Volkswagen - The Last Mile video

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by Racer Boy

My first car was a '67 Beetle with a dropped valve. I fixed it (and I look back and marvel that it actually ran; my mechanical skills at the time left a lot to be desired) and like the OP, it was a ticket to freedom and joy via a set of wheels. That Beetle was quickly replaced by a series of newer and better cars, most of them Japanese.

Unlike RedTele58, I've not been enamored with German cars. Most of my favorite cars (Datsun 1200, Mazda RX7 and Miatas) have been Japanese. I work on German equipment, and certainly don't buy into the "superior German engineering" thing at all. My Boxster is the first German car I've had since the Beetle.

My first car was a Volvo 242 with a blown head gasket. I replaced the gasket with a new one and a very liberal application of gasket sealer and tightened the head bolts without using a torque wrench! Oh Man! I, too, look back and marvel that it actually ran! LOL! Your mechanical skills were most likely better than mine!

[Keith Newby]

It wasn't my first car (Simca Aronde) but I bought a 68 beetle from a junk yard rebuilt the engine and it served as good transportation to college. While driving to finals the fuel pump died spraying gas all over the engine compartment (I made the mistake of reusing the original pump). I felt a power loss and looking out the review mirror saw flames spewing out the engine compartment. I opened the lid and some of the raw gas flung onto my shirt melting it. Thankfully a home owner was watering his lawn and put out the fire. I turned the car into a baja bug and drove it for several years (with a new fuel pump). A fun car. I remember the days when bugs and busses catching fire on the side of the road was a common occurrence.

[husker boxster]

Growing up we were a Ford family but always had a VW as a 2nd car. I learned to drive on a manual trans 63 bug. My 3 yr older brother had managed to dent 3 of the 4 fenders, so I quickly looked for a car to rebuild for my own. We found a 70 Mach 1 that was hit in the rear that we rebuilt. But the VW was a great car to learn on.

A few yrs later dad bought an orange 71 Type III with the auto-manual. That car would be worth some money today.