baja since it is in such good shape. I loved his comment about not needing a 100mph speedometer. Built a 2165cc motor and it went past the 100mph mark and it finally rolled to the 15-20mph mark which I believe is about 135mph before I let off the gas. Bad tires and drum brakes had me a little nervous.

[@tjewett1967]

If you find a Beetle in good shape, DONT CHOP IT LIKE THIS!! There's plenty around already hacked up. Keep the good ones whole, there's not that many left.

[@vwpirate]

I couldn't agree more.

[@robertatkins272]

Don’t tell me what to do! Your not the boss of me

[@noahalby2286]

It’s also way cheaper to get a Baja instead of cutting one up.

[@connerthibodeaux6351]

Did they not make brand new bugs in Mexico?

[@jemand4656]

​@@connerthibodeaux6351 In Brazil they were made until around at least 1996. Those were getting over 50mpg (nowhere near US emissions legal).

[@abqcrutch]

I had a '68 bug-eyed Baja Bug in early 80s. It was fun, but was a shop queen. It was eventually stolen from the shop and they paid me $1000, which was $500 more than I paid for it.

[@davep4610]

Hey Tommy, let me point out a few things. You said that converting a Beetle is like converting any of today's small cars to try to be an off-roader. Not true. First of all, the Beetle weighed under 2,000 pounds. And with a rear engine and rear drive, a high percentage of the weight is over the drive wheels. While having that rear drive is not technically the best in rain or snow, it does give the most traction going up hills since weight transfers to the rear. Also being air cooled meant a much simpler engine -- as we can see hanging out the back on your example. I would love to have an "OK" prepped Baja Bug. But I don't know enough to repair a 50 year old car myself, and don't have the money to keep paying somebody to keep a 50 year old car running well. The first car I ever drove at all, when I had just turned 14, was a 1967 Beetle with the back end converted to Baja Bug (wide dirt tires) but the front end stock including skinny tires. There is definitely something cool about these old Bugs. But..... that gas tank in the front might be better turned-into a fuel cell in the back seat.

[@willb3018]

Thanks for this fun review. What a sort of a coincidence for me to see this today. Just 2 days ago I saw a 70's VW dune buggy in Ocean City MD. Hadn't seen one a dune buggy "live" in years. Did see a Baja Bug at a Northern VA car show about 3 months back. Personally, I always preferred the Baja Bugs probably because they still looked more or less like a VW.

[@miaatch1]

💯 best bang for the buck. These bajas are awesome. I had a 1971 and it was the most fun. I used to jump it in the sand dunes. Only thing that i ever had trouble was the steering is weak. Needs the tie rods beefed and the steering tube will bend real easy. I welded angle iron to mine and it was bullet proof!

[@Coach_BigMac]

My 1st car was a 72 Super Beetle Baja Bug! I loved it! It was even more fun than my 75 K5 Blazer.

[@jamesonpace726]

Ok, now this is pretty cool from an old 1st VW '72 guy....

[@charlesnickell7257]

I had a 71 vw baja bug with the 1776 engine and it shot out flames out my exhaust pipe I wasn't aloud to park at sonic cause of it

[@robertsteele667]

That's cool I have a 69 baja bug with a chevy ecotec 2.4 turbo vary fun to drive

[@bruceaskin9645]

The fire extinguisher, much easier to eliminate the problem. Standard VW's burn to the ground , because the fuel supply cant be shut off. Either of two options can eliminate this problem. An electric fuel pump, or a fuel cut off valve. Mine has a cut off valve. This is also a very good theft deterent. Having a seperate switch to either unit , preferably under the bonnet. Having a secret switch on the ignition circut , just makes the theif look for the switch. However having it on the fuel supply, still allows the car to start, but will run out of fuel before it gets out of the car park. Once the car starts the theif is in panic mode until he gets away from the scene. He is not going to hang around trying to figure out why is stopped.

[@davep4610]

Have to think that manual transmissions are becoming a theft deterrent for bad-guys who have never driven a stick.

[@carportchronicles1943]

@@davep4610 Even if a thief can drive a stick, the Bugs reverse, located by pushing straight down on the shifter then moving it left and then slightly diagonal to the right as you pull it rearward, will screw with their heads if they have to back it out of a spot. Although it takes nothing to put it in neutral and push it.

[@adamadams6740]

Love the bug eye font end on this one very classic!! I like the bug eye with the real hard to find whales tail fender/rear deck spoiler blended together that’s the perfect look too me!

[@GATORADDAM]

Ahhhh yes. VWs were my thing back in the day. I built a few of these with like no money!

[@patricko1563]

I had a '66 in high school (late 1980s) it was a frankenbeetle. Transmission from a fastback, front end from a thing etc. The main reason I went with the head lights in the nose cone was I read that the fiberglass fenders from a conversion kit would end up cracking from the weight of the headlights. All I can say is there were several times my baja was airborne... many... many... times (33" in the rear with 10" of air shock travel). The nose cone never broke from the weight of the headlights. Trees are another story, PS, I think I paid $300 for the bug, then kit was about the same price.

[@bucketfootbaseball]

My favorite cars I ever owned were my two baja bugs. I keep saying that one of these days I'm going to build another one. Maybe in a couple of years after I retire.

[@kevinbarry71]

I believe it's a torsion bar; not a torsion beam. Yes there is a difference

[@dustymojave]

The front suspension on a VW Bug is DEFINITELY a torsion beam. The beam houses 2 torsion "bars" each made up of a stack of flat strap "leaves". Each torsion bar supports left and right side via the trailing arms. Each bar is anchored at its center to prevent rotation and to deal with lateral loads on the suspension. I suggest it is most wise to be thoroughly educated about a subject before smugly trying to correct someone else who was actually using the proper term.

[@bighammer587]

@@dustymojave wow, you really know your VW stuff! And thanks for that lengthy reply, you must really feel good about yourself by now. Small man syndrome? Or just feeling smug? @kevinbarry71 made an innocent comment, nothing smug about it, and he wasn’t wrong with his comment. It’s definitely referred to as a torsion bar front end by the people that actually know and work with them.

[@patriley9449]

I had a Meyers Manx back in the late 70s. It had a bus transaxle, turning brakes and massaged 1300 engine. Probably around 65-70 hp. Not that fast, but it went off road very well. Sold it to my brother. Actually, gave it to him because he never paid me a cent. I don't know what he did with it, probably sold it for booze. I wish I had it now. Loads of fun.

[@SladesVWBeetle]

A Baja is going to be my next project as soon as my 68 is done. Great video!

[@awdanthony]

Oh man, I’m so excited to collect mine. I was gifted a 1970 Beetle with a Baja kit attached some time in the mid-eighties. It’s been parked since 1990 for a title issue and “ran when parked” 😂

[@davidlotspeich5547]

I had a super beetle back in the 80's when I was in high school. If my memory is correct I could get 85mph downhill.

[@johninama585]

I always wanted one of these! Thanks for the great video Tommy!

[@nickkirschner3719]

Building one , the suspension is is rough if you want to go all out (that’s how I’m trying to do it) but it’s gonna be a blast for the score 500

[@VWJawbreaker]

The way the market and parts chain is going, they are rent so cheap anymore…. But they are a blast to own and drive.

[@MarkLoves2Fly]

✌️😃 I drive a '72 survivor, and love it! It won't be a Baja in my hands, but I love the idea that it xab bw done!

[@mtgreengarden]

I made my bug into a baja way back in 1972. The biggest problem I had was finding a reliable method to waterproof the distributor. It would often crap-out when it rained.

[@greathornedowl3644]

Thank you, Tommy and Brendan. Like 2Vintage channel, always a fun ride. Poor kids won't be doing this with a Geo Metro, Tercel, Avio, Yugo, or Impreza. Modified Bugs into dune buggies, thinking of VW Things, and nothing AWD, and they don't make them like that anymore

[@GratefulEd907]

1992 I was 15 and bought my first car a 68 Baja bug I loved it and wish I still had it

[@ActionJackson2360]

I thought the little vent behind the back side glasses indicated super beetle. I wonder if they might have changed the body. The old Chilton manual showed each year's changes in the back of the book.

[@tjewett1967]

Super Beetle means it has McPherson strut front suspension. 71/72 kept the flat windshield, 73 started the curved windshield Super. The rest of the body was pretty much the same.

[@dustymojave]

The vents appeared on ALL Bugs due to US Federal "flow through ventilation" requirements applicable to ALL cars sold in the US. Regular Bug or Super did not matter.

[@busterturner8702]

I had a baja bug that my dad built the motor for it. I dont know the cc's. I was only 17. But it would bury the 100mph speedo pretty quick relatively. It would also smoke 235-65-15 centerlines. Thing looked like crap but was a beast. Theres a lot more to this story but thats the just of it. It was fun and fast back in the late 90's.

[@spinnetti]

Facet fuel pump? those things are cheap crap, but also super noisy. Love the Baja bugs from when the first came out to now, but never had one. My wife's 87' 4WD (not AWD) Subaru GL 3dr was a similar kind of thing. Super slow, super fun off-road

[@ٴ-ق1ت]

The way you put the headlights closer to each other making it look like a actual insect is beyond adorable

[@TheLordOfNothing]

I found y'all through the Super Beetle series. Bring back the beetle! Would love to see more videos of this.

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

Back in the 70's a good friend of mine in high school had a 1962 VW Bug that he thought needed to be a Baja Bug. So he cuts off all of the stuff on the back and moves to the front and he bobbed the fenders but when he got to the hood he was not quite sure where to cut it. His parents had just got a brand new fridge two days before and the old one from the late 40's was sitting at the curb to be hauled off. He looks at the top part of the door and it had that Art Deco look to it. Anyway he takes the door over to the front of the Bug and holds it up till it matched the hood marks it with a sharpie and cuts it with a jig saw. Problem solved. We drove the wheels off that thing.

[@jorgeluisburgoacosio9998]

There's another level of aftermarket parts for the bug in Brazil, you can get a 6 speed with LSD and and you can use the 2000cc big block from the VW Bus, gear reduction, double carbs, exhaust, sets of Cams, +100hp easily achievable, a lift and some 32" "pizza cutters" mud tires and you'll have the best "Baja bug" ever

[@richardotero2376]

I know a girl who blew up the motor in her regular bug. Her dad took it to get fixed. He was very wealthy. They put a trans, motor, from a Porsche. That car was only 1rst 2nd unless u got on the highways. I drove it to get my license at 15. Easy peezy, 1rst gear. Mostly.

[@terrencejones9817]

I had a VW based sand rail as a kid. Tons of fun.

[@spencertheobald]

I have a Class 11 style full fender baja, a 5 unlimited baja with a 2332 and a Class 12 buggy that I'm gonna race. I'm addicted to offroad air-cooled cars

[@csj9619]

ANY performance engine build should start with a dual oil relief case or aftermarket case, have it drilled/tapped for full-flow oiling with external filter.

[@lacayo017]

What roof rack is on it? Looks amazing

[@PedroGarcia-bu3vb]

Love it, I live in Puerto Rico they are not cheap here. I want one. Greetings

[@joeromero708]

CAN SOMEONE ANSWER SOMEQUESTIONS PLEASE … can any motor go into a baja ? Where can I get adapter plates? Where can I get a good vw bus trans ?

[@Carnutzjoe]

The only problem is they aren’t cheap. They’ve become as iconic as a 65 Mustang or a 64 Corvette. They are collectibles at this point. The few that remain are cherished by their owners.

[@harveynailbanger]

Cheap? Lol my brother and i had 15 beetles at one time, the newest of which was a 69... the first thing we did was sawzall the fenders and rear valance, manifolds and heater box delete. We were to poor for atvs ( 3 wheelers) so we did the next best thing... Bought them from an old boy who was retiring and closing his shop. Sold us all of his old beetles for 45.00 apeice... Jc whitney delivered overtime to us for a time.

[@brianruff1133]

Yeah, I bought a '63 ragtop sunroof for $50 and a '59 "in the woods, cut 'er out" for $40 in the late 80's. They were everywhere. Oh yeah, and a '71 pop top camper bus for $500.

[@igotursixx2665]

Cut and turn the front suspension would add approximately 3 inches in the front and that baja would be awesome

[@petersimpson5859]

Sounds brilliant, like a cicada in a plastic box. Aren't new cars dull...

[@robertbdees9913]

Try it in the snow... Can do really good

[@fish25guy]

I like those rims! Where did you get them?

[@johnmoser2689]

Funny stuff...I got a 1973 with a full roll cage tilt front end and 31.5 tires with triple shocks and an 1835 with dual carbs It's super fun and always gets tons of attention and compliments

[@jojomon5]

Looks like a fun ride! More videos of this VDub please!

[@thebluedan]

Dream car Baja with push back top and stinger exhaust

[@frankschwartz7405]

Looks like a good candidate for a Volksrod. (offroad in the Northeast is deep-woods)

[@loganlovescarsandmotorcycles]

I have seen a Hyundai with big tires. It actually looked pretty cool.

[@wyohumble2862]

I want this for my first car I don’t know where to find one, I’m from Pittsburgh. any suggestions?

[@Mikefngarage]

nothing cheap about these anymore. all VWS are expensive. even building the engines.

[@stephenbarabas6286]

The problem with this video is. (besides the background music).... There is no cheap original VW Bugs to be found that are usable.

[@JPER-cv2lq]

Owned them , drove them, and there was a time I got them for free, just take it out of my yard. Title and all . The best times.

[@eok8019]

What size tires are those?

[@impulse_driven]

Haha i bought this bug with a turbo setup had it for 6 months then sold it, funny to see it again

[@dsevenb]

Awesome video. Thanks folks

[@bertroost1675]

What are those green pants you're wearing? I like them.

[@lonnieopp8198]

need a skid plate on that engine

[@backyardbuggies939]

Nothing is more fun then a VW

[@nitewatch2.027]

Where he get roof rack, I have a 68

[@allenbrian72]

You should see mine. It’s awesome looking.

[@Opalsdad]

There is nothing cheap at all anymore….

[@flaircraft]

Unfortunately "Cheap" and "Baja Bug" don't belong together in the same sentence any more :( Back when a VW was just a used car you could pick up for nothing, making a Baja was cheap. Now they've been out of production so long that they've gone into the "classic car" value market. I was fortunately able to build mine right before prices shot through the roof about 12-15 years back, it's been a blast to own and drive. I bought an aircooled Vanagon to get the Type 4 2.0 liter engine with factory EFI and heavy-duty 091 transaxle. Swapped those into the Bug, cut the fenders for tire clearance and the nose for approach angle, and welded on front+rear tube bumpers. Not the prettiest Baja out there but still gets the job done :)

[@fishdude666ify]

I thought the 73-75 bugs didn't baja because of the independent rear suspension? Had a 73 that i wanted to convert and my uncle's were like nah, can't do it.

[@SuperWooba]

10:16 The back seat erupted lol

[@JPER-cv2lq]

the VW pan was originally water tight and it would float.

[@markallen2984]

I learned to drive a manual transmission in my friend's Baja Bug

[@robertsnyder5149]

My 1970 Bug had a 60 hp engine which allowed me to bear the 40 hp in a race,

[@scrappyjackalope9558]

Easy swap to a bus transaxle... make it even more fun!

[@jerroldshelton9367]

I ran one in my '69, along with Sway-A-Way torsional driveshafts, Porsche 935 CV's, and a bunch of other cool stuff. Made it more fun, because I could beat on it a little harder and not break anything.

[@Charlie-do6wv]

This is the one you guys should've taken out in the snow. Believe me, you would've been far more impressed than you were with the super beetle......

[@jnmaher1967]

Is that Baja Bob with a new paint job?

[@drdanimalsize]

Take that thing on your off-road course at tumbleweed

[@mromatic17]

It has 30x9.5 tires yet it still only has like 6 inches off the ground

[@benwright6330]

.. what's Harder, ..cutting a Bug up to make a Baja, ..or re'attaching the cut-off pieces back together. 🤷🙏🚽🥃🥴🍍

[@sharonc8632]

A garage is a must for this car 😢

[@KristofferEk]

if your gonna do anything with anything don't do it with the restored nice looking one. find the one thats the most beat up abused STRUCTURALLY SOUND and runing (but only barely) so you can get your hands greasy and learn while you build the vehicle of your dreams. but if you wanna build a buggy you need a beatle.

[@R.Nelson]

Cool!! Kinda reminds me of Madmax car.

[@craigdemko7976]

Looking to buy