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  • 2 days ago
PART Volkswagen, part camper - the ‘Super Bugger’ might not be your typical choice of car. But Canadian couple, Bill and Sandra, take great pride in owning this unique, rear converted camper vehicle that combines a VW Buggy and an RV into one. Back in the 1970s, a Californian company had the bright idea to convert the humble box into a piece of art – and they named it a ‘Super Bugger’ - it was later sold for $6,000. Sandra inherited the bugger after her father’s death, who bought the car back in the 80s. Speaking of her rare vehicle, Sandra told FutureStudiosCars: “She is my little girl, she is precious to me. It’s a fun vehicle to drive around!”

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Motor
Transcript
00:01People just flock to it.
00:03Smiling, everybody looks at her,
00:06wants to see the inside of her.
00:08She's precious to me.
00:10It's fun to drive around in.
00:16I like the insignia here.
00:18It lets everybody know what it is.
00:20Super bugger.
00:22You really can't hide that.
00:24Back in the 1970s,
00:30a Californian company had the bright idea
00:33of converting the humble Volkswagen Beetle
00:36into an RV.
00:38They named it the Super Bugger.
00:41And it sold for $6,000.
00:47It's a 1969 Volkswagen.
00:50It's a conversion kit that was done in the early 70s.
00:53My dad got it in the early to mid 80s
00:59when he was living in California.
01:02Sandra inherited this bugger
01:04after her father's death.
01:06I got it about 98, 99.
01:09And it's been a labour of love
01:11to get it back on the road.
01:13It was in pretty rough shape.
01:15And I'd say the last 10 years, 11 years,
01:19been seriously restoring it,
01:22putting money into it.
01:23She's been painted and all the body work
01:25has got to be done and the engine.
01:27And it's completed now as of two weeks ago.
01:30Two weeks ago we got the carpet done
01:32and now she's set.
01:33And it's a worthy restoration
01:35as these RVs are a rare breed.
01:38Our mechanic, the gentleman who's done a lot of work
01:40and the refurbishing of it,
01:41he believes there's only four or five left in this condition.
01:45If you go online you can see a number of them
01:47but not in this shape.
01:52It's got the front of a Volkswagen.
01:54They've converted it in.
01:55They actually left the chassis as it was
01:57and built around it.
01:59It's got the trunk in the front.
02:02It's got a fair amount of space.
02:05It's not going to fit a body in there.
02:07It could fit camping gear in there.
02:12Got the marine windshield wipers.
02:14When it was originally built it didn't come with wipers.
02:17I guess in California you don't need them.
02:19When we went to get it licensed here
02:21we ran into a couple of snags
02:23but one of them was the fact it didn't have wipers.
02:25So our mechanic, John, came up with a great idea
02:27and they're perfect.
02:29The tires themselves are brand new
02:31but the rims are original.
02:33Another feature that I really like is the doors.
02:35It's nearly five feet high
02:37so they're almost ones that you'd find in a home
02:41rather than a camper.
02:43At the rear we have the engines.
02:45The same style engine as a normal Volkswagen.
02:49Four cylinder.
02:50It's a 1600cc.
02:52Runs very well, easy to maintain.
02:55We've got a small ladder that goes up to the second floor.
02:59This is the interior of the Super Bugger.
03:03The dash is original to a Volkswagen.
03:06The four speed is on the floor.
03:08The stick shift of course, the original wheel.
03:11The bucket seats are a great addition.
03:14They have a Newfoundland style air conditioning unit
03:17if I could show you.
03:19Up here.
03:21Here we go.
03:23Aircon.
03:24We have seating for four.
03:26It's tight but it's comfortable.
03:28We also have a stove and a small sink.
03:32The table comes down here and makes it a level space
03:37and it converts into a bed.
03:39How was that?
03:41That's perfect.
03:42You don't really think of it when you don't have one
03:48but since we've gotten it, you can just hop in it and go.
03:51You can sleep in it.
03:52You can cook in it.
03:54It's a real eye turner when we go out.
03:56People just flock to it.
03:57Smiling.
03:58Everybody looks at her.
03:59Wants to see the inside of her.
04:01And then they ask me, do we build it?
04:03Sometimes I lie.
04:04I say we did.
04:05But most of the times, I'll tell the truth.
04:08You can still go online under the name of it, the Super Bugger.
04:12Purchase schematics and make one yourself.
04:15But I wouldn't attempt it.
04:17She's my little girl.
04:18I baby her.
04:19She's precious to me.
04:21It's a fun, fun vehicle to drive around in.
04:24Cheers.
04:25Cheers, sweetheart.

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