For years, Gus Johnson wanted to “chop a VW bug.” Johnson is the owner of Lucky Gunner Garage, a hotrod and custom fabrication shop in Center Conway, N.H. He finally satisfied his desire, resulting in the fabulous custom V-8 powered 1976 Volkswagen Beetle for sale on eBay.
Creating a Monster bug
Chopping is a hotrod term describing the act of cutting down top of a vehicle, slicing its pillars, and lowering the roof’s profile. A Volkswagen Beetle, with its rolling body lines and rounded surfaces, could be the ultimate chop-down challenge.
Stuffing the Hemi engine and automatic transmission into the Volkswagen body took precise planning.
Beyond the six inches taken off the roof, the car had seven inches removed from a horizontal section. And a four-inch channel allows the body to fit over the frame and closer to the ground.
Johnson said the project was supposed to be a cheap build. But it grew into an elaborate six-month project to build a monster Bug.
The VIN indicates 1965, but the custom Bug is listed as a 1976 Beetle.
Dodge Charger 5.7-Liter Hemi V-8
Johnson finished the wild Volkswagen Beetle about three years ago. The car has passed hands since then—taking on its current shade of gray in the process.
The full independent suspension highlights the hand-built frame.
The overhauled Beetle sits mere inches off the pavement. It has a hand-fabricated tube frame featuring four-wheel independent suspension, adjustable QA1 Coilovers, and 18-inch wide wheels. Fourteen-inch disc brake rotors provide the stopping power.
But it’s hard to look past the massive engine sticking out of the Bug’s hood. Did a mutant kitchen appliance get lost and land in the engine bay? Nope, it’s a 2012 Dodge Charger 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.
A new floorpan and structure supports the large engine and transmission.
High Power and High Tech
The Hemi is supported by a custom intake, headers, and a fabricated Magnaflow exhaust. A whopping 400 horsepower drives the rear wheels through a five-speed transmission.
Johnson created intricate bead rolled patterns in the 20-gauge steel floorpan and interior structure, as well as the polished aluminum door panels.
He used a Racepak IQ3S digital Street Dash so the readings could be customized via a laptop.
A Racepak IQ3S digital Street Dash monitors the engine and other systems.
LED lighting washes over the interior. A quick-detach steering wheel tops off a driver workspace that is all business.
Low-to-the-ground LEDs light the way for this unique V-dub—and its protruding Hemi engine and ultra-wide Mickey Thompson tires. The overall effect is like a 2,500-pound king-sized buzzing insect speeding down the road.
