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ABOVE Wild interior of billbong surf material. RIGHT Engine features many mods that were a first in the VW scene. |
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ABOVE Billabug relaxes by the lake after a hard days photoshoot. |
| BILLABUG |
| This
car took the VW scene by storm in 1989. To say the this car set a new
bench mark in the VW scene is a bit of an under statement. Built in
just 5 weeks, and apparently according to volkslore legend, it was built
as a bet over a beer or two. Worked started just seven weeks before its
planned appearance at that years Bug Jam show in 1989.
First to go was the seams and the swage line from the roof and engine cover. This was no easy task and involved welding two inch strips of metal along the entire length of the car. The engine cover was cut up and then put back together to carry the theme throughout the car.
ABOVE Billabug was featured in many magazines around the world. |
One of the most striking features of the car is the lack of the 'B' pillars, nothing like this had been seen on the UK VW scene! A section of the door was grafted on to the roof so to keep the windows lined up. While all the exterior handles were shaved off and replaced with solenoids. | Take a look at some of the movies in the download section if you have never taken a look before. Bug Jam '89 saw billabug take home an award for the best interior. It is based around the billbong surf material and the boys at Thump! Thump! even had some matching jackets made up to match the interior, madness! |
| "One of the most striking features of the car is the lack of the 'B' pillars, nothing like this had been seen on the UK VW scene!" | ||
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Billabug's many features could be missed at first glance. The engine is a work of art, with its hidden carb, smoothed out tinware, relocated coil, hidden fuel pump and lots more. |
BELOW How billabug looked in 1995.
Billabug changed hands several times over the next few years and it started to take it's toll. By the end of 1995 Billabug was up for sale and looking a shadow of it's former self. Would this be the end of the road or would it live to see another Show? To be continued . . . |
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