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