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The classic Volkswagen Beetle is a sensational blank canvas

This selection of vehicles from the Volkswagen Coachbuilt Beetle Class at the 2019 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance demonstrates the versatility of The People's Car.

Manuel Carrillo III
A Porsche 911 S brought Manuel Carrillo III home from the hospital after he was born, so it's no surprise his lifelong trajectory has centered on cars, leading him to a robust career creating rich automotive media for publications prior to joining CNET.

The Southern California native briefly lived in Sydney, and is proud to have developed a barely passable Aussie accent. He also serves on the board of directors of the Motor Press Guild. When not reviewing cars or nerding out on OEM premium audio, you can find manual-labor-averse Manuel doing his best to convince his closest friends to fix the very Porsche that delivered him home.
Manuel Carrillo III
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The 1969 Volkswagen Wedding Beetle is one of the coolest cars I've ever driven.

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Don't let that aerated bodywork fool you. It feels like it weighs the same as, if not more than, a standard classic Beetle. In other words, it's still slow as sin.

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This 1956 Volkswagen Beetle by Dick Troutman is anything but slow.

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With 183 horsepower, this car has a weight-to-power ratio superior to the new Toyota Supra.

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Oh my God. The 1965 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 1 Concept Car is a work of art.

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This is the only example in existence, but it needs to be copied so I can have one of my own.

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The 1958 Volkswagen Rometsch Lawrence Convertible masterfully blends American design with German underpinnings.

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Yep, it's all Beetle underneath, but it could stand proudly with any Ford Thunderbird of the era. 

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The 1953 Volkswagen Rometsch Taxi adds 7 inches to the Beetle's length, without ruining its iconic roofline. That's some skillful coachwork there.

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Click or scroll further for more photos of the Volkswagen Coachbuilt Beetle Class at the 2019 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

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