In Brazil it is called "fusca" since Brazilians could not spell the word "volks". As it was said this bug was reborn in Brazil under president Itamar Franco's need for a cheap and popular car. They are called "fusca Itamar" in Brazil. Google it...
We drove air cooled beetles for years including a 53 oval window and two spotty kombies . Many years later when our kids had grown I purchased a late model cabriolet with only 60k on the clock what a bitter disappointment unreliable and overpriced vw should be ashamed of themselves that’s not a beetle Gordon from Australia
I had a 70 beetle soft top. Damn near froze in it during the winter. Traded it for a new two door 1977 VW Rabbit. The Rabbit was OK until the engine developed a leaking valve stem problem. You would have a full crankcase of oil and then a week later it was empty. VW issued a recall. It never ran well after that. It developed a "Chevy knock" . Several years latter , brake line corrosion was another recall. A Ford F250 bashed in the back on dark and stormy night with me in it.
The clean air act that led to the discontinuation of the beetle in the United States was a bunch of crap. Mother had one and it had to get a smog check in order to renew the registration. The car went in for the smog, and the machine's readings on paper were very low. The beetle's smog readings were better than those from newer cars that had catalytic converters. Even the smog tech said where is the smog. There wasn't smog, and the car passed with flying colors.
It wasn’t just emissions. New Federal crash standards necessitated the shock-absorbing bumpers, curved windshield and padded dash. The final blow in the US was the arrival of far more capable and comfortable-even air conditioned-Japanese imports. All the tiny cars had been rather utilitarian before; Beetles, MGs, Renault Dauphines. People pounced on the Toyotas and Datsuns that were little more expensive than the Federalized Beetle’s rising price. Yes, I still have one and love it, but by the early 1980s I too was tired of sweating in an underpowered Beetle…and always needing a towel in my lap to defog windows in the winter.
@@PeopleAlreadyDidThis I also know someone who fixed Volkswagen Beetles back in the 1970's and 1980's. He had a 1956 Beetle, and racked up over 1 million miles driving it. He told me the motor would go 180,000 miles before having to have engine work. A set of tires would also go 80,000 miles. Today's cars don't even get that on a set of tires. I remember the older Beetles were better made, and a change took place in 1968. The older ones were more reliable, and got something like 38 miles to the gallon of gas. Back then most cars on the road were gas guzzlers getting 8 to 16 miles to the gallon.
Bit of a nitpick but I wouldn't have bought any Mercedes-Benz after 1998 probably, when that model of S-Class was launched. The acquisition by Chrysler just seemed to trigger a downward trajectory of interior quality?
A wonderful car and my dream car to which I have yet to own one. My search is for my birth year. My Father had a yellow 1973 super with the flat windshield and I remember as a small child being able to lay down flat on the rear seat, then being upset when I grew and could not anymore. It seems that everyone has some sort of beetle story. I find it ironic that the beetle and the autobahn are still in use today despite being the development/ idea by perhaps one of the worst human beings to ever exist on this planet.
Does anyone know whether they put false number plates on some of the motors they reviewed or tried to sell?. I have an episode of Deals on Wheels from about August 1998 where Richard Sutton drives upto Macclesfield in Cheshire in a Jeep Cherokee to meet an owner trying to sell his 1 year old Cherokee. Strangely though when I searched the Jeep Sutton drives and the one they show in the studio/garage, nothing comes up on the DVLA, though the Jeep owned by the Macclesfield bloke did as did his 1997 reg Audi. The vehicles they showed in the studio must have had fake reg numbers on them, why I don't know.
It seems that the 1999 series of Deals of Wheels aired for only a month, starting with the new series on the 3rd August 1999. Anyone know why it only ran for a few episodes?. The 1999 series of Driven aired from the 20th April to the 27th July 1999. Driven was repeated each Saturday afternoon during its current series run, as was repeat showings of Deals on Wheels when the current series wasn't being shown.
I'm sure some of the so called buyers who appeared on this show (and other motoring shows) are just actors. It just seems too scripted and the buyers never seem camera shy.
I don't think this episode is from October 1999. According to the TV listings I have from that year, the 1999 series of Driven aired from 20th April to the 27th July 1999. The 1998 series of Driven ran from (oddly) the 13th Oct to the 24th Nov 1998. Abit strange that the first series only aired for about a month an a half.
Sorry mike but you was £50 further out on the Puma than Rich... dont try and pull the wool.... Id never drive a car to a buyer.thats their problem. Youre on the back foot straight away if you go their house.
Our vw club show all vws is at riverhead bay vw auto dealer September near 100 more or less cars I have been there for past vw club events before going else where if interested our club listing shows past present events on your screens
What I just did comments on vw auto club of Long Island New York State is to my best knowledge since I had my January 2014 stroke and since then nursing home resident I know for sure now since I rarely go there my living where or going out it is mucho bigger membership exact automobiles years or so are vw bugs bettles buses vans Gaia’s type 3 s square backs notchback well only seen one type four wagon customized yes some are not all are in new shape come on down if you care to join the fun I miss badly I wish I knew more but
Please see on your screens I pad lap top the long eye land Volkswagen automobile club we now meet at bk Sweeney ristorante in bethpage broadway by the library on third Tuesday each month not may that is done at our bar b que Memorial Day there is no December meeting we are listed on screens tho not on the of Long Island council of car clubs I am 25 year member so called sgt at arms whistle blower can say iam never sooty for joining fun fun fun we do a one day once really auto show Memorial Day in Nassau county Levittown followed by our bar b que at wantagh park also meeting first Friday each December we have a Xmas party saint lukes Lutheran church dix hills toys for tots December at Long Island Jewish hospital plus more during the year July four south hold parade followed by east Marion clubs presidents home bar b que auto are vws only from 1954 to present some are restored very nicely others are nice not junk but ok you donot need the best looking ones tho no rusty messy trash falling apart dues were 20 dollars per year when done monthly newsletters stickers for your vehicles li vw club believe me this is a very nice fun group of vw volks autos lover who respect all who is who does what employment jobs even families not married couples amigos meeting are 7 pm to ten pm or so we meet first in the parking area to bs our cars to see the shortly before 8pm inside for food and meeting our president is Donald Hohn for more about this group as I have said on your screens look up livc you will see our events schedule plus gracias cam on ong have a nice day enjoy yourselves and remember we are a nice group of volks who respect all
I use my 1965 VW Beetle as a daily driver. I love it, and no newer car with all it’s creature comfort have or could give the same sensations. Best part, I was born in 1970, the car is older then I!
My earliest beetle memories were mostly an uncle who did a lot of body work on them and Baja conversions. I briefly had a broken 6 volt one and a broken 12 volt and tried to get one good one out of them, but failed and sold them off. Years later I worked for Gadzooks which was a retailer in the US that had a half beetle in most stores as sort of a brand signature of theirs. We then gave away one of the first new beetles to a lucky teen who had won a drawing or contest for it. They made a big show and day of it at headquarters. Fond memories of this car!
