The Baja Bug, a Volkswagen Beetle with lifted suspension, off-road tires, and rally-ready upgrades such as a roll cage and skid plates, has been a tradition in the off-road racing scene for more than half a century. The first Beetle dirt racer is said to date back to 1968, when Gary Emory of Parts Obsolete invented the dune-hopper as a low-cost alternative to building a beach buggy. The Baja Bug first saw competition soon thereafter in the Mexican 1000, driven by Dave Deal, a California cartoonist known for his exaggerated automotive illustrations. Some readers would know his work as a character designer for Pixar’s Cars.
