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A 1978 Bulletproof Beetle Is Looking for a New Owner to Protect

The strongest fragrances come in small bottles, they say. This completely unassuming 1978 Beetle is one good example of that since it’s entirely bulletproof.
1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition 10 photos
Photo: Auto Bild Klassik & ChromeCars / GetYourClassic.com
1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition1978 bulletproof Beetle is on the market, with an interesting story to tell and in all-original, unrestored condition
When you think of an armored car, the Love Bug comes last to mind, and that was probably the whole idea behind this conversion. It came about in the late ‘70s in Italy, when a wealthy industrialist in Bologna wanted to keep himself and his family out of the reach of Mafia kidnappers.

The Beetle, which, in addition to being bulletproof, is also unrestored and all-original, is offered by Chrome Cars on Get Your Classics. It was listed at auction in December 2020, with bidding ending at the end of the month without meeting reserve. At the time, it was estimated that it would fetch between €35,000 and €45,000 ($42,600 and $54,700) but the auction wrapped up at less than half the highest estimate.

The good news is that it’s still up for sale. The auction was a one-off event, Chrome Cars says, so anyone interested should reach out to them for the asking price.

The listing offers a detailed account of this surprising Beetle Tank. With kidnappings becoming the hottest revenue for the Italian Mafia, wealthy people would often take extra precautions to prevent that from happening to them. Most kidnappings happened on the way to school or work, so the owner bought this stock Beetle and had it converted at a local shop.

From the start, the goal was to get a “highjacking safe and bulletproof tank, with the look of a normal Beetle,” the listing says. This explains the very bare, almost desolate interior. All the glass was replaced with bulletproof glass, and 3-cm (1.18-inch) sheets of steel were added to the doors, the hoods, and the luggage compartment, offering protection from gunshots and explosions. Safety bolts were added to the doors so as to render access inside impossible in case of an attack.

Everything else was left untouched. The engine is the same, with the 1,200cc unit providing 34 hp and hauling 300 kg (661 pounds) of extra weight around. The brakes are the same, too. Before listing it, the owner redid the paint job in the original color and unhooked the police siren.

The Beetle Tank was used as a daily between 1978 and 1984 when the owner decided it was safe again to ride in a non-armored car. The odomoter reads 45,000 km (27,961 miles) and, to those thinking that all that extra weight turned the Beetle into a complete slouch, the listing promises that “while driving, you barely feel the added weight.”
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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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