Looking for a unicorn
 

My VW up! on CNG is gone

It's been rear-ended by a Volvo and declared an economical total loss
Too costly to repair.
It was still legally drivable, but the insurance deal was too good not to take it.


So, looking for a new unicorn ...

Doh, sorry to hear that. But I'm glad you are okay (I am assuming).

What are you looking for as a replacement?

Yeah, no physical harm done.

Just the up!'s trunk folding - aft & above of where the CNG tanks sit


Well, a unicorn I'm afraid


Something more spacious, with a tow hook, 4x4 (want to go camping wild), economical and ecological ...

When I was working one summer during college my 1952 Ford Fairlane hardtop (cream over light blue) was totaled while it was parked in front of my parents' house. I drove it that way the rest of the summer. ...while my insurance agent let a sailor on leave skip town.

I need to sell my unicorn, but it's on the wrong continent and it doesn't have tow hooks. :(

Can you get something to tide you over until VW ships the ID.Buzz?

Won't be economical, being VW and electrified & all that, well, buzz about it


They'll want to market it as posh toy, Honda e style

Even the Transporter is already horrendously expensive
The Caddy is available on CNG, but is a 16 year old -Golf 5- vintage design

Well I don't know what your budget is but...

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/01...g?v=1562092927
https://classicsteelbody.com/collections/bodies

The electric conversion is off-the-shelf.
https://evwest.com/catalog/

The electric conversion and body shell run US$17K each. The doors, nose skin, suspension wheels and tires, wiring loom and paint would eat at least that much so US$50K to have a better camper than the ID.Buss.

Jeez, they still make entire Bulli's

It'd be a struggle of epic proportions to get these on the road here

EV conversions are very rare , often taking a detour outside Belgium, then being re-imported after registering abroad (but in the EU)

There is that, then.

Those bodies-in-white are aftermarket. VW has partnered with eClassics to produce Type I roller-skates that use e-Up! drivetrain, batteries and fast charger.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/29695/...ubbed-e-kafers
The EU equivalent of US$44K, IIRC. Then you could make a wooden camper body and let them freak out about that instead. :)

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1e/39/a1/1...4933761cdc.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1e/39/a1/1...4933761cdc.jpg

Aftermarket support for most air-cooled Volkswagens is still reasonable, even though it may become too expensive sometimes.


I have already considered to try building one from scratch to use as a campervan, even though I'm not sure I would be able to circumvent restrictions against the fitment of Diesel engines into some vehicles in my country.

Maybe there is someone in Brazil that is making something like this:

https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-f...1-100-0889.jpg

If not maybe it should be you. You could make a plaster female mold [with flash graphene!} that would pop out 10 or so fiberglass bodies before they wear out.

Drop that on any chassis and it would be what's classed as a class-A motor home in this country.