This 1956 Volkswagen Beetle was turned into the Berlin Buick
- 1956 Volkswagen Beetle was transformed into the ‘Berlin Buick’
- The car contains nods to previous Buicks
- There’s also a homage to the German roots of Volkswagen
Published on Oct 06, 2024 at 6:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 03, 2024 at 7:41 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
This 1956 Volkswagen Beetle got a huge makeover and became the ‘Berlin Buick’.
When we say it went through a significant transformation, we mean it.
It underwent a two-year transition, including the installation of a 215 Buick V8 engine.
That’s already a big change, but with it taking up the backseats it’s fair to say this is a huge shift.
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What other changes have been made to this Volkswagen Beetle?
YouTuber, Lou Costabile, paid a visit to the ‘Berlin Beetle’ to get a closer look at its modifications.
The car’s top has been shortened by 4.5 inches, the bumper has been remade with custom taillights and the exhaust pipes no longer have mufflers.
All in all, the car took a shop of four men two years to modify.
The car had long been a dream of its owner, Rob Freeman, who wanted to put a V8 inside a Volkswagen rather than ‘hang it off the back end’.
The engine itself is a 1961-63 all-aluminum 215 V8 with 300HP.
Throughout the car, there are little touches from previous Buick cars – a 1957 Buick trim, air vents from 1953, and a dashboard from 1949.
Why is it called the ‘Berlin Buick’?
It’s a nod to Volkswagen’s German origins, which are also given special tribute within the car.
The stickshift has the coat of arms of the city of Berlin on it – a bear to be precise.
Nice little touches like this really elevate cars to the next level.
This Plymouth Superbird was boosted thanks to a signature on its dashboard.
How has the Berlin Buick been received?
Although shown on display in the video, this car isn’t just a model car – it’s built for driving.
Since being completed, it has won several awards including fourth place at the Hot August Nights show.
Viewers on Lou’s channel were very taken with the Berlin Buick.
One wrote: “Craftmanship at its very best. Respect to the guys who built this masterpiece.”
Another commented: “This is totally awesome, one of the best builds I have ever seen!”
“The imagination it takes to do this kind of work is incredible, love it,” a fellow fan said.
It’s certainly not the most unconventional sighting of a Volkswagen we’ve come across – these underground cars take the cake there.
Plus, check out how this man made one of Volkswagen’s rarest cars from the 1990s even rarer.
To check out the Berlin Buick for yourself, head over to Lou Costabile’s YouTube channel.
