You’ll Never Guess What Underpins This Wild VW Beetle Hot Rod

The original Volkswagen Beetle was a popular blank canvas for budding builders, most famously in the case of Bruce Meyers with his Manx beach buggy.

However, sometimes the reverse happens, as with this wild hot rod known as Uno. It’s the creation of U.K. resident Linden Lee, who completed the build last spring and currently has it listed for sale on his Facebook page, priced at 23,500 British pounds (approximately $31,400). What may look like an ordinary Beetle hotrod – we’ve seen plenty of those – is anything but. That’s because this has Porsche pedigree in its underpinnings.

Like A Porsche 914 From Bizarro World

While on the outside it looks like a 1967 Beetle fresh from the set of Mad Max, the mechanicals come from a 1997 Porsche Boxster. Think of it as a Porsche 914 from Bizarro World – where, instead of a Porsche body with a VW engine, you get the reverse.

Related

Ranking Every Porsche Boxster Generation From Worst To Best

There are no real losers here.

As first spotted by Carscoops, Lee’s car also features the original Boxster interior and 2.5‑liter flat‑6 engine, which from the factory was rated at 201 hp and 181 lb‑ft of torque. The engine is mid‑mounted in the Boxster and in Lee’s car, instead of rear‑mounted like in the Beetle, and it’s paired with the original 5‑speed manual transmission. Drive is sent to the rear wheels only.

Increased Performance Through Lightweighting

There’s a bevy of performance modifications, including coilover suspension, staggered 19‑inch Ispiri CSR1D wheels, a custom exhaust system, a strut brace, and a modified rear spoiler originally from a Toyota Supra.

According to Lee, because of its much lighter weight compared to the original Boxster, even with an all-steel body, the car delivers plenty of performance and feels like a go‑kart on steroids. Hopefully, the brakes were upgraded as well.

Thanks to the sweet combination of sporty dynamics, widely available parts, and relative affordability (for older models), the Porsche Boxster has become a popular choice for custom builds. Some individuals have even built businesses around the idea, like the U.K.’s Total Headturners, which turns old Boxsters into Porsche 356 replicas.

Related

Porsche Boxster With Vale GT1 Kit Comes To Life

This monstrous creation even has hints of the Bugatti Chiron in its design.

Others are more ambitious – like Wesley Kagan, who transformed a Boxster into something resembling a 1960s‑era Formula 1 car.

A builder’s imagination – and willingness to muck around with tools like a Sawzall – really are the only limiting factors.

Sources: Linden Lee (Facebook), Carscoops