Baja 1000 is probably one of the most tiring and demanding off-road races in the world. Held on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico annually, it covers either 900 miles from Ensenada to La Paz, or a loop race of 600 to 850 miles starting and finishing in Ensenada, depending on the year of the event. While most contemporary contestants would drive a bulked up off-roader with fat tyres, this 1974 Volkswagen Beetle Baja Bug still looks relatively elegant.

The Baja Bug custom was built by racers Siggy Pflum and Fred Althaus under the supervision of Audi Factory Works rally driver Bruno Kreibich and was dubbed the “Desert Mouse” after its transformation. The most obvious racing features would be the big lights at the front and the desert tyres, but underneath the full fibreglass body and plexiglass windows is long list of custom components. These  include Rally Abarth exhaust, interior air intake system, race-prepared and air-cooled 2,000cc Volkswagen Type 4 Engine, Porsche suspension and disc brakes, full rollover cage and more. The car placed third in 1974 and its last outing was the 1979 Baja 1000. It went through plenty of other races too, including claiming the trophy in the 1978 “24-Horas de Puerto Rico”.