I love it my first new car was a 1968 Bug The first year for new bumpers, and hi back buckets, and gas filler outside...50 HP ! and gas heater over transaxle
My father in law worked for a VW dealer as a mechanic when he came to Canada in 1959. I have one of his old shop manuals from 1959 and his training certification certificate that the gave me. My wife tells me her family always had two Beetles when she was growing up. Her dad kept them in a razor sharp state of tune.
-- Edited by Canadian Poncho on Friday 19th of April 2013 05:44:45 AM
My first car too. Started the restos at 15yrs old... 1955 Oval with semifore blinkers, and a 1956 Convertible (very rare)
Needed $$$ for a down payment for a house... I still miss them.
That is a pretty cool and rare convertible.
I have Durago 1/18th metal model right above my computer monitor of an oval window bug. It claims to be a 1955 but it has the twin tailpipes that were introduced for 1956, plus it has the semaphores rather than the turn signals. Signals were introduced for the 1955 models down low on the front fenders.
Anyway, my model is gold. The reason I bought it is because for many years by my grandfathers place in Hamilton there was a really nice gold 1957 oval window bug. As far back as I can remember into the early 1960s right through 1979 it was parked there on Burris Street. I never saw it dirty or damaged in any way. It had the fabric sunroof as well.
The evolution of the engine was that it started as an 1100 cc, then was enlarged to 1200 for 1954 when it produced 30 horsepower. The 1200 stayed with 30 horses until 1961 when it jumped 20% to 36 horses with the inclusion of the new dual port heads. For 1966 it became a 40 horse 1300 but was only made that 1 year before being enlarged to 1500 cc for 1967. At that point they were pushing 53 horses. They continued through the restyled 1968 models into the 1969 models, then went to 57 horses and 1600 cc for 1970. A carb change brought them to 60 horses for 1971, which turned to 48 horses once the net rating system was phased in for 1972-ish.
Those old bugs were charming, very simple, very common death traps with poor heaters. They used to be everywhere. I saw one on a tiny island in Northern Ontario; he must have driven over the frozen lake in the winter.
I always wanted to own an oval window bug and put in a stout 1800 cc engine with twin Webers and a stinger type extractor system. It would have been light enough up front so that with a hot engine out back it could lift the front wheels.
Mom owned a 1960 standard Beetle, but by 1971 it was so rusty it was dangerous. I think we got $25 for it; that went towards the $1800 asking price of the new 1971 Beetle that replaced it. No radio but it had a gas-fired heater.
__________________
67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
My Mom's first car was a '62 Bug in white. My Dad told me that thing would go through any snow storm in Montreal. My Grandfather ( Mom's Dad ) only had one car in his life and it was a new 1957 Bug, hated driving and sold it a year later. According to my Mom it was just like the black one above, very cool!
My Dad's '60s Bug was a lemon. I've never liked them since I rode around in it as a kid.
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Well since were telling stories... one of my many vw's was a 64 21 window with the slider roof, bought in 1993 in Everett Washington for the ridiculous price of $200. It was complete minus the motor, had perfect floors, and had previously had someone living in it. Even had the jail bars in it. I had just painted it when our second child came along, and we finally needed the money to but a house so off it went-sold it for $7000, and I cant imagine what its currently worth. My only consolation was that the house increased in value a little quicker than the van would've !!
Sounds familiar... Had a ton invested into both cars, (then woke up one day) and realized I couldn`t live in a bug! Luv the 21 window safari buses. Seen them sell for BIG $ on Barrett Jackson. The guy who bought my 56 Vert restored it to factory specs. Worth big bucks now too.
__________________
"you can't burn out, if your not on fire" -Jim Morrison
Nice....but why buy half a car when $15,000 will get you a full size real car. 
you take your choice and pay and pay and pay and pay