Ted Bundy’s 1968 VW Beetle. This was the car he used for most of his murders. Now on display at the National Museum of Crime & Punishment in Washington, DC. Photo from wikimedia.org

The custom work on serial killer Ted Bundy’s 1968 VW was limited to removing the passenger seat and putting it in the rear seat. Police discovered this infamous car when they pulled Bundy over on August 15, 1975.

They were alerted that something may be awry when the discovered the passenger seat removed, a crowbar behind the driver’s seat, a box of large green plastic garbage bags, an ice pick, a flashlight, a pair of gloves, torn strips of sheeting, a knit ski mask, a pair of handcuffs, and a strange mask made from panty hose.

He was arrested and later released. He was arrested on August 21, 1975 for possessing burglary tools. A search of the car found documents that linked Bundy with missing women in Colorado and Utah. The police took several photos of the inside and exterior of the VW and Bundy was released on bail.

Then next day, August 22, 1975, Bundy thoroughly cleaned the VW Beetle and sold it to a teenager in Sandy, Utah. After being picked out of a lineup by three different witnesses, Bundy was charged with attempted murder and kidnapping. The Volkswagen was seized by Utah athorities and examined. They found enough evidence to match three potential victims.

Inside of Ted Bundy’s VW Beetle. Photo from www.pinterest.com

Later Colorado Bureau of Investigation found new hairs behind the backseat as well as blood in the door panels. Bundy escaped from jail where he was to stand trial in Colorado, only to be picked up in Pensacola, Florida months later, driving a stolen orange VW Beetle. After being convicted of several murders, Bundy was executed on January 24, 1989, in Florida’s electric chair.

Bundy’s car has been displayed a few times at different museums. Still supporting a brittle and faded 1976 Utah vehicle inspection sticker (No. 264924) stuck to its dirty and cracked windshield, visitors made the trip to see this container of death.