Our Cars--1969 Volkswagen Bug
Submitted by Eugene Doremus
I’ve had a lot of cars. Most simply provided transportation, but there was one that I loved. It was a powder blue 1969 Volkswagen Bug.
I bought it in Pennsylvania and used it to get to work. It was all mine; my wife had a Pontiac, and the kids weren’t yet old enough to drive. When I was transferred to Houston, the Bug got me there and pulled a small camping trailer full of my gear. On the way down, I found I could get up fairly close behind large trucks, and they’d just suck me along.
Things changed in Houston--the kids were now old enough to drive, and they seemed to think the Bug was simply up for grabs. They would ask to use the Pontiac, but they would just take the Bug without asking.
My daughter did it first. She found a boyfriend and just disappeared with the Bug on a regular basis, so I hardly ever saw it. Later my son went to the University of Houston and decided he needed the Bug more than I did. No one ever asked; it just left the driveway.
Later my son tried to start a painting business, and the Bug became his truck. It just kind of deteriorated; I don't think my son ever rolled the windows up, and the rain soaked the interior. He also removed and unattached the seats so he could get more gear inside. It ran, but the appearance was unbelievably bad. One day I found it parked in the driveway. Nothing was said, but he was obviously though with it.
I was going to have to find a way to dispose of it. First, I thought to pay someone to tow it away, but figured I had nothing to lose by putting it up for sale. Surprisingly, someone was interested and offered me $175 for it.
As we left the bank, they buyer turned to me and said, "I would have offered you more." I replied, “I would have taken less.”
--Eugene Doremus
(Note from Chris: Eugene didn't have any photos, so these photos are of a similar 1973 Bug over at The Autoist. There's a pretty interesting resoration story there as well)
on December 08, 2008 at 01:53 PM
We had a 72 standard Beetle. I learned to drive on it. I loved the way the steering felt so spot on. The interior was simple and tough. I think the standard model simple suspension is far superior. They still made them that way in Mexico until production ceased a few years back. Not the more modern Super beetle McPherson struts.
Mom bought it for $900 in the mid 80's with a decent interior, and primer and orange paint.
One day smoke came out the back and the engine caught fire. We replaced it with a low mileage one, painted the car candy apple red at a cheap Earl Shibe joint (while they painted all the rubber around the fenders, it still looked pretty good). $1000 including motor and paint job. Sold the car a couple years later for $900. Cannot do that with many modern cars.
I bought a 75 Fuel Injected Super Beetle Vert from Dad. He put a new engine (brand new) at Bugformance in San Jose, CA. It was originally owned by a dude in the military that when on assignment away from base the car's motor was stolen. Then it was put in my father's friend's towing garage sans a motor, but had a brand new top.
Dad bought the car for 2 grand and then invested over 7 grand into the new engine, new interior rubber seals all around, shocks, a Meh paint job from a friend that did it in a garage, etc.
I bought the car with 18k on the engine and dumped plenty of money into it over a few years. I never really thought it was as fun as the original Beetle. Needs to have a flat dash and the tough orig suspension.
Scott on April 20, 2009 at 07:22 PM
I had a 69 bug which I loved - I'd learned to drive on it when it was my Dad's, then took it over when he moved on to an Audi.
I think 69 was the primo year for bugs - they quickly became junky trying to stay close to price range of Toyotas and Datsuns.
It was a great feeling to be able to work on most anything on the car in the driveway.
I R+R'd the engine for a valve job, and also replaced the front axle beam. I would tune it up every 3K - filing the points and using a static light for the timing. That thing hummed along like a champ. Inside of tailpipes was dove grey.
There is a lot to be said for learning to drive on an "underpowered" car. To go fast you have to be aware of conserving momentum - how to take turns, the rise and fall of the road... These days they just learn to stomp on the gas.
Kristen Shawn Catlin on September 22, 2009 at 11:59 AM
n/a
mariah on November 10, 2010 at 12:05 PM
hi this is mariah i am 11 years old and i think that is a cool volkswagen my cousin wants one so i will ask i want to know how much it is.
Donald Barnes on March 20, 2011 at 07:55 PM
i had two 1969 vw in 1980 and one in 1994 i love them great running car i say .iam thinking of getting another soon.