SuperBeetles.com

I Bought Her New

I was so excited to have my first “real job” with a ‘real paycheck”. I saved every penny I made and went to buy a 1979 Bug. My local VW dealer (Bill Cruise in Wheeling) had a triple black. My favorite color is red so that just wasn’t going to do. The said they would not trade for a different color. I drove to Washington PA (Scott Motors) and they had a triple white. Lucky for me they were more accommodating and agreed to trade something else in stock for a red Bug they found.

Imagine my surprise when I drove to pick it up and found a red Bug with a cream top and black interior. It really never occurred to me that they came in that color combination. I must have looked a little surprised or perhaps I said something of the sort because the salesman said…”well you could always swap out the convertible boot for a black one”. I drove it as my daily driver until 1983 when family finances did not allow for extra insurance. In hindsight this was a blessing. I have driven it off and on (some years more off than on) ever since as a summer and sunshine only driver. Most equipment is original (just replaced the tires his year). Rubber around the windows has been replaced several times, battery too.

Painted the front due to rock chips and the gas cap due to gas damage. Painted the wheels due to slight rust. Original seats, seals, wheels, and top. Thanks to Steven and Mark Gorby. My new best friends who helped her return to action this year. These two are truly amazing VW mechanics who treated my car as if she was their own. They were talking about stuff I quite frankly didn’t understand, but you know there are those of us who just like the way they drive and look and don’t want to look behind the curtain. It is great to see this younger generation being as infatuated with the vehicle as I was and am. After all, what would most of us do without a trustworthy mechanic?

I went to a car show this weekend and while I understand the fascination of a total restoration I must say I am a little disheartened. As an original owner I suggest that those who have car shows should consider having a class of “Original Features/Original Owner”. It is one thing to find a car in a field and restore it to its original beauty, this fete either under your own energy or wallet or both is indeed commendable. It is another matter to change out the original equipment, thinks like changing from fuel injection to carburetor for example, or to paint a VW pink (perish the thought). While I embrace self-expression and figure-to each his or her own-I think that those who saw the value from the get go should get extra points.

Melanee