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Guy deconstructs an original VW Beetle then turns it into awesome mini motorcycle
These turned out great!
Jonathan Arrastia
10.23.20

Since its origin in 1959, the Volkswagen Beetle has received considerable attention for it’s small, yet appealing framework.

The next several years marked a period of prosperity for the lineup as it topped the auto-import market in the United States and also surpassed the longstanding worldwide production record of 15 million vehicles set by Ford Motor Company’s Model T between 1908 to 1927.

Brent Walter
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Brent Walter

The classic automobile has been featured in almost every modern advertising venue such as car magazines, commercials, video games, movies, and even as one of Barbie’s preferred go-to vehicles. The engineering feat has clearly penetrated modern society in numerous ways. After a long history of resilience, Volkswagen finally halted production of the Beetle after nearly 80 years in the business.

Brent Walter
Source:
Brent Walter

The decision inspired many car enthusiasts, like Brent Walter, to begin working on the Beetle for his own design project. His idea: to utilize the Beetle’s wheel hubs and repurpose them for his custom motorcycle design. Walter’s main line of work involves managing and manufacturing medical devices, while he tackles on scooter-making as his hobby on the side.

Brent Walter
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Brent Walter

The “Volkspod”, as Walter calls them, are small motorized scooters made for short-distance commutes, but primarily for entertainment as he intends to present them as trophies for car shows. “I want a scooter to take to VW shows. These fenders were leftover from building my car. I also wanted to practice welding the thin sheet metal panels.”

Brent Walter
Source:
Brent Walter

The creative genius also took to Instagram to document his lineup and the incredible work he’s put into this collection.

The posts include a detailed explanation of how the mini motorcycles were put together to help out any fellow gearhead.

His Volkspod scooter uses custom-built frames with Volkswagen engines built and covered by type 1 classic Beetle model fenders. It comes fashioned with a retro bike handlebar, a seat, head/tail lights, and a horn to alert any unsuspecting pedestrians. Two classic variants were manufactured: birch green and pastel blue.

Brent Walter
Source:
Brent Walter

“The original (green) has a 79cc motor and is more for looks than it is practical,” said Walter. “The second (blue) one has more ground clearance and a 212 cc motor. It is more practical to ride around on the road.”

Although the Type 1 Volkswagen Beetle is no longer in production, Walter claims it has been incredibly easy to salvage parts for the model. “There seems to be plenty of old Beetle fenders at swap meets,” said Walter. His Instagram page has blown up tremendously with over 32k followers. His page demonstrates the hard work and determination it has taken to achieve such an awesome idea.

Brent Walter
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Brent Walter

One model of the Volkspod shows a side-car attachment for small item transport such as groceries or any carry-on belongings. That’s a pretty nifty add-on since it gives more utility to the motorcycle and also provides more stability when riding on the streets.

Brent Walter
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Brent Walter

There are concerns for the overall safety of the vehicle, but Walter reminds us that these are not intended for sale nor are they meant to be a vehicle you take on the main road. This was just a household project after all, and none of the standard safety equipment like air-bags comes fitted in this machine.

Brent Walter
Source:
Brent Walter

Walter proves that to be resourceful, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you simply have to rotate it differently.

His vision to create his new mini motorcycle lineup was followed by a surge of overwhelming support from the online community. No word has been given on whether or not the models will be up for sale, but you can certainly enjoy the ride vicariously through his social media page.

Brent Walter
Source:
Brent Walter

If you’re looking to see how smooth the Volkspod rides, be sure to check out Walter’s Instagram page for more content!

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