![]() ![]() MiniHome is much more stable than it looks. But one does have to negotiate a few trial turns in order to gain confidence in its roll stability. “Acceleration and cornering are much like the original VW. “Driving a MiniHome is an addictive experience,” says Riley. Riley and build your own version for roughly $2,000 plus the cost of a Volkswagen Beetle. If you’re handy, you can order DIY plans from Robert Q. Listings appear on these sites every now and then but tend to sell fast. They might not be the world’s best campers, though the couple says they do make for great ice breakers and are sure to attract curious Volkswagen and RV enthusiasts everywhere.ĭying to get your hands on a Super Bugger for your own summertime adventures? Try checking eBay and Craigslist. One couple brought their turquoise Super Bugger to an auto show in 2016, along with a 1977 issue of Mechanix Illustrated that contained a cover story on Super Buggers. Some owners have kept theirs in mint condition, while others have upgraded theirs to include modern amenities. Only a handful of people tried to make Super Buggers at first, but those who were successful in creating them still take great pride in their cars. Most contemporary Super Bugger owners have chosen to ditch the bed in favor of a simple outdoor tent. It also housed a stove, sink, ice box, water tank, cupboards, drawers, and a storage closet. Inside, the car featured a pull-out bed tucked into a space above the cab, along with faux wood paneling and a ton of shag carpet. Also known as the Lil’ Bugger or MiniHome, the original Super Bugger required a Microbus engine to be installed under the Beetle’s hood to sustain highway speeds of 50-55 mph. The result of this converted camper experiment was the “Super Bugger,” a hilarious Bug-turned-RV creation that sold for roughly $6,000 in 1975. The Beetle made it easy for young people to take long road trips, but its small size made it hard for larger groups to travel together.īy the 1970s, a few hippies with deeper than average pockets attempted to build a hybrid: a car that kept the Beetle’s design but provided the comfort and space of a Volkswagen Microbus. The hippies were able to turn a machine built for combat into a vision of peace and love. In 1959, an ad campaign still considered to be among the best in history urged car buyers to “Think Small.” The idea-and the Beetle’s unusual design-quickly caught on. If you lower the table and connect the two benches, you get a small bed that can sleep two adults – as long as they don’t mind cuddling and / or sleeping with someone’s elbow in the eye.Once the war was over, Volkswagen managed to open a few factories in Britain and America. Inside, the cooking area is only accessible if you sit at the table and reach out, but you can use it from the outside as well. In front of the rear window is the kitchen area, with just a gas two-burner cooker and a small sink cabinetry and a small wardrobe surrounds the kitchen from three sides. ![]() ![]() You get two bucket seats for the driver and the passenger, and a dining nook in the rear, with two benches and a small table. The interior of this adorable RV is very small but, somehow, still cozy. The idea for the Super Bugger was very simple but paradoxically difficult to put into practice: how do you turn a small car into a motorhome without it losing its functionality as a daily driver? In this particular case, the answer implied cutting off most of the body of the car except for the front end, reinforcing the chassis, and adding a fiberglass and wood kit that would turn it into a mini-home with wheels. One is the Super Bugger shown on the cover of the 1977 Mechanix Illustrated (sold through Mecum in 2021 for a hair under $20,000), and two are located in Canada. These three are among a handful of Super Buggers left in such mint condition and that are still on the road today. Of those, some still survive to this day, including the two units shown in the photo gallery above – and the three in the videos at the bottom of the page. The original Super Bugger retailed for $6,000 and it is believed only some 1,000 units were produced. ![]()
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