Murphy Last summer, we stumbled across a real gem at the Gretna Days Car Show—a shorty Volkswagen Bus that’s been lovingly “smashed” down to size, nicknamed Hot Wheels, and decked out in a paint job that screams “Surfs Up!” This isn’t just a vehicle; it’s a rolling tribute to laid-back coastal living, complete with sun-soaked colors and a carefree spirit that feels straight out of a California summer.
The bus itself is a chopped-down marvel. Someone took a classic VW Bus, trimmed it into a compact “shorty” version, and gave it a playful, almost toy-like stance—hence the Hot Wheels moniker. It’s the kind of ride that turns heads before you even notice the details. But when you do? That’s when the magic really hits. The paint job is beautiful and has “Surfs Up!” scrawled across the side in bold, retro lettering. Picture a sunset over the Pacific, a surfboard strapped to the roof (even if it’s just in your imagination), and the salty breeze of the coast—it’s all there in this little bus.
The crowd loved it, and so did we. It’s not every day you see a vehicle that feels like a postcard from a beach town, ready to cruise down Highway 1 with a playlist of Beach Boys tunes.
This shorty VW Bus isn’t just a car; it’s a story on wheels. Whoever built it clearly had a vision—and a sense of fun. From its smashed-down frame to its eye-catching “Surfs Up!” design, it’s a love letter to the endless summer.
