This is a Wedding Beetle created by welding extraordinaire Esparza-Prieto back in 1968. This unique custom VW has a body made out of a wrought iron skeletal frame and the gaps filled with floral patterns and decorative swirls.
The combination of white wrought iron and the patterns make it like a wedding car and hence, the name. The original idea begin in Mexico City, in a local parts store where the welder worked.
Esparza-Prieto’s boss asked him to create a one-of-a-kind Beetle shell and this was what Esparza-Prieto came up with. When the Volkswagen executives down the road saw it, they were swooned over and asked Esparza-Prieto to create two more.
However, this time, they were not just shells; they were drivable. As the popularity of see-thru VW Beetle gained popularity, VW commissioned Esparza-Prieto to build an additional 20-plus creations for display at dealerships across the world.
It was a brilliant auto art that allows car enthusiasts to admire the then-powerful 1.5L flat-four, air-cooled engine mounted to the rear of the car. However, fairy tale and admiration aside, VW highlighted that the Wedding Beetle is not suitable as a daily driver since because, it does not have a windshield and the open body concept will not protect you and your passengers from the weather and stray debris.
All images courtesy of Volkswagen of America, Inc..
