This VW Beetle equipped with tank tracks is up for sale and ready for combat.

      Several aftermarket companies focus on creating tracks for modern trucks and SUVs, but to our knowledge, there isn’t a ready-made kit available that fits an air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to put tracks on one; all you need is a welder and some effort. A dedicated enthusiast undertook the task of transforming a 1968 Beetle into a tank, and this vehicle, referred to as the Battle Bug, is now on the market.

      It appears that every aspect of this project was crafted by hand, as there’s no existing template or obscure prototype to reference. The modifications are numerous. The front end retains many standard Beetle features, but with a few alterations, such as a sturdier bumper equipped with a winch, turn signals relocated from the top to the sides of the fenders, and new headlight bezels. Beyond the hood, things take a more unique turn.

      First, a cover with horizontal slats is positioned over the windshield. Then, there’s an array of guns and missiles, which the seller clarifies are replicas. Lastly, we see the tracks. Their installation necessitated reshaping the Beetle's body into a notchback form.

      The seller did not provide specific details about the build or underbody images, making it difficult to fully understand the track configuration, but it appears that each rear drum is affixed with a gear. Notably, these are the older five-lug drums instead of the newer four-lug ones typically found on a 1968 Beetle. This drum-mounted gear drives another gear through a large chain, and we suspect that one of the rollers is actually a steel wheel taken from a second-generation Passat. We’re curious about the strain this setup puts on the Beetle’s clutch.

      Camouflage paint and various graphics complete the vintage, battle-ready aesthetic. The advertisement claims that the Battle Bug runs and drives, though as a longtime owner of air-cooled Volkswagens, I’d be interested in how the tracks influence its drivability and performance.

      Located in Nashville, the asking price for the Battle Bug is $25,000. The ad has been listed for 15 weeks as of this writing, which suggests that the price might be a bit steep and possibly negotiable. For comparison, $25,000 could purchase an exceptionally nice 1968 Beetle that hasn’t been modified into a tank—but where’s the excitement in that?

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