When Beetle meets mini RV - welcome the Winnie-Bug-O

• Monday, 12 May 2008
• Jon Gilbert
• 0 Comments

The RV Beetle Camper

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A brilliant idea or the work of the late Dr Frankenstein? Whichever way you look at it, you can guarantee others will be looking at it, too

In a scene reminiscent of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, one might imagine the owner of a certain red Beetle standing contemplating the enormity of the star studded expanse above when, quite unexpectedly, a caravan falls out of the sky, right on top of his car. The door to said caravan then turns out to be a portal into the world beyond - a world inhabited by unearthly creatures with multiple heads and unpronounceable names.
Back in the real world, that's less likely to happen but, let's face it, something as crazy as this has to come from either someone with a mind as extraordinary as Douglas Adams' or a gifted individual with a far-reaching vision of the future. And one look at the website of a certain Robert Q. Riley soon makes you realise it's the latter. This is a man who has made a career out of stepping through portals into other worlds, and the trail of machines he's left in his wake is quite breathtaking, from three-wheeled hybrids and electric sports cars to recumbent bicycles, battery-powered trikes, kids' hovercrafts, submarines and powered surfboards. Oh, and a barbeque that imparts old-fashioned hickory smoked flavours to the food you cook. And best of all, this intrepid entrepreneur will sell any one of you the plans so you can build them all yourself. Like, far out, man. Riley describes his Phoenix, Arizona-based company as a "full-service product design and development consultancy, specialising in transportation, recreation, fitness and medical products". We'd describe it as a white elephant stall on wheels, but one which you have to admire for its relentless enthusiasm.

For the full story check out the June 2008 issue of VolksWorld magazine. On sale on 18 April and then available through back issues.

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