Volkswagen Smell

[oldspeed497]

ah! that distinctive smell, i always loved that smell,the VW smell, i had and old friend who previously own's a VW in his teenage years and checked out my bug, he instantly recognized that distinctive smell. i guess he missed his bug after smelling mine.....brings back old memories....

[KTPhil]

My favorite post:

[Kiptere]

Back in highschool (mid 80's), I had to give my girlfriend's mom a ride once. She never shut up about the gasoline smell. Thought her daughter and I were going to burst into flames.
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62 Bug
70 Bug
68 Bug
70 Bug Vert

[trh351]

OK, I currently don't own or plan to own an air cooled VW (too big 6-5 280 lbs), but I will always like them. I grew up with VWs. First car I ever drove was a 1966 Beetle way back 35 years ago. Now about that smell. My dad was a great VW mechanic. He learned the hard way on an abused 1959 Beetle. Anyways, our two Beetles and a convertible Ghia had great working heater/defrosters. Dad fixed the broken/rusty cables, the thermostat and flaps on the engines, and all the other crap that had been disconnect, discarded by POs who were clueless. That smell so unique to air cooled VWs is one I'll never forget.
Much to my surprise, in the process of obtaining my A&P license before leaving the Air Force, I was exposed to air cooled engine aircraft. I have found that the older aircraft built in the same era as VWs have the same smell. Not surprised, because the have a similar heating system. I never looked at the seats for the material, so I don't know if they used horse hair. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

[-Zodiac-]

oooooh i'm glad this one surfaced..

I didn't know about it until my dad drove it home and he said " this doesn't smell like a VW" shortly after driving it a bit I could definitely smell it, I love the scent - its Pleasant and calming.

Definitely the seats, I noticed the smell when carrying them around while replacing my carpet - the smell is still there. Glad to know i'm not the only one that likes it. And I too Would like to get some VW incense!

my Chevy had the " Old Chevy smell apparently" quite different from the VW.
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1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

[79SuperVert]

I used to drive my daughters' friends around in a previous Beetle I owned when they were in high school. One of them was disappointed when I announced that I had finally fixed the leaky gas smell in the car. He used to sit in the front passenger seat because that's where the smell was strongest.
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Central Jersey VW Society

Wanted: Art Collins VW (Savannah, Georgia) items - license plate surrounds and other items. Also ivory "AM", "FM" and "SW" buttons for a US Blaupunkt Frankfurt.

[weisswurst]

[Sora-Iro]

Funny, my husband and I were having this conversation just the other day while driving my bug. I commented how I love old car smell (especially vws!) and he jokingly responded that means I love the smell of oil, gas, old farts, and who knows what else from over the years. LOL

[Bret2094]

When I drove my beetle in high school, my best friend and I would mess around town in it and always comment on the smell. A couple Months ago we were back in the shop and he opened the door, took a deep breath and screamed "The F*** did you do? You ruined it man!! It doesnt smell!!" I told him it's just cold man, you can see you breath for christ sakes! As it warmed up later in the day we opened the door to check again, and the smell was back, and a lot of memories came with it.


Bret
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1959 baja beetle ragtop( going back to Full body)
1959 beetle
1960 Beetle frame Custom buggy
1962 Karmann Ghia
1967 beetle( august 66, first car)
1967 beetle (parts car)

1977 Westfalia Camper

1972 Plymouth Duster

Just another 22 year old jackass who caught the bug, and lives by the motto " NO fatchicks allowed" , I've got too many cars as is (buses N/A)

[air-h2o-air]

that "smell" is 1 you can never forget..I sold my 74 beetle in 83....never to sit in another air cooled until a few months ago....I could smell the "smell" from memory over the years and even had discussed the "smell" but never got a dose of the "real" smell for these 31-32 years...until 3 weeks ago...when what my brother has named the "Bruised Banana" (72 std yellow bug)had to come home with me for a complete make over.

[chasisaxle]

[kirk1015]

I was wondering if one used the newer seat pads from say Wolfsburg
West would the smell return.
I did my seats in December using the foam pads and the smell is not there as much if at all.
Maybe make an air freshener out of the newer pads might work?
I know an expensive air freshener, but hey it's not a ACVW without the smell in my book.
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Jim Douglas....I am Not.

[Zundfolge1432]

When I redid the interior in my 74 the headliner,seat padding and covers,door panels were all replaced, smell is still there. So maybe it's more than just the padding in the seats and glue. That smell is like your fart you think it's no big deal but others notice it right away. Next time you ride an elevator rip one off between floors before you get out,other folks may enjoy your essence. How about this combo. VW smell mixed with patchouli, weed and a Budweiser fart, now that's a pungent arrangement.

[planenut]

I'm amazed! It's not horsehair, it's coconut hair!

[Zundfolge1432]

Those Germans are industrious little fellows yes? They used that coconut fiber inside the oil bath air cleaner too. And not to be outdone they saved all the scraps of interior trim pieces put them in bags and used it as sound deadener.

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

[Fifty-Eight Rag]

This is total nostalgia for me.
My family has always been into VWs and I remember being a kid (I'm 50 now) and going into the VW dealership with my dad when the old air cooled Beetles and Buses were new and sitting in them on the showroom floor.
It's a distinctive smell that takes me all the way back to those times.
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1956 Oval
and a barn full of VW parts

1956 Oval build thread
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

1962 Single Cab Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7959298#7959298

1967 Beetle Restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=495269&highlight=larrys

[tmb077]

[Beetlebaum]

[ryans65]

My dad had a 72 super beetle when I was about 6 or 7. Fastforward 25 years, I buy my first bug, a 62, and I can't tell you how long I sat in it just enjoying the smell and realizing the impression that super beetle left on me. Of all the cars I've owned, ridden in, driven, wanted to buy etc. none of them not a single one has made me smile like I do when driving this bug.