Someone took an angle grinder to a classic Volkswagen Beetle and created automotive chaos. This custom rickshaw combines the rear of a Volkswagen Beetle with the front end of what appears to be some sort of ’70s-’80s Japanese motorcycle. The result is one beautifully terrible package that costs eight grand. Rickshaw builders usually aim for lightweight and easy handling. This creation throws both goals out the window.
Facebook Marketplace became home to this $8,000 oddity that defies common sense. Most rickshaws pair a bicycle with a covered passenger area. This builder went a different route. He mated the back half of a Beetle to a motorcycle front end. The combination violates every rule of good vehicle design. You get vintage styling mixed with questionable engineering choices.
Physics creates big problems for this hybrid creation. Cars rely on front brakes for most of their stopping power. Motorcycles do the same thing. Both vehicles size their brake systems to match their weight. This design puts “the entire back of a car, a rear-engine car, mind you — relying on a motorcycle’s front tire and front brake to get it stopped.” Weight distribution becomes your worst enemy.
Visual appeal saves this mechanical nightmare from total failure. That vintage Windjammer fairing catches the eye immediately. The berry-colored paint job screams custom car culture from the early ’90s. Exposed engine bay adds character that modern cars lack. Those louvers and retro motorcycle styling create something that “rocks” according to automotive enthusiasts. Form beats function in every possible way.
Eight thousand dollars buys pure conversation value at gas stations, but not in some car shows. Almost every other vehicle at this price point makes more practical sense. Daily driving becomes an adventure in the worst way. But one reviewer captured the appeal perfectly. This creation is “bad in such interesting ways” that it becomes “absolutely perfect” for anyone who values automotive theater over transportation. Normal cars blend into traffic. This thing starts conversations.
Custom car culture produces both brilliant innovations and spectacular failures. This Beetle rickshaw represents both categories at the same time. Engineering says it should never work. Common sense suggests avoiding it completely. Your heart might disagree with both assessments. Sometimes, the most impractical vehicles become the most memorable ones.
