The Volkswagen Bug dates back to 1934, when Adolf Hitler tapped Ferdinand Porsche on the shoulder and “suggested” he design “the people’s car.”
Classiccars.com states that Porsche had been the chief designer for Mercedes-Benz and by 1934 had his own engineering and consulting firm. According to the website, Hitler wanted a four-passenger car with a reliable air-cooled motor that could get 40 miles to the gallon and sell for about 1,000 marks ($250). The engine was designed by Franz Reimspeiss, and VW used that general design for the life of the car.
A manufacturing plant built in 1938 on castle property known as Wolfsburg is reportedly the largest automobile factory in the world.
But as it turned out, “the people’s car” was not built until after World War II because by the time the factory was built, Hitler was busy in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland, and the factory was converted for military needs.
The military version of the VW Bug became an important part of the German war machine. It performed well in the deserts of Africa and the bitter winters in Russia. They made a Jeep-like vehicle called Kubelwagen and one that could be used in water called Schwimmwagen.
I don’t think Hitler had a VW Baja Bug in mind when planning the affordable car, but in 1978, it was exactly what Walnut Creek resident and longtime outdoorsman Les Reams wanted but with some major modifications.
It’s kind of a goofy-looking car, particularly from the back. The owner installed an old Buick air cleaner mounted almost roof-high in the rear, slightly askew. The exhaust pipe with a spark arrester points skyward at about a 60-degree angle. The headlights and taillights are aftermarket hang-ons. And it really isn’t even a particular model year VW. “The beefed-up frame is a 1962,” Reams said, “and the body is 1966. The fenders, the hood, the little front nose piece and the rear cowling over the rear engine are from a kit. The rest of it is the 1966 body.”
The modifications took Reams about 18 months to complete. That included wiring the vehicle completely to a 12-volt system. The car has had four engines, starting with an 1100 cc engine and ending with the current 1776 cc engine rated at about 75 HP. Only the rebuilding of the engine and transmission were professionally done. The owner feels he has about $10,000 invested.
Reams tows his Baja Bug to Southern California, then drives it 420 miles to the Mexican border for off-roading. Some of the locations Reams and friends go are 35 or more miles from any civilization — that’s at least a half day to a day’s drive away, so dependability of the vehicle is very important.
Reams is careful to point out that his vehicle is not a dune buggy but a Baja Bug. A Baja Bug is different from a dune buggy in that it is lighter yet very sturdy and offers a softer ride. Reams drives his vehicle in Baja California (Mexico) which is about 1,100 miles long and 75 to 100 miles wide. He said, “we have found a lot of really nice remote beaches where you could camp and dive all by yourself. I tell people we go in with a sack of potatoes and a cooler full of beer. Then it is up to me and friends to catch dinner with spear guns.”
Reams carries a 102-quart Rubbermaid commercial cooler where the rear seat used to be. That carries 80 pounds of ice and two cases of beer. Ice lasts about three days (he didn’t say how long two cases of beer lasts). For gas, the Baja Bug has a 10-gallon tank, and Reams carries a 3-gallon spare tank. “Off-road, oddly enough, I can run around in second and third gears, and it gets 22 miles per gallon.”
Any mechanical problems with his 50-plus-year-old car in the remote areas?
“The only time I had to hike out to get a part was in 2005. We had just rolled in to the most remote place we go.”
The rear axle damaged the brake drum to the point that the vehicle couldn’t go.
“At 6 the next morning I got up, put on a backpack with a gallon of water, some raisins and a tortilla. I hiked 36 miles until 9 that night. I got within a mile of a little town, laid down on the side of the road and went to sleep. Next morning, I wandered in to town.”
With the help of some friendly locals, Reams found a wrecked VW at a junk yard and removed the necessary parts. The friendly local gave him a boat ride back to his camp, thus saving the 36-mile return hike. Tell me again how much fun this off-roading thing is?!
Have an interesting vehicle? Contact David Krumboltz at MOBopoly@yahoo.com.
