If you Google “WorldStar” you’ll come up with a reference to Hip Hop and a car dealer in New York, but no record of an automobile manufacturer. But at least one copy of the 1990s WorldStar utility vehicle seems to exist and this one is it. Registered as a 1974 Volkswagen, it has a Beetle engine, but it’s mounted in the front and uses front-wheel-drive! Located near Fall River, Massachusetts, this quirky little pickup is available here on craigslist for $15,000. Barn Finder “Roger” gets points for this odd tip!
We’re told this mini pickup was built in California in the 1990s and is not a kit car. Yet it uses a Volkswagen engine and transmission, though they’re now at the other end of the vehicle. How many of these oddities were ever built doesn’t seem to be known, so chances are you’d be the only kid on your block to own one. Because of the VW connection, it’s registered with the DMV as a 1974 something.
As would be typical of kit cars (which this is not), it has a fiberglass body and the seller points out that it is well-assembled, not thrown together. It’s only seen 12,000 miles of use and its history before the seller isn’t mentioned. More modern features were employed, such as rack & pinion steering and front disc brakes. Everything works, but there is no heater, so don’t plan on driving this thing in the Winter.
If you’re looking for a vehicle to show off that nobody else has, this would be it. And because of its VW roots, we assume parts for at least some of the vehicle wouldn’t be hard to come by. But stuff that was made specifically for this pickup – that may be a different story. And if you dare to be wild, we’re told this truck can run up to 70 mph!
At first, I laughed, but this really is a unique vehicle. I’d think a front end collision, of which there are 1.7 MILLION in the US every year, would be catastrophic, I don’t understand why it was done this way. I’d have to think there are serious design flaws here.
At least your head is protected if it rolls over!
That looks like Schedule 40 PVC pipe. Must just be a rack system of sorts.
I wouldn’t want to roll over in any case!
My guess would be it was never intended to be a on road vehicle jus something like the Cushman but somehow got it licensed
Can you imagine getting T-boned in that!!
Very interesting build! If Beetle FWD, is it RW steering? Lots of engineering on a VW transaxle if front steering…
Nope. Front steering. You can just see the rack in the engine photo.
$15k? Not happening. I can’t even give away my classic exotic Fiat Dino car for $5000 less than that price. I don’t see anyone buying this car for any price.
TomP, are you really trying to sell a Fiat Dino for $10,000???? And you can’t find a buyer? I am certain that BF would love to auction that off for you, and I am equally certain that you will get multiples of that for it regardless of the condition…..
bt
C’mon EV’Ophiles! Step right up! With your electric motor swaps. This bad boy is right up your alley.
Perhaps you are unaware, but there was a factory made, FWD Volkswagen pickup truck with an air-cooled Beetle engine… from the Volkswagen factory in *Mexico*.
I present you the Volkswagen Hormiga.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_EA489_Basistransporter
Now THAT is Cool!!! I looked it up, looks like a vw bus steering wheel and shifter. I would love to see and drive one in person.
I find this vehicle very intriguing on a number of regards. Mind you, this is coming from someone who owns & absolutely loves their ’81 VW Rabbit P/U, a.k.a. VW Caddy. Hence, feeling love for the front engine VW conversion, I suppose? Quite intriguing in its own right.
Reminds me of the forgotten true “compact truck” era in the USA, i.e., Ford Courier, Chevy Luv, Toyota Hilux, Datsun 610, Dodge D-50, etc..
Now a “small” truck is a Colorado, Ranger/Maverick, Tundra or…? Doesn’t matter, they all seem to have 4 or more doors anymore. Todays trucks are far from small/compact.
The grille on this reminds me of a Dodge Caliber.
Pretty cool, but $15K cool? GLWA.
Based on a search, I found this https://www.oddimotive.com/strange-kit-car-world-star/.
The one & only commenter states they helped build the car?
I personally would like to know more about these without currently having to buy/own one.
its different and kinda cool, but looking at the interior shot i cant figure how the windows roll up and down, i see what looks like a door handle but thats all i see… ???
In pic 12 you can barely see- looks like the windows slide (a little)
They’re sliders, like early Minis.
There is one of these with a panel van style rear and a Yugo motor for $400 listed on FB Marketplace!
At least $400.00 is a lot less “Speculative”
a bit like the https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-1995-Geo-Tracker-c1879
we just turboed
Engine’s not too vulnerable, right?
I seem to recall a similar looking vehicle in an article decades ago that dealt with various pre-production prototype vehicles vying to be the next US Post office mail delivery vehicle. The winner was the flat-windshield USPS van we all see today, made by Grumman.
My guess is this may have been a pickup variant of the van prototype for consideration by the USPS. Typically they were all white & blue with a red stripe. The one in the article was a van type, so I’m wondering if Mark Mitchell might be able to share the Facebook marketplace listing?