Bugster: A 2000 Boxster S With a VW Beetle Body and GT3 Price

The Bugster was created in 2013 and is now up for sale with a $200K+ price tag.

This might be the most expensive and most unique 2000 Porsche Boxster S in the world. It is called the Bugster and after taking just one look, you can probably figure out why. It looks like an old school VW Beetle. But the looks are deceiving. The engine, transmission, floor pan, chassis, brakes, and more are all from a 986 Boxster S. The conversion was done in 2013 by CarMaxx Classics in Austria. Since that time the car has only been driven about 1,200 miles and now it is up for sale. Schroeder-Classics in Germany has the car listed on their website for 195,000 EUR which is roughly $210K in U.S. dollars. That is an awful lot of money for a Bettle or a 986 Boxster.

We will get back to the price in a minute but first let’s take a little closer look at the car itself. The 2000 Boxster S came with a naturally aspirated 3.2L flat six making 250 horsepower. It could hit 60 mph in about 5.2 seconds. Fairly brisk performance for the year 2000. And well above the performance of a stock 1303 Beetle that made about 50 horsepower and took roughly 18 seconds to reach the 60-mph mark. So, if you own a 1303 Beetle, and love the look of it but hate the performance, then using Boxster S mechanicals is one way to get you modern performance with retro looks.

Bugster

This unique build includes not only most Boxster S mechanicals but also most of the interior as well. The shifter, center console, gauges, air conditioning vents and more are clearly from a 986. But there are some upgrades with this car as well. It is riding on 993 wheels. They appear to be the much-loved turbo twist design. And they are wrapped in sticky Toyo Proxes R888R tires. According to the ad the car also has a KW threaded suspension and a Supersprint exhaust system. We have no doubt that this car would be a hoot to drive.

Design Details

The sales ad includes pictures of the Bugster parked next to a standard Beetle. It is obvious from the side-by-side shots how closely the cars resemble each other. Most folks would probably assume that the Bugster was simply a well-maintained Beetle. But there are some clues as to what lies beneath. The most obvious clue is those Boxster air intakes just behind the doors. The rear fender flares are also significantly larger on the restomod. The converted car also sits lower than the original Beetle.

Value

The car is quirky, and fun. It seems to be well built and we are sure you would have a good time behind the wheel. It no doubt took a lot of time and effort to put this Bugster together. But $200K? You could get a nice 718 Boxster GTS 4.0, a pristine original 1970s VW Beetle, and a new Macan for daily driving for that amount of money. Of course, none of those would be as unique as the Bugster. So, if you always wanted a car that costs as much as a 992 GT3 but looks like a Beetle and performs like a 23-year-old Boxster here is your chance.

Images: Schroeder-Classics

Join the Rennlist forums!

Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.