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PLASTER CITY — The Baja Volkswagen Beetle El Centro Police Chief Jim McGinley built as a promotional vehicle for public events always grabs people’s attention.

The glossy off-road racing machine McGinley restored from his own money has also caught the attention of Dune Buggies and Hot VWs, an international magazine devoted to Volkswagen vehicles.

McGinley took the prized Beetle, made to look like a black and white patrol car, out here Friday to show how it handles as an off-road vehicle.

Bruce Simurda, editor of the 43-year-old monthly magazine, said the story on McGinley and the El Centro police vehicle could be published in October or November.

“Oh yeah, it’s an honor for him to consider it,” McGinley said of the prospect of being featured in the magazine that has an international circulation. “I knew it was more than a national magazine.”

The Baja Bug has a 1968 Volkswagen body and a 2010 Crumco Class 5 racing chassis. The off-road vehicle is powered by a 1915 cc Volkswagen engine McGinley built.

The “507” number that adorns the side of the vehicle refers to the class of off-road vehicle it is, as well as the month and day McGinley was hired to lead the El Centro Police Department, he said.

Simurda said McGinley called the magazine staff in the spring and asked if it would be interested in doing a story about the vehicle.

“We were definitely interested,” Simurda said. “It’s actually a very nice car. We’re always looking for nice Baja Bugs.”

The overall production, or effort into making the Baja Bug into what it is, included “many resources here in the Imperial Valley,” a sign about the vehicle read.

For McGinley the effort paid off as he got inside the vehicle with racing gear on and took it out for an off-road ride that made an impression on Simurda.

“It’s unusual to see a Baja Bug made up as a police car,” Simurda said. “It’s city specific.”

Staff Writer Silvio J. Panta can be reached at 760 337-3442 or at spanta@ivpressonline.com