Benefits Assistant

not on the forum

My love affair with the Volkswagen marque began during the late 1970s. Working my way through college – one of the course lecturers had, what I later came to realise, a Baja bug; which looked like the coolest thing on four wheels. I regularly saw it in the car park, among the other‘seen one seen them all’ modern day saloons and hatchbacks.

It wasn't until 1978, shortly after passing my driving test – learning on a couple of dodgy Austins, I acquired my first Veedub, a 1303 Super Beetle. Not knowing too much about aircooled motoring, it took me a while to suss the unorthodox layout. Here the hell were the battery and spare wheel? Although my 1303 had carpets, sports wheels and a leather steering wheel – luxury!

Though I have heard green is an unlucky colour for cars, it turned out to be very reliable for my three years of ownership. My one regret was not applying any form of rust inhibitor, like cavity wax to all the prone areas. In those days Waxolyl wasn't freely available in any outlet I could find and was only available through the pages of Beetling magazine.

Quite by chance, I attended my first national motor show for VWs – VW Action, back then at its last year at Stafford Showground– before it moved to Stoneleigh.

I was astonished to discover a convertible version of the humble Beetle was a genuine production model, as I had never seen one on the rods of greater London. In fact, that year VW Action’79, to a young lad finding his way around the aircooled / flat 4 scene, was a real eye opener. This was a era when enthusiast meant just that.

Around the time of the late 1980s and early 80s there were so few national shows devoted to both aircooled and the new watercooled VWs. I can recall Bodiam Castle,, Stanford Hall and precious few other outside VW Action. How different today, when yearly VW events easily run into double figures.

It was through joining the then London Centre of the Volkswagen Club of GB (that's what this club was back then) that I realised that the VW enthusiast scene was an oasis in an ocean of motoring dross.

The aircooled Volkswagens, through basic and unrefined by the standards of the day (no fuel injection, electronic ignition, on board computers), did make them easy for the weekend SDIY enthusiast.

I have found that the Veedub engine can be very forgiving, even when you don't necessarily get all its parameters spot on. It allows for your trial and error efforts to get things right. Such is the nature of the classic car regime, and lets face it – it wouldn't be so much fun if you didn't end up working on them.

Through more Beetle and Fastback ownership I eventually found my VW sweetheart in a Karmann convertible Beetle, tailoring it all the way back from North Manchester to Herts in 1995.

A mission of mercy and a labour of love– I am not sure which since I have spent more time and money on the Karmann than any other Volkswagen I have owned. Paradoxically, even on purchase it was in better condition than my previous VWs.

I'rd stay with Volkswagens in one form or another (just like you, I've been bitten by the Bug) as the camaraderie is palpable – manifesting itself in many ways; not least the five separate VW owners clubs I belong to.

The NEW Beetle, at first loathed my me; but I have come to accept it as an ideal hybrid. Modern engine, trans, suspension and brakes– wrapped in retro clothing. It could be on my wish list in a year or two, mmmmmm.

What I have to convey to fellow and new club members as the LTVVWC PRO and assistant editor, Louis Henwood, is to keep it both aircooled and watercooled; above all keep your motoring Volkswagen and support your club.

Ciao from Del Griffin