Uno Mas, Family Legacy & the Cars That Find Us - Spud Hughes Ep80

In Episode 80 of DubLife Diaries, we sit down with Spud Hughes for a deeply personal conversation about Volkswagens, family, loss, rebuilding, and the lifelong memories that make these cars so much more than metal and machines.

Spud’s connection to the Volkswagen world started as a kid, riding off-road with his father and learning the skills that would eventually shape his career and his life. His father—known as “Uno Mas”—was always working on one moreproject, and that name would eventually become the perfect tribute for Spud’s beloved 1965 Beetle, Uno Mas.

From Baja builds and lowered Volkswagens to bodywork, paint, custom interiors, and years spent chasing the perfect build, Spud shares the stories behind the cars—and the people behind them.

We talk about losing his father, finding a 1965 Baja at exactly the right moment, and discovering that the money to buy it came unexpectedly from his father's estate. That car, The Beach Bum, became a rolling tribute to his dad and a way to keep his memory alive.

We also get into the reality of rebuilding after tragedy. After an accident left Uno Mas badly damaged, Spud refused to let the car go. He rebuilt it piece by piece and got it back on the road in time for a show, proving once again that sometimes rebuilding a Volkswagen is about much more than fixing a car.

Along the way, we talk about the unmistakable smell of an old Volkswagen, why these cars seem to find their owners, the personalities we give our Volkswagens, becoming a father himself, and what it means to pass the passion on to the next generation.

And, of course, we finish with a little DubLife Diaries rapid fire—favorite VW year, color, engine, and more.

This is a story about Volkswagens, but ultimately it's about family, legacy, memories, and the people who keep us moving forward.

Episode 80 features:

• Spud Hughes

• Uno Mas — 1965 Volkswagen Beetle

• The Beach Bum — 1965 Volkswagen Baja