Don’t buy another VW Beetle until you have used this handy buyers guide for evaluating your new Beetle!

Authors Richard Copping and Ken Cservenka, have 70 years’ experience working with classic Beetle and the problems/opportunities that a buyer will face.

• The new VW Beetle App includes 18 sections, ranging from cost considerations to common problems.
• Nine slideshows – which cover model range, 15-minute evaluation, and paint problems – each featuring an informative voice-over by one of the authors.
• Covers VW Beetles produced between 1945 and 2003.
• Includes Mexican-built Beetles from 1978 and on.
• Many color photographs taken especially for this guide.
• Written by experts with the novice in mind.
• In-App videos with voiceovers

This app covers VW Beetles built from 1945-2003, including Cabriolet, Standard and Deluxe, 1300 Beetle, 1500 Beetle, 1302S, 1303, and Mexican-built Beetles (from 1978).

Just call the car another name, please! Call these new cars by a new name, because in all honesty, performance and lovability – no one is passionate abut their NEW Charger, their NEW Mustang, or their New Beetle. The original cars were the best, and the original names carried a mystique and a lifestyle. To label these newer cars as being close to the same – heresy!

Anyway, here is the link – if you like the “New Beetle” Oh, and by the way, Volkswagen plans on replacing the New Beetle with something “beetleish.” I am curious about this one. After the introductions of the Aos and the CC, I have to admit that I am really curious to see the next step.

Best user comment on the article? “Bring back the Thing!”

Ten vehicles, type ranging from the VW 1200, 1300, 1302 and 1303, registered in Tunisia, crossed some 1,200 miles through the governorates of Tunis, Kairouan, Sfax, Sousse, Gabes, Tozeur , Médenine, Gafsa.

I was able to go to the Funfest last year and it was great. Of course, I loved the VW Things, but there are plenty of other VW’s and air-cooled rides.

If you would like to go, here is the Mid America Motorworks registration page for Funfest 2008.

Funfest 2007 Oval Window Beetle Pictures

Funfest 2007 VW Thing Pictures

Hope to see you there!

You can view examples of both custom and OEM options available for the Beetle at the MidAmerica Motorworks website: Custom VW Beetle Leather interiors.

The pictures here are from the large turn-out of oval window VW’s. Many were completely restored and beautifully done with custom interiors and engine modifications.

A beautiful two-tone restoration of a 50’s Beetle.

Convertable oval window.

I loved this two-tone style.

This was one of my favorites. Restored by Tim Hall, it is a 1955 restored oval window. I love the rear wheel covers and the bright red paint.

Another restoration by Tim Hall, this one was still in primer. However, it is a 1947 beetle. there is a hand-crank in the rear of the car to start the engine. It had a very sparse interior, but beautiful for the history.

Another one of my favorites. I guess there is something about a bright red VW Beetle that just grabs your attention. This engine was immaculate and covered in red and chrome.

The interior was just as amazing as the engine. The custom red and white interior just popped and made everything clean and well-organized.

Another nice Beetle interior. The exterior was a seafoam color with a red interior – interesting color choice, but it seems to work on these cars.

This was a fun find. An original Firestone “Car Cooler.” So they DID have air conditioning, eh?

Coming up in the next post – VW Campers and Buses

I also have a budget that my wife has imposed on me. Why don’t I do that when she goes shopping? Right. Like that would work.

The theme this year is the 50th anniversary of the oval window Beetle, and looks to be a great event. I’ll be reporting on the FunFest, providing commentary on the tech sessions, and publishing pictures of the Beetles on display.

A nice summary article about the history of the VW bug was published on the American Chronicle website. While hardcore Volkswagon afficianadoes will know most of the informtion, those who have only recently caught the “bug” might appreciate the simple article about the Beetle.

In other news, comedian Jeff Allen posted a short comedy routine about his first car, a 1967 Volkswagon Bug. He talkes about what’s “under the hood”, defrosters, the “happy” horn, and the infamous Beetle heating system.

The writers of the hit show LOST took a break from the intense, drama-driven episodes to bring a refreshing funny episode. In the episode, Hurley is searching for signs of hope on the island and finds an old bus in the jungle.

Enlisting the help of Sawyer and Jin, he rolls the bus upright, finds a stash of beer, maps of the island, and then pushes the bus over the side of a hill.

They couldn’t get it to start so the hill allows Hurley to pop the clutch and start the van in time to miss a pile of boulders in their way. The episode ends with the four island castaways joy-riding across the island in their new-found ride.

USA Today noticed that VW Busses have been getting a lot of attention this year, as Little Miss Sunshine and LOST have utilized the vehicle and created a new generation of fans.