Some guy came to a hot rod and classics car meeting a couple weeks ago here in Queens, NY, with a customized bug. He did a fair amount of custom body work on it (flared out fenders, etc), but the car still very much retained the classic VW Bug look. He did or had done a flashy 2-tone paint job. And he installed a large-as-would-fit chromed out, souped up engine...in the front! It was pretty wild. Unfortunately, no camera at the time to take pics.
On another VW track - My mom, who no longer drives, has a 1991 Westfalia camper van. It needs body work, so I start to look into it - and discover the world of the WESTY
Folks restore these things, up the suspension, even swap in better engines (Subaru) - to the tune of $50-90k! Well Mom's van isn't going to get that treatment, but it's good to learn that the old crate may have a little value.