Building from scratch

[Jukebox64]

Has anyone out there ever taken a Volkswagen bug and turned it into a pick up truck? I i’m about to try this and I was wondering if anybody had any pictures or advice?
Thanks guys

[Steven000]

Just had a quick look how that looks, I would start by carrefully cutting the cabin, perhaps a little too big so you can sand or file to the exact line... from there you might have to shape the rear body panels for the wheels, perhaps some plastic card, heated and shaped on a curved surface or a mold you made... The pickup bed you can make from plastic card or balsa strips depending on the scale of the project...
Not much specific help but I'm sure it's possible, have fun

[Jukebox64]

Thanks buddy for all that info. I bought some plastic barnyard fences that I can use for sideboards on the bed. I have some sheets of plastic string and I plan on making it 1/25 scale

[Scratchbuilder]

Did it with a 1.1 Ford Anglia.
Cut the cab where you think you will want to put the back of the cab, then make this out of sheet plastic, but to simulate the strengthening ribs below the rear window or you can actually cut out the ribs and add plasticard pre-shaped to represent the pushed out part.
The bed can be made from (simulated) wood as can the sides, remember the cut-outs for the rear wheel arches or build above them.
Hope these help...

[Jukebox64]

I’m sorry I guess I didn’t specify. It was a VW beetle that I’m turning into a pick up truck. I have pretty much already worked my way through turning the VW van into a pick up truck.

[Andy T]

I kind of did that with my Bendy Bus, which became a double cab pick up towing a Samba style camping trailer. The topic is one here but unfortunately the pictures don't seem to be working.

It was pretty much a case of partially assembling the kit, seeing where I wanted to cut, and going for it. I made up any missing parts with plasticard or filler. Lots and lots of sanding was involved!

Sorry I can't be of more help but the pictures are still on my PC somewhere so could email them over to you if it would help, or there are a couple on my Instagram account (andytaylorpaintguy)

[Andy T]

Ah, I've just seen your other post about it being a Beetle. Can't really help there I'm afraid.

[PaulTRose]

I nearly did that for real back in the 80s when i was into kit cars.....there was a company in loughbrough that did a conversion kit ....i remember going to have a look at it but i built something different in the end

[PaulTRose]

Found some pics....i remember the alternative 'bonnet'

The guy was the uk agent for an american company.....had the rights to make it in uk

[Jukebox64]

I found a bunch of Volkswagens turned into pick up trucks on Pinterest. Thanks for the pics. I’ll add them to my collection.

[Ian M]

How about one of these..

[PaulTRose]

How about one of these..

Me likee!.....caterham 7 fastback

A 7 is hard enough to get into that would be a pain

Clever photoshop

[Jukebox64]

I’m planning on putting a V-8 in the front of my Volkswagen and running a driveshaft to the rear wheels.

[Ian M]

Mid-engine would give a better balance.

[Ian M]

In real life, if you flip a drive axel over, would it reverse the drive direction? Asking for a friend...

[Andy T]

If you mean flipping it over side to side, so that left becomes right and vice versa, yes it would.

[Jukebox64]

Well, Volkswagens are usually rear wheel drive directly connected to the motor and the transfer case, but I plan to put that driveshaft facing the other direction toward the front connected to a V-8.
This way, I have more room in the back for the truck bed..