It is, in essence, a Volkswagen Beetle given all the modish styling treatments ... dune buggies of the 1960s and 1970s – best known as Baja Bugs, for their involvement in the famous Mexican ...

Last year, the pair raced their V-8-powered Bug against seasoned Baja racer Cameron Steele. The runs revealed weaknesses in the VW’s setup, prompting a swap to independent rear suspension.

That has both VW and Ford badging ... but those in the back are huge, tucked under Baja-Bug-style fenders. Amazingly, those wheels are only four-lug, possibly mounted on spacers.

A group of friends have brought their skills together to transform an old-school Volkswagen Beetle, named Tope, in order to take part in one of the world’s most ruthless races. The Baja 1000 is ...