Southern California in the 1960s was a hotbed of innovation, fun, interpretation and the high life. Automotively, the basis was everything Volkswagen with the cheap price of entry to the inexpensive cost of modification, customization and personalization.
In answer to the dune buggy made famous by Bruce Meyers and his Manx, the more practical iteration was the Baja Bug, an equally capable offroader with the advantage of full bodywork and a roof. The building of the first Baja Bug is generally credited to Gary Emory circa 1968. Gary and his hot rodder father, Neil Emory, built the car in the bodyshop at the Chick Iverson Volkswagen dealership in Newport Beach, California; Gary worked in the parts department there, after leaving school and Neil was working in the body shop. The first Baja Bug in racing is credited to Dave Deal, the Californian cartoonist, who drove in the Mexican 1000 of 1968 in Baja California. The first fiberglass Baja kit (bug eye kit) was introduced in 1969 by the Miller-Havens company.
Massively copied by a plethora of companies, even in small-scale radio-controlled dimensions, the design varied but the theme remained the same.
The 1965 VW Baja Bug on offer here started off as a running and driving Baja Bug in need of finishing. Purchased by a custom shop, the car was pulled apart, the frame extended 7“ and suspension track widened by 10”. Electric steering and a quick-turn steering rack were added along with 12” coil-over Baja long travel suspension all ‘round. Stopping comes courtesy of 4-wheel disc brakes with Pro X series 4 piston calipers.
The body was prepped for the striking sinister green paint job with all new aggressive Baja fiberglass panels. A set of Jamar wheels with Tensor 33” desert tires and a full set of LED lighting adorn the exterior, while in the interior, a safety cage was installed with a pair of racing seats, racing pedal kit, and a nicely smoothed out dash with electronic gauge cluster.
Power comes from a 2008 2.4 liter Ecotec Chevrolet inline 4-cylinder lump with rear firewall mounted radiator. Mated to the VW manual gearbox, it puts power the rear wheels through Benco VW Transaxles. Now, with over 180bhp and 170 lb ft of torque, the car is a little more capable over the rough terrain it was designed for.
In need of a little finishing off, this remarkable Baja Bug is a little tinkering away from being a unique driver or desert weapon.
Location: Temecula, California
SOLD
