This pickup-style hot rod is the product of an eight-year build using modified Volkswagen Beetle bodywork mounted to a custom-fabricated steel frame with an integrated roll cage. Power comes from a front-mounted 5.3-liter V8 linked to a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission, and the vehicle rides on a drop front axle with hairpin radius rods, a four-link rear setup with air springs, and staggered-width 15” smoothie wheels with baby moons. A chopped roof, louvered hood, and LED headlights are other highlights of the build. Inside, bomber-style seats are joined by engine-turned metal trim, a B&M pistol-grip shifter, a JOES steering wheel, and power windows. Additional equipment includes a Holley electronic fuel injection system, a COMP Cams camshaft, Wilwood front disc brakes, side-exit exhaust pipes, a rear-mounted radiator, and a fuel cell. Nicknamed “Bug Truck” by its builder, the vehicle was voted a Mobil 1 Fan Favorite during the 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour. This custom hot rod was acquired by the seller in 2025 and is now offered with a clean Georgia title in the seller’s name listing it as a 1969 Volkswagen.
The steel bodywork was formed using portions of a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle and a 1949 Chevrolet pickup cab, per the seller. The cab was chopped and channeled, and a louvered hood was mounted to a forward-opening armature with gas struts. Vents were added to the front quarter panels, and the vehicle was then painted in green with multicolor pinstriping on the roof. LED halo headlights with satin black housings were also installed.
Dimple-die gussets were added to the bed side panels, which incorporate roll-mounted taillights. The tail panel has bead-rolled accents, and a battery cutoff switch is located behind the cab on the left side.
The staggered-width 15” steel wheels are finished in satin black and wear baby-moon hubcaps. They are wrapped in 165-series Firestone F-560 tires up front and Coker Pro-Trac 50 Racing Profile rubber out back. The car rides on a front setup with a Super Bell drop front axle supported by a transverse leaf spring and hairpin radius rods, while the triangulated four-link rear setup features air springs with approximately 7” of travel. Braking is handled by Wilwood front discs as well as rear drums.
The cabin is protected by a roll cage with door bars and houses bomber-style seats trimmed in black with color-coordinated harnesses and door panels. The dashboard fascia and center console are formed from engine-turned metal panels that are finished in green and accented with pinstriping. Exposed Dynamat lines the roof and rear bulkhead, and additional appointments include a B&M pistol-grip shifter, a perforated passenger footboard, power windows, billet aluminum door pulls, USB charging ports, and toggle-switch controls.
The JOES steering wheel has a drilled rim and is mounted to a quick-release hub ahead of a column-mounted AutoMeter memory tachometer with an integrated shift light. An Omega Kustom 140-mph speedometer and combination gauge are mounted in the center of the dash, while an AutoMeter coolant temperature gauge is mounted to the top of the roll cage. The digital odometer indicates 4,200 miles, which is said to represent the distance added since the build was completed.
The 5.3-liter V8 features a COMP Cams camshaft a Holley Terminator X electronic fuel injection system. The intake manifold has been painted to match the body, and the valve covers are finished in black. Forward-routed exhaust headers connect to wrapped exhaust pipes that exit to either side. An aluminum radiator with an electric cooling fan is mounted in the cargo bed area along with a polished fuel cell.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission with a manual valve body, and it is linked to a Toyota-sourced rear end. Dynamat lines the underside of the body.
The car is titled as a 1969 Volkswagen “TY1 Bug” using VIN 119881935, which appears on an identification plaque mounted on the firewall.
Photos taken at various stages of the build are presented in the gallery.