VW beetle gooseneck trailer camper (El Chico) 1974 road test

This demonstration video shows how you can change your vw beetle into a camper! Or to be more exact: add a camper to it. A pity the video does not show the interior of the camper.
The trailer was made somewhere in Indiana. This trailer was created after the increased popularity of the then called "mini-car". The 360 degrees mobility is almost unbelievable. As far as I know, the idea was not a success. The beetle used here is a 1974 type 1303.
The ad is actually a segment from a TV show called Car and Track, and the man driving the Beetle is the inventor of the trailer, Joe Bostian. His son, also named Joe Bostian, confirms that the video was the first (and probably only) professionally-done commercial for the trailer. Bostian Sr. had 30 years of experience in RVs at the time, and he thought that his latest idea, that of a trailer for the ever-popular mini-cars, would finally be the one to put him on the map.
He built El Chico through his company International Travel Trailer Inc., but Bostian Jr. says it never achieved success. Exact numbers of El Chico are not known, and since Bostian Sr. passed away before the video went viral for the first time, there’s no way to get clarification. His son remembers only the one in the video being built, “but I only ever saw one or two people work on it, and I’m sure they were friends of my dad.” The idea failed to generate interest - and investments - at the time, so the business never took off.
According to online reports, at least two such units were built, but only one is fully restored. For a Bug lover, it is the absolute perfect Bug aftermarket accessory, in keeping with the Bug styling and tradition, and infusing new functionality to the beloved (tiny) car. For the record, though, it wasn’t designed specifically for the Beetle; Bostian chose it because it was the most popular small car at the time and he needed the association to get attention.
Also see:
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[@bmxsmurf88]

love the way it can turn right around without having to do all the messy reversing!
love beetles, but love my 72 bay more:D

[@newforestroadwarrior]

At a guess it was because most cars have a roof rack loading which would prevent them towing anything of that weight. The other problem would be supplying power to the rear lights on the caravan, which (I believe) has to be by a wired connection rather than sliprings. I have seen a similar trailer for a pickup truck but it was mounted much lower and into hardpoints on the chassis.

[@MGMLV]

That is so cool!! Thanks, Beetle!! Wonder how fast I could go with it hooked to my 36hp Oval...

[@KingmanOldDude]

Awesomeness!

[@FJRtheBest]

Excelente ideia!! :) Porque não existe nos dias de hoje??

[@yorrickwi]

i want one of these

[@MFA-Marcelo]

i guess at least u r engineer and know about weight distribution, aerodynamic, torque and some static and dynamic of objects included friction coefficient and that crap, and more...

[@minecraft1851]

WHY ARE WE NOT FUNDING THIS?