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1953Volks
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2004
Posts: 239
Location: SO. CAL
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 Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 9:49 pm Post subject: Bill Collins |
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I was wondering if any one knows if Bill Collins is still around. I believe he is from New Hampshire. Does he have a Samba ID ? Any help will be appreciated.
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1950 Hoffman 11 G 1-0174999
1953 11G
1955-6 GHIA 1-0925660
1962 DOUBLE CAB
1957 11G
1958 Single cab
1967 camper bus
1959 ragtop 2226460 (in Japan)
1964 Karmann Ghia
1964 Cadillac coupe De Ville (a.k.a. Husslah) |
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johnshenry 
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2001
Posts: 9364
Location: Northwood, NH USA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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Bill is living in AZ now I am told, although he still has his house (and cars and parts presumably) in NH, about an hour away from me. I ran into him at a German car show maybe 3-4 years ago and he invited my wife and I to take part in a VW/Porsche weekend event/cruise Maine the following April. We had a great time. I think he is still active in the Porsche 356 club(s) too. He never used e-mail much and I doubt he is reading the samba much if at all.
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John Henry
'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab |
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1953Volks
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2004
Posts: 239
Location: SO. CAL
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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| johnshenry wrote: |
| Bill is living in AZ now I am told, although he still has his house (and cars and parts presumably) in NH, about an hour away from me. I ran into him at a German car show maybe 3-4 years ago and he invited my wife and I to take part in a VW/Porsche weekend event/cruise Maine the following April. We had a great time. I think he is still active in the Porsche 356 club(s) too. He never used e-mail much and I doubt he is reading the samba much if at all. |
Is there any way to get a hold of him. I met him at the VW classics many moons ago and him and his group of friends that was with him inspired me to restore my split I have now. I had just finished my 53 11G and stated he like how I built it even though it was Stock looking but with Porsche wheels and hypo engine. His Azure blue 51 is the cleanest and perfect restoration I have seen in the 30 plus years I have been in the VW hobby. I want my 50 to come out looking like his split.
_________________
1950 Hoffman 11 G 1-0174999
1953 11G
1955-6 GHIA 1-0925660
1962 DOUBLE CAB
1957 11G
1958 Single cab
1967 camper bus
1959 ragtop 2226460 (in Japan)
1964 Karmann Ghia
1964 Cadillac coupe De Ville (a.k.a. Husslah) |
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ZENVWDRIVER
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008
Posts: 3340
Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 7:12 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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... here's your '50 at the VVWCA meet, Englewood Cliffs, NJ in about 1978, when I had it... Bill knew the car 
_________________
5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
All super-heroes, wear a MASK |
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johnshenry
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2001
Posts: 9364
Location: Northwood, NH USA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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I have no current contact info, sorry.....
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John Henry
'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab |
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1953Volks
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2004
Posts: 239
Location: SO. CAL
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| Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 8:52 am Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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| ZENVWDRIVER wrote: |
... here's your '50 at the VVWCA meet, Englewood Cliffs, NJ in about 1978, when I had it... Bill knew the car
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Hello, thanks for the info. You must be the guy to sell it to Bic Green? I have some questions if you don't mind regarding some unanswered questions about the 50. I can give you my phone number if that works easier. thanks
_________________
1950 Hoffman 11 G 1-0174999
1953 11G
1955-6 GHIA 1-0925660
1962 DOUBLE CAB
1957 11G
1958 Single cab
1967 camper bus
1959 ragtop 2226460 (in Japan)
1964 Karmann Ghia
1964 Cadillac coupe De Ville (a.k.a. Husslah) |
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ZENVWDRIVER
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008
Posts: 3340
Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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| Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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... not much of a phone conversationalist...prefer emails or samba PM...
your 11G still have this radio? I bought it from Terry Shuler, back in 1979... the original slide was backwards, sorry.
_________________
5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
All super-heroes, wear a MASK |
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1953Volks
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2004
Posts: 239
Location: SO. CAL
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| Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 9:15 am Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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| ZENVWDRIVER wrote: |
... not much of a phone conversationalist...prefer emails or samba PM...
your 11G still have this radio? I bought it from Terry Shuler, back in 1979... the original slide was backwards, sorry.
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No had the speedo changed out and no radio. Would you prefer me to e-mail or PM on the Samba?
_________________
1950 Hoffman 11 G 1-0174999
1953 11G
1955-6 GHIA 1-0925660
1962 DOUBLE CAB
1957 11G
1958 Single cab
1967 camper bus
1959 ragtop 2226460 (in Japan)
1964 Karmann Ghia
1964 Cadillac coupe De Ville (a.k.a. Husslah) |
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Terry Gaudet
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2004
Posts: 399
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 3:20 am Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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I can chime in on this subject. Bill and Connie sold their house in NH and moved to AZ last year. Bill kept his two 356 cars as well as his perfect 51 sunroof. I bought out all his massive VW and Porsche parts collection about a year ago. I even bought a 1935 old town canoe he owned for many years. They decided it was time to start slowing down. Though I suspect Bill is planning some sort of long road trip in the near future. One can never truly walk away from a long time passion.
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Terry Gaudet
1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab |
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Der Kafer Collins
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2019
Posts: 1
Location: ME
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| Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 9:37 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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Thank you Terry! I heard your name a number of times from dad, he had a special place in his heart for people that loved VW's the way you do. Thank you for buying the parts, I hope you are supplying a new generation of VW enthusiasts with parts he spent years collecting. I know he'd love to hear a story about how you sold the parts and used the proceeds to rescue another old bug from extinction or how someone who bought the parts did the same.
Dad is still alive but I'm sad to say Alzheimer's is doing a number on him. As a result that road trip you mentioned won't ever come to fruition. The move to AZ lasted less than a year before he and Connie returned to New England. Things went downhill fast and at this time they are both in an assisted living facility. Our focus is making sure they are getting the best care we can get them. If anyone knows of an assisted living facility with a 6 car garage attached please let us know and we'll move them tomorrow.
I wish we could help answer VW questions the way he could but I'm afraid this insidious disease has stolen that from all of us. |
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Grant Reiling
Samba Slow-Change Artist
Joined: November 28, 2003
Posts: 491
Location: behind the wheel
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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| Quote: |
Dad is still alive but I'm sad to say Alzheimer's is doing a number on him. As a result that road trip you mentioned won't ever come to fruition. The move to AZ lasted less than a year before he and Connie returned to New England. Things went downhill fast and at this time they are both in an assisted living facility. Our focus is making sure they are getting the best care we can get them. If anyone knows of an assisted living facility with a 6 car garage attached please let us know and we'll move them tomorrow.
I wish we could help answer VW questions the way he could but I'm afraid this insidious disease has stolen that from all of us.
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 I am truly saddened to hear of this.
I have fond memories of him conducting pass-in-reviews of the line of Vintage VWs at the Michigan Vintage VW Club Show in Michigan ~2002 when The DKF held its first (and only) National Meeting.
I had caravanned there with Howard Query, Jon Lane and a few others from MN/IA/WI and got to meet many members for the first time. 
That also coincided with the anniversary of the Karmann Ghia, and the opening of the Karmann Assembly plant there and IIRC a group also came from CA and got to be first to drive through it.
He drove the red '49 Heb along with a bunch of DKF guys from New England.
Bill truly was the driving [pun intended] force behind the DKF organization.
He and Connie were so generous with their time and all else...may they be blessed and well-cared for 
Grant
_________________
1952 Azure Blue 12G (LHD Deluxe 3-fold sunroof Sedan).
"What you really know is possible in your heart is possible.
We make it possible by our will.
What we imagine in our minds becomes our world. That’s just one of many things I have learned from water."
Misaru Emoto
The Hidden Messages in Water |
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Terry Gaudet
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2004
Posts: 399
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:32 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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I am sorry to hear about your parents. I have not spoken to them since last year. They are in good hands if you are taking care of them. Best wishes that things improve and that you do find an assisted living facility with a 6 car garage.
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Terry Gaudet
1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab |
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ZENVWDRIVER
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008
Posts: 3340
Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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| Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2019 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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| Terry Gaudet wrote: |
| I can chime in on this subject. Bill and Connie sold their house in NH and moved to AZ last year. Bill kept his two 356 cars as well as his perfect 51 sunroof. I bought out all his massive VW and Porsche parts collection about a year ago. I even bought a 1935 old town canoe he owned for many years. They decided it was time to start slowing down. Though I suspect Bill is planning some sort of long road trip in the near future. One can never truly walk away from a long time passion. |
yikes, i'd sell my VWs, before I sold our 1905 Rushton Indian girl canoe - leaving it to our son...
_________________
5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON
All super-heroes, wear a MASK |
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| Back to top |
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overrestored
Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2005
Posts: 726
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| Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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| Der Kafer Collins wrote: |
| Dad is still alive but I'm sad to say Alzheimer's is doing a number on him. |
Sorry to hear this. Your pop is part of the fabric of the vintage VW scene. Even though we were on opposite coasts… I would run into him at all the serious events. I put over 30K miles on my old Beeskow because I knew he would tease me if I trailered it! I eventually convinced him to buy a 356 (a convertible D even!) because my wife and I had so much fun in our old D (now owned by Mike and Barbara Malamut… who continue to drive the hell out of it!) Until this setback… I would say Mike had a pretty good handle on living! He may not remember… but we of the vintage VW crew will all remember him.
Eric Meyer
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some cars
some bicycles
some old skateboards
One cool crazy cat
a yard full of fruit trees
26 chairs for some reason
a crapload of old shoes
a lot of books on history of the Mexican Ranchos
200+ kamax bolts... stacked in rows |
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johnshenry
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2001
Posts: 9364
Location: Northwood, NH USA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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Just wondering if anyone has an update on Bill.
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John Henry
'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab |
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Terry Gaudet
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2004
Posts: 399
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 7:56 am Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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I have reached out to his son with no reply. I have also emailed Bill directly and didn't hear back. I sure hope he and Connie are ok.
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Terry Gaudet
1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab |
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kaferdude
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2003
Posts: 51
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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I last saw Bill in the fall of 2018. I had gone to Maine to pick up a '54 beetle and stopped in to visit Bill and Connie at their new place. Bill was just the same (although his hearing was getting worse) and he still enjoyed sharing stories about his old VW's, Porsches and travels. Connie was the same sweet, supportive woman I've always known. My wife and I sent out Christmas cards the last few years but never heard anything back and their phone number is no longer any good.
We pray that Bill & Connie are well and safe and enjoying their retirement years - they deserve it!
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johnshenry
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2001
Posts: 9364
Location: Northwood, NH USA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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Where in Maine were they in 2018? I thought they had moved to AZ.
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John Henry
'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab |
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Terry Gaudet
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2004
Posts: 399
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Bill Collins |
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John, if you read above post from Dec 10, 2019, Bill & Connie's son advised that AZ didn't last long. They were back on the east coast within a year due to health issues. Hope they are both ok.
_________________
Terry Gaudet
1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab |
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