Rod Emory Built Tribute Baja Bug to Honor His Father
The custom 190-horsepower tribute vehicle honors the legacy of Gary Emory, who built the original Baja Bug in 1967.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Car Culture
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Rod Emory recently unveiled a tribute to the original Baja Bug on Jay Leno's Garage, meticulously recreating the vehicle his father, Gary Emory, first built in 1966. The project honors Gary Emory, who pioneered the design by modifying a 1957 Volkswagen Beetle.
Why it matters
The build serves as a memorial to Gary Emory, who originally engineered the vehicle out of necessity when he could not afford a commercial dune buggy kit. This tribute highlights the enduring influence of his creative metalwork and DIY automotive engineering on modern car culture.
The tribute Baja Bug features a 2,650cc Type 4 engine producing 190 horsepower and weighs approximately 1,800 pounds. This marks a significant performance increase from the original project, which began with Gary Emory trading a 80cc Suzuki motorcycle for a wrecked 1957 Beetle.
The players
Rod Emory
An automotive builder who specializes in custom Porsche and Volkswagen restorations.
Gary Emory
The automotive innovator credited with creating the first Baja Bug in 1967.
Jay Leno
A prominent car enthusiast and host of the popular automotive program Jay Leno's Garage.
Don Emory
An active contributor to the tribute build who applied the vehicle's chrome-yellow paint.
The details
To create the tribute, the Emory family utilized professional-grade welding and custom metalwork to reshape the Beetle, shortening the nose and tail while raising the suspension. Don Emory completed the look by applying a distinctive chrome-yellow paint job to the final assembly. This process mirrors the original 1966 design, which was necessitated by a budget constraint that forced Gary to build his own buggy rather than purchase a commercial version.
Timeline
1966: Gary Emory acquired a wrecked 1957 Volkswagen Beetle to start the original project.
1967: The original Baja Bug build was completed.
October 1, 2026: The tribute vehicle was featured on Jay Leno's Garage.
The Home Front
This tribute car represents a modern evolution of the classic dune buggy aesthetic that has influenced amateur off-road builders for decades. It highlights how contemporary custom builds now achieve far higher power-to-weight ratios than early 1970s production-adjacent versions.
If you are considering your own vintage restoration, document your process with photographs to preserve the history of your specific model year and modifications. Consult with a licensed professional before attempting structural welding or major suspension modifications on any vehicle intended for road use.
The takeaway
Custom builds often serve as powerful family legacies that celebrate both personal history and technical skill. Owners of vintage vehicles should focus on maintaining structural integrity through professional service before pursuing aesthetic upgrades like paint or custom bodywork.
Further reading
Learn more about the history of custom vehicle projects in our Car Culture archive.
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