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Here’s The Answer To Our “What The Hell Is This” Challenge From Yesterday – Tons of Info and Photos!


Here’s The Answer To Our “What The Hell Is This” Challenge From Yesterday – Tons of Info and Photos!

Yesterday we showed you photos of an odd looking like trucklet thing. Well, the owner of that odd looking little trucklet thing is one Brian Earp and Brian was kind enough to send us a ton of info, including original sales documents, and photos of his Mini 18, VW Beetle truck kit car. Lots of you nailed what this was right off the bat in the sense that it is a VW based creation. Most of you hate it and want it to be killed with fire. Oddly, both Chad and I kind of dig it. We’re going to talk about this thing in depth tonight on PowerShift, so tune in! Now, back to the truck.

Here are the details as told to us by Brian Earp –

I thought it was ugly at first too, but after a while it grew on me as one of those odd rods that I knew I would never see another one let alone have the chance to buy! The kit was manufactured by Elite Enterprises out of Cokato, Minnesota in 1982. This is the company responsible for the Laser 49er Mini Van and the Lazer 917. I haven’t been able to locate much information on the Mini 18 itself, but I am putting together the history of the truck a little at a time. I may actually have located the man who painted it back in the 80’s and he may even have photos of it from that time. Luckily the guy I bought the truck from had the actual manufacturer’s statement of origin and some of the original paperwork. The truck I have is serial number M18-0039 so it is number 39 of an unknown number of these built. All the sources I have tried to use have turned up empty handed on the total number built. It has been rumored to be one of maybe 100 ever built, but I have never been able to confirm that number. I am in the process of doing a full restoration on the truck right now, so hopefully I can get it on the road again and confuse everyone at car shows in the Midwest.  If anyone can come up with anymore info on the kit or even run across someone who has one I’m all ears I can’t get enough info on it.

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7 thoughts on “Here’s The Answer To Our “What The Hell Is This” Challenge From Yesterday – Tons of Info and Photos!

  1. TheSilverBuick

    I like the way it looks without the camper-shell.

    BTW, way cool to have the paperwork with it too.

  2. Spriont 6 OHC

    I’ve seen a similar back-end kit without the goofy front end, and they don’t look half bad.

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