- Seller: Tomo B
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Mileage: 99,999 Shown
- Chassis #: 118277782
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 4-Cylinder
- Transmission: Manual
Popular Mechanics has long been a source of excellent DIY projects, and the magazine typically offers comprehensive instructions and material lists for those with a sense of adventure. This 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 “Boonie Bug” is one example of how the company pushed the envelope, and the current owner believes that only around ten working examples remain in existence. This one is a turnkey proposition where the buyer could personalize it to suit their taste. The owner has had his fun with this quirky classic, and the time has come for it to find a new home. Therefore, he has listed the vehicle exclusively with us at Barn Finds with an asking price of $18,900.
When I was a lad, my father owned a set of hardcover Popular Mechanics Project Manuals, and I spent hours leafing through them, longing to build such things as a working hovercraft. Quite what I was going to do with it I didn’t know, I just felt that it was cool. The “Boonie Bug” first appeared in the magazine’s March 1974 issue. Those who found the lure irresistible could send the company the princely sum of $15 for a comprehensive set of plans. Designed by Robert Q. Riley, I believe that the plans remained available until at least 2015, although the price had risen at that point to $65. As the name suggests, the Boonie followed the common trend of the period, being based on a Volkswagen frame and drivetrain. However, the difference was that the vehicle utilized the Type 2 platform, rather than the typical Beetle. Builders slightly shortened the frame, added some additional roll-over protection bars, and then fabricated new panels from fiberglass, bonded to a urethane foam base. The result was undeniably unique, with four gullwing doors supported by gas struts. Interestingly, John DeLorean inspected one of these vehicles when developing his sports car to determine whether the fiberglass and foam path was the most appropriate for his planned model. He discovered that the concept was robust, but eventually selected stainless to cloak his vehicle’s exterior. This Bug presents exceptionally well. The paint is in good condition, the graphics are crisp and era-appropriate, and the glass is clear. The owner confirms that the frame and pans are solid, which is unsurprising since the vehicle is situated in a dry location. The large Cragar wheels add a sense of presence, and there are some interesting design features that the buyer could exploit to personalize this classic. The engine cover opens to form an excellent flat picnic table, and if the buyer follows the owner’s suggestion by installing a big-screen TV into the roof hatch, it could provide endless entertainment possibilities.
Many so-called kit cars from the 1960s and 1970s utilized the venerable VW Beetle underpinnings, but the Boonie Bug was based on the bus to provide greater space and versatility in an era when the “van” craze was at its peak. Builders were only limited by their imagination, with many of their creations equipped with a powerful stereo, a bed, a bar, and other comforts from home. The Bug’s interior is something of a blank canvas for the buyer, although it does feature supportive front bucket seats and plenty of oh-so-1970s wood paneling and shag carpet. The timber dash fascia houses a set of gauges and a modern flat-screen stereo. It is serviceable in its current form, but its wild exterior makes it perfect to serve as a tribute to the glory days when vans were almost a home away from home. Its cause is helped by the included electric inverter, which will allow the buyer to fit a nearly endless array of household appliances.
One of the Boonie Bug’s greatest attractions is that it is based on standard Volkswagen mechanical components. That means it will be exceptionally reliable, and maintenance parts and servicing won’t cost a fortune. It features a rear-mounted air-cooled flat-four that sends power to the road via a four-speed manual transaxle. It is worth noting that ditching the steel body has reduced the Bug’s curb weight. Therefore, the acceleration and open-road cruising ability should be better than a standard VW Bus. The owner has converted the electrical system to 12-volts, meaning the buyer won’t face that uncertain feeling when they hit the key and the engine winds slowly, trying to spring to life. He says the vehicle runs exceptionally well and is ready to provide someone with a unique classic motoring experience.
Some readers might look at this 1966 Volkswagen Boonie Bug and feel that it looks vaguely familiar. That is understandable if you are a film buff because a Silver Bug saw service in the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, Total Recall. If you like your classics rare, quirky, and capable of drawing a crowd, this Boonie Bug could be an ideal project candidate. The hard work is done, leaving the buyer to add the fine details and personalization at their leisure. That is why this gem is worth far more than a passing glance.
I didn’t think that it was possible to provide even less frontal crash protection than that provided by the original design, but, here you go…
Take a look at the incredibly futuristic 1964 GM Bison truck.
Less frontal crash protection? A motorcycle will provide that.
I normally like the unusual automobile, but this one goes too far and I’d have to live with it. Especially at that price? No thanks.
I like it, who else will have one? Never drive on highway but it will draw in crowds.
So, for $15, you got the build plans? And then you had to fabricate all of the fiberglass panels yourself instead of buying them in kit form?
Seems a bit beyond the typical shade tree mechanic’s ability.
And your soon-to-be-widow would make you take out a huge insurance policy to make sure she is financially secure after you die from fibreglass and resin coated lungs.
There were plans for another version, where the back opened up into a camper – the sides folded down. Always wanted one of those…
Where are the tailights ??
Cute, lots of work put in and it looks like the owner wants to recoup his investment. It’s in LA so there is chance someone will want it just for the sake of having it! I laud the creativity but it’s not in my wheelhouse!!
I’ve seen some pretty ridiculous pieces of crap in my life, but this one has to take the cake. I wouldn’t waste the $25 the crusher would charge to make this thing go away. Just park it on the side of a bust street, pull the plates off it and leave the keys in the ignition. Then wait a couple of days and report it stolen!
How far do you go to have the only one? Might be nice to have downstairs as the guest room.
Looks like something The Monkees would ride around in during one of their TV adventures.
And, unlike a Tesla truck, I’d gladly park a Boonie Bug in my garage. ;)
Not too aerodynamic, is it?
nother forward control ‘big box’, a great design, w/rear drivetrain. Wrkin ona GMC motor home right now … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDMXv6wSsQU … so it comes to mind. It’s FWD (Toranado drive train) so just ‘the opposite’.
Y not do that? Put any of the current Japanese bent6 drive trains in (frnt engine/transaxle) this rig. Micro bus is only good for gas economy ( and nostalgia)~
I liked all the pre-mini-vans of late ‘70s thru mid ‘80s (cept mazda 5 which went on to ’18).
Wuz Jeep FC 150/170 the best of them? … https://www.theautopian.com/this-mighty-custom-jeep-fc-is-one-of-the-coolest-overland-camping-rigs-youll-ever-see/
“Yes” when it wuz the ‘van’ model. I understand we had some in the states … https://www.motortrend.com/features/1703-1958-fc-150-forward-control-with-a-swedish-flair/
Neat vehicle! I don’t know how to attach photos to my comments. Any instructions listed?
I always wanted to create the Mechanix Illustrated VW Beetle Camper project!
Featured June 1977 issue.
I believe that you have to be a paid member to post photos.
I think it’s really cool. The naysayers obviously haven’t been to L.A. Literally, anything goes. Creativity abounds, and you never know what you might see. I think it’s because the people there aren’t bogged down with what seems like 13 months of winter, and can do these things, instead of chopping wood and insulating pipes. Rarely does the builders idea transfer over to many others.
I did some digging in the Internet Archive (Wayback Machine) and found a decent copy of the R.Q. Riley website from 2010.
Lots of interesting buildable concepts here, for the adventurous.
https://web.archive.org/web/20100211183620/http://www.rqriley.com/plans.html
I also checked the Internet Movie Car database, and 3 different R.Q. Riley vehicles were featured in Total Recall.
https://imcdb.org/movie_100802-Total-Recall.html.
sold ! sold ! sold !
Uh, no.
The Brubaker was also a Volkswagen based kit car and in my opinion much cooler looking.
Yes, I am also the owner of the green 1973 Brubaker Box which is on display in the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles.
And I own the 1977 AMC AM Concept Van.
And the 1968 BeetleBus from Bogota Colombia. Front is a 1968 Beetle, rear is a T1 Bus……and a Tritan A2……
And I am searching for the Supervan by
George Barris, the Marcotte Vision…..and a Meyers Manx SR2…..if someone here can help?? Many thanks in advance :-)
Last I heard, Chip Foose owned the Supervan
I believe the 1977 AMC AM Concept Van is a pushmobile. Do the side windows roll down partially at least? Even if they do, i bet it would get hotter in there than in a Pacer!
Can a drivetrain be fitted, or is the Concept Van built on a wooden show car only chassis?
Not happy that the 3 wild GM Futurama cars from the ’64-65 NY World’s Fair were destroyed in the ’80s. & probably so was the wild GM Bison & Turbo Titan III trucks too.
Better hope those doors (Flaps?) don’t open at speed on the 405 near the Slauson Cutoff! “Oh Rachel!!!!”
Yes, the 1977 AMC AM Concept Van was a pushmobile for 45 years.
I bought it from the Joe Bortz Collection near Chicago 2 years ago.
Still in my collection in Frankfurt-Germany.
Just a fiberglass body with acryc fixed windows, no doors, on a wooden ladder frame. No steering, no drivetrain.
I put it on a 1977 Jeep CJ7 chassis. Same year, same manufacturer.
Now its driveable, but still no doors, no electric. In 2 years I want to bring it back to the US driving it into carshows……. hoping for trophys :-)
I also own the original ´Sam Foose Pantera´.
Built from 1972-1975 by Sam Foose and his son Chip Foose. Chip was 12 years old and after playing with toy cars before, this was his first real costum project.
The Pantera is still all original after 50 years, runs and drives perfect.
I drove it to 4 carshows in Germany in 2024: 4 times ´Best in Class´ and 2 ´Best of Show´ on top.
Chip and I will bring it to Pebble Beach next year.
Chip at the steering wheel and me on the passengers seat……and our daddys in heaven will watch us from above….beeing soooo proud of us.
Cheers from Germany: Andreas Wietzke = AMC ConceptVan
The later Vector looks similar.