an observation - in this moment

[ZENVWDRIVER]

When thinking of the reasons I am so enamored with split bugs - is because I am living in / thinking of the great times of the past - not realizing, not even separating myself from those wonderful times...

Ovals are the rut i'm in as I have 3.

BUT once I separate myself from the past and consciously live in this moment - all year " air-cooled" models become interesting...

Are all model years of air cooled beetles, interesting to you?
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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

[Helfen]

"Are all model years of beetles, interesting to you?"

Yes!, all the REAL Beetles. Water cooled Audi's...….NO

[Zundfolge1432]

[ZENVWDRIVER]

[ZENVWDRIVER]

[Helfen]

[Helfen]

[quote="Zundfolge1432"]

[sb001]

[Helfen]

[modok]

Most changes VW made to the body made it uglier and cheaper as time went on.
Mechanically they kept improving until German production ended.

in this moment I'm working on 1978 bus ball joints, and, I like it!!
As long as I don't look at the rest of this heap. This front beam in a work of art.

[sb001]

[scottyrocks]

I like all Type 1s, but didn't vote in the poll because there is no choice for my favorite span of years which is up through 1964.

My most favorites, however, are up through the ovals, so 1938 thru '57.

I don't consider any WCs in the same league. I had a '79 Rabbit back in '84, and although a great, solid car, isn't what I think of when I think VW. The newer cars are even further removed.
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“If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch'

[ZENVWDRIVER]

[Mos6502]

Personal favorite years are the 1958, 59. For overall quality and aesthetic. Even though they're "big window" cars I feel like the 1960's cars really are a product of the 1960's and a lot of the bug's basic, efficient charm got "upgraded" out by the mid 1960's. To me these cars feel like the epitome of "beetlness" of getting the most utility out of the least materials - of being the most practical with what was available, without being frivolous, but also without sacrificing anything of practical value (like rearward vision).

The splits and ovals, honestly, feel like very old cars even for their own era, they also feel like they're in some ways, not quite doing the concept complete justice (if that makes any sense). You might argue that what beetle could be more "pure" beetle than a split? But the splits were cars for the 1930's, not cars for the 50's. They were not really of their era in the same way the ovals and early big window cars were of their era.

I think to understand this, you have to put these cars alongside the likes of a Fiat 600 and Citroen ID19, or similar and just sort of appreciate the aura of European cars of the late 1950's.

My second favorite era? Oddly enough is the 1968-69. These are the cleanest, least cluttered, of all the beetles (from the outside anyway). Yeah, they don't have the charm of the earlier cars, but they objectively look better than anything that came before or anything that came after. After '69 the cars get more cluttered up as more things are tacked on as afterthoughts - but for '68-'69 the styling is so simple and neat, these cars always stand out when they're kept stock and clean. No towel rails, no horn grills, no 5mph bumpers, clean deck lid, no toenail vents.

TBH I find the '64-'67 cars feel somewhat "cobbled" together, with random changes here and there. Whereas '58 and '68 are almost like "clean sheet" years. Where it's the same concept, but with a cohesive refresh instead of a thing here and thing there randomly bolted on.

[Zundfolge1432]

Could it be that people are most comfortable with the years they owned. In my case my brother had a well worn 59 in 72 and he let me drive a couple of times but my first real car was a 74 and I got it with 6,000 miles on the odometer. Like any kid would do I ruined it but back then you could buy nice VWs for way less than 2 grand. I came into possession of a 74 basket case project car about five years ago. Been enjoying that since

[ZENVWDRIVER]

[ZENVWDRIVER]

[my59]

The later years got a little bulky.
The 6 volts is a treat, and the 36 hp does the job.
The turbo 01 NB was a fun drive, with the auto spoiler. Buck thirty plus and was still accelerating.
Water pump put and end to it
Lifted Jetta TDI is a hoot out on logging trails.
Bus ride height is up there with the suv minivan mob and way more fun.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[panicman]

I will always be the most impressed with a stock early beetle- about 52-55. I have owned 2 66’s, a 65, and now a 1960. But I always WANTED a late split or an oval. Earlier than that, and I worry I would never really drive it- like it should be in a museum.
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Plate of shrimp

[ZENVWDRIVER]