Brings back memories. Mine was a '59 with a sun roof. In 1971 it seemed like an old car but was actually only 12 years old, like having a 2013 model today. Me and Dad went to look at cars like Fords and Chevys but once I drove, the Bug I was hooked. I was the only kid in high school who didn't drive a Malibu or a Fairlane. The other guys couldn't afford to order more than a root beer at A&W for buying gasoline for their V8s, while I'd say " make my Popa Burger a double and fries too. Those were the days, I drove VWs for years and even opened my own repair shop 10 years later. About 15 years ago I found a '57 that had been parked in the weeds for 20 or 30 years, trailered it home and rebuilt it from top to bottom. Great little car, original 36 hp. You did great presentation with your old photos and story. Thanks.
Thanks, Casey! When I was in college I always had a "beater" VW and a sports car, usually a Triumph which was kept for special occasions. On the first date with a classmate, I'd take my rattiest car, usually the Bug. If she would go out on a second date, I would bring out the "nicer" car. This way, I was able to weed out the gold diggers or the gals who were looking for an "MRS" Degree.
What a fantastic story. I owned almost the exact same Beetle, build year 1958, bought it in 73 from a farmer when I was 22 and drove it for over 20 years. I toured around most of Europe in it with my girlfriend. And yeah, I also fixed it up with cannibalised parts from scrap Beetles. Amazing how easy it was to find cheap spares and that they nearly always fitted my Beetle. I even rescued a fuel tank from a scrap Porsche that fitted my Beetle. I did that for 2 reasons. I wanted the fuel gauge that came with the tank and, hey, how many Beetle owners can say part of their car is a Porsche?
Classic VWs are a welcome change from the boring/self-driving/appliances being forced down our throats by manufacturers today. Sure, they are slower and are not "idiot-proofed" when compared to their counterparts today. However, a person with reasonable mechanical skills can easily maintain an air-cooled VW and also not have to have an electrical engineering degree to decipher the computer codes.
Love your story. My first VW a '66 Ghia in 1973 with 30k for $125 because of some body damage. I was 20. Looking back i did a poor job on the repairs but i loved it! Had it for over 35 years but it eventually went to the junk yard. Still smile when i see one around.
Hey Robert, I enjoyed your story, too. All auto enthusiasts have a starting point and the VWs were ideal! I've never owned a Ghia but a friend of mine has a clean one...and he enjoys driving it as much (if not more) than his air-cooled 911s.
Great story of vw resurrection especially advise to parents child passion shud b nurture without narrow aperture lens if they hav means to it like restricted use of compressor for color just namesake advise use ur brush which unleashed elevated self esteem having a grandeur color VW just wid brush paint vry uplifting story
1971: It was time to buy a car for my third year at college so I can commute to work and school from my new apartment 150 miles from my parent's house. Dad withdraws my $400 from my savings account and we look at 5 different used cars. Dad buys the worst: a 1968 Plymouth Fury I that had been a taxi for 3 years. The yellow paint and bondo had been covered with cheap light blue matte house paint. The engine seizes up 3 months later. I call home to get the title. Mom answers and I tell her why I called. Mom yells to Dad: _That piece of cr*p you bought with Bob's money broke down. Now, we're gonna give him my car and you're gonna buy me a new one_ . I never heard her talk like that before. They drove the 1968 Ford Falcon (with 15k miles) to me in 3 hours.
Glad you asked, Andy! Being a 16-year old kid and not having the benefits of a Haynes or Robert Bentley manual, I knew little about maintenance. The transaxle must have been low on oil as the ring and pinion began "clunking" badly. I did sell the car for $125 to an older fella in my hometown around 1973 of about 100K people, so finding it would be nearly impossible as it likely ended up being recycled. I do not have a record of the VIN but if I did and was able to locate the car, I'd be happy to pay dearly. After all, one's first car is special, indeed!
@andymaurice7693 The '55 was replaced with a 1969 Type III Variant (Squareback). I imagine I'm trying to relive my youth as a few years back I bought a near mint 1960 Bug and subsequently a '66 Variant which you can see on my TH-cam channel.
![1930s - Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Detroit in color [60fps,Remastered] w/sound design added](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MZ1c-YYInNw/mqdefault.jpg)
Brings back memories. Mine was a '59 with a sun roof. In 1971 it seemed like an old car but was actually only 12 years old, like having a 2013 model today. Me and Dad went to look at cars like Fords and Chevys but once I drove, the Bug I was hooked. I was the only kid in high school who didn't drive a Malibu or a Fairlane.
The other guys couldn't afford to order more than a root beer at A&W for buying gasoline for their V8s, while I'd say " make my Popa Burger a double and fries too.
Those were the days, I drove VWs for years and even opened my own repair shop 10 years later. About 15 years ago I found a '57 that had been parked in the weeds for 20 or 30 years, trailered it home and rebuilt it from top to bottom. Great little car, original 36 hp.
You did great presentation with your old photos and story. Thanks.
Thanks, Casey! When I was in college I always had a "beater" VW and a sports car, usually a Triumph which was kept for special occasions. On the first date with a classmate, I'd take my rattiest car, usually the Bug. If she would go out on a second date, I would bring out the "nicer" car. This way, I was able to weed out the gold diggers or the gals who were looking for an "MRS" Degree.
What a fantastic story. I owned almost the exact same Beetle, build year 1958, bought it in 73 from a farmer when I was 22 and drove it for over 20 years. I toured around most of Europe in it with my girlfriend. And yeah, I also fixed it up with cannibalised parts from scrap Beetles. Amazing how easy it was to find cheap spares and that they nearly always fitted my Beetle. I even rescued a fuel tank from a scrap Porsche that fitted my Beetle. I did that for 2 reasons. I wanted the fuel gauge that came with the tank and, hey, how many Beetle owners can say part of their car is a Porsche?
Classic VWs are a welcome change from the boring/self-driving/appliances being forced down our throats by manufacturers today. Sure, they are slower and are not "idiot-proofed" when compared to their counterparts today. However, a person with reasonable mechanical skills can easily maintain an air-cooled VW and also not have to have an electrical engineering degree to decipher the computer codes.
Love your story. My first VW a '66 Ghia in 1973 with 30k for $125 because of some body damage. I was 20. Looking back i did a poor job on the repairs but i loved it! Had it for over 35 years but it eventually went to the junk yard. Still smile when i see one around.
Hey Robert, I enjoyed your story, too. All auto enthusiasts have a starting point and the VWs were ideal! I've never owned a Ghia but a friend of mine has a clean one...and he enjoys driving it as much (if not more) than his air-cooled 911s.
Had 2 1970's VW's. Wish i still had one.
They are still out there and price will be determined by condition. I assure you many "smiles per mile" if you decide to buy another one!
Great story of vw resurrection especially advise to parents child passion shud b nurture without narrow aperture lens if they hav means to it like restricted use of compressor for color just namesake advise use ur brush which unleashed elevated self esteem having a grandeur color VW just wid brush paint vry uplifting story
Thank you for your kind comments.
1971: It was time to buy a car for my third year at college so I can commute to work and school from my new apartment 150 miles from my parent's house.
Dad withdraws my $400 from my savings account and we look at 5 different used cars. Dad buys the worst: a 1968 Plymouth Fury I that had been a taxi for 3 years. The yellow paint and bondo had been covered with cheap light blue matte house paint.
The engine seizes up 3 months later. I call home to get the title. Mom answers and I tell her why I called. Mom yells to Dad:
_That piece of cr*p you bought with Bob's money broke down. Now, we're gonna give him my car and you're gonna buy me a new one_ .
I never heard her talk like that before. They drove the 1968 Ford Falcon (with 15k miles) to me in 3 hours.
Great story, Robert! Your Mom had your back and your Dad, while being frugal, maybe learned a lesson?
@cobrasteve414 Dad certainly learned a lesson.
And what happened to the Oval????
Glad you asked, Andy! Being a 16-year old kid and not having the benefits of a Haynes or Robert Bentley manual, I knew little about maintenance. The transaxle must have been low on oil as the ring and pinion began "clunking" badly. I did sell the car for $125 to an older fella in my hometown around 1973 of about 100K people, so finding it would be nearly impossible as it likely ended up being recycled. I do not have a record of the VIN but if I did and was able to locate the car, I'd be happy to pay dearly. After all, one's first car is special, indeed!
@andymaurice7693
The '55 was replaced with a 1969 Type III Variant (Squareback). I imagine I'm trying to relive my youth as a few years back I bought a near mint 1960 Bug and subsequently a '66 Variant which you can see on my TH-cam channel.