On January 10 I visited the Aircooled Winterfest at the Autotron. The advantage of a digital camera is maybe also its main disadvantage: you end up with an extensive collection of too much nice pictures. That’s why I decided to post another round, part one of the tour can be found here. So let’s move on now.
1966 Volkswagen T1.
1967 Volkswagen Beetle.
Winnebago, eat your heart out !
1982 Porsche 911 SC Targa (G-Model).
Its interior.
Powertrain swap under construction, a 110 hp diesel will drive the rear wheels.
1970 Volkswagen Beetle Super Baja.
1969 Volkswagen T2 Westfalia camper.
This one is from 1971.
Volkswagen Beetle jeans-edition. The Christmas tree was for sale, the ad on the window said it had been used only once.
As mentioned, the jeans-edition.
Volkswagen T2 panel van with a raised roof.
A real treat, this 1956 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Lowlight with a Judson supercharger and Golde sliding sunroof.
Air cooled VW Club The Netherlands, with a 1955 Volkswagen Beetle.
Two Volkswagen T2 campers.
1967 Volkswagen T1 bus.
Very well done, this Volkswagen T1 with a raised roof.
Restoration job in progress.
A view from above.
I can certainly appreciate this kind of modifications.
This 2000 Volkswagen Beetle Sedan Clasico has a 1.6 liter fuel injection engine.
A classy and classic minivan.
Magnificent job !
Just like this one.
1968 Volkswagen Type 3.
1969 Volkswagen Beetle.
1973 Volkswagen T2 bus.
1974 Volkswagen 412, type 4.
The interior of a 1962 Volkswagen Beetle convertible.
Volkswagen T1 panel van, owner ARIN is a construction company.
1963 Volkswagen Beetle 1200.
1968 Volkswagen Beetle Baja, 1.6 liter engine.
This Volkswagen T2 single cab pickup has a solid cargo floor with a headache rack.
1959 Volkswagen Beetle 1200 L.
The interior of a 1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 14.
And its engine compartment.
1958 Volkswagen T1 panel van, 1.6 liter engine. On its side Elektrische Installatiewerken, which means electrotechnical services. Exactly the kind of business that has been using this segment of panel vans for many decades.
Mr. (or Mrs.) Coenen teaches you how to drive a car in this 1970 Volkswagen Beetle.
Some of the oldest members of the Volkswagen family, the Types 1 and 2, oversee the event and can only be satisfied.
And finally:
Aside from a Karmann-Ghia and a beetle convertible, I’ve never been much of a fan of VWs & Porsches.
However, over summer, 1973, I did get to take care of a buddy’s new 1973 Super Beetle while he was overseas. It was the auto stick shift option, and not as much fun as I would have liked.
I must say I never owned a Volkswagen. But the truth is, you can never escape from them…
The whole landscape, both urban and rural, is littered with them. Basically since the days that WW2 ended. Cars, vans and light trucks. The Beetles, the Transporters, the Golfs, the Polos, the Passats (especially since the B5): all massive and permanent bestsellers.
The police, the army, the roadside assistance and the complete private sector, everybody drives them. All in all, it is a true “Car of the People”.
Thanks again for taking us to the show again Johannes, I really enjoyed it. Fittingly, that Super shown near the end is identical (well, mine was a US version) to my first car, right down to the Clementine color.
Wish I was there…..
Great collection. The Fastback looks like a ’67 in US form, unless European models stayed with the wrap around turn signal lens (instead of bullet style) and lowback seats in ’68, which may well be the case.
From the back the Jeans Edition Beetle looks like my ’73 Sport Bug I had a long time ago. Same color, wheels and blacked out trim and bumpers. But standard beetle instead of Super, and missing the stripes that were at beltline level and wrapped around the back. It also had sports seats and special steering wheel. I wonder if the Sport Bug was a US special edition only, haven’t seen one in many years.
Thanks for all the great air cooled pictures!
All years mentioned are years of first registration, not “model years”. The (Dutch) plates can be easily checked on an official website. The green Type 3 is registered on February 21st, 1968 as a Volkswagen 311021. You know exactly what that number means of course 🙂
Ran that 311021 on google and shows a picture of a light blue Fastback showing the right side fender. It has a fuel door on it, which ’67 and earlier did not have, along with the wrap around turn lenses and low back seats. So it is a ’68 as you stated. US models from ’68 on got lots of different lighting/safety details.
I really like those early Ghias. My parents had a 1958 or 59 for a short while. I did not know that superchargers were ever offered on these – that would be fun.
Judson brand aftermarket supercharger’s were often installed back in the day, but never did VW offer a factory supercharger.
There was a Judson sticker on the side window:
More info:
That Karmann Ghia is fantastic! I don’t think I ever noticed the narrow grille openings and lower light placement on these early models until now–when did that change to the style that they carried throughout the later years?
I think it was offered in Europe but it may not have been called Sports Bug. I’m kind of a Sports Bug alumnus myself; my ex-wife had one new.
Mine was a lot of fun after I built an 1835cc engine for it. Even had air conditioning. But the car seemed to be cursed, it got wrecked 3 times, once while parked and twice sitting at stop lights. And the steering lock pin engaged while I was in a parking lot, thankfully at low speed and locked the steering wheel while it was running as I was turning into a parking space. So glad that didn’t happen at speed!
Well, I guess you found my reply in spite of my posting in the wrong spot. The Sports Bug had less oomph than my ’71, but you took care of that with the 1835. Must have been a hoot! My ex’s car wasn’t star crossed like yours and went 10 years before being scrapped.
From June ’73
Exactly the same. I never took a picture of my car. Now I have one. Thanks!
My little sister had a Jeans Beetle, the denim seats were replaced with black vinyl (she’d outgrown her Olympic standard chunk blowing by then). Much to everyone’s surprise Dad’s elder brother Uncle Larry had a few Beetles, he was on Arctic convoys during the war and had a strong dislike of anything German for many years.
I always liked the Karman Ghia,my favourite art teacher Miss Turner drove a bluey grey(and rust) one til the tin worm saw it off. Thank you for a great read
Another delightful set of air-cooled goodness!
The Gilmore Museum in Michigan has an air cooled show each June, which I usually miss as it conflicts with a show at Greenfield Village.
I did go to the Gilmore show one year. One long line of Franklins, a grab bag of Citroens, DAFs and Tribants, some Corvairs and a thundering herd of VWs and Porches. I gave the Franklins and the oddballs their due, but got bogged down in the VWs, especially one particularly fetching burgundy bug convertible. Never quite made it to the Porche area.
http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/event/6th-annual-air-cooled-gathering/?instance_id=198
I just keep imagining what a fun sound you’d have if all those VW’s were running at the same time.
I notice most of the T1 vans have been repowered with a 1.6 even the over restored ones,
Had to post this
don’t know why its upside down
must be cos I’m from down under.
This is the first time I’ve posted a picture.
If you click on it, its the right way up
Thanx for the wonderful pictures ! .
-Nate
Black Karmann Ghia for me
Thanks for the pics!
The Jeans is my wifes ride. One of the 1973 built (MY 1974) first edition. Restoration will start soon as it needs some tlc.