If you’ve been dreaming of doing a Cozy Coupe Makeover, you’re going to love this transformation. We took an old Little Tikes car and gave it a total glow-up into a Surfer Cozy Coupe, complete with beachy vibes and a vintage Volkswagen look.
Turning a basic plastic ride-on toy for kids into a Cozy Coupe VW Makeover has been one of the most fun DIY projects we’ve done for our little guy. Let’s be honest though, my husband did most the work here.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through exactly how we did our Cozy Coupe VW Makeover, from the prep work to the painting process, plus the cutest surfer-inspired finishing touches. These steps will help you create a one-of-a-kind ride-on for your kids. We even included our tips for how to paint plastic toys to get the best results!
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Supplies You’ll Need for a Cozy Coupe Surf Makeover
Before you start, here’s a list of everything we used to create our custom Cozy Coupe:
- Little Tikes Cozy Coupe – this is the one we used but there’s tons of different models out there!
- Sanding discs
- White primer paint
- Green spray paint (we used 2 cans)
- White spray paint (we used 2 cans)
- Volkswagon Emblem
- Puck lights for headlights and rearlights
- Chrome trim molding
- Custom name license plate
Here’s a link to all of the products we used for the cozy coupe surfer Volkswagon!
The Average Cost for your Cozy Coupe Makeover
In case you’re wondering how much you’ll be spending on this cozy coupe makeover, we spent about $167 including the car, the paint, and all the accessories. We did buy a new cozy coupe but these are pretty popular on FB marketplace so I’m sure you could find one on there.
If you want to save money, check yard sales or thrift stores, most Cozy Coupes are super sturdy, so even older ones are easy to revive with paint.
While this isn’t the cheapest DIY around, it sure is a cute one!!!
Step-by-step guide to the Cozy Coupe Volkswagon Makeover
Clean & Prep the Cozy Coupe
Start by giving the car a thorough scrub-down. Remove any dirt, grime, and leftover sticker residue with soap and water. We bought ours brand new so it didn’t need cleaning but if you bought one on Facebook Marketplace, I would probably give it a wipe down.
Next, we took apart all of the pieces. This part can be a bit tedious and difficult, my husband did most of the work here.
Pro tip: Take photos as you disassemble so you know how to put it all back together.
Sand the Cozy Coupe and Prep for Painting
Next you are going to sand down the car. And once you’re done sanding, sand some more! No but for real, the more you sand, the better your paint will stick!
This was probably the most time intensive part.
Use fine-grit sandpaper to scuff up the plastic just enough to give the paint something to grip to. I linked the sand paper that we used here!
After you’re finished sanding down the cozy coupe, hose it down to get all the dust off of it! This ensures the paint will stick well to the plastic surface!
Apply Primer Paint to Cozy Coupe
The first step in any Cozy Coupe Makeover is to lay down a solid primer coat. This helps the spray paint bond to the plastic and prevents peeling down the line.
We used Rust-Oleum 2x Ultra Cover Primer, which is specifically made for plastic surfaces. Be sure to apply light, even coats to avoid drips. Don’t rush it, give it time to dry fully before moving on to the color paint. This step makes a huge difference in getting that smooth finish on your cozy coupe.
Here’s the exact primer that we used!
Separate the Pieces & Plan Your Color Blocking
Next, take apart as many pieces of the Cozy Coupe as you can. We removed the roof, wheels, steering wheel, and even the little gas cap. This makes painting WAY easier and helps you avoid accidentally spraying pieces the wrong color.
Before you start painting, establish which parts you want to keep white (like the roof and wheel rims for that classic Volkswagen Bug look) and which parts will be your main color (we did a light green for that surfer vibe.)
Tape Off the Front “V” Design
This part is what really makes your Cozy Coupe VW Makeover pop. Using painter’s tape, carefully outline the signature V shape on the front of the car just like the old-school Volkswagen vans. My husband used packing paper to cover the other parts of the car to protect it from getting paint on it.
Take your time here! Straight, clean lines will really make your custom Cozy Coupe look polished.
Spray Paint Your Main Color
Now comes the fun part! Spray painting! We used a light green spray paint that bonds to plastic.
Spray in light, even coats, keeping the can about 8-10 inches away from the surface. It’s better to do multiple light layers than one heavy coat to avoid drips. Once you’ve got the coverage you want, let the paint dry for at least 24 hours to fully cure.
Don’t forget to flip the pieces over and paint from different angles so you don’t miss any plastic edges.
Peel Off Tape & Touch Up (If Needed)
After letting the paint dry for at least 24 hours, gently peel off your painter’s tape. Don’t panic if a tiny bit of paint comes off with it, this usually happens around edges. Most of these spots will be covered by the chrome trim pieces we’ll add next, so they won’t even be visible.
Apply Chrome Trim for That Finishing Touch
The chrome detailing is what really takes this Cozy Coupe Surf Makeover to the next level. We used peel-and-stick chrome automotive trim (you can find it on Amazon here) to outline the front V and add detailing around the windows and sides.
This gives it that authentic custom Cozy Coupe VW Makeover feel. Just measure, cut, and carefully press it onto the car. This step actually didn’t take that long but wow did it make a difference!!
Add the Final Details to your Cozy Coupe Car
Now it’s time for the fun part, adding all of the custom accessories! My husband ordered these puck lights to use as head lights and brake lights and they are so perfect! You can even use this remote to turn them on and off.
We used super glue to attach the puck lights to the car!
I ordered this cutest custom license plate from Etsy and I can’t believe how cute this turned out!! They have so many different custom options. You can choose your own words/names and colors so you can get really creative with it! I feel like this really took our cozy coupe to the next level!
You can shop the custom license plate frames here!
The last and final step is to attach the Volkswagon logo to the front of the car. For that, we used a hot glue gun! And after that, your custom cozy coupe car is now complete!!
The Finished Cozy Coupe Makeover
And there you have it, your own surf-inspired Cozy Coupe for kids. Our little one absolutely loves his new ride and our neighbors love to see him riding down the street in it too!
My husband thinks this should be his new side gig. He really had so much fun customizing the little car for our son! I can’t recommend this DIY project enough!
