1952 Volkswagen Custom

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The Volkswagen Beetle's greatest legacy may not just be its factory specifications but the extraordinary aftermarket culture it spawned. Because the Beetle used a simple, air-cooled rear engine on a sturdy platform chassis, it became a blank canvas for builders worldwide. The same mechanical bones that rolled off assembly lines for decades could be reshaped into dune buggies, Baja racers, drag cars, or lowered “Cal-look” cruisers with minimal engineering complexity.

This adaptability created entire industries: companies like EMPI and Baja Bug kits thrived purely on Beetle customization. Enthusiasts swapped engines, widened fenders, chopped tops, and reimagined interiors, turning an economical people’s car into a platform for personal expression. Other companies like B.F. Meyers & Co. and Fiberfab created all new fiberglass bodies. But one craftsman took that personal expression to another level.

The November 1964 issue of Mechanix Illustrated featured a cover story on building a striking wood body for the Beetle platform: the “Plywagen. ” This remarkable creation came from master woodworker Rosario Capotosto, who built it atop a 1952 VW Beetle he’d sourced from a used car lot. He shaped the body from 1/4" ribbon-stripe mahogany plywood and the fenders from 3/4" stock. Although Mr. Capotosto’s article included detailed plans meant to let any handyman attempt the project, replicating his work truly demanded serious woodworking expertise — shaping the body and fender curves, turning the laminated headlight shells, and fitting the contrasting maple trim were no small feats. Underneath it all sat a lap-jointed pine frame, with every joint glued rather than nailed or screwed. It’s no surprise, given that Mr. Capotosto authored “Complete Book of Woodworking. ” Both Complete Book of Woodworking pages 386 – 394 and the Mechanix Illustrated article have resourceful notes on how to build this specific vehicle.