When a Barn Finds staff writer opens the “View Tips and Assignments” list, you never know what’s waiting for you. There’s usually one surprise, oddball, or head shaker for sale with a story behind it. I had to claim this writing assignment because I’d never heard or seen one of these professionally-converted Beetle Mini-RV’s. Have you? The seller includes a print ad that features a quote from Motor Trend magazine that reads, “Not a joke, but a surprisingly good motor home.” The magazine had featured the Super Bugger in their December 1976 issue (and Mechanics Illustrated featured one in their June 1977 issue).This 1973 VW Super Bugger is located in the Oceano Dunes/Pismo Beach area of California and is listed here on craigslist for $23,000. A special thanks to one of our spotters, the talented Tony Primo, for sending this unusual mini motor home to us.
The seller doesn’t give us much information about the Bugger, other than that it’s from an estate sale and that it was brought out of storage. I know you can’t believe everything in an ad (I should know, I was an advertising copy writer for many years), but the seller says these “cute little campers were all the rage in the mid-70’s and were also known as the ‘Lil’ Bugger, MiniHome, or Bugaboo. It runs and drives great and has a clean CA Title.” A little online detective work uncovered that a small company in Costa Mesa, California, called Super Campers, did the conversions and also offered DIY kits. They started with a Beetle, cut off the body at the windshield, reinforced the floor pans, and built a wooden-and-fiberglass camper shell directly on top. This one is even more unique because of its custom purple paint job. The “hotrod” flames on the Beetle’s front hood and fenders and on the camper sides just add to the humor of this Beetle-powered mini home. The seller states that the Super Bugger has “upgrades to the chassis included body reinforcements, custom wheels, and upgraded suspension.”
Inside, the Super Bugger was cleverly designed and doesn’t waste an inch of space. The tiny RV houses a gas stove, a sink with running water, an ice box, a water tank, a dinette that converts into a bed for two, and storage in the form of cupboards, drawers, and a storage closet. The seller also says there’s a lot of faux wood paneling and shag carpet. The two front bucket seats appear to be wearing purple and black seat covers and an aftermarket purple steering wheel has been added.
The Super Bugger is powered by a familiar sight and sound: the Beetle’s dependable 1600cc, air-cooled, flat-four engine. The odometer is listed at 25,000, and it’s mated to a standard VW 4-speed manual transmission. I read where the camper added an additional 250 pounds, but reviews at the time said it could still keep up with traffic on the road. As you can imagine, documentation of how many Beetles were sacrificed and converted into Super Buggers at that small factory and how many DIY kits were sent out is anybody’s guess. It’s also unknown how many survived, though some sources say about 10 are around 50+ years after the major surgery. I’ve ended several articles saying the next owner probably won’t see another one at the local car shows and cars and coffee events. I’d probably remove the word “probably” from that sentence in the case of the Super Bugger. What do you think? Ever seen one of these cute mini RV’s?
Pretty cool VW Bug. The color(Meh) Otherwise I would definitely use it!!
This is really neat. My wife and I have kicked around an RV. If she saw this……
She’d want it!!!
Saw one now and then in the Bay Area in the nineties.
Cool, but i would not want to be behind it going up a two lane mountain road.
Being a daily driver of a 73 super beetle, you would be lucky to hit 55 in this rig. Cool though!
Sure it could keep up with traffic – the speed limit was 55.
Wifey has a Wrangler, and only this buggle with a flatter windscreen would have louder wind noise.
I know, kill 2 birds with one stone, no wait, if I can get my recliner in there, 3 birds.( VW, camper & recliner) While being a transportation nightmare, it really is pretty cool. One of the great things about America, and I’m not putting any other country down, but where else but America do we see these wonderful creations. Okay, maybe Canada too, but I just don’t see anything like this from, say, Norway.
USA, USA,,,I think I’ll pass as everybody passes you with the 1 finger salute. I think I’ve driven Detroit powered semis that would do better. Be the talk of the campsite, fo’ sho’! ( if they let you in, that is)
The home built rv trend is alive and well in New Zealand. If I had access to my pics while on here I could show y’all.
Howard, My father had two VW’s and you drove them the same way as a Detroit.. Both feet flat on the floor!!!! Make ‘er scream!!
All those angles makes me think these are prone to leaking as these are troublesome seal points on trailers and RV’s. I guess on the positive side you can head to Home Depot if you need a windshield….
Another camper for people who have never owned and used a camper and think that cute=fun out in the wild.
Anyone who has will just laugh at this. Especially if you live in the mountains.
Now die-hard Grateful Dead fans might decide that they do need something like this, but alas, they likely they don’t have $23k in cash. Maybe they could make a trade deal… :)
While admittedly, it looks to be in good shape, the list of practical shortcomings here starts with an engine that can’t really haul all of this up a mountain pass in 95 degree weather. Add in the lack of modern camping conveniences (no A/C, no microwave, etc), the likelihood of leaks, the oddball, cramped configuration, and the rest.
Look at RV Trader listings today. You can buy used Class B rigs that are way more practical than this for $23,000 or less all day long.
But, as they say, you only need one…Maybe they are out there.
And where does the air for cooling come from? I couldn’t spot anywhere in the pictures.
You may not believe this HOWEVER $23,000 is a real steal for this Super Bugger.
The last one advertised publicly for sale on Facebook sold quickly for the $28,000 asking price!
Oh, sure, that is possible.
This thing appeals strongly to people who have never run a camper. They think that THIS is what camping is all about.
They have no clue what they are getting into here. They also have no clue about what they are NOT getting with this purchase.
From the post: “from an estate sale and that it was brought out of storage”. Yep, it sure looks that way. Reading between the lines, it looks like this was rarely used. Maybe never or a couple of times. Then parked.
Back when these were made, whole Class B range of campers didn’t really exist the way it does now. So back then, this was a novelty that served people well. Nowadays it is a huge compromise if you plan to camp a lot.
Did it ever cross your mind that there may be people who have a different idea of, for example, camping?
Or do you think everybody else has to like what you like?
A class “B” is a modified complete van. (Think SPORTSMOBILE) A class “A” is a “complete” new/different body on a stand alone chassis. (Think something generally over 25 feet like on a John Deere/Workhorse)
A. Class “C” is generally what is a “Mini Motorhome” on what is called a van “cut-a-way” chassis. It would have a “full size van nose/fenders/doors/windshield/
bumper/grille, etc. Usually Ford Chevy, Dodge. (in the old days) Think Mini Winnie, Lazy Dayz, etc. This abomination would kind of be classed as a Class “C” but none of the class “C” manufacturers would claim this to be in the same class.
And remember, you would most only be welcome in state and federal parks. As most private and “chain” (think KOA) Don’t allow units over 15 or 20 years old.
RAR – I fully understand that people camp the way they want. They make informed choices. Those of us who camp do all see all kinds of homemade, oddball rigs like this on occasion.
As someone who camps a lot in a travel trailer, I am also aware that potential campers who are looking to get into the hobby are relatively unaware of what they can encounter and expect.
They see something that is unique and cute like this and think that it must be a better way to go camping. After all, it’s about looking good out there, right?
This rig has so many compromises when compared to a modern rig. Most importantly is the complete lack of horsepower with an air-cooled engine in mountainous conditions, as well as possible brake limitations. Upgraded brakes are not even mentioned in the ad.
Seasoned campers who camp regularly and might want to buy this know what trade-offs they are making. I’d speculate that there are few of those people around, as the mechanical trade-offs alone are borderline dangerous, depending on where you live and camp. This is a flatland camping rig.
Naïve buyers should be made aware of what they might be getting into here before all of the “cute” takes over their brain.
Bluesman – you just don’t want to get it.
I am happy for you that you like your modern rig.
For me a modern rig means just so many horrible compromises that I rather not go camping.
To each his own.
RAR – you are right. I don’t get why someone would buy a rig that is wholly under-powered (with a 50 year old air-cooled engine) for the weight it’s being asked to haul around.
But if someone likes to stand on the side of the road around a blind turn going up a narrow mountain pass, maybe even in the dark, waiting for AAA help, then this is the fast ticket to that action.
If vintage camping is your thing in order to avoid modern equipment issues, then there are much more sane and safe choices than this thing.
As P.T. Barnum said, “There’s [one] born every minute!”
“drives great”? Evidently your idea and mine of this statement are two mutually exclusive terms! Ok, maybe the engine runs well. But, in stock form it has limitations which will only be amplified with this modification. Even with “suspension upgrades” I would hate to have to make an emergency evasive action with this vehicle. My gut feeling says, not over 45 mph should be the speed limit on this. Notice they didn’t say anything about upgraded brakes. Yes, it may “only” weigh 250 more than a stock Beetle. BUT! Anyone who has gone “camping” knows that the initial weight of the camper is just the begining. Food, bedding, water, clothes, eating utensils, BBQ grill, etc. adds up in a hurry. (And most likely your significant other will not understand your desire to take less than she desires!)
All of that and more…
I think a headwind might stop it.
Our English cousins might find the model name amusing…
As a weird coincidence, the other day I was going through some old bookmarks and came upon this old web page that features kit cars and such. The MiniHome is featured and the one that I ended up clicking on to read more about it. https://web.archive.org/web/20100211183620/http://www.rqriley.com/plans.html
Lets go campin did you bring the weed and mushrooms
I wonder if they just bought kits from Robert Q. Riley, and assembled them?
I posted a link to an old version of the Riley website, but it is stuck in moderation limbo.
This really wild looking, but having had the interior room of a GMC Eleganaza and being 6’2″ I’d go nuts being in it for any length of time beyond a weekend getaway, and maybe less than that if I had any substantial hills to climb getting there. I’d rather have the VW bus with the hand painted nature scene on it that’s shown in the sixth picture and a tent.. that would be pretty cool imo, albiet still slow on the hills, and I’d have to break out the round John Lennon sunglasses and bellbottoms. :-)
I have seen one of these at a local rear-engine Volkswagen specialty shop about five years ago.