Way Bugway Brazilian VW-Based Dune Buggy

A rare Way Bugway arriving at and leaving the 2025 San Marino Motor Classic at Lacy Park. Built by Way Brasil Ltd. in Paraná, Brazil, the Bugway was introduced in 2001 and was, like most dune buggies or beach buggies, based on the Volkswagen Beetle. It features a four-seat layout with fiberglass bodywork and served as the basis for the Wake Super Buggy introduced in 2012.

Here in Southern California, birthplace of the Meyers Manx, dune buggies aren't particularly rare or special. While standing outside the San Marino Motor Classic with several knowledgeable car enthusiasts, I was basically the only person who showed any interest in this buggy, and I did so simply because I hadn't seen anything like it before. While its VW underpinnings were obvious, it looks radically different from just about any other buggy I've seen with cartoonishly exaggerated proportions and a face like something you'd see on a character from "How to Train Your Dragon". I had no idea what it was, and after I got a closer look inside the show, I still had no idea what it was. My only lead was the word "Way" on the front, which led me on one of the most challenging automotive research attempts I had ever made. As far as I know, there's very little information on this buggy or its manufacturer on the internet, and nearly all the information I found is in Portuguese and was published a long time ago with links to websites that no longer exist. Still, it was enough to help me conclude that, while this car may be just another VW-based beach buggy, it's one that deserves to be recognized. Beach buggies have long been a big part of Brazil's culture and are utilized by numerous tourism agencies. Even so, the limited information available on the Bugway suggests that it's probably not a particularly common sight even in its native country. And needless to say, it's certainly not a common sight here in the U.S. It's unfortunate that this one appears to have been used as a storage vehicle at the show by the organization that brought it. It's a very rare example of a little-known Brazilian vehicle, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's among the only ones here in the States.

Would you choose this rare Bugway over a Meyers Manx? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!